The Hindu : New Delhi News : The art and craft of interview

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Monday, Mar 31, 2008
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The art and craft of interview

Mr. V. P. Gupta Director Rau’s IA S study circle

It’s interview season again. The air is full of expectations and the Civil Services (Main) Exam results have been just announced. All sort of thoughts cross our mind when we think of what stuff the interviews are made of..

Well, let me tell you the interviews are composed of one most important ingredient and that is "you". Everything else that goes on in an interview is peripheral or secondary. Talking about oneself is not easy for any one in such a situation. Yet that is what precisely you are required to do in an interview.

Your past achievements, present inclinations and vision for future is what you must be ready to talk about in a bit more clear-headed manner in an interview for any job. An interview is a celebration of "you" from start to finish. So at least the main theme of the interview is not covered by any amount of fog or mist.

The preparation for an interview, therefore, should begin by keeping yourself at the centre. In fact viewed from a social perspectives we all love to talk about ourselves and we never tire of telling others how we feel, what we think, why we acted the way we did and when we felt stumped or clueless; who then rescued us and where all that finally led us to. We are usually full of ourselves; if not self-obsessed.

The interviewers have two major concerns in their mind; (a) the personality issues and (b) the knowledge aspects of a candidate. Now, in case of Civil Services Exam the knowledge aspects are taken care of by an elaborate written exam which has been already done. What remains to be evaluated is personality aspects of a candidate. And it is for this reason the interview has been at times also call the personality test. In a situation like Civil Services the personality aspects worry the selectors more than the qualification aspects since Civil Services do not require any critical technical qualifications for the day to day administrative business of the government.

Here is some last minute advice which you will do well to keep in your mind to enhance your performance in Board.

Intelligent listening – eye contact to be maintained to show you are listening attentively.

While speaking the eye contact can be a little more relaxed.

Low Peripheral Movement (LPM) it shows you are used to people listening to you carefully when you talk to others.

Cut your answer short to the required patience shown by the Member of the Board talking to you.

They usually like to talk more, so listen carefully and think for a few seconds before you start answering the question. This will show you are organizing your thought in your mind before starting to speak.

Bring in qualifiers while talking – so as to leave some room for difference in opinion.

Do take stand, but don’t look adamant or unwilling to appreciate the Board’s opinion.

Use a couple of words from the question while answering any question. It shows you have listened to the question very carefully.

Remember that the interviewers are not your adversaries and they are not attending the interview in order to pull you apart. Their interest lies in what you might say and show them about yourself.

[The author, Mr. V.P. Gupta, is the Director of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, New Delhi]

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