Interview skills for students – Part 2

Ranjan K Baruah *

Last week, we have published about basic interview skills. We are publishing some more information related to interview and how one can prepare before appearing in any interview. There are differences when it comes to interview and one cannot rely on any one or two examples.

There are no standard questions and there might be anything during interview. One needs to follow certain dos and don'ts which are same for more or less all kinds of interview.

Some Dos and Don'ts

Do:
Arrive in good time.
Show Positive Body Languages.
Dress appropriately.
Greet person with smile and confidently.
Engage with the interviewers like make eye contact.
Answer the questions that are asked, using relevant examples where at all possible.
Before you leave, thank the interview panel for the chance to attend the interview and say that it was nice to meet them.
Leave a good final impression.

Don't:
Try to speak the truth means don't try to lie of fool someone.
Be over-familiar or share too much information.
Be late at any cost else your impression would be negative and less chance to crack interviews.

We have tried to publish the basic skills needed for appearing in an interview. There are interviews conducted by Service Selection Boards for selecting officials for defense forces. Union Public Service Commission and other State Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Indian Railways, etc also conduct interviews for various services and posts which are under government.

Interviews are also held for admission into various educational institutes along with group discussions. We shall publish about skills needed for telephonic interview in next edition. Readers may share their experiences related to interviews with others.

Sir Ratan Tata Fellowship: Sir Ratan Tata Fellowship is provided by London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Asia Research Center with the support of Sir Ratan Tata Trust.

Applicants should be scholars in the social sciences with experience of research on South Asia. The Fellowship is provided for the candidates from South Asia, that is, the SAARC region which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Last date for applying is 9th May.

Civil Service Examination 2016: Preliminary Examination of the Civil Services Examination for recruitment to the Services and Posts mentioned below will be held by the Union Public Service Commission on 7th August.

The services are Indian Administrative Service; Indian Foreign Service; Indian Police Service; Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group 'A'; Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group 'A'; Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Group 'A';

Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group 'A'; Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Group 'A'; Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group 'A' (Assistant Works Manager, Administration); Indian Postal Service, Group 'A'; Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group 'A'; Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group 'A';

Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group 'A'; Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group 'A'; Post of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force, Group 'A'; Indian Defence Estates Service, Group 'A'; Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group 'A'; Indian Trade Service, Group 'A' (Gr. III);

Indian Corporate Law Service, Group "A"; Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group 'B' (Section Officer's Grade);

Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group 'B'; Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service, Group 'B'; Pondicherry Civil Service, Group 'B'; Pondicherry Police Service, Group 'B'.

Last date for applying is 27th May.