Interview Appearance and Attire
What
do your clothes say about you?
The way in which you
dress for an interview indicates the level of gravity you have assigned the
interview.
What
is the appropriate attire for men in Interviews?
Business
Suits - Formal trousers and full sleeved formal shirts (tucked into trousers)
Shoes
- Formal leather shoes and socks
Tie
- Simple pattern that is coordinated with shirt
What
is the appropriate dress for women in Interviews?
Business
Suits - Full sleeved or half sleeved shirts, formal trousers or skirts or
Business dresses Cardigan, Sweater, Salwar, Churidar kurta and Sari
Footwear
- Formal leather shoes, Boots, Flats, Heels, Dress sandals
Optional
– Scarves, Blazers
How
should I be groomed for the interview?
Clean,
neatly pressed clothes and clean/polished footwear are fundamentals projecting
a
professional image.
Hair
should be neat, clean and well groomed and hair style should be sober and
moderate.
Side
burns, moustaches and beards, if any should be neatly groomed. Unless sporting
a beard, men should be clean shaven.
Women
should avoid excessive make up. Ensure that make-up is minimalistic and formal.
Nails
must be clean and well-manicured. Nails should be clipped short for men and
women who choose to use nail polish, should use light and discreet colours. The
paint should not be chipped.
Any accessories worn should be discreet
in size and design
The Technical Interview FAQs
This document answers some of
the “Frequently asked Questions” [FAQs] about a Technical
Interview
I.
How would you make a first impression
about a candidate?
First impressions are
generally gathered in the first five minutes - when the
candidate walks to the
table introduces him/herself, body language, how well the
candidate comprehends
and responds to the initial few questions and supporting
mark sheets and
certificates.
II. What are the basic things that a candidate is expected to know?
In a technical
interview five basic expectations from a candidate are:
· Ability to articulate
fundamental engineering concepts from his /her discipline.
· Strong foundation in
Mathematics.
· Good verbal and written
communication skills. The ability to listen to the
problem, understand it
and then be able to break it down to reach the solution
and articulate the
steps and the solution.
· Application of learning to
simple, real-world examples. For example, a student
from the Electrical
and Electronics Engineering (EEE) discipline should be
able to differentiate
between LED and LCD and speak of the inbuilt
microprocessor
devices.
· Command over software
languages covered in the curriculum.
III. What is the best way for a
candidate to receive a question? What should a student
do when
he/she does not know the answer to a question?
There are two
golden rules to be followed while answering questions in an
interview:
· The first
rule is to be relaxed and listen to the question completely. If you did
not understand the
question, then clarify with the interviewer. Then proceed to
solve it.
Always remember that
the approach to solve the problem is as important as
the solution.
· The second
rule is to be honest. If you do not know or remember the answer,
you can candidly say
so to the interviewer, or alternatively you can explain the
points up to which you
can recollect.
Random Guess work and
Silence do not work in your favor.
IV. Can you share some ideas for
interpretation of questions?
Consider the following
example:
You are asked to write
a simple C program to print alternate letters from your name
Before putting the
pencil to the paper, the candidate should understand the question
and decide on his
approach.
Certain decisions can
be made here on usage of variables and arrays
Whether the name has
to be user fed or stored
Whether the alternative
characters should be printed on the same line
What loop will be used
– For loop, Do-While loop etc...
All of this helps the
interpretation of the question and leads to the solution.
V. How significant are the
certifications obtained by students?
The certifications
that the student has been awarded convey leadership and team
player qualities,
initiative and special talents that the student has exhibited in his/her
academic tenure.
Certificates also show that the candidate has a passion to excel.
They are an “added
asset” and a competitive advantage for a student.
VI. How is my communication skill tested
in a technical interview?
Communication skills
are gauged implicitly. Through the interview, the candidate
expresses him/herself
both in verbal and written communication.
VII. How is the programming
ability of a Mechanical or a Civil engineer tested?
Since C/C++,
Computational Lab., and Fundamentals of Computing are subjects
common to all
disciplines, questions to students from these disciplines will be
centered on topics
covered in these subjects
VIII.Apart from the points already
discussed, how else can students prepare for a
Technical
interview?
As part of
preparation, students should:
1. Practice extempore or impromptu speeches of 2
minutes about
themselves, their
strengths, weaknesses, role model and career
aspirations
2. Revise the fundamentals of their subjects
3. Be cognizant of the latest trends in technology
in their discipline
(This can be easily
searched for using GOOGLE.)
IX. What is your message for all TCS
aspirants?
My Message to all TCS
Aspirants is:
“Come
to the interview with courage and confidence.
TCS
is looking for young talent like you.”
TIPS FOR INTERVIEW
ñReview
you application form, which you have filled before appearing for the final
interview; the interviewer is likely to ask question to you from the same.
ñBe
ready to provide examples from your personal and academic life to elaborate
more information to what is written in your resume and application.
ñBe
open and honest.
ñ
ñNever
go with per-conceived notion about the interviewer/organization and presume
that the interviewer is sitting to pull your leg.
ñAsk
questions (read good questions) , as an interview is never a one way
information exchange thing.
ñFollow
proper business decorum, i. e. trimmed hairs, business clothes (formal
dressing, in India),
etc.
ñWatch
your non-verbal clues, such as eye contacts, movement of your hand, posture,
fidgeting, and do not over-animate.
ñBe
courteous to everyone and always treat everyone with respect. (Treating
individual with respect would always help you improve as an individual)
ñBe
at ease before the interview; don’t flip through the pages of your notes
(last-minute reckoner). Take deep breathe, meditate or chit-chat with your
close friends and relax.
ñEye-contact
to the interviewer is important, but, remember, don't stare them into their
eyes.
ñKeep
your calm during the interview, at times the interviewer might test you by
putting you in a pressure scenario, just don't panic.
ñA
brimming smiling face always leaves an impression.
ñDon't
go overboard when you are introducing yourself, your institute or your
education; be precise and crisp in what you are saying.
ñMind
you delivery style in terms of: words per
minute. Many a time, candidates turn into a Ferrari or a bullock-cart,
inadvertently.
ñ
Lastly, don't brag. The interviewers at times,
give you a free string, to let you speak, you should not eat and use all time
and start a never-ending speech form your end.
ALL THE BEST
