Entries Tagged 'GD / PI / CV' ↓

What follows is a set of personality questions that are almost always asked during interviews. We are also providing with a few guidelines that could be helpful in answering these!!

What was the last book you read? Movie you saw? Sporting event you attended?
* Talk about books, sports or films to represent balance in you life.

How would you describe your own personality?
* Balanced.

What are your strong points?
* Present at least three and relate them to the courses offered by the institues.
I’m very focused on what I want, and I don’t give up easily.”
you have to be confident about what you’re doing, and you have to do it well
You have to give your best to your job and focus on what you want to achieve.”

What are your weak points?

Don’t say you have none.
Try not to cite personal characteristics as weaknesses, but be ready to have one if interviewer presses.
Turn a negative into a positive answer: “I am sometimes intent on completing an assignment and get too deeply involved when we are late.”

In a Personal Interview, the questions generally revolve around behaviors, skills and attitudes of the student. The selector aims to gain an insight into the personality of the student by assessing the student in the following areas

* The Strengths and weaknesses of the student
* Aim and objective behind management education
* Stress and Time Management skills
* Past performances and experiences as indicator to future behavior
* Honesty and integrity
* Personality conflicts, if any

Some of the common questions that a candidate faces in an interview

* Why do you wish to choose a career in management?
* Discuss the vocations or professions other than management, which you have considered.
* Give a candid evaluation of yourself discussing those characteristics you feel are your strengths and weaknesses.
* Describe your three most substantial accomplishments and explain why you view them as such.
* Describe a situation or a job in which you felt had some responsibility and tell us what you learned from that experience.
* What did you get out of your academic and extra curricular life at college?
* Describe your vocation and hobbies.
* How do you visualize yourself, five years hence?

Think before answering all these questions. The questions are very simple but difficult to answer because there is no CORRECT answer.

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What do you want to do with your life?
3. Do you have any actual work experience?
4. How would you describe your ideal job?
5. Why did you choose this career?
6. When did you decide on this career?
7. What goals do you have in your career?
8. How do you plan to achieve these goals?
9. How do you evaluate success?
10. Describe a situation in which you were successful.
11. What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
12. What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
13. If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?
14. Would your rather work with information or with people?
15. Are you a team player?
16. What motivates you?
17. Why should I hire you?
18. Are you a goal-oriented person?
19. Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achieve them.
20. What are your short-term goals?
21. What is your long-range objective?
22. What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
23. Where do you want to be ten years from now?
24. Do you handle conflict well?
25. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it?
26. What major problem have you had to deal with recently?
27. Do you handle pressure well?
28. What is your greatest strength?
29. What is your greatest weakness?
30. If I were to ask one of your professors to describe you, what would he or she say?
31. Why did you choose to attend your college?
32. What changes would you make at your college?
33. How has your education prepared you for your career?
34. What were your favorite classes? Why?
35. Do you enjoy doing independent research?
36. Who were your favorite professors? Why?
37. Why is your GPA not higher?
38. Do you have any plans for further education?
39. How much training do you think you’ll need to become a productive employee?
40. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
41. Why do you want to work in the _____ industry?
42. What do you know about our company?
43. Why are you interested in our company?
44. Do you have any location preferences?
45. How familiar are you with the community that we’re located in?
46. Will you relocate? In the future?
47. Are you willing to travel? How much?
48. Is money important to you?
49. How much money do you need to make to be happy?
50. What kind of salary are you looking for?

Everybody tends to make mistakes during their interview. It could be due to nervousness or may be just because its not their day. Still in most of the cases, mistakes we made are avoidable. Just have a look at 2 very common mistakes through this article and promise yourself - never to let that happen in your case!!

Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption

Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any approaching 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. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them 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 it?

For interviewers watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating.

If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn’t important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job.

Don’t Forget 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’ve completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing.

Education & Career Plans

Why did you choose to study __________?
How are you enjoying the program? Why?
Why did you get involved with the co-op program? What do you hope to get out of participating?
What are your grades like? (If not good, why?)
Which courses do you enjoy best? Least? Why?
Which area(s) of the __________ field interests you most? Why?
What do you think it takes to succeed in the __________ field?
You’re in school now, but what do you expect to be doing in five years?

Experience & Skills

Which past jobs have you enjoyed the most? The least? Why?
Under what circumstances did you leave your last job?
Describe your working relationship with your last supervisor.
Are you currently working part-time? (If yes,) do you plan to quit taking a co-op position?
What experience related to this position have you had?
(If no related experience,) how specifically will your past experience be valuable in the __________ field?
(For non-CS students) How computer literate are you? What kinds of computer equipment and software have you used?

Personal

What are your strengths? Weaknesses? How do you know? Can you give an example of each? (Relate to work environment)
Which three adjectives best describe you? (e.g., reliable, kind, etc.)
Can you give an example of how you have shown initiative in a past job or volunteer experience?
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? Why?
Do you prefer working on your own or in a team? Why?
What are some of your leisure interests?
Do you have a car or some other reliable form of transportation?
Are you willing to relocate for co-op/permanent employment?

Your Questions

At the end of the interview, you will usually be given an opportunity to ask questions. Ask about the work itself and the people you will be working with.

Even after months of preparation, some candidates do not perform well inside the interview room. The trick is to follow a few commandments mentioned below & practice them during mock interview sessions diligently. You are sure to crack the personal interview.

1. Whenever the interviewer asks any questions, listen carefully. Do not interrupt him midway. Ask for a clarification if the question is not clear. Wait a second or two before you answer. And don’t dive into the answer!

2. Speak clearly. Don’t speak very slowly. Be loud enough so that the interviewers don’t have to strain their ears.

3. Brevity is the hallmark of a good communicator. An over-talkative or verbose person is disliked and misjudged instantly, so keep it short.

4. If you don’t know an answer, be honest. The interviewer will respect your integrity and honesty. Never exaggerate.

5. Never boast about your achievements. Don’t be overconfident — it is often misinterpreted by interviewers for arrogance.

6. Don’t get into an argument with the interviewer on any topic. Restrain yourself, please!

7. Remember your manners. Project an air of humility and be polite.

8. Project enthusiasm. The interviewer usually pays more attention if you display enthusiasm in whatever you say.

9. Maintain a cheerful disposition throughout the interview, because a pleasant countenance holds the interviewers’ interest.

10. Maintain perfect eye contact with all panel members; make sure you address them all. This shows your self-confidence and honesty.

11. Avoid using slang. It may not be understood and will certainly not be appreciated.

12. Avoid frequent use of words and phrases like, ‘I mean’; ‘You know’; ‘I know’; ‘Well’; ‘As such’; ‘Fine’; ‘Basically’, etc.

13. When questions are asked in English, reply in English only. Do not use Hindi or any other languages. Avoid using Hindi words like matlab, ki, maine, etc.

14. Feel free to ask questions if necessary. It is quite in order and much appreciated by interviewers.

15. Last but not the least, be natural. Many interviewees adopt a stance that is not their natural self. Interviewers find it amusing when a candidate launches into a new accent that s/he cannot sustain consistently through the interview or adopts a mannerism that is inconsistent with their own personality. It is best to talk naturally. You come across as genuine.

You must have come across loads of interview tips by now. So, just to put icing on the cake, here comes a few quick tips to provide you with a smooth sail!!

– List five adjectives that describe you and then list five adjectives that would describe the ideal candidate for the position. How well do the lists match? Where are the gaps?

– Read the company’s annual report, and take note of the adjectives used to describe the leadership and the employees. Is the culture one in which you will be happy and do your best work? For the interview, prepare brief anecdotes about your work that illustrate the qualities the company values.

– Rehearse until you can easily answer questions with clarity and crispness. The more you practice your answers, the more your confidence will grow.

And remember: Everyone can use interview practice. Even the most extroverted, self-confident and verbal candidate needs help in thinking through and rehearsing the answers to interview questions.

Check out the interview updates at our forum through
http://koolkareers.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=15

This link contains various questions asked in different B-School entrance exams…..

While those of you seeking a scholarship for post-grad work have likely had some previous experience in this department, for jobs and colleges, many college-bound applicants may be facing their first encounter with what is an understandable source of anxiety: the interview.

Interviews have been a nerve-wracking ordeal for everyone — from high-schoolers on up to corporate executives — since the advent of the desk chair. After having virtually unlimited time to answer questions in the application, you’re forced to think on your feet while smiling and sitting up straight — all in the presence of a member of the scholarship board. Also unlike an application, interviews cannot be completed in one’s underwear (unless it’s a phone interview).

So think of it this way before you start to panic: you’ve already proven your mettle. Throughout the application process you’ve exercised excellent organizational skills and shown yourself to be a well-prepared individual — now it’s simply a matter of allowing those skills to carry over into the interview process.

As with all things, first you must prepare.

One of the most important things about interviewing is anticipation, because it’s anticipation that will save you the squirm-in-the-seat agony of trying to answer a totally unexpected question. Before going to the interview, prepare basic answers to common, generic questions. Be ready to discuss:

• Your personal history in terms of education, employment, and (some) family. How each shaped you as a person, and how each affected your values and dreams.

• Any awards, championships, honors, distinctions you have won.

• Hopes, dreams and plans for the future, how you plan to attain them and why they are so important to you.

• Hobbies and personal interests.

• Your personal financial standing, and that of your parents, especially if the scholarship is need-based.

• Any questions you may have for the interviewer, relevant to the interview. It can’t hurt to come up with a few of these. It will make you look even more enthusiastic.

Bear in mind that all of your answers should be always relevant to the scholarship you’re applying for. In other words, don’t spend the whole time discussing high school basketball triumphs when applying for a business scholarship. You’d do well to practice adapting your personal history and accomplishments to each individual interview. Make everything relevant to the scholarship you’re contending for. Make it seem as though the scholarship was created for you alone. In a sense, it’s like a job interview — the interviewer is seeking the perfect person to represent the image, reputation and values of his or her organization.

Just a side note: if the scholarship is a specific one, be prepared to answer topical questions. For example, if you’re angling for a humanities scholarship, be prepared to discuss Descartes; if it’s a marine biology scholarship, be prepared to hold forth on the mating habits of octopi.

And on the big day:

• Arrive ten minutes early. Do not be late. If something comes up that will prevent you from arriving on time, call as soon as you can so the interviewer can either attend to other matters while waiting, or rescheduling for a more convenient time.

• Men, wear a jacket and tie, women, a suit or conservative dress/skirt. Dress as though you’re attending a job interview. Do not wear jeans, t-shirts or casual clothing. This cannot be stressed enough.

• Make eye contact, sit up straight, and give a firm handshake. No gum, coffee, food or cigarettes are to be brought into the interview.

• Answer all questions as briefly and candidly as propriety allows. Avoid rambling. If you’ve prepared sufficiently, the answers will already be on the tip of your tongue. If you’re confused by a question, don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer to clarify. It certainly beats a grasping, directionless response.

• Be positive and enthusiastic about the scholarship and about your own future. Smile. Foster easy conversation.

Afterwards, get the name of the interviewer, and send along a thank you note, mentioning something discussed casually in the interview, to help keep your face with your name in the mind of the interviewer.

“Time and tide wait for no man”, this we all know. Hence, having done an inspiring four-year course in Electronic Engineering, I would like to put to use this knowledge to do my Masters in Science. This would give me the leading edge in technology and the practical low-down and information I require. For the past few decades man is advancing into the unknown realms of technology and science. This advancement is to make life easy and to increase human comfort at home and at work and I would like to be an integral part of such betterment. For this, research would be of prime importance with hands on experience in real time applications accompanied by in-depth knowledge of the subject. Technology, today, means power in the widest sense of the term and not merely the power of mind. And it is this power potential that has given it the status it now enjoys. While all this is generally true, since India has been a late comer in the field of science, she has to make up an enormous leeway.

Ever since I was in school I would see my father work with a room full of electronic gizmos on the ship (he is a Radio Officer in the merchant navy) and this is what triggered my fascination for electronics and later computers. The powers they yielded always amazed me. Consequently I decided to attain my Bachelors degree in electronic engineering as it opened up many possibilities and interesting challenges for the reason that science and technology are the roots of many interesting scientific and technical activities. During my engineering course I was introduced to the concepts of microprocessors and microcontrollers and I had taken an instant liking to these subjects. At the same time I became a member of IEEE and by way of their articles learnt a lot more about microprocessors and the role they play in everyday life. It heightened my interest in topics like RISC, CISC and Parallel Processing. All this together aided my decision to specialize in Computer Engineering especially in Computer Architecture & Parallel Processors.

Since then I’ve covered numerous topics in microprocessors such as the Intel 8085, 8086,80386 and their instruction sets along with peripheral devices, the ISA bus and the 8051 microcontroller. With every new topic that I studied my interest in this field grew (exponentially). Also my electives for the final semester are Microcomputer System Design and Digital Signal Processing. In Microcomputer System Design I shall learn about the Pentium Processor and the PCI bus. Moreover a conceptual view of Microsoft Windows NT, Windows NT models-client server is part of the curriculum.

Currently I’m working on my final year project “Automated Teller Machine” along with 3 other project members. We will be constructing a complete functional model using the microprocessor knowledge that we’ve gained along with some electronics know-how. At the core we have the 8086 microprocessor which will be programmed using assembly language. In addition we have designed an optical reader, the printer interface and the all important cash dispenser. Working on this project has given me immense practical knowledge and helped me visualize and design circuits with the least possible hardware and expenditure. It has helped me realize that everything we study in theory might not be that easy to actualize and implement in practice. It has been a great experience and one that I would like to undertake in the future as well.

Microprocessors and controllers entered the industry’s lexicon only recently, yet in the short interval since, many different types having different sizes and processing speeds have come up. They have made the world, in its physical dimensions, a small place, and established the means by which people in remote parts of the earth can communicate with each other. With the seemingly unstoppable expansion of the microprocessor domain, the writing is now on the wall: in a few years microprocessors will drive just about everything from PCs to massive parallel systems to household appliances. My interest in this field to some extent, is because even though the microprocessor industry seems to be generally well off, it has never been able to leave a good thing alone. So the future looks to be full of changes, changes which I would like to be part of.

India is one of the few countries in the world whose tradition for scientific investigation is very ancient. The need today is to revive her ancient spirit and organized scientific research on modern lines so that the benefits of knowledge in technology can be applied to the well being of the common man. If the country is to catch up with the rest of the world the scientific attitude must replace her traditional mood of thought and action. India’s needs of technical personnel are not only quantitative but qualitative also. To help her achieve these goals and to provide her with a quality engineer, I would like to study further and learn the latest in computer technologies. This would all be fulfilled by a degree course in the United States of America.

You might ask as to why a degree from the United States of America only. Since 1994 computers have been out performing automobiles in terms of units sold annually in the U.S.A. All in all computers contributed nearly 10% of the United States of America GDP. The United States of America is way ahead of any other nation in computer technology, manufacture and sales and would thus provide me with the best infrastructure and know-how currently available. Besides, it is a country where science and technology is a way to achieve social progress and where improving human life is very important. All these factors coupled together make the United States of America an ideal place to pursue my further studies.

I have no doubt that University of Florida is ‘the’ appropriate one for me, since it provides a unique mix of educational advantages. It is one of the most dynamic universities providing personal attention and extensive academic resources along with superior education in the field of Computer Engineering with the help of a capacious course. Here, I will receive an education that gives me both, the technical skills and the intellectual discipline to become a leader in industry. It is a University where research is an integral part of the department and the entire faculty is highly qualified and friendly. This I say from my personal experience while interacting with them through emails. It is a meeting ground of various social lives and cultural ideas. In all, it is a comprehensive university that furnishes an education that will serve me well in my career and prepare me for a lifetime of learning. This will ultimately help me provide vital contributions to society and work in a way to expedite the advancement and betterment of humanity as a whole.

I would be an ideal candidate for your college since I have been consistently performing well in my Bachelors course procuring 68% in the sixth semester that helped me secure the seventh rank in college. However, I am of the opinion that theoretical work alone is of little use unless it is accompanied by practical knowledge. I believe that I would be a suitable applicant for Research work in the university since I’ve always been inclined towards practical tasks and the everlasting quest to learn more. “Knowledge is power”, says Bacon. “A wise man is strong and a man of knowledge increaseth strength”. Knowledge is all-powerful and love of knowledge is a pre-requisite for any success in life. If education means merely book knowledge or the passing of periodical examinations, then I am afraid I feel enthusiastic about it. Education should be a medium for the unfolding of ones inborn faculties, enabling him to use his mind, eyes, ears, and hands, as they should be used. This is the kind of education I would want, and one that I know your university will equip me with. There is no greater pleasure than that obtained by teaching. I would make a worthy teacher due to my in-depth knowledge of various subjects and incessant deliberating and conversing skills. It would be a great pleasure and honor for me if given a chance to ensue my graduate studies at your highly esteemed university and if given an opportunity to teach or do research work would not fall short of your expectations. I hope that you will find in me a deserving and creditable student for your renowned University.