An Overview of Campus Placement Interviews
Interviews are quite important since they give an opportunity to leave a good and lasting first impression on an individual. Immense importance is given to an individual’s conduct during the first interaction with the employer. Especially if one is a fresher appearing for a campus placement job interview, this interaction can bring a lot of things into the radar besides one’s academic performance and the CV. Let us go through this list of do’s and don’ts of campus placement interviews for a better understanding of the process.
The Do’s and Don’ts in Campus Placement Interviews
Interview Do’s
While certain things may work for an individual and might not work for the other, given below are some suggestions that are good to follow. Consider them as the commandments to follow to a T.
Ask questions and be frank in your approach.
Be aware of the company’s profile and how well you can fulfil their requirement.
Be Confident.
Be comfortable while talking with your hand gestures.
Be punctual and ensure that you reach at least 10 minutes early.
Bring a copy of all relevant documents.
Dress appropriately and look neat and clean.
Express yourself in simple words and clearly.
If you are being interviewed by a panel, ensure to make eye contact with the person who asks the question.
Be alert and listen to the questions and answer thoughtfully.
Present your skills in a positive light, even your weaknesses.
Make sure to fully understand the question and raise a question if you have a doubt about a certain statement.
In an interview, try to maintain the positive image that your CV has already created after the first round of short-listing.
Show enthusiasm for joining the company and the position.
Interview Don’ts
Just like the do’s, there are certain things to steer clear of. Go through them and ensure not to make these mistakes on your important day.
Don’t sit in a stiff posture.
Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no”. Make sure to explain your stance on the statement.
Don’t dress casually or look untidy.
Don’t fidget while sitting.
Don’t interrupt the interviewer before they have finished asking a question.
Don’t lie when it comes to internship experiences and roles in the college. They can always cross-check.
Don’t make derogatory remarks about anyone, including your professors, supervisors, and fellow students.
Avoid asking too many questions about salary, holidays or bonuses. You may discuss these at length after an offer is made.
Don’t wear strong perfumes or fragrances.
At the same time, do not fret if something goes wrong. Don’t worry if you haven’t answered a question satisfactorily. Attempt the next question with sincerity and stay focussed.
Frequently-Asked Questions in Campus Placement Interviews
Tell us something about yourself.
It is one of the common campus placement interview questions . Though the question is simple in its approach, treat this question thoughtfully and answer from the job seeker’s point of view. Do not start with your name and follow the conventional manner of continuing with your qualifications as the interviewer wants to know details which are not mentioned in the CV. One can start with the value systems inculcated by the parents and then discuss the strengths and weaknesses.
What are your likes and dislikes?
Discussing likes can range from places, transport, dressing, or hobbies. The same applies to dislikes; however, do not be very stern or negative. Try to discuss it in a manner that compliments one’s field and make it sound casual.
What are your strengths and weakness?
Everyone needs some qualities to be a successful professional in a particular field, so try to customise the answer according to your field. Try to imbibe qualities like integrity, excellent oral communication, listening skills, and excellent knowledge of the product. Do not go for generic answers, and try to be as descriptive as possible. Do not present your critical weaknesses. A good way is to disguise your strengths as weaknesses, for example, punctuality.
Avoid generic statements like ‘I want to be a good manager’ or ‘I want to be a CEO in five years’. One can go for short-term and long-term ambitions. Try to make the answer explanatory and detailed so that the interviewer knows what plan one has charted out to achieve the bigger goal.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Talk in terms of professional excellence, and study the industry you wishes to be part of. Evaluate how much time it takes to get promoted from one position to the next. Explain that you will need to acquire the skills it takes to reach that level. Try to be honest, practical and straightforward in your answer. If possible, talk with the employees of the organisation through professional channels like LinkedIn, and seek their guidance on the nature of the organisation’s growth rate for a well-constructed answer. These tips will give you a proper glimpse of the process. The list serves as a warm-up exercise before a job interview. So gear up and get ready for a successful interview session.
