CASTO Department

A job interview is formal meetings between two people (the interviewer and the interviewee) where questions are asked by the employer to obtain information, qualities, attitudes, etc. from the candidate to see if they fit the position or not.

Interview Types

• Phone interview

This is usually the first step of the interview process; it is an initial prescreening call to see if they want to invite you in for a face-to-face interview. It is important to speak clearly and slowly and do not be shy about asking the interviewer to repeat something you are not sure you heard or understood. Show your level of interest by the inflection in your voice and what you say, e.g. "I'm excited to be considered for this position".

• One-on-one interview

One person interviews the candidate and makes the hiring decision. These interviews can range from being very informal and conversational to be more formal and structured. Show enthusiasm, maintain good eye contact and be professional.

• Panel interview

If you are being interviewed by a group of people, remember to make eye contact with all your interviewers. Connect first with the person who asked you the question and then glance at the others in the room to gauge their responses and interest, finally, re-connect with the person who initially asked you the question. Try to link your answers to others that were asked and get the interviewers to talk among themselves. Make sure you get the names and roles of all of those who participated in the interview.

• Online interview

With the current pandemic, this is the most common practice. Treat it the same way as you would of an on-site interview. You should always test the software for audio and visual checks. Also bear in mind that you will need to be in a quiet, free distract place.

Common Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself.

This is often an ice-breaker question. Keep the answer job or skill related.

Whydoyouwant to join this company?

This is your chance to tell what you know from the research you completed ahead of time.

What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

Think of something that you struggle with but that you are already working to improve.

What is your greatest strength?

Choose your strength that is most targeted to this particular position and it would be better if you can follow it up with a real-life example of how you've demonstrated this trait in a professional setting.

Why have you been unemployed for such a long time?

Tell the truth. Emphasize that you were looking for a good company where you can settle and contribute.

Do you have any questions for us?

Make sure you prepare a couple of questions for the interviewer before going to the interview. Remember each question you ask will tell something about you so ask smart specific questions.

Interview Tips

• Research the organization before the interview.
• Practice interviewing.
• Go alone. Do not take children or friends.
• Greet the interviewer.
• Make frequent eye contact.
• Smile, be polite, and try to relax.
• Listen carefully to the questions asked. Ask the interviewer to restate a question if you are confused.
• Answer questions as directly as possible.
• Be positive and make positive statements.
• If you have worked before, talk about what you have achieved.
• Use examples of how your skills and abilities would fit the job.

After the interview

Be sure to write a thank-you email to the employer or interviewer a day after the interview. This is very important because a thank you note gives you one more chance to remind the employer about the special skills that you can bring to the company.

Sample of Thank you E-mail.

Dear Mr. Ebrahim,

Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the intern position yesterday. I so enjoyed learning more about Medtronics work, culture, and future for growth.

As we discussed, the intern role sounds like a great fit for my experience and skill set. My coursework has given me appropriate foundational knowledge, and my previous part time job as Research Assistant at University of Sharjah will allow me to add value to your team.

I know that a willingness to learn is essential for this role. I hope I was able to show you how driven I am to gain knowledge and hone my skill set with Medtronics.

Please feel free to reach out if you have further questions. Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.

Regards,

(Name)

(Mobile number)