Offshore Jobs - Interview Tips

Getting offshore job for new graduate is as simple as getting other job if you know the tips. I will share my experience how to face the process with you. Interviews process is the second step in getting offshore jobs where you will meet the potential employers after the first step that an applicant has successfully completed sending the application and passed the screening process of the company.

The offshore companies usually get the resumes of the candidates by several of sources such as news paper advertisement, campus fair, a referral from your senior or lecturer, or by a person who simply submitted an application by logging on the company website.

Here are tips that will help in having a successful offshore jobs interview for new graduate;

* Please remember when you are taking the phone call or any invitation method, please do not forget to get the company name, business involve, contact person, email address, and phone number.
* Some days before meeting the interviewer, it is strongly recommended to do some research about the company.
* You have to prepare for general question that usually being asked in the meeting such as: What is your strength point and weakness point, why you want to join this offshore company, how long you will be stay with the company, salary expectation, etc.
* Try to practice with friends or families member to mock up questions that the employer will likely ask so you do not choke during the real time.
* You have to arrive 10 to 15 minutes ahead of time to give you enough time to relax and to show to the employers that you are a punctual guy, as you know that offshore jobs needs punctual time and downtime for some minutes will cause the company loosing thousands of dollars.
* Bring an extra copy of the resume and other documents that are needed, some time it will be useful for you.
* Dress appropriately. This shows the employer sincerity on the part of the applicant applying for the job. The outfit worn should be professional.
* Remove your jewelry and tone it down for the interview. Offshore safety regulation is very stringent; wearing jewelry may cause a hazard for you if you are in the offshore job site. The interviewer may give you minus value if you are wearing it.
* Smile and greet the interviewer with a firm (but not bone crushing) hand shake .
* In the session of interview, listen very well to the questions asked. Each must be answered truthfully and confidently to be able to sell yourself to the potential employer.
* If the interviewer gives you time for asking something that not clear, use the time as necessary, ask important thing that you need to know.
* Before the session being ended, ask politely if for interviewers contact detail. You will need it for sending thanks letter.
* Do not forget to thank to the recruiter for the time that was given to meet him and interview time.
* Once you get home, prepare a thank letter and send it as soon as possible.

You can improve your performance once you have face some offshore jobs interviews.

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5 Tips For a Successful Job Interview

Job interviews can be stressful. After all, you are trying to convince a stranger that you are qualified for the job. But you can ace your next interview if you follow these 5 tips for a successful job interview.

1. Be Prepared

This might sound obvious, but there are many aspects of preparing for a successful job interview that many candidates don't realize. One of the best tips for a successful job interview that I can give is to put together a checklist of all the things that you need for the interview. Some things on the checklist might be: bring multiple copies of your resume, print out driving directions to the office, and know how long it takes to get there. The last thing you want to be is late!

2. Make Eye Contact

Making positive eye contact is a key tip for a successful interview. Eye contact is so important because it is one of the strongest forms of nonverbal communication. A person's qualities and personality can be detected simply based on eye contact. Making direct eye contact communicates confidence and high self-esteem, two key qualities employers look for in candidates.

Thus, it is very important that you make eye contact when you first meet interviewer and shake hands. And during the interview, it is important to make eye contact, not only when you talk, but also as you listen. Simply doing these two tips will greatly help your chances of success in a job interview.

3. Dress Appropriately

Knowing what to wear for a successful job interview is half the battle of the interview itself. The old adage could never be so true, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."

When first deciding what to wear for a successful job interview, you should first take into consideration the culture of the company you are interviewing with, and dress accordingly. Are you interviewing with a company where the employees wear suits everyday or do they wear t-shirts and jeans?

If you want to get the job, your choice of what to wear on a job interview should match or be slightly dressier than the normal work attire of the company. For example, if the normal work attire of the company is business casual, it's ok to wear a suit to impress. If the normal work attire is casual, it's ok to wear a business casual outfit to impress as well. Appropriateness is the most important factor on what to wear on a job interview.

After you decide whether a professional, business casual, or casual outfit the most appropriate for your interview, here are some guidelines you will want to stay with in when deciding what to wear on a job interview. The key is to wear clothing that you feel comfortable and look great in, while at the same time matching the corresponding dress code of the company. That way you'll give off great energy for a successful job interview.

4. Know the Company

Walking into an interview with proper knowledge of the company will score points with the interviewer. Other candidates may have the same job experience as you, but you can set yourself apart by demonstrating your knowledge of current events of the company and its industry. Visit the company's website for any news or press releases that it has sent out recently. This will give you opportunities to ask questions during the interview, which is definitely a key to a successful job interview.

Was there a recent change in Management? If so, you might want to ask how this will impact the company. Maybe the company just rolled out new technology. You can ask what the interview thinks about it, in relation to the company's competitors.

Familiarizing yourself with the company will give you an edge over your competition, and is critical to having a successful job interview.

5. Know Your Skills

You need to be very familiar with your resume and skill set before going on any interview. Remember, the interviewer is most likely meeting you for the first time, and may not know much about you. Plus, the interviewer is probably meeting with several candidates for the same position, and you need to separate yourself from the crowd.

You must effectively communicate your skills and qualifications to the interviewer, and you can only do so if you are totally familiar with your resume and skills. For example, if they ask you what you learned from your last job, you should have a few answers to choose from. And every answer you give should be supported by concrete examples. Without concrete examples, the interviewer will have nothing to latch on to, and might overlook what you have to say. But if you attach a real-world event or accomplishment to your example, it is more likely to leave an impression on the interviewer. This is key to having a successful job interview.

You now have 5 tips for a successful job interview. I highly recommended that you implement these tips the next time you go on an interview, as they will help set you apart from the crowd and gain an edge over the other candidates.

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How to Be Prepared For All Types of Job Interviews

Types of Job Interviews

There are several type of job interviews that the job seeker faces in the job search. Here are some of the interview types that you may face: phone interviews, group interviews, and multi-tiered interviews.

Group Interviews

Ever been to a group interview type with several other job candidates and a small roster of interviewers? These are cream of the crop situations where the best of the best must rise above the rest. What that means: there are several positions available but too many best matches for the positions available, or there one to two positions available and the competition is steep. What it all boils down to is how do you handle stressful situations? Then there is the interview type where the job seeker is faced with more than one interviewer. Congratulations, you are the cream of the crop and half the battle is already done.

This type of interview is a collaborative process that not only defines your flexibility in a stressful situation, but shows whether or not you are truly the best match for the company. Don't let this type of situation stress you out. You, the jobseeker, are also looking for a company that best matches you.

Multiple Interviews

Then there is the multi-tiered interview process. Sometimes, this type of interview is done in two steps or three steps. Whichever interview type you encounter, there are multiple doors you must open before the final meeting. Your first interview maybe a group interview or a personal face-to-face interview. Either way this is the sorting process, where once again they sort out the best of the best.

The interviewers at this type of interview either generally sift through the obviously mistaken at the interview, or relay to the hiring manager who they should "keep an eye out for". Then you get to the second interview, which is usually one on one. This interview means the company expresses a unique interest in hiring you. At the second interview, the job seeker will face questions that are more technically inclined towards the position that you applied, your goals within the company if hired, and the character of your personality.

Basically are you, the job seeker, truly fit for this position, the best match for the company, and should I alert the big hiring boss that we have found a winner? Strangely, you're called back for a third interview. This is the last step in the multi-tiered interview process. You, the job seeker, have finally made it to the hiring manager. The hiring manager is the catch all in the process. They catch anything that their human resources team may have missed, and decide during that interview whether or not they want to work with you.

Now that you have reached the end of this article, remember that this type of interview process can start with a phone interview. Use the career advice below to pass the elusive phone interview and find useful tips on a face to face interview.

Phone Interviews

Before the face-to-face interviews, you may have a telephone interview. Here are some tips to ensure a successful telephone interview:

• Schedule the interview period for a time when you won't be distracted.
• Control your environment. Keep the dog chained in the backyard. Make sure the kids have a babysitter. Turn off TVs and radios. Ensure all distractions are kept to a minimum. Better yet, eliminate all distractions.
• Use a landline if one is available.
• Have a glass of water nearby, in case you get dry mouth.
• Have your interview notes and resume in front of you. Highlight those areas you believe are most important.
• Vary your pitch and response time. Don't rush. Calculate your responses.
• Do not multi-task. Pay careful attention to the process. Having to ask the interviewer to repeat a question or comment indicates inattention.

Face-to-Face Interviews

Once you have gotten past the phone interview, here are some strategies designed to ensure a smooth, in-person interview process:

1. Sell it, Don't Tell it

The interview is the time to "Sell" you. For example: You might be asked how many people you managed in your last position. You might be inclined to answer "35". That's "Telling."

The "Selling" approach should be: "I managed a staff of 35, including both professionals and support personnel. Not only did I manage those individuals, I directed all recruitment and hiring activities, set salaries, designed and implemented bonus plans, facilitated annual performance reviews, and projected long-term staffing requirements. Additionally, my team increased sales by more than 35% in one year while reducing expenses by 10%".
When presented in this fashion you have "Sold" your achievements and not just "Told" what you did.

2. Spin a Negative into a Positive

Suppose you're asked about your experience having managed people and you've never before done that. Your instinctive response might be to respond that you have no supervisory experience. Never answer "No", "Never", or "I don't know". Alternatively, use related experience to answer the question and illustrate your specific skills. For example, you might respond with "My background includes experience coordinating workload distribution among a team of 50+ personnel and responding to their specific inquiries about job assignments, deadlines, and resources". This approach is honest (you never said you supervised anyone), and you've positioned yourself positively.

3. Use "Big" to highlight the "Little"

Suppose someone asks you if you have any experience with mergers and acquisitions. To organize your thoughts, make your response flow seamlessly, and make it easy for your interviewer to understand your specific experience in that area, use the "big-to-little" strategy. Start "big" with an overview of your experience in M&A transactions; just a few sentences to describe your overall scope and depth of experience. Then, follow up with 2- 4 specific, "little" achievements, projects, or highlights that are directly related. You might talk about your involvement in due diligence, negotiations, transactions, and/or acquisition integration. In essence, you're communicating, "This is what I know and this is how well I've done it."

4. Remember: You've passed the First Test...

Before you enter the interview remember you have passed the first test - You've been invited to the interview based upon your stellar resume, reputation, and performance based upon a telephone pre-interview. If you are meeting with top executives of the company they're already interested in you. Their time is valuable. They wouldn't be meeting with you if they weren't interested. Approach the interview knowing you've got them hooked. Don't be cocky, but use this knowledge to relax and present your best self. Be confident, poised, and work with the objective that you are there to "close the deal".

5. Take the Initiative

It is likely that something within your resume, skills or experiences, may have been overlooked. Perhaps it was your experience with Supply Chain Management or Mergers and Acquisitions. It is your responsibility to introduce this information into the conversation before the interview concludes.

You might comment "before we end the interview I'd like to share some more information about myself as it relates to the position and your company". Proceed with the information, making certain it is pertinent to the conversation and that you communicate all information that has value. It is important to produce this information whether or not the interviewer addresses a particular topic.

Understandably, the interview process is a stressful and difficult situation. Keep in mind your professional life is on the line. Remember to walk into each interview with an agenda of your desired outcome, and work towards that goal. Demonstrate and illustrate your qualifications and experience. Quietly control the interview process and paint a picture that positions you as being the ideal candidate for the job.

With that in mind, some people look great on paper... but miserably fail when presented with the opportunity of the interview. Here are some tips to keep in mind when approaching your interview:

• The Handshake

Keep the handshake firm, not too tight, and certainly not loose. It should last no more than 3 seconds. Maintain eye contact during the handshake and remember to smile.

• Talking too much

Don't talk too much. Certainly engage in conversation with the interviewer, but let them set the pace. Speak slowly and deliberately. Maintain eye contact, but don't glare.

Be comfortable with "uncomfortable silence". You may be asked a question to which you respond, and the interviewer sits there as if they're waiting for more. This may be a test of your patience and confidence. If you've answered the question to the best of your ability remain silent, yet poised for the next question. If it appears that the interviewer isn't wavering you might inquire if your response was satisfactory, and whether they desire a more elaborate response.

• Previous Employers

Never bad-mouth your previous employers. Even if your last boss was a mean- spirited dictator, never present your true feelings about him/her. No matter how reasonable your complaints... you come out the loser. When faced with the challenge of describing your previous employers remember to focus on the positives. Certainly there were some admirable traits you recognized in your previous employers (He/She was diligent in overcoming any obstacles to completing a project. He/She showed no favoritism, treating everyone equally.)

• Show up on time

Never arrive earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled start of your interview. Anything earlier than 10 minutes is a giveaway that you've too much time on your hands. Act as though your time is as valuable as theirs.
Never, ever, arrive late for an interview. Anticipate traffic delays or a flat tire. If an emergency causes you to be late telephone the company, explain your predicament, remind them you appreciate how valuable their time is, and inquire if they desire to proceed with the interview or reschedule.

• Be polite to the Receptionist

The Receptionist often is the first person you will meet at the company, and will be the first person for which a good impression should be made. Be polite, and not overly talkative. The Receptionist has the power to present you to the interviewer in a positive or negative light. Never underestimate the power of the receptionist.

• Pay, Benefits, and Vacation time

Never discuss pay, benefits, or vacation time during the initial interview. This meeting is to determine if you are a candidate for the position and if the employer is a candidate for you. Your objective is to receive an offer of employment.

A second interview is the time to discuss pay, benefits, and vacations. At this point you are assured that your experience and skills are valuable to the employer, and discussions about pay and benefits can be presented.

• Prepare for the interview

Find out how people at the particular company are attired. Dress the part. Dress as if you could start work right now.
Anticipate which questions the interviewer may present. Be prepared to answer any question that might be presented.
Prepare questions for the interviewer as it relates to the position and the company. Consider asking questions to which you already know the answers. Ask questions that are out of the ordinary. If the company has been involved in a large project, make an inquiry. This signals the interviewer that you've done your research and genuinely are interested in the position and not looking for just another "job".

• Certain questions you might consider asking:

o What are the company's plans for the next five years, and how does this position contribute to achieving those objectives?

o How will my performance be measured, and how often?

o What are the day-to-day core responsibilities for this position?

o Can you describe the company's management style and culture?

You want to be armed with from 5-10 solid questions... ask questions that otherwise you couldn't find answers to on the Internet.

Don't ask:

o What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared to the competition?

You should prepare, in advance, to identify what those strengths and weaknesses are, and how your skills and experience will contribute.

Remember; demonstrate to the interviewer that you've done your homework, that you have the initiative to seek out answers.

• Communication styles:

o Everyone has a different communication style. Focus on how the interviewer communicates, and mirror his approach.

o If the interviewer seems all business, don't shake things up by telling jokes or anecdotes. Be succinct and businesslike.

o If the interviewer is personable, respond in kind. Identify common interests. Scan his/her office for items that might be a topic for conversation. Keep it short, and not too personal.

o Respond to direct questions directly. Consider following up on a question by inquiring if your answer was sufficient or if it requires further elaboration.

The internet has become a main source of information for job candidates. The internet, being an extremely popular source, makes competition for getting that job highly competitive. Get started with My Online Career Space and let that prospective employer know you are the primary candidate for them. With your own personalized career space you will rise above the rest of the job seekers on the internet.

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Top Interview Questions - What the Job Interviewer is Looking For

Prepare for these top interview questions. Use the interview answer guidelines to make sure that your interview responses are in line with what the interviewer is looking for.

Why do you want this job?

Basically the interviewer is asking "Why are you here?" The purpose of this interview question is to make sure that you are looking for the same job that the employer is trying to fill. It is exploring your passion for this business and this work. Why are you interested in this type of work? Provide examples of specific aspects of the work that interest and excite you. Convince the interviewer that you are looking for exactly the type of work that this position is offering. Rephrase in an enthusiastic and positive way the things you have learned about the job from the interviewer, the recruiter or the job posting and your background research. Highlight how your skills and abilities fit in with these job requirements. Ask yourself before the interview "Why do I want to get this job?" and prepare to convince the interviewer of your motivation and passion. Simply repeating your resume details is not convincing. Prepare a compelling job interview answer that leaves the interviewer in no doubt about your enthusiasm for this specific job and company.

Tell me about yourself

The interviewer is trying to find out if you will fit in with the rest of the team and the company. This job interview question also explores what motivates you and whether it is consistent with the position and company. Again avoid just repeating what you have written on your resume. What makes you uniquely qualified to do this job? Try to describe yourself objectively focusing on your key skills and abilities that will be of value in this job. Describe your character as it relates to the inherent job requirements. If you are not sure of what behaviors are required in the position you can use general work-related adjectives such as diligent, persevering, hard working, enthusiastic. Always keep in mind that your response to top interview questions like this should highlight how your skills, abilities, knowledge and character relate to the job and company profile.

What are your strengths?

One of the most common top interview questions! Describe three or four strengths that highlight why you are the right candidate for the job. Avoid over-used terms and generalizations such as "peoples-person" but rather be specific about your strength and provide hard evidence of it. For example you could state that your strengths are your interpersonal skills and your ability to persuade people. Back this up by describing how these strengths have translated into strong sales or winning customers over. Describe how these strengths could be put to good use in the position you are interviewing for.

What are your weaknesses?

With this interview question the interviewer is evaluating your self awareness and insight rather than your actual weaknesses. Acknowledging a weakness is seen as a sign of maturity and wisdom. Refer to a valid and sincere weakness but turn it into a positive by describing it as an area for development. In your answer detail the steps you have taken to try and improve. Focus on how you have some limitations just like everyone else but you are aware of these and work constantly to improve on them to become a better and more effective employee.

Where do you want to be in five years?

The interviewer is looking for a match of expectations between your hopes and goals and what the job and company can offer you. Referring to goals and aspirations unrelated to the work you are applying for demonstrates a lack of interest in the current position and sends up red flags for the interviewer. It is best to avoid mentioning specific job titles and specific time frames. Refer in a general way to what you enjoy, the strengths you have that you would like to develop, what you hope to learn from your work experience, realistic challenges and opportunities you expect in your chosen career field. Align your goals and successes with the company's goals and successes.

Why should I hire you?

With this top interview question the interviewer is looking at your objective assessment of your suitability for the position. Link up your work experience to the requirements of this job. Describe the immediate relevance of your past experience. Provide examples of your transferable skills. Refer back to your strengths and how they will benefit the position and the company. Focus on your key skills and expand on how you will use them in this position. Offer a couple of examples to explain why you are so enthusiastic about the job, the work and the company. Think of the most convincing example you can give to prove your suitability. Is there something extra you offer in addition to the basic job requirements? Be specific and make it relevant to all you know about the job and company.

Have you any questions for me?

Yes, this is a key interview question! Fail to prepare for and answer this properly and you will eliminate any chance of success. Have a prepared list of good, insightful questions to ask in the interview. Let your questions demonstrate your research and knowledge of the company, the job and the industry. What do you want to know about the position? Basically these are the areas you need to explore. What does the job actually involve? What is required of a successful employee in this position? Are these the people and management I will be happy working with? Will I flourish in this organization? Use the list of questions to ask in your job interview to guide you.

Prepare for these top interview questions and be confident that you will stand out as the right candidate for the job.

by Julia Penny

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Job Interview Preparation

The Job Interview is usually the most stressful and difficult part of any job. On the job stress falls a distant second to the interview required to get the job in the first place. So, what can we do to reduce the stress and impress our future boss at the interview? That's where preparation comes in. This article is about job selection, employer investigation, pre-interviews and practice to show you're prepared for the job and not just the interview questions.

Career And Job Selection is the most important step in preparing for the interview. We must do a thorough job search to find careers and jobs that are an actual match for the skills, education and experience we have. You may be able to craft a deceptive resume that makes it look like you're qualified where you aren't, but how do you get past the interview, or worse, do the work once hired? There are skill sets you develop in certain fields that work in other jobs, as well. If you're in doubt, get a professional career counselor to help you find your good matches. It will make all the difference when you're interviewing if you already have a good match. As a side note...if you're changing careers, take some classes to fill in gaps in your experience toward the new field. Of course, to make sure it's a good match and to prepare for the interview, it's a good idea to investigate the potential employers.

Employer Investigation is essential to prepare for an interview. What you're looking for, here, is information about your employer that you can use to show your interest in their operation and to find ways you can contribute to that operation. Recently, a new head coach was chosen for the Sacramento Kings Basketball Team. The owners were impressed with the one candidate who came prepared, knowing players, strengths, weaknesses, recommended game strategies...he had a huge binder he had compiled on the Kings...he got the job. This is the kind of thing, though not to that extent, you should be looking for when investigating your employer. Where are they in the market with respect to their competitors? What are the similarities and differences between them and their competition? How can the experience and ideas you offer give them an edge over the competition? Even if all your investigation gets you is a way to show the employer you're interested in the company and not just the paycheck, it will be well worth the effort.

Some of the places you can get information about companies are very easy and helpful. Your local better business bureau and chamber of commerce are always good places to start. Check with your local and state governments for information involving their business license and incorporation information. If they're licensed services (contractors, hospitals, nursing homes, vets, etc.) your State should have a file including claims against the company and settlements. If the headquarters is in your county, there may be interesting records at the local courthouse. Then there's the Internet, where you can search on the company name and the general categories of business to find out a lot about the employer and their industry. Don't forget to look at the financial information if you can get it. Publicly held corporations file public financial information which is analyzed on websites like www.morningstar.com. Armed with as much information as you can get, begin to think about where you fit in the company and how your skill set and attitude will help them. Sometimes, you can get more information by interviewing others before the boss interviews you.

Pre-Interview Interviews can be conducted with company employees (if it doesn't interfere), competitors...even the suppliers and customers of the company (be careful about this one). The competitors can give you an idea of the wages and benefits that are standard for your work and the reputation of your potential employer. Who knows...if their competitors see someone ambitious enough to investigate the competition, they may offer you a position before you get to the interview. Employees of a company can give you great insight and may help you get hired. Once, when I asked an employee about the job, working conditions and company philosophy, he told his department supervisor to make sure I got hired because he hadn't seen someone that ambitious in years. Suppliers and customers of the company can give you great insight if you're tactful. Make sure to find out if there's anything they feel would make it easier for them to do more business with your employer. If you get anything useful, make sure to share it at the interview because good companies are always looking for ways to improve...and hiring you just might be that way. The whole area of investigation and pre-interviews is to give you an edge the other applicants won't have when it comes to the job interview questions.

Prepare To Answer And Ask Questions: Interviewing is a skill, like typing, and requires practice. It's good to prepare and practice answering at least the most common job interview questions so you're ready if they are asked. You can also get books with more complex questions tailored for your particular field. One way to have ready answers for all questions is to prepare a small notebook with copies of awards, college transcripts, job descriptions, appreciation and reference letters about you, etc. The whole idea is communication, so, if an award or certificate communicates your qualifications better than you can, show it...just don't make any lengthy presentations. Also, make sure the notebook has a few blank pages for you to take notes. When your interviewer offers information or answers your question, make sure to take notes. This impresses to your interviewer that you're intensely interested in the company and the job. If you've done your investigation well, you should have a few well-chosen questions in your notebook that will show what you've learned about the company and that you have an interest in the "big picture" of the industry the company operates in. Very few will go to the trouble of researching and developing questions and comments for the interview. But, at the interview, be prepared to gather information for your thank you letter, too.

The Thank You Letter can be more than a mere polite gesture as so many teach about job interviews. If you've done your preparation well, you'll come out of the interview with enough information to nail the job down in the thank you letter. Your notes from the interview should contain the name(s) of the interviewer(s), address, time and date of interview, answers to your questions, and information the interviewer volunteered about the company...especially anything that was emphasized. Along with the normal thank you letter ya-da-ya-da, make sure your letter includes appreciation for the information (be specific...in quotes if possible) they gave you and why (specifically ...company rep. or philosophy from information they gave you...but not money or benefits) you would be interested in considering a position there. After the hundreds of people they hire who never listen to what they say, your letter will show them you're different and what they say matters to you.

Of course, no one can guarantee you'll get every job you interview for. It usually takes several job interviews to get a good job, so, just regard the ones who didn't hire you as practice. As long as you're willing to prepare, you'll find the position that's a good fit for you and your employer. By doing the hard work others won't; choosing the right field, investigating and conducting pre-interviews, practicing and collecting notes for the interview and in the interview, and being more specific in your thank you letter, you can set yourself apart from the rest as that rare, special candidate. Then, all you have to do is be that rare, special employee that keeps looking for work once they have the job.

by Glen D

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