Preparing for My First IT Interview: What Should I Focus On and Key Questions I Have

Hi seniors,

I have an interview with an IT company very soon and would just like to know the areas I need to focus on, since I'm a fresher. Also, a few questions:

1. Which is better - MBO or balanced scorecard?
2. How are recruitment and training costs calculated?

Please reply soon.

Hi,

As I am not from the HR background, I can't provide the answers for Q1 & Q2. But one important thing I can tell you is to be confident about whatever you are talking about. Even if you don't know an answer, don't show it to the interviewer that you don't know. Answer confidently. Self-confidence is the thing that will take you to the top.

All the best.

Regards,
Lancy D'Souza

Hi, thank you so much. However, I need the answers to the above two questions. Can someone please help?

Hi,

MBO will be better because it is a process whereby the employees and the superiors come together to identify common goals. The employees set their goals to be achieved, the standards to be taken as the criteria for measurement of their performance and contribution, and deciding the course of action to be followed.

I'm not sure; please seniors, correct me if I'm wrong.

Ranjini

I am surprised by the fact that by the time you have posted this query on the site, you could have got loads of information by doing a search on the site. Will you tell only the same points that the members told you at the interview? If the interviewer is asking something analytical related to the said subject, what will you do? Will you come back to the forum and ask again to the members?

Please do search in the forum, do some mining, and collect the information as points. Get well-equipped with the knowledge on the said subject. Members, please encourage the concept, "Learn the person how to fish so that the person will get fish forever for life."

Dear Buzz!

I was wondering how sure you are that the same questions will be asked for the interview (and you have posted this across so many forums).

Please search on citehr first (not just the two questions that you have posted - but just glance through the material in this forum).

You are a fresher - so the interviewer will not expect answers that would be managed by experienced people. So - first, please see in your class notes what advantages these would provide and the disadvantages in implementing it. Rather than pointing out which is better, try seeing the limitations for each.

BSC - is really vast...

They might task you on what is performance management systems.

And as far as training and recruitment costs are considered - these are expenses that are made for acquiring and retaining talent.

Recruitment costs: Include the expenses on searching for the candidate (in posting ads, job boards, or consultants, their interview travel allowance, interviewer travel expenses if any...) In a nutshell - the cost involved in hiring the right talent.

Training costs: The expense involved in training for new skills, products, or software.

It can also cover a wider area like - in-house trainer cost, time spent - cost, etc.

I saw in a different forum you have mentioned that you are seeing various versions of calculating the costs - I suggest you to just see one, understand the basic concept, and be confident during the interview. Don't put everything in your head and be confused.

I was also overly "prepared" for my first interview and was - just like how you are now - pulling out all jargons and trying to make sure I know even the most difficult thing... It did not work out in my first interview... the question that GUY asked me was "tell me how to calculate wages, and explain about how to open a Provident fund..."

I was blinking, he embarrassed me - but today I feel like seeing that man and giving him a piece of my mind for asking a fresher that type of question! (so if you come across someone similar to this person - please know that he is not worth interviewing you)

The second one was successful - I was least prepared. I was asked about employee motivation.

Answer was: Simple - you pay him what he wants, you let him know that he is doing good, if he deviates you must be smart enough to point that out, and he should always think that he is working under the best boss he could ever have... all this to be professionally managed!

The reason why I told you so much was - an interview is not that difficult as you think. You just need to be smart and quick with your answers and, most importantly, have a good presence of mind - too much analysis can kill you!

Now get some good sleep! Good Night!

Dear Buzz,

You should have a balance in your knowledge of your area of work, understanding of your surrounding atmosphere, awareness of the market, demonstration of your skills, consideration of future development, and evaluation of competitors in the package, etc.

Best Regards,

Sajid Ansari
Delhi

Dear Ash,

An interviewer can ask any question; it is for the interviewee to give a befitting answer. In the first case, the interviewer wanted to know if you have any hands-on/practical experience. Instead of feeling angry or embarrassed, you should have informed them accordingly (that you are a fresher). Please note that these days, like in developed countries, in Indian B-Schools, students come with a few years of work experience. So the question is not all that alien.

Dear Buzz,

Comparing MBO and BSC is like comparing apples and oranges. Both are different. MBO is intra-organization, whereas BSC is inter-organization in concept. Obviously, BSC has a much wider scope. There are ways of calculating HR costs, such as recruitment or training. It is beyond the scope of this discussion. Please do some research on your own.

Regards.

Dear Raj,

The interviewer was obviously aware of my experience. And please note - that this was a few years back and not recent.

The interviewer was well aware that I have nil experience.

I would definitely say it is alien to a fresher. Today I can show my smartness in asking questions that a fresher may not be able to answer at all and make them look miserable. But that shows my inability in interviewing.

Obviously, the position is for a fresher - so it's pointless for the person to ask such a question.

It's not about me feeling embarrassed - I would have appreciated if he had asked whether I have any hands-on experience - but the immediate statement showed his inability in interviewing: "Then what did your HR faculty teach you? Were you sleeping when she taught how to fix the wages and work on PF?"

In fact, my professor was stunned when I mentioned what happened.

I was a fresher - so I was thinking the mistake was on my side - today if I get to see that guy - I would ask him to take courses on "The art of interviewing."

[QUOTE=Raj Kumar Hansdah;744519]Dear Ash,

An interviewer can ask any question; it is for the interviewee to give a befitting answer. In the first case, the interviewer wanted to know if you have any hands-on/practical experience. Instead of feeling angry or embarrassed, you should have informed them accordingly (that you are a Fresher). Please note that these days, like in the developed countries, in Indian B-Schools, students come with a few years of work experience. So the question is not all that alien.

Interview Tips

Interviews allow you to showcase your talent and abilities, demonstrating whether you are a good fit for a particular job. Utilize the following tips to enhance your interview skills:

1. Practice makes perfect. Practice in front of a mirror or with friends/colleagues.

2. Dress professionally for the job; avoid wearing jeans, T-shirts, etc.

3. Proper preparation helps reduce tension and nervousness during the interview.

4. Punctuality is crucial. Arrive at least fifteen minutes early for the interview.

5. Answer questions clearly and confidently during the interview.

6. Maintain eye contact with the interviewers while responding.

7. Turn off your cellphone, iPod, pager, etc.

8. Refrain from smoking while waiting for an interview.

9. Avoid answering in a simple 'yes' or 'no' manner.

10. Listen attentively and ask for clarification if needed.

11. Demonstrate your interest in the work and your skills during the interview.

12. Remember to bring copies of your resume, a pen, and a writing pad.

13. Stay positive and respond thoughtfully.

14. Interviews are based on the information provided in resumes, cover letters, and applications.

15. Feel free to ask relevant questions about the job.

16. Conclude each interview by summarizing your qualifications and expressing continued interest in the position.

17. Greet and thank all panel members upon entering and leaving the interview.

18. Send a thank-you letter to all interviewers.

19. Use examples to illustrate your skills and experience.

20. Avoid discussing politics, salary, bonuses, etc.

Dear Ash,

I empathize with your feelings of bitterness. Do realize, though, interviewers come in all sorts of hues, as do the interviews. There are pressure/shock interviews too. I have also heard of interviewers making those rare indecent proposals (in small, family-owned companies). However, a strong candidate can always give a befitting reply and turn the tables on such interviewers. (Of course, this comes with experience).

Regards

Sure, I completely agree with you.

At that point, it was my first experience. But I was also arrogant when the person finally told me, "I don't see you having HR skills, can you join my marketing team?" All I had to say was, "Thanks for your time for interviewing me, this will not work out.

Of course, experience has helped me understand a lot about interviewing and being interviewed.

I have not completely explained what happened during the interview. But thought you should know it.

I had mentioned about my part-time course on "Psychotherapy and Counseling" on my resume. The interviewer asked me - why did you opt for that course. I mentioned it was out of pure passion towards psychology and also - this should help me in the long run as far as HR is concerned. He was "shocked" and asked me, "how on earth can you tell HR is related to Psychology? HR means calculating wages and taking care of absenteeism. You don't know how to calculate and fix wages, you don't know how to open a PF account - and you say that you want an HR job? Which person told you HR was related to psychology? Have you ever read your books on HR?"

Tell me please - was this man worth interviewing an HR grad?

I seriously thought this was a stress interview and kept my cool throughout the interview (except when he offered a role in marketing). But I later learned that he went and complained to my lecturer, "That girl Asha - thinks that psychology and HR are interrelated... how did you screen her for a seat with your prestigious college?"

She only smiled - and later came back and shared the joke with the entire bunch of students.

Dear Ash

I empathize with your feelings of bitterness. Do realize though, interviewers come in all sorts of hues, so do the interviews. There are pressure/shock interviews too. And I have also heard of interviewers making those rare indecent proposals (in small, family-owned companies).

But a strong candidate can always give a befitting reply and turn the table on such interviewers.

(Of course, it comes with experience).

Regards

Dear Balaji,

At that point of being interviewed, I was only a student. All the others came through experience. A mere course on Psychotherapy will not help in gaining the professional expertise. Till now - I only know the theoretical part of Psychotherapy - never implemented it on anyone (Rather no good soul approached me for that!) And about mentoring - anyone can be that only when they grow professionally with thoughts. I was just a simple student looking for an HR job... Today - I am a simple ordinary Junior HR looking for higher responsibilities.

"I really wonder how a person could be with combined quality viz.,

(1) Psychotherapist
(2) HR Expert
(3) Student
(4) Mentor

I am shocked to see the multi-faceted capabilities in a single person that too interviewing the interviewer! Astonishing! The person in my feeling should not have attended the interview, else could have sat in the CEO's cabin directly! (may look a high profile) I never heard or even witnessed such a quality anywhere even as I am with the IIM team and work groups! Congrats! kb"

Dear Raj,

The interviewer was obviously aware of my experience. And please note - that this was a few years back and not recent. The interviewer was well aware that I have nil experience. I would definitely say it is alien to a fresher. Today I can show my smartness in asking questions that a fresher may not be able to even answer at all and make them look miserable. But that shows my inability in interviewing. Obviously the position is for a fresher - so it's pointless for the person to ask such a question. It's not about me feeling embarrassed - I would have appreciated if he had asked whether I have any hands-on experience - but the immediate statement showed his inability in interviewing "Then what did your HR faculty teach you? Were you sleeping when she taught how to fix the wages and work on PF?" In fact - my professor was stunned when I mentioned what happened. I was a fresher - so I was thinking the mistake was on my side - today if I get to see that guy - I would ask him to take courses on "The art of interviewing"