Biggest Blunder - candidates do at the Bank PO interview (Part – I)

Biggest blunder candidates do at the Bank PO interview (Part – I)

Being negative in their approach is the reason of not being found in the final selection list.

Many a times a candidate is asked to tell about his or her strengths and weaknesses, and the ones who are not selected are among the persons who have either uprightly said that – “I don’t have any weakness” or the ones who have disclosed such a weakness which would be a hurdle in discharging day to day functions of the bank.

Always remember that we all are normal human beings and because nobody is perfect, its impossible that you are not having any weaknesses. Simply telling the interviewer that you are not having any negative traits in your personality gives an impression that you are not open to talk about each and every aspect of your personality.

Also, there are people who share such negative points which are almost next to impossible to be removed from the personality or which may directly or indirectly affect the job for which you are being interviewed.

One of the candidates, very well known to me has cleared about 9 PO examinations in a row but has never been able to clear the interview. Once he approached me, my first question to him was about this aspect only. And I was shocked to hear that he has been telling in interviews that  - “His biggest weakness is that he is not  comfortable in crowds, He likes to work alone”

If something else would have been his weakness then that might have been easy to remove, but not this one.

Is it not a blunder? Facing an interview for a job profile which requires you to interact with hundreds of odd faces each day, how can one be so irresponsible to say that he is not comfortable in working in a group or interacting with people?

So, be cautious, when you visit a shop to purchase something, the shopkeeper tries to show you the best items he has kept for sale. You too go to face an interview where you are selling your personality, they are having lots of choices, and do you have it in you what they are looking for?

hence analyze what the interviewer wants to hear and then react…..

Rest in next post,

Stay tuned,

And yes, please provide your valuable feedback,

Regards,

How to answer - Why should we recruit you?

How to answer - Why should we recruit you?

Well this is the question which has been asked to almost each and every candidate during past one year in Bank PO or Bank clerical interviews,

Once again I would point out that the questions which are common to all of the candidates can NOT have any kind of standard answer. It is not like answering the question about the capital of India. In that case every one can say –“Delhi” as his or her answer.

Interviewer wants to make you nervous; he is searching for the “Kamzor Kadi Kaun?”

So it is better to not to be the “Kamzor Kadi”.

Here the case is totally different.

Hence I would like to provide few inputs on the basis of which, any candidate appearing for an interview can frame his or her own answers.

First of all a candidate must be assured that as he or she is among the ones shortlisted for the final round of selection process (interview), bank is really keen in recruiting them in actual. 

Secondly, you can start your answer as – "Sir the bank has a need of talented individuals who are eager to learn and who can help the business of the bank to grow………As I am among the candidates who have cleared the written examination, this proves that I have a bit of talent, and as the interview progresses, I hope I would be able to confirm you that I am eager to learn too”

It can be mentioned in the answer that – “Bank has came out with this recruitment process that itself signals that the bank is looking for the right candidates to join it, Half of my potential has been proved in written, and for the rest half, I have been given an opportunity to interact with this learned panel”

Please do point out any  relevant experience or any milestones achieved with previous employer.

Or If a candidate says that – “Sir, because I have the potential which the bank is looking for. Banking is a process of continuous public dealing and I really love to interact with different individuals each and every day”

Financial inclusion can also be included in the answer as – “Sir, I want to contribute my level best towards the nation by being among the first batch of newly recruited bankers who would be entrusted with the responsibility to be engaged in implementation of financial inclusion in our country”

After so much of hard work in preparing for and clearing the written part, of the selection process, certainly one can NOT afford to lose here at the final stage. So, be logical, Interviewer is checking your ability to react. Your ability to stand in your own favour.

If your confidence level is really good (But make sure that you don’t look over confident), you can say – The bank should recruit me because, I have the capability which I have proved in the written part and I need a chance to prove my skills.

Try to highlight your positive points, your strengths and to hide your  negative sides.

I hope this throws atleast some light on the said question.

For any queries, please feel free to write to me at any point of time,

All the Best

Importance of First 40 Seconds in an interview

The importance of first 40 seconds in a Banking Interview

Whether a candidate is appearing for the profile of that of a generalist officer or a specialist officer, or that of a clerk, first 40 seconds of the interview decides the 95% of the results.

Once again I would point out that – “There is NO second chance to make the FIRST impression”.

So, what is needed to create that “impression” in the first 40 seconds?

Enter the interview room with a natural smiling gesture, make sure that your legs are not trembling or you are not feeling thirsty. (More about successful approach to the interviews, is going to be my next article which would illustrate more about this), look as much confident as cool as you can, and in any case don’t forget that you are the guest of the bank and those sitting inside are the hosts, so they are eager to treat you with dignity and respect.

Don’t sit unless you are asked to do so. Remember to wish them all a very good morning (or whatever the time may be).Be relaxed while sitting. Sit straight. From their behavior you would yourself get an impression, who is the chairman of the interview board, look towards him with a smiling face as if you are signaling that you are now ready to face their questions.

Nothing more is needed in first 40 seconds of the interview,except, what I have mentioned over here.

Once you are sure that everything has gone right till you have taken your seat and are still confident and ready to face the questions and are ready to treat the interviewers as your friends, nothing can go wrong now onwards……

Rest in my next post

All  the best

Top 10 MISTAKES Which Candidates Do at an Interview

Top 10 MISTAKES

Which Candidates Do at an Interview

MISTAKE No. 1

Timing

Not reaching the interview venue on time – This simply creates anxiety and nervousness and the half battle is lost even before the actual thing begins.

MISTAKE No. 2

Turnout

Not being dressed up properly (Dressing up for the interviews has been explained HERE). As I have wrote often that – “There is no second chance to make the first impression”

MISTAKE No. 3

Comfort Level

Not being able to make yourself normal prior to entering the interview room. 48% of the candidates are feeling very thirsty or too hungry at this time so do remember to have a normal breakfast and carry a bottle of water with you. (Although you are supplied with snacks, water and lunch etc over there, but, if it is with you, you would be just ok).

You cant expect to have a marvelous interview when your throat is simply dry.

Secondly – Looking at other candidates and comparing them to you is also something to be avoided.

MISTAKE No. 4

Entry

70% of the candidates don’t know about how to enter the interview room.

Wait for the next post in which this aspect is going to be dealt in detail

MISTAKE No. 5

Non Utilization of first 40 Seconds of the Interview

Whether to hire or not to hire a candidate is decided normally in first 40 seconds of the interview only, rest is just a formality. Not being able to leave a mark in first 40 seconds, almost throws you out of the race.

MISTAKE No. 6

Not being able to say – “I Don’t Know”

Its not too hard to say – “I Don’t know”

Interviewers are more experienced than you, hence be honest, instead of telling anything you are not sure of, its better to admit that you don’t know. Remember – “To enter is human and to admit is Super Human”

MISTAKE No. 7

Trying to show knowledge by being too descriptive.

Candidates think that if they are fully aware of the topic asked in question then they must show their knowledge to the interviewers.

Or trying to show influence by answers like – “I am holding ‘this’ degree from ‘this’ college and my father is holding ‘this’ position, my uncle is ‘this’ my elder brother is ‘this’.

If they have asked about you then be specific and don’t open the Kundli of your family unless they have asked to do so.

It’s a wrong practice; no one is interested in your knowledge over there. That has already been proved at the written examination.

Be as specific as you can.

MISTAKE No. 8

Non Aware of how to deal with ‘Blanks’

‘Blanks’ are the period of around a few seconds which may extend upto half a minute in which interviewers don’t ask you anything but they are talking to each other. Your reaction at this time is of prime importance.

Don’t start looking at the room or don’t start counting the number of lights or fans installed in the room. Be calm and cool.

MISTAKE No. 9

Not being able to divert the interview in your strength areas.

A majority of candidates are not able divert the flow of questions towards the areas of their strength. Thus they become an easy target and get nervous. Read here about answering to questions like – “Why do you want to choose banking as a career?”

Also, If you are holding a professional degree which is not related to banking, please also read, “How to answer – a career change” here

MISTAKE No. 10.

No Finishing Touch

Exactly like the first impression, this is also too much needed. Even if you are selected, you may seldom meet the interviewers again in your life, give a finishing touch to the interview, so that after you leave, they must discuss about your personality.

Click Here to learn about the interview panel.

These are the major blunders which a majority of candidates do. Do read my post about the simple techniques which makes wonders with the personality.

Stay tuned, this is just a beginning, more to come in my next post

All the best