Interview your interviewer

Stop being nervous in job interviews.


The interviewer sitting in front of you across the table is equally anxious as you are. All people in charge of hiring are already burdened with the task of finding good staff who will stay for the long run. Stability is what most recruiters look for.


Take care you know what you're getting into. A friend of mine was working in a vendor company of the Indian Railways. Nice workplace, close to her residence as well. 10 to 5 job. The only low point was the pay packet was sort of less. This is a single young girl I am talking about with no responsibilities at all. She applied elsewhere and got through at a 50% or 60% hike. 


The pay packet was all she cared about at that time. This girl resigned from her previous job and moved on.


A month later she realized that she was working in a crappy workplace and she resigned from the new workplace and is now jobless.  She has been job hunting now for almost four months.


A must do thing for you kids is to make sure you know what company you're getting into. Think of the future before you sign on the dotted line. 


A great workplace with a good comfortable environment with nice working hours and a small daily commute should be alright even if the pay packet is slightly less.


If you're getting into a company with less than a 100 employees all over India, don't hesitate to ask for the balance sheet of the company. Ask for permission to visit the office premises to get a feel of the workplace. Don't hesitate. You don't want to quit an old good job just because the salary is a little less.


With the onslaught of call centers in India, there's no concept of a 10 to 5 job anymore. If you have one, then don't envy people in a call center with a night shift and a fat pay packet. Chances are, in five years they would be beat and you would still be going strong.


A first salary doesn't essentially have to buy you a Honda City. There's an option of a bike or a Maruti Alto too and they aren't that bad. 


Don't hesitate to inquire about the company you're getting into. You deserve to know as much as you can about the company you're getting into. Learn about what they do, how they do it. Ask how many employees they have. Ask about the work timings. Ask if it's a five day or a six day week. Ask if they have a 40 hour week or more than that. Ask them about the benefits. Ask about mobile phone reimbursements. Ask them about other perks. 


Ask as many questions as the recruiter asked you when you were giving the interview.


Wait for the interviewer to ask you if you have any apprehensions or questions. Chances are, if the interviewer does not ask you all this, then you should think twice before you join.


Don't jump at 100% hikes without verifying the company you're getting into. Hikes don't really last for long. Don't be shy. If your previous company gave you a laptop or a mobile or a car or paid for your newspapers, then be clear about each detail at the interview. Don't dilly dally thinking that everybody knows that.


Clearly outline your perks from the previous company. Some companies include perks in the CTC, some don't. Ask for clarifications.


A company that does not offer you provident fund is a strict no no from day one. Ask them why there's no provision of provident fund.


If your previous company paid you in US dollars, then chance are you're not liable to pay income tax in India. Now if you change jobs and move to a company that pays you in INR, then you'd need to pay tax. 


Ask the company before hand to give you a break up of your salary in written, stamped and signed by the HR or the senior management. Ask them questions if you do not understand any part of the salary break up.


Interviews are not scary. Don't waste time in being nervous. Rather, take ample time to think and be sure you've verified the companies past.


If the interviewer has the right to ask you why you left your previous job or why you would be leaving it, then you have the right to ask the company who was in the chair that you'd be filling in and why did he leave.


It's your right to ask the company for contact details of the previous employee and get in touch with him to verify why he left.


Don't be shy.


Don't be hesitant.


Ask questions.


Be gentle, yet firm.


Satisfy your curiosity, but be polite while you do so.


Good Luck!