The Hindu Business Line : Impressing in interviews

This is the season of interviews for the All-India and Central Services. Coaching institutions have started preparing thousands of aspirants who have cleared the hurdle of written examinations. Retired officials belonging to these Services are being eagerly sought after by the sons and daughters of their friends to get tips on making a good impression on interview panels. Today’s column is dedicated to candidates who are keen to make it to the top Services but are ne rvous about facing the interview.

At the outset, it is best to bear in mind that the basic guidelines making for smooth and agreeable inter-personal relations are the same in any walk of life. In essence, they require you to cultivate a pleasant disposition, marking you out as a warm and friendly person with a cheerful outlook on life.

You must also come through as a genuine and spontaneous individual who has an open mind, is a patient and receptive listener, and has a constructive and positive bent of mind. In short, your personality should help you establish rapport with anyone you may have occasion to deal with.

There is no doubt about the challenging nature of the interview for decision-making, leadership positions in government. For, what is tested is not simply the knowledge of the subjects chosen by you for the competitive examinations or those in which you had obtained your degrees.

Of course, there could be a few questions pertaining to them, and since any fumbling on your part in your own subjects will go against you, brush up on them as part of your preparation.

What will ultimately count is your general awareness and your ability to analyse events and issues of national and international importance objectively by marshalling facts and arguments in support of your views and articulating them coherently and logically. Brief yourselves comprehensively on the notable developments in political, economic, social, literary, cultural, business and scientific domains so that you are in a position to handle questions on them with self-assurance.

No bluffing

At all costs, avoid being dogmatic or argumentative. The panel may provoke you by asserting an alternative view. If it has substance, graciously accept it. Or, if you want to hold on to your opinion, do so in an even-tempered fashion on the basis of acceptable reasoning.

Do not try to bluff, if any question passes over your heads. Say sorry and admit your lack of preparedness on the topic. Similarly, if you did not follow the purport of a question, or did not hear it properly, you should politely ask for the question to be repeated, without giving some answer which might turn out to be irrelevant or inappropriate because of your faulty understanding of the question.

What if you are diffident about expressing yourselves fluently or effectively in English? I think the interviewers will actually appreciate it if you tell them at the start of the interview about the problem and request them to make allowances for it and take into account the substance of what you convey. Or, if there is the option to answer in your mother tongue, by all means take advantage of it.

Your general bearing, self-possession and air of confidence often give you a head start in predisposing the interviewers in your favour. Err on the side of being formally attired, instead of taking liberties with your dress and appearance.

Greet the interviewers cheerfully and wait until you are asked to be seated. Do not be fidgety or jittery. Instead, be at ease, be natural and maintain eye contact with the interviewers by turn while you talk to them or answer their questions.

Good luck!

B. S. RAGHAVAN

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