Went through a Bad interview. Read this.

Bad interviews are not the reason you should get demotivated

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After a long time, we are back.

Just to share some of the interview experiences here candidates go through. A myth we follow bad interview replicates that you are not a good candidate for the respective company. But that’s not the thing.

In this article you will find out that you are not alone who are demotivated post bad interview, but this happened to many. The mistake is not probably of you nor the interviewer. But what if you think that the organisation should hire even post a Bad interview !

The reason they not hire is the below 3 Interviews mentioned.

Now I will share a list of interviews on How the interview conversations really ends up

Interview 1:-

1. Hiring Manager :- How are you ?
2. Candidate :- I am fine. How about you?
3. Hiring Manager :- Awesome !!!!
4. Hiring Manager :- Well let’s begin with the interview. There will be 3 rounds. Technical round 1 , Technical round 2 and meeting with Global hiring Managers.
5. Candidate:- Sure
6. Hiring Manager :- First of all, I would like to know your total years of experience? How much you know about custom objects? Report development using Tech tool and how comfortable you are to handle the whole project individually?
7. Candidate:- Yes, I would glad to let you know that I am having a strong Software testing experience with good support activities and handling clients etc…
8. Hiring Manager :- OK. What about Report development using tech tool. Creating Custom Objects using it? Our requirement is specific.
9. Candidate :- Yes. But as I have shared my Resume.
10. Hiring Manager :- Yeah, I can see it. But since you have worked in the Tech application. We believe you might be well versed with the development part too.
11. Candidate :- Yes sure. At the time I was working in the previous organisation, I was only able to support the application.
12. Hiring Manager :- Okk. But we have clearly mentioned in the Job description that we require a Report development expert also who can solely handle the client according to the needs.
13. Candidate :- Yes, But it was not the only one. Along with that it was also mentioned that the candidate should be a QA analyst experience, support the user based queries, Understanding requirements. Is it OK if I can get a chance to learn Report development in this organization?
14. Hiring Manager :- Sorry, But we require a candidate with Hands On over it. This project’s main aim is to achieve Reports from this applications with requires a developer/consultant with previous such experience. Also this is a Contract based assignment for 6 Months.
15. Candidate :- Yeah the recruiter informed me earlier about this that it is a Contract based assignment for 6 Months.
16. Hiring Manager :- Yes. But I don’t know what should I inform the recruiter now? Anyways It was nice meeting you. But one thing for sure. I will keep this resume with me. In case for future requirements I will definitely try to push this ahead.
17. Candidate:- Thanks Sir. It was really pleasure meeting you. Hope to see you soon. Thanks.

As you have noticed above, there is a communication gap between the recruiter and candidate prior to the above interview. Now when Recruiters share the Job description, there are many points mentioned in it. But the candidate should clearly confirm from the recruiter what important task specific is on priority which helps in clearing the interview more better.

In every Job description there is one or the other thing that does not fully matches the Candidate’s profile. Even if 80 % matches, the candidate should be confidant enough that the critical part of it is covered in it.

Now let’s move to Interview number 2…….

Interview 2:-

In this we will consider the Hiring manager as HM and Candidate as CA. Let’s begin……

HM:- How are you?

CA:- Fine? How about you?

HM:- Good. First of all just highlight your total experience as a Consultant in the current organization?

CA:- Its around 3 years.

HM:- Good. What about the domain and the Banking Tech application you have worked with during the tenure?

CA :- It’s around 1.5 years in Banking Tech along with 1.5 year in Banking and 1.5 years in Insurance domain. We were involved in QA manual testing, support and some what automation testing.

HM :- Very nice !! Could you please elaborate what exactly have you worked on the domain and what all you know?

Candidate :- Yes I have worked on Loan part from Sanction till disbursement. Test case design, Test case execution, defect reporting etc.

HM :- Ok what you know about the Tech application you worked during the Period?

Candidate :- I know that how loans are getting disbursed. It revolves around Sales till Cluster Manager. The application is quite compact. Easy to use. There are various Backend and Frontend data which are easier to handle.

HM :- How much is your salary expectation?

Candidate:- 45 % on current CTC.

HM:- OK. What you do in your free time?

Candidate:- I watch Movies, A gym trainer, Love to roam around .

HM:- Thanks…. We will let you know when is the next round?

Candidate:- Thanks.

Now You have observed above, how the interview was answered by the candidate. Here there is no fault of Hiring manager. If you have read it, the answers does not match with the HM queries.

Be confidant enough and first listen what exactly the HM is trying to ask. Do not go in a haste. If HM is asking about the application you worked on, do a deep dive in Technical aspects. Don’t just go over the application flow. Provide a vision.

In case you are asked what you do in free time?

Just mention the activities related to work. Example, If it’s for a developer position, go ahead and say During weekends, I am quite passionate of coding websites, mobile app etc. Learning new Programming language.

Never mention doing fun activities. This might damage the interview.

Now let’s begin with Interview number 3:-

Interview 3 :-

In this part let’s consider ‘Harry’ as the Hiring manager and ‘Daniel’ as the Candidate (Online Interview)

Harry :- Hi, How are you. You in London?

Daniel :- Yes. My self ‘daniel’. I am graduated from Engineering college- Netherlands. I have 2 years of Testing experience. etc…. (The candidate keeps talking and suddenly X interprets)

Harry :- Hello ‘Daniel’. I asked you. Are you currently in London ?

( Both just checks there internet connection, to check if any miscommunication occurred)

Daniel :- Yes. In London.

Harry :- Tell me about your role and what are you working currently?

Daniel :- A manual Quality analyst. (Explains all the activities currently done by manual QA)

Harry :- OK wait. You know anything about Automation testing (Selenium, Java). Any hands on over it.

Daniel :- No.

Harry :- Ok. Just explain what you extra you can provide apart from the current designation.

Daniel :- Hmmmm (Blank. No answer)

Harry :- You know one thing. Currently what you are doing is a tiny part. Technology is booming everywhere. Try something different.

Daniel :- Yes. I am but I do not have full hands on over automation testing.

Harry :- Leave it. Tell me what you do in free time.

Daniel :- Watching movies. Reading books. roaming etc….

Harry :- If you are interested in Watching movies. Go and do your career there. Why are you wasting time here?

Daniel :- Yeah But I am focused here now. It’s just my hobbies.

Harry :- Anyways. Nice talking to you. Bye.

Daniel :- Bye

You observed what the first mistake Candidate did here, he applied for the position, which was not matching his resume. Yes this might be a fault of HR here. but before appearing for any interview the candidate should also understand that if the Job profile does not matches the resume properly,it was no point in applying here.

Even though, he applied, at least he should be prepared according to the Job description.

Final thoughts:-

1. Before applying please Go through the Job description once.
2. Never highlight anything useless activities like watching movies etc as your extracurricular activities during an interview.
3. It’s Ok to apply for a profile if it only matches around 60–70 percent of your resume.
4. Never mention your failures
5. Develop listening skills.
6. Don’t create a mixture of things during the interview. Be specific to the Job profile.
7. Last! Respect the interviewer. You know there is an old saying. “Give Respect. Take Respect.”

Thanks for reading !!!!!