What recruiters really want...

Recent trends indicate that students passing from B-Schools are unaware of techniques required for job interviews. As a result, if they are not able to crack the interview, they often come under stress. There are many critical success factors that have nothing to do with a resume or direct work experience and, indeed, could never effectively be conveyed in a resume.

Beyond the knowledge they gain in institutes, there are key skills and qualifications they must attain to be successful. As a faculty of Human Resources in a première B-School, I recommend certain tips for preparing students to succeed in job interviews and to know what recruiters really want from them:

Know your interviewers

Typically, the interviewing style and orientation of a professional HR manager will be different from that of the business manager. While the HR manager will be evaluating the people angle primarily, the business manager will study the candidate's business alignment potential. Based on this understanding, the candidate should frame the answer.   

Interest v/s desperation

How do you conduct yourself? Do you display? Interest in the role being offered or show desperation for the job? There is indeed a fine line separating the two, but it calls for maturity to make the distinction.

Make the right impression  

The first impression you make on your potential employer can do wonders for you. You should know how to sell yourself amidst other candidates. Emphasise on the work you have done and the achievements that set you apart.

Dr Rachna Sharma, Dean – Academics & Associate Professor – HR-OB, at Jaipuria Institute of Management Studies, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad

Link the job with your mid-term professional goals

While in a dynamic business environment, projecting too much into the future is difficult. A candidate should be aware of how the new opportunity can present a win-win' for the organisation and him/her. This is even more critical in case one is exploring an industry/service line change.

Displaying ambition isn't a bad thing

Your knowledge about the industry in which you want to work and your zest should reflect how ambitious you are. Let everyone know that you have already set targets for yourself and your plans to achieve them.

Establish trust

It is very important for every job candidate to try to establish trust with their potential employer within a meeting. Try to be honest about your previous experiences and future plans. Candidates who complain about their current employer, their co-workers, or their customers tend to create a negative impression.

Display a spirit of entrepreneurship

Even in a salaried job, you have to take ownership of your work. In the banking business, you are entrusted with the task of making people's money grow, which is a lot like managing a business. Candidates who can work independently always have an edge.

You could have an edge if you are a ‘small-town' candidate

Candidates from humbler backgrounds and Tier-II cities tend to be more down-to-earth. They also have greater aspirations, are generally more hard-working and honest. They are also less likely to leave the company for greener pastures.

Package your skills well

Every candidate that is called in for an interview possesses the requisite skills. We don't need a revalidation of that. How you package your skills and prove that they work for the position you're applying for that is what matters.

Job v/s career

Candidates should see the job as an end goal. They should be looking for a career with the company and not just a job. That is what makes a good marriage between an employer and an employee.