How to prepare for a job interview: what to carry and what you will be asked

The call came. You have an interview on Thursday at eleven. For many people that is the moment the nerves start. The truth is that most interviews in India, whether for a back-office job in Surat, a sales role in Ahmedabad or an engineering post in a GIDC unit, follow a familiar pattern. If you prepare for that pattern, you walk in calmer and answer better. This guide covers what to do the day before, what to carry, the questions you will almost certainly be asked and how to follow up.

The day before

• Research the company: look at its website, Google Maps listing and reviews. Know what it makes or sells and who its customers are.
• Re-read the job post and match your experience to each requirement. Think of one example for each.
• Check the route and timing. Traffic on Ring Road or near Udhna Darwaja at office hours can add a lot of time. Plan to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early.
• Save the contact number of the person who called you, in case you get lost or delayed.
• Prepare your clothes the night before: clean, ironed and suited to the workplace.

What to carry

Keep everything in one folder so you are not searching through a bag in front of the interviewer.

The questions you will almost certainly be asked

"Tell me about yourself."

Do not recite your resume. In under a minute, cover your current role or education, your relevant experience or skills, and why you are interested in this job. Practise it aloud a few times.

"Why do you want to leave your current job?"

Be honest and positive. "I want to grow into a senior accounts role, and my current company is small" works. Criticising your current employer does not, even if it is true.

"Why do you want to work here?"

This is where your research helps. Mention something specific about the company or the role.

"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

Choose a strength that matters for the job and give an example. For a weakness, pick something real but not fatal, and say what you are doing about it.

"What is your current and expected salary?"

State your current salary honestly. For expected salary, give a researched range. Our guide to salary negotiation explains how to answer this well.

"What is your notice period?" and "When can you join?"

Know the answer exactly. If your notice period is negotiable, say so.

Role-specific questions

Expect practical questions for the role: a Tally entry for accounts, a sample call for telecalling, an Excel task for back office, technical questions or a machine trial for operators and engineers.

Answer with examples

When asked about a situation ("Tell me about a difficult customer"), use a simple structure:

1. 1
   Situation

   What was happening, in one or two sentences.

2. 2
   Task

   What you needed to do.

3. 3
   Action

   What you actually did. This is the important part.

4. 4
   Result

   What happened in the end, and what you learnt.

Keep each answer to about a minute. Interviewers lose interest in long stories.

Questions you should ask

At the end you will usually be asked if you have any questions. Have two ready:

• "What would a normal day in this role look like?"
• "What training is given in the first month?"
• "What are the working hours and weekly off?" (if not already clear)
• "What are the next steps after this interview?"

Phone and video interviews

Many first rounds now happen on the phone or on a video call. Find a quiet place with good network, keep your resume in front of you, and charge your phone. For video, check the camera angle and lighting, use earphones, and dress as you would for an in-person interview. Join a couple of minutes early.

Body language and small things

• Greet politely, wait to be offered a seat, and switch your phone to silent.
• Sit straight, make normal eye contact and listen to the full question before answering.
• If you do not know an answer, say so honestly and explain how you would find out.
• Thank the interviewer at the end.

After the interview

Send a short, polite message the same day or the next day thanking them for their time. If you have not heard back in the time they mentioned, one follow-up is fine. Meanwhile, keep applying; do not stop your search for one interview.

Find your next interview with Job Vista

Job Vista lists genuine openings in Surat and across Gujarat, and our recruiters help candidates prepare for interviews with the employers we work with. Job Vista never charges for jobs or placement. Browse jobs in Surat or apply quickly with Easy Apply.

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