INTERVIEW
PREPARATION AND
PLANNING (UNIT 4 )
BY SHIVANGI SRIVASTAVA
CORPORATE ETIQUETTES
• Corporate Etiquette refers to behaving sensibly and appropriately at the workplace to create an
everlasting impression. − It is essential for an individual to behave in a socially acceptable way.
Etiquette helps an individual to be different and stand apart from the crowd. Etiquette is vital in
the business world.
Setting a professional tone is crucial to building new relationships
and ensuring you have a positive, successful experience in the
workplace.
• Make a Good First Impression. ...
• Avoid Gossip. ...
• Communication is Key. ...
• Understand your Work Environment. ...
• Be Personable Yet Professional.
Do’s and Dont’s of Corporate Etiquette
• Never adopt a casual attitude at work. Your office pays you for your hard work
and not for loitering around.
• Don’t peep into other’s cubicles and workstations. Knock before entering
anyone’s cabin. Respect each other’s privacy.
• Put your hand phone in the silent or vibrating mode at the workplace. Loud
ring tones are totally unprofessional and also disturb other people.
• Don’t open anyone else’s notepads registers or files without his permission.
• It is bad manners to sneeze or cough in public without covering your mouth.
Use a handkerchief or tissue for the same.
• Popping chewing gums in front of co workers is simply not expected out of a
professional.
• Stay away from nasty politics at the workplace. Avoid playing blame games.
• Keep your workstation clean and tidy. Throw unwanted paper in dustbin and
keep files in their respective drawers. Put a label on top of each file to avoid
unnecessary searching.
Never criticize or make fun of any of your colleagues. Remember fighting leads to no
solution. There are several other ways to express displeasure. Sit with your colleagues,
discuss issues face to face and decide on something which is mutually acceptable.
Take care of your pitch and tone at the workplace. Never shout on anyone or use
foul words. It is unprofessional to lash out at others under pressure. Stay calm and think
rationally.
Never attend meetings or seminars without a notepad and pen. It is little tough to
remember each and everything discussed in the meeting. Jot down the important points
for future reference. Wait for your turn to speak.
Pass on information to all related recipients in the desired form. Communicate
through written modes of communication preferably through emails. Keep your
reporting boss in the loop. Make sure your email signatures are correct.
Reach office on time. One must adhere to the guidelines and policies of the
organization. Discipline must be maintained at the workplace.
No organization likes to have a shabbily dressed employee. Shave daily and do not
use strong perfumes.
Never wear revealing clothes to work. Body piercing and tattoo are a strict no no at
the workplace. Females should avoid wearing heavy jewellery to work.
Don’t pass lewd comments to any of your fellow workers.
While having lunch together, do not start till the others have received their food.
Make sure your spoon and fork do not make a clattering sound. Eat slowly to avoid
burping in public.
Respect your fellow workers and help them whenever required.
It is unethical to share confidential data with external parties and any other individual
who is not related to the organization. Data in any form must not be passed to anyone
outside the organization.
Office Stationery is meant to be used only at work. Taking any office property back home
is equivalent to stealing.
Make sure you turn off the monitor while you go out for lunch or tea breaks. Switch
off the fans, lights, printer, fax machine, scanner before you leave for the day.
Don’t bring your personal work to office. Avoid taking kids to office unless and until
there is an emergency.
Park you car at the space allocated to you. Don’t park your vehicle at the entrance as it
might obstruct someone’s way.
Never ever drink while you are at work. Smoke only at the smoking zones.
Do not leave the restroom with taps on.
Female Employees should stick to minimal make up.
Cross cultural communication
• Thus, cross-cultural communication refers to communication between people who differ
in any of the following: working styles, age, nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual
orientation, and so on
• Cross-cultural communication can also refer to the use of words, gestures, and body
language to exchange, negotiate, and mediate cultural differences. It is the means by
which people from many cultures connect with one another.
• Culture can be practiced at various levels by each individual. There is the culture of the
society in which he grew up, the culture of his workplace, and other cultures in which a
person actively participates or withdraws gradually. A person's indigenous culture and
the majority culture to which he is exposed on a daily basis are continuously at odds.
Individuals who believe their culture is superior to others cause cultural disputes.
• A wide range of academic areas has influenced cross-cultural communication. It is
important to avoid disagreements that could lead to conflicts between individuals or
groups. Cross-cultural communication fosters trust and facilitates collaboration. The
emphasis is on providing the appropriate response rather than the appropriate message.
Importance
• Different cultural methods of thinking, analyzing, hearing, accepting, and interpreting diverse
things provide people different ways of thinking, analyzing, hearing, accepting, and
understanding different things. This means that in the United States, the same words or
gestures will have distinct meanings for persons from other cultures.
• Communication between cultures is now part of the bigger area of communication studies all
over the world as a result of globalization. From companies to universities to schools,
multiculturalism and foreign language education are becoming increasingly popular among
people from all walks of life, cultures, and nationalities.
These factors are the reason of benefit in ccm:
• Improved Progress
• Cultural Influence
• Management
BARRIERS
• 1. Language
Those from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds confront communication obstacles
because miscommunication is widespread among people who speak the same language.
Misunderstandings can result from anything from a mispronunciation of a word to a lack of
specificity. Despite the fact that English is the most widely used international business language,
not every company in the world utilizes it on a regular basis. Employees may struggle to
communicate in English, which can lead to misconceptions when it comes to receiving
directions, determining the level of urgency, and addressing difficulties or concerns.
• 2. Stereotypes
These are generalizations about a group of people that are ascribed to individuals regardless of
their personal traits due to their membership in that group. Positive, negative, or neutral
stereotypes exist. Many stereotypes are negative or even hostile, and they create a severe
communication barrier in the workplace. The stereotype is a concept that is utilized in a variety
of situations. The uniqueness of Chinese cultural characteristics, for example, has been
recognized in various ways. Chinese people are frequently described as emotionally reserved,
introspective, serene, exceedingly courteous, socially cautious, self-restrained, and so on.
3. Body Language
Body language is a term that refers to all non-verbal communication. This includes how we
welcome people, sit or stand, our facial expressions, clothes, hairstyles, tone of voice, eye
movements, how we listen, how we breathe, how near we stand to others, and how we touch
others. Body language exerts a strong influence in emotional situations, where body language
frequently takes precedence over words. Kinesics is the scientific study of body language.
Around the world, eye contact, posture, and facial expressions have distinct connotations.
4. Emotional Display
From culture to culture, what constitutes an appropriate display of emotion varies. In certain
nations, expressing wrath, fear, or irritation at work is deemed improper in the workplace.
People from these cultures keep their feelings to themselves and simply talk about the facts of
the problem. Participants in various cultures are expected to disclose their feelings during a
talk. You can imagine the misconceptions that can occur when a businessperson expresses
significant emotion in the presence of coworkers who believe that such behavior is
inappropriate.
5. Ethnocentrism
It is a tendency to criticize other groups based on one's own standards and ideals.
Ethnocentric values not only operate as a barrier to communication, but they can also affect
a student's mood and productivity. Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own group's
culture is good, right, and rational, whereas other civilizations are inferior. When presented
with a different culture, people judge it according to their own standards, rather than
attempting to comprehend and evaluate it from the perspective of its members. Racism, the
concept that people may be categorized into various racial groups and that these races have
a biologically based hierarchy, is sometimes paired with ethnocentrism. In principle,
though, one might reject a distinct culture without implying that its adherents are inherently
inferior. However, ethnocentrism can make it difficult to communicate with people from
diverse cultures. It can also make you hostile to outside organizations and prevent you from
seeing various points of view, values, or methods of doing things.
6. Prejudice
Prejudice emerges when someone's characteristics are 'prejudged' simply because they are
classified as belonging to a certain group. It's frequently linked to negative attitudes about
that particular group. This mental barrier can be disastrous for organizational
communication since it can prevent entire groups of employees from receiving critical
information.
How to improve Cross-Cultural Communication?
1. Prefer In-Depth Conversations
2. Avoid Signaling
3. Perception
NETIQUETTES
• Netiquette thus describes the rules of conduct for respectful and appropriate
communication on the internet. Netiquette is often referred to as etiquette
for the internet. These are not legally binding rules, but recommended rules
of etiquette. Netiquette is mostly used for dealing with unknown people on
the internet.
MOCK INTERVIEW
• How to Prepare for a Mock Interview
• A mock interview is a practice interview, but you need to take it seriously, just as you would
an actual job interview. Consider the mock interview as a dress rehearsal. Keep the following
things in mind to ace your mock interview:
• Choose the right mock interviewer. It’s easy to ask a friend or a family member, but if you
want to get objective and honest feedback, you may want to ask someone with experience in
interviewing job candidates. You can also choose a professional who works in your industry.
• Choose a professional setting. You need a venue that simulates the environment of an office.
• Be early. Arrive 15-30 minutes early.
• Bring the necessary items. Don’t forget to bring your resume and any other documents you
may need. Also, bring a notepad so that you can take notes from your mock interviewer’s
feedback.
• Dress smart and sharp. Wear the same kind of attire you expect to wear to the actual
interview.
• Prepare your answers to common interview questions, but don’t memorize them. You
want to avoid sounding like a robot with canned responses. Bear in mind that you’re doing an
interview not to take a test but to engage in a conversation to determine if you’re suitable for
the job.
WHAT IS MOCK INTERVIEW ?
• A mock interview is a practice interview that simulates the real
thing. It is designed to help you prepare for job interviews by
allowing you to practice responses to common interview
questions and receive feedback on your performance.
• You can conduct a mock interview with a friend, family
member, or professional career coach.
Mock interview meaning
• The meaning of a mock interview is self-explanatory- A mock interview is a practice
interview that simulates the experience of a job interview.
• It is a valuable tool for job seekers who want to improve their interview skills and
increase their chances of success.
• During a mock interview, a job seeker can practice interview questions similar to those
asked in an actual interview.
• The purpose of a mock interview is to help job seekers identify their strengths and
weaknesses and get feedback on their performance.
• It allows them to practice their interview skills, become more comfortable with the
interview process, and gain confidence.
• Mock interviews also provide an opportunity to practice answering difficult questions,
develop strategies for handling challenging situations, and refine their communication
skills.
• Mock interviews can be conducted in various settings, including with friends or family
members, career centers, or through online platforms. Some employers may also offer
mock interviews to help candidates prepare for the actual interview process.
• By conducting mock interviews, job seekers can gain valuable insights into their
interview skills and make necessary adjustments before the actual interview.
• This can help them feel more confident and prepared, leading to a more successful
interview experience. Overall, mock interviews are an essential tool for job seekers
looking to improve their chances of landing their desired job.
6 Tips to practice with mock interviews
1. Research the company and role
Before your mock interview, research the company and the role you are interviewing for.
This will help you understand the company's culture, values, and mission, which can help
you tailor your responses to the interviewer's expectations.
Look for information such as recent news, the company's products/services, and their
competitors.
Researching the company and role before a mock interview can help job seekers in several
ways.
It allows them to gain a better understanding of the company's culture, values, and mission,
which can help them tailor their responses to the interviewer's expectations.
It also helps them prepare relevant questions to ask the interviewer and demonstrate their
knowledge of the company during the interview.
Additionally, researching the role can help job seekers understand the specific skills,
experiences, and qualifications the employer is looking for, allowing them to highlight their
relevant experience and showcase their fit for the role.
All of these factors can help job seekers perform better during their mock interviews and
increase their chances of success in the actual interview.
2. Review common interview questions
Go through a list of common interview questions and prepare your responses. Think
about how you can showcase your skills, achievements, and experiences in a way
that is relevant to the role you are interviewing for.
Remember to keep your responses concise, relevant, and focused. Reviewing
common interview questions before a mock interview can help job seekers in several
ways.
First, it helps them prepare well-thought-out and well-structured responses that
showcase their skills, experiences, and achievements.
It also helps them identify potential areas of weakness, allowing them to prepare
thoughtful responses to any difficult questions that may come up during the
interview.
Additionally, by familiarizing themselves with common interview questions, job
seekers can feel more confident and prepared for their mock interview, which can
help them perform better during the actual interview.
Overall, reviewing common interview questions is an important part of preparing for
a mock interview and can significantly improve a job seeker's chances of success.
3. Practice your body language
During an interview, your body language can speak louder than your words. Practice good
posture, eye contact, and a confident handshake.
This will help you appear more confident and professional.
Practicing body language is an important aspect of preparing for mock interviews because it
can have a significant impact on how job seekers are perceived by interviewers.
During an interview, nonverbal cues such as posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures
can convey information to the interviewer about the candidate's confidence,
professionalism, and enthusiasm.
By practicing body language during mock interviews, job seekers can become more aware
of their nonverbal cues and learn to use them to their advantage.
For example, they can practice sitting up straight, making eye contact, and smiling to
convey confidence and engagement. They can also practice using appropriate hand gestures
to emphasize key points and make their presentation more dynamic.
Practicing body language can also help job seekers to avoid negative nonverbal cues, such
as fidgeting, slouching, or avoiding eye contact, which can convey nervousness or
disinterest.
By becoming more aware of these habits during mock interviews, job seekers can work to
eliminate them and present a more polished and professional image.
Overall, practicing body language during mock interviews can help job seekers improve
their communication skills, build confidence, and make a positive impression on
interviewers.
It is an important part of interview preparation and can significantly increase the chances of
success in the actual interview.
4. Record yourself
Record yourself answering interview questions and watch the recording to assess your
performance.
This will help you identify areas where you need improvement, such as filler words, lack
of confidence, or rambling. You can use your smartphone or a webcam to record your
responses.
Recording yourself during a mock interview is an essential practice because it allows you
to assess your performance objectively.
When you watch the recording, you can analyze your body language, tone of voice, and
overall presentation.
This will help you identify areas where you need improvements, such as nervous habits,
filler words, or lack of eye contact.
By reviewing the recording of your mock interview, you can identify specific areas to
focus on and work to improve before the actual interview.
This will help refine your responses, increase your confidence, and make a better
impression on the interviewer.
Recording yourself during a mock interview can be a valuable tool in preparing for the
actual interview and can help you achieve your desired outcome.
It allows you to practice your interview skills in a low-stakes environment and gain
valuable insights that you can use to improve your performance.
5. Dress professionally
Dress as you would for a real interview. This will help you get into the right
mindset and feel more confident.
Dressing professionally can also help you make a good first impression on the
interviewer.
Dressing professionally during mock interviews is crucial because it projects a
polished and professional image to potential employers.
It shows that candidates take the interview seriously and are committed to
presenting themselves in the best possible light.
It helps them become comfortable with their interview attire and experiment with
different styles to find the most suitable outfit for the actual interview.
Dressing professionally during mock interviews also helps job seekers practice
good grooming habits and feel more confident and put-together during the actual
interview.
Overall, presenting themselves professionally increases their chances of making a
positive first impression and landing their desired job.
6. Use tools and resources
There are many free tools and resources available online that can help you prepare for your
mock interview. Some of these tools include online interview simulators, practice with a
virtual interviewer, or interview preparation apps.
You can use these tools to simulate an interview environment and get feedback on your
performance. Here are 9 free mock interview tools and websites that can help job seekers in
India prepare for their interviews:
InterviewBit - InterviewBit offers a mock interview platform with real-world problems and
coding questions.
Interview Buddy - This website offers a range of mock interview questions and feedback
from experts.
.PracticeMock - PracticeMock is a platform that offers mock interviews for bank exams,
government jobs, and other competitive exams in India.
These free mock interview tools and websites can be valuable resource for job seekers in
India to prepare for their interviews and improve their chances of landing their dream job.
GROUP DISCUSSION SESSIONS
• Group discussion is when a group of people comes together to discuss a certain
topic. Many Recruiters use group discussion (GD) to test a candidate’s
communication skills, leadership skills, test topic knowledge, etc. There are also two
other types of GD that test the lateral thinking of a candidate. It is a short case study
& Group exercise. Often the group discussion rounds are considered tough, but it is
not tough if you follow certain steps.
• The general discussion (GD) is a session in which the candidate’s abilities are
evaluated, including leadership, communication, social and behavioral skills,
courtesy, teamwork, listening skills, general awareness, self-assurance, and
problem-solving abilities.
• Usually, the Group Discussion comes after the entrance exam for a professional
degree. Depending on the firms or organizations, the group discussion may be the
first or the last step in the hiring process.
• The location of the group conversation does not have to be at the table. Any seating
arrangement is OK as long as everyone can see one another’s faces. It is not only a
typical talk; it is also a discussion based on facts and knowledge
TYPES OF GD
• Factual Group Discussions
• Opinion-Based Group Discussion
• Group conversations based on case studies
• Abstract Group Discussion
• Factual group discussions: These discussions focus on the real
world and test a candidate’s ability to digest information and analyse
socioeconomic or everyday concerns.
• Opinion-Based Group Discussion: Test how well candidates can
articulate their beliefs and viewpoints. These group talks tend to
focus more on views than facts.
• Group conversations based on case studies: These discussions
mimic real-world circumstances. The group is given the specifics of
a fictitious scenario by the panellists, and then the group must work
together to address it.
• Abstract Group Discussion: These are abstract group discussions.
In these, the interviewers check to see if a candidate can approach
the subject at hand with originality and lateral thinking.
Skills required to evaluate in group discussion
• Subject Expertise: Your knowledge of the subject matter for the position is the
first thing that employers assess. Employers, for instance, want you to have in-
depth knowledge of their products and sales process if you seek a sales position.
• Creativity/Originality: Innovative solutions and unconventional thinking are
required for some jobs. The panellists may use group activities in these situations
to evaluate your creativity and originality of ideas when working in a group.
• Voice: Controlling your voice’s pitch, volume, and tone are all examples of
communication abilities. In a typical group discussion, employers listen for a
forceful approach, an authoritative voice, clarity in speech, and an audible tone.
• Bodily language: Your body language conveys a lot about your behaviours and
attitude at work.
• Fluency: Speaking clearly is a necessary ability for positions in sales or customer
service.
• Initiative: Self-starting is a sign of good leadership abilities. The panellists will
initially assess your attempts to initiate and establish the flow of the conversation.
• Active hearing: For managerial or customer service roles, active listening is a
crucial skill. In a typical group, everyone tries to emphasise their points to gain
attention.
Group Discussion Process
• Topic Announcement: The subject announcement is the initial
step in any GD. The panellist will introduce the subject.
• Preparation Time: This is a preparation period during which all
applicants will be allowed 2 to 5 minutes to prepare their content.
• Discussion Starts: At this point, one applicant, who may be any of
the other participants, starts the conversation.
• Discussion among participants: After the panellist asked
participants to recap the entire discussion, they continued to speak.
• Results: This is the last step in this process, where the discussion
ratings for each candidate are announced depending on their
performance.
Group Discussion Guidelines
• Do your homework on the subject: The easy fix is to make a
list of all the crucial information while getting ready.
• Prepare your content: Have faith in your content Having faith
in your content would be beneficial. If you lack confidence,
you can fumble through a sentence, which will give the wrong
impression.
• Do not start if unsure: If you are unsure of your topic, don’t
start the conversation.
• Avoid conflict: Certain candidates frequently become
combative during group discussions. Don’t argue during the
conversation.
DONT’S
• If you don’t know much, stop following leads.
• Do not be reluctant to start the conversation.
• Try to take the lead if you are knowledgeable and assured about the subject.
• Don’t steal anyone else’s thoughts or remarks.
• While speaking, make eye contact with all participants.
• You should keep in mind that there are several candidates in a discussion when
you start one.
• Do not lose faith in the conversation as a whole.
• The group conversation doesn’t last for very long. It just lasts a brief period of
time.
• Avoid speaking slowly.
• In a group conversation, you should always speak up so that everyone can hear
and understand you.
• Instead of just chatting during a discussion, try to contribute.
DO’S
• Having Rich Content with Good knowledge
• Being a leader
• Try to be relevant to the topic
• Be a Good listener
• Communication skills
• Body language
TIPS
• Try to make eye contact with everyone in the group discussion when they are speaking, or
you are speaking as it shows your alertness.
• Try not to interrupt when others are talking as the recruiters are looking for a candidate who
has team spirit
• It may happen that the other person has stolen the point that you may have noted down or
planned to speak in GD. Do not panic. Take a deep breath and come back with the news like
nothing happened, as the panelists can see how you react to such circumstances.
• If you are unaware of the topic, let the group mates speak first, take a clue and try to make
your points. Or else you can rephrase what your group mates want to offer or try to reiterate
their points, or in the worst case, you can summarize the discussion.
• If you are aware of the topic, try to jot down the points and be the first to start the discussion.
In this way, you can head towards a meaningful point of your choice.
• You can participate in a mock GD. This will help to open the thought process to diverse
topics, and a plus point, you can know about the strengths and shortcomings. You can also
practice in front of the mirror. It also does a miracle.
• Most of the topics of GD are picked from the newspapers to make sure you are fully aware of
what’s going on around the world. If you don’t read newspapers and magazines, you can
browse on different websites that will give you an overview of the latest happenings.
• You have noticed that your friend just makes 2 points whereas you presented 5 points, but he
was the winner; remember the quantity doesn’t, but quality does. Make points that are
relevant to the topic or are related. Don’t try to go out of the box.
PHASES OF GD
• Initial phase – you may be Anxious and nervous in this phase. This
general understanding of the candidates has been noticed. If you
tried to be clear with your facts, and have the relevant knowledge
needed for the topic, you will be able to catch the attention of the
team members and the panelists. But if you do it because you want
to do it. It will impact negatively.
• Conflict – When the conflict started to increase, the group
members try to challenge each other with their analytical data and
facts. You may find some members may be supporting the views
expressed, and some may be against them. In this phase, try to be
calm and emphatic. There may be passive participants who try to
make them involved in the group discussion. You can also use your
creativity in this phase.
Teamwork – In this phase, the conflicts are easy and quick to solve, and
the team members communicate openly as members come to a calm and
collaborative mindset.
Performance- In this phase, the evaluation of skills is done based on
decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork. When everyone has
presented their views, here comes the role of collaboration.
Conclusion– It is the final phase. All the points have been noted, and
they try to reach a solution.
