Interview Basics
Purpose of Interviews
Types of Interviews
Normal Interview
Stress Interview
PI Process
A Selling/buying process
YOU are the product!
The Interview Panel
They are trying to select you: Put your best foot
forward
On what basis will I be
selected?
1. General Knowledge and Awareness
2. Knowledge of Banking in general
and the bank in particular
3. Subject knowledge
4. Basic personality
5. Goal Clarity & Consistency
6. Work Experience
General Knowledge and
Awareness
About your city, state, city/state politics.
National politics and current affairs.
Basic awareness and understanding of people
around you.
Sensational/important world events.
Last 12 months in scope.
Knowledge of Banking in
general, and the bank in
particular: some sample questions
What is banking? Products and services? Etc.
Role of banking in Indian Economy.
About the interviewing bank? Its turnover, branches, CEO,
etc.
About RBI? Interest and other rates?
Economy, inflation, crisis, recession etc.
The job responsibilities, etc.
Bank job career growth, promotions, exams related etc.
General details like ATM, Demat, etc.
Subject knowledge
About fundamentals of basic subjects studied for
Intermediate and degree.
About marks, choice of subjects, failures etc.
About gaps, if any.
About school, college, teachers, positives/negatives etc.
Achievements, co-curricular activities, etc.
Special grilling on favorite and specialization subjects.
Basic personality
1. INTRODUCTION: Different ways of asking the
question.
2. Attitude and general mentality questions.
3. Strengths and weaknesses questions.
4. Learning experiences, inspirations etc.
5. Happiest, saddest moments, etc.
6. Other important qualities like hard-work,
dedication, punctuality, sincerity etc.
7. Basic value system: ethics, morals etc.
8. Hobbies
9. Interests, likes/dislikes etc.
10. What would you like to change about yourself?
11. Leadership qualities, etc.
12. About family.
Goal Clarity & Consistency
Why do you want to join the banking sector?
Why this sudden change from Engineering to Banking?(OR) Why are you
leaving your present job?
How serious are you about the job?
Where do you see yourself 10 years from today?
Your earlier goals...why the change now?
What's your goal in life?
Will you be successful in Banking; why?
When are you getting married(if you are a woman)?
Are you ready to relocate?
If not banking, then what?
Work experience:
Sample questions
1. Where, as what, for how long, etc?
2. Who did you report to? What did you learn from him?
3. Company related questions?
4. Positives and negatives about the company?
5. If you were the CEO, what changes would you make?
6. You boss' management style?
7. Why do you want to leave that job?
On what basis will I be
selected?
1. General Knowledge and Awareness
2. Knowledge of Banking in general
and the bank in particular
3. Subject knowledge
4. Basic personality
5. Goal Clarity & Consistency
6. Work experience
7. Analytical Skills
8. Communication Skills
On what basis will I be selected?
How am I judged? The bottom line…
● There is no one particular kind of
person they are looking for!
● They will primarily see if you are
interested in and qualified for the job
and a good person or not!
How am I judged? The bottom
line…
● There is no one particular kind of person
they are looking for!
● They will primarily see if you are interested
in and qualified for the job or not!
● Nobody gets rejected on the basis of
Interview alone except in exceptional
situations.
Avoidable
doubts…
Is there a problem in saying “I don’t know”?
Is there a “perfect” answer to the personal
questions
Should we be honest?
Do Interviewers want to hear any specific
answer?
TENSION! TENSION!! TENSION!!!
FAQs..1
Should I carry all my certificates
to the interview?
How many time can I say “I don't know”.
Should I accept chocolates/coffee if offered.
Can I ask them any questions?
FAQs..2
If I do not know when they ask me a question, but
the answer strikes me later, can I give the answer
FAQs…2
then?
If I need some time to ‘think’ to answer the
question, can I request for it?
If the interviewers do not let me complete my
answer to a question, does it mean that they have
decided not to select me?
Will they actually know the correct answers to
each & every question they ask?
FAQs..3
Can I pull a fast one?
FAQs…3
Can I guess?
Can I refuse to answer a question?
Can I say I am not sure but I think the answer is…
Can I ‘lead’ the interview panel? How?
How honest should I be while answering the questions?
How much time can I take to answer a question?
KEEP IN MIND…
The ‘WHYs’ & ‘HOWs’ are more important than
the ‘WHATs’
Don’t try to bluff
Take an ethically sound approach to any problem
situation
Academics are important.
• PREPARATION:
• 1.KNOW THYSELF!
Introspection
Retrospection
Train your brain…attune yourself to the
job!
PREPARATION:
2. BANKING!
Read about the ‘BANK’ and Banking.
Study the ‘job’ related aspects.
Read up on the financial, economic and other
important aspects of our country.
Read about RBI.
PREPARATION:
3.OTHERS!
Brush up on your subject knowledge.
Read newspapers and magazine.
PREPARATION:
4. PRACTICE!
Practise a lot!
Take mock interviews!
Improvise from one to another mock!
Don’t just dream; get serious and DO!
Prepare in the right way…
…not this way!
THANK YOU!
