●► Human Resource (HR) Interview TipsHR Interviews can be a source of stress and anxiety when you are looking for a job. HR interview is your chance to make a good impression on your potential employer and ultimately, get the job. How you present yourself, what you wear, how you answer difficult questions and your general attitude all play key roles in HR interviews. Being prepared is the best way to gain employment in today’s competitive job market. Knowing relevant information about the company you are interviewing for, knowledge of the job and the industry surrounding the job can make or break an interview.
All interviews are not the same and HR interviews are often times a screening process that can earn you a follow-up or selection interview within the company. If an individual passes the selection interview, he may be required to participate in a group interview for final analysis. The key to success in HR interviews is to be yourself while respecting your employer.
Following are some HR interview tips:-
Be prepared
Preparation boosts confidence. Practice with your friends or relatives. Remember that everyone who is interviewing is not necessarily a good interviewer.You may prepare by reviewing magazine and newspaper articles.You may check out their web site. Read your resume before your interview. It will keep your answers fresh.
Be on time
Find out the location of organization. Arrive 5-10 minutes early. Arriving early will give you the opportunity to read some information on the company in the reception area.
Dress to impress
Professional look always helps for good impression. Be careful about your dressing. Decide what you are going to wear the night before to avoid making the wrong choices.
Be polite
Do not interrupt to the interviewer. Listen carefully to the questions being asked and then anticipate. If the interview is being conducted in a restaurant, mind your table manners. If the interviewers are serious and soft-spoken, then you should be same as interviewee. Avoid loud laughter during the interview.
Be positive and smile
Keep in mind that there is only one chance to make a first impression. Every company wants employees who are goal-oriented, career-driven, enthusiastic and motivated. Be the employee as they want. End the interview on a positive note. The hiring official needs to know that you are interested, enthusiastic and excited about the position and the company.
Don’t discuss pay too early
Questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant are always bothersome. Unless the subject comes up, don’t wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview.
Talk technically to techies only
Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. Answer questions about your education and work briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying.
Keep your philosophy to yourself
If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position. If you are asked about how you feel about a product/company, be honest, but don’t preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions.
Electronic interruption: Not welcomed
Cellular phone etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Store your electronic devices in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can’t spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job?
Remember to say thank you
Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it’s vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who’s awaiting the manager’s next move. Just after you have completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter.