Ameer - How to Be Successful at Interviews

Brief Notes by the Author

I am a Quantity Surveyor by profession in the mid sixties and has worked on and off in the Middle East (Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai) for a total of about 20 years. I have the habit of working for one year, 13 or 14 months at a stretch in one place, then ask for 4-6 months vacation, which is usually not possible, so resign and, if there is a problem of non acceptance of the resignation (which was the case in many instances) then go on usual one month vacation, take rest for another 6-8 months, go for interviews and join another job. This was my practice until I passed 50, where the age factor came into play and finally settled down in a prestigious organization for the last 10 years. Thus it implies that I have had to face many interviews and most of them very successful interviews. While my Professional integrity was never been questioned, I always worked without God fathers and with a stand for which, Ill fight to the end.

In my long and illustrious career, I always saw to it that if and when I attend a professional meeting, my presence is felt professionally and if possible otherwise also. In the Interviews too, by making another point of view, another school of thought, the interview panel learn a thing or two from me. Ill quote a case where how two Salesmen reacted to the same situation. Two Slipper salesmen visited a village (about 90 years ago) and following were their comments:

Salesman one: These people are not wearing slippers, therefore cant market Slippers. Delete this town from sales promotion activities.

Salesman Two: These people are not wearing slippers and therefore there is a huge Market. Sales promotion activities to commence immediately.

The salesman one is technically correct as one cannot sell slippers to those who do not wear them. The second presented another view; people with say free or 25% of price during the promotional activities shall start wearing slippers as the same will give a good look, healthy and comfort. After some time their feet shall become soft that they will not be able to go out without wearing slippers. The next generation will start wearing without any promotion. This salesman Two happened to be Bata, who later established his slipper empire. (To such an extent that their genetic name was lost as people were telling buy Bata whenever they want slippers). Employers are certainly eager and willing to employ people like Bata.

In this competitive time, with countries recording very high levels of unemployment, securing a job is becoming all the more important. My experience suggest that in most cases, the candidates in spite of having the necessary skills are failing to secure a position owing to the lack of preparation and proper presentation of their skills at the required time.

In the good olden days, a University Degree carried lot of respect as one has to follow a 3 or 4 year full-time difficult course. Now Degrees are available on line, some just within one year with a production of few assignments, for which all required information are available in the internet. Further, such Degree awarding Institutions see to it that the same are recognized, so at the end of the day all degrees are the same and hence these unlike old days do not produce jobs, but shall bring one to the interview. The chances in the foreseeable future is getting Degrees shall come easier, securing a job becoming more difficult. The good aspect is remuneration levels have gone up.

The book is a production of my experience namely preparation, facing and six of my successful interviews. I have met lot of Employers in the Construction field to get feedback regarding the practical requirements that they basically expect from their candidates. This interaction helped me in the preparation of tips for other positions in the construction industry.

After careful preparation and good presentation there is always a possibility for failure. Failure specially after spending time and money can be frustrating to say the least. Failure is in built everywhere. However, one has to take these in our strides and use those as experience and a learning exercise. The situation where materialism and spiritualism boils down to the same is in the aspect of trying. If someone tries hard and very hard materialistically speaking he will achieve that. Even spiritually at one point God or nature whatever you call it grants it. In my case, this book was originally published as How to Be Successful at Competitive Interviews and the Publishing company was dissolved. The company never informed me. I lost lot of money both by meeting part of the cost of printing and not receiving any Royalty which was promised to be much higher than the normal. That is certainly frustrating to say the least. That didnt stop me. I now expanded the contents more than fivefold as it is now related all Professionals in the Construction industry rather than the initial which was only related to my profession of Quantity Surveyor.

One should always remember and take note of what Winston Churchill said about the pessimist and an optimist. It is reproduced here.

Every Employer generally expects the following at the interview as he wants his buy to be good one.

Why should we hire you?

What can you do for us that other candidates cant?

What are your key strength and weakness?

I feel that I have reasonably addressed these concerns in my book starting from the preparation along with some subject matter to compliment, to facing with some real experiences.

There is one aspect which is missing in most if not in all higher Educational Institutions is the preparation of students for employment. This is particularly important now, as getting Degrees becoming easier owing to the advancement of Technology with several on line Courses and we are forced to live in a competitive atmosphere owing to the prevailing economic conditions. Normally educational Instructions are full of Academics who are more than competent in the educational knowledge but very few have the industry experience. One cannot be a good Foot ball coach unless he played Foot ball on the ground that too at high level. Education at the learning Institution is a confined comfort zone where the students are given all facilities in the form of tutors, libraries, laboratories etc with less than the average requirement for passing,where as the employment field is a wild situation where one has to face elements on his or her own with the required success rate of near 100%.The good aspect in the employment is the time factor in the equation. One has only a limited time to answer a question in the examination. Here the time is not a concern as for a difficult question; your bosses will give you days to solve the problem. It goes without saying that sufficient preparation without time consideration is a must for the Interview.

The book can also serve as a guide for interviewers to select personnel to have perfect fix to the requirements and at the same time to be fair for the people who are being interviewed.

Although my interview experience is related to my career, which is Quantity Surveyor, the same is applicable to any situation with the correct modifications. I want to share some of my experiences, which are first hand and in some cases unique to improve your chance of success at interviews. This book has to be in every house hold as a reference as going to and be successful at interviews is a present day requirement to secure a job.

Regards.

A.L.M. Ameer

Dubai.

Preparing for Interviews

The employment interview is one of the most important events in your life, because the half to one hour spent with the interviewer may determine the entire future of your life. Interviewers are continually amazed at the number of candidates who come to job interviews without any apparent preparation and only the vaguest idea of what they are going to say. Other candidates create an impression of indifference by acting too casually. At the other extreme, a few candidates work themselves into such a state of mind that they seem to be in the last stages of a nervous breakdown.