The Interview Scripts:

[The scene is the interview hall. A panel of interviewers is seen in it,

relaxed and gossiping in hushed tones. The atmosphere of the hall is
pleasant and fresh].
• The ineffective Interview:
[One interviewee enters the hall dressed casually and apparently
bewildered, looking at the corners of the room. He directly enters
the room without taking permission which makes the panel look at
one another surprisingly and the interviewee seems unaware of
this. He comes near the table flinchingly with some sort of
diffidence on his face and posture not appealing_ not erect enough
with hardly any smile on the face. He reclines his hands on the
chair waiting for the panel’s permission which he thankfully gets
soon. While sitting, he gives a plastic smile which the panel
recognizes and returns the same. Then he says, “Hello” in a flat
tone, indicating triteness. The panel reciprocates in the same
manner as they seem to get nothing that would encourage them to
show warmth. However, they try to show some warmth but with no
effect on the diffident and ‘cold’ interviewer.]

Interviewer1: Well, we would like to know about you for five

minutes.
[The interviewee stumbles at this seemingly innocuous question
and starts scratching his chin for a while.]
Interviewee: [He inadvertently reclines his folding hands on the
table in front of him. He keeps folded hands for quite some time.]
To tell you the truth sir, I’ve never thought about myself as I
always think about others. I’d tell you whatever I know about me
at present. I’m Nitish Kumar. My address is Room no.28,
Lambodar Complex, Satya Sai Road, Rajkot. The famous Big
Bazaar Mall is just behind my room. I have qualified….[Here the
interviewee speaks his achievements right from his std.4 as having
passed a middle school scholarship exam and how he got 1st prize
in painting in the school drawing competition; 2nd prize in sports
and so on. The interview panel appears astounded by his
‘outstanding’ childhood performances and praises them in a
manner that affects little his ‘flow’ of prattle in a monotonous tone
continuous for quite some time, making the panel feel like yawning
but resist the temptation. While speaking, he unnecessarily moves
his head from one side to the other periodically with hardly any
smile or lively gesture, while the hands remain folded. ] I presently
have an experience of two months working in Kamnath Software
Groups where I worked as a lab assistant. I wanted a better
opportunity as I was not satisfied with the meager salary of Rs.
9000/- per month. Then, I remained jobless for 8 months confused
over what to do, being downcast that time. My dad, who is a bank-
cashier, advised me to seek appropriate placement in a reputed
company; so am I here.
Interviewer2: It’s so great that you are here and we feel honoured
by your presence. We also feel privileged by having you as a well
qualified interviewee. Thanks for being here and let us know about
your strengths and weaknesses.
Interviewee: Sir, I’m not person of any weakness, you know,
because I’ve a strong body and a sound head. If I do a mistake,
I’ve a great ability to recognize it quickly and reform it. But I
seldom do mistakes. I was wrong to say good morning to my
previous employer when, er, it was 12. 30 p.m. My fault was, you
know, that I forgot to watch the time and my colleagues reminded
me it soon after the boss showed a big ‘No’ sign on his face, you
know, and then I said “Sorry” honestly. It was a slight mistake, you
know, and that my boss took it so seriously than necessary.
Interviewer3: Your boss may be at fault, but I think it was for your
good. Don’t you think so?
Interviewee: That may be. [Shrugs his shoulders with a slightly
twisted mouth.]
Interviewer1: Where do you see yourself five years down the
line?
Interviewee: [confused for a moment and, then, suddenly] I think,
I may get some higher, honorable position with higher salary/ pay
scale and great responsibilities that would benefit your company
where I would like to work together with you. [The panel smiles
looking at each other.]
Interviewer2: It’s so nice that our company would be benefited by
your precious contribution. But tell me, what are your career
options?
Interviewee: Sir, I’m a, er, confident and, you know, anoptimistic
guy. Vacancies are created for well-qualified and quality people,
you know, like me. There are several career options which I would
like to opt for; however, the offer that you are likely to give me ,
you know, appears to me the best since I’d have, er, plenty of
opportunities here , you know, to grow and make myself perfect.
Interviewer3: But one thing surprises me and it is that why have
been out of work for nearly 8 months?
Interviewee: Sir, when bad times come, there is hardly anything
that can help a person out of the whirlwind of calamities, you
know; but somehow, being without anybody near to guide and
encourage me, I could not resolve the difficult situations that
entangled me tightly. My dad, you know, always busy, could
hardly pay any attention to me. My so called friends, you know,
tried to distract me by offering multiple solutions; but I was
determined, you know, to listen to none of them but do the things ,
er, on my own, though it was to take a lot of time, er, thinking
about it. I like to work independently, you know, as I have an
independent frame of mind and thinking and choose my own way
and walk on it even if there are thorns and fire on it. “Ekla Chalo
Re” is what inspired me.
Interviewer1: But the job you’ve applied for requires team-work
with a lot of mutual understanding and guiding one another,
accepting one another’s advice, suggestions, instructions etc._ that
means interdependence and not independence. Do you think that
your “Ekla Chalo Re” policy would help you in an effective way
for your job which would be the part of the team work you’d do
with others?
Interviewee: That’d be no problem at all, sir, because, you know,
I’m also a person with a flexible frame of mind. I’d, er, soon adjust
myself, you know, with the changing situation in your company at
that time. People like me, you know, soon match the conditions
that are offered.
Interviewer2: If conditions demand, would you lie for the
company?
Interviewee: Why not? The company’s interests are my interests
and I’d do anything to protect them, you know, and talking a lie is
not so a difficult task, especially when it comes to protect the
company’s interest.
Interviwer3: That’s so good. [And raises his eyebrows as a (fake)
gesture of appreciation which the interviewee hardly understands.]
What angers you most?
Interviewee: You know, sir, I hardly feel anger since I know well
that anger is injurious for mind and body_ that my mom taught me
when I was a child; and, fortunately, I always remember her words
when the angry moments try to touch me but I escape unscathed. I
always keep calm even if anybody tries to insult me, you know,
because anger shows your weakness_ this is what I heard my
mother say to her one of the friends when I was a child. If at all
you insist, I feel angry at not feeling anger when one should be
 angry. [The panel laughs at the interviewee’s small word-play,
making the interviewee slightly angry and, at the same time,
wonder if anything has gone wrong. He tries to hide his slight
anger but it does betray through his body language.]
Interviwer1: I’m concerned that you don’t have enough
experience. Then why should we offer you the job that you may
like to do here?
Interviewee: I think sir, I’m a deserving candidate despite having
less experience because the experience in your company would
make me, you know a useful employee.
Interviewer2 &3: We Hope so. [They pretend to nod their heads.]
Interviewer1: Nice to meet you Mr. Kumar. Hope to see you
again.
Interviewee: [Feeling overjoyed rises up suddenly, much to the
surprise of the panel, and shakes hands somewhat vigorously with
interviewer 1 and forgets to shake hands with the remaining ones.]
Bye-bye sirs. See you all again. [Walks excitedly out of the door-
room making the panel smile at his behavior.]

• The Effective Interview:

[The same spot with the same office conditions. Another candidate
with a pleasing personality and decently attired in formal clothes
appears with a genuine smile. The file is in his right hand, posture
erect and the attention to the panel of the interviewers enters after
politely seeking permission to come in. He walks in elegantly and
confidently. He shakes hands with the panel members and, while
doing so, again smiles gently and genuinely. Saying, “Hello sirs”
politely, at the same time, he continues to show traces of his
previous smile. The panel pleased to see his polite and confident
manners as well as positive looks is compelled to say politely that
he should assume his seat. The interviewee, thanking them,
assumes the seat with an erect posture with the hands one the
hands of the chair showing an open gesture indicating that he is in
a receptive gesture.]
Interviewee: Nice to see you sirs.
Interviewers [one by one]: The same here.
So are we.
Feel free and relaxed, young
gentleman.
Interviewee: Thanks. [Slightly nods his head with a gentle smile.]
Interviewer1: You have written your bio-data so well and neat.
Your qualifications, grades and experience certificates quite
impressed us.
Interviewee: Thank you very much for your appreciation, sir. In
fact, I would like to achieve even more in future, if given an
opportunity.
Interviewer1: Obviously, you’ll do. By the way, Mr. Ravi Menon,
as your name in your bio-data suggests, how would you introduce
yourself in 5 minutes?
Interviewee: [With appropriate hand gestures and facial
expressions, exuding confidence.] Sir, I’m a person who belongs to
a lower middle class family was brought up in a disciplined,
homely environment with an educational background_ my parents
being teachers: my father a junior college lecturer and my mother a
primary teacher, both gave me their guidance and guidelines about
personality development and knowledge enhancement. I, Ravi
Menon, have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and read
innumerable books on my subject, attended several state and
national level seminars and conferences as well as participated in
some of them. Having qualified the bachelor’s degree in
Mechanical engineering and an M. B. A. degree, I intend to learn
more and more of the management field with the relevant practical
experience in reputed companies like yours. I believe in learning
by doing; hence would opt for a good career opportunity in your
company if you deem it fit to exploit my hitherto acquired
potential. Having an experience of an uninterrupted 5 years in
Nelson and Co. Pvt. Ltd, I’m looking forward to taking somewhat
more challenging responsibilities. I don’t flinch from hard work
even if it means working a bit extra lest I would feel guilty for
being an under-performer. I believe in team-work i.e. united efforts
by means of which I could complete major project works that you
can see mentioned in my bio-data.
Interviewer2: Certainly sir.
Interviewee: I am a responsible person who would like to
contribute for the progress of my society in general and my
prospective company in particular.
Interviewer3: Would you like to tell us about your strengths and
weaknesses?
Interviewee: Obviously sir. I’ve one minor weakness of being
restless if I don’t get my work done quickly_ the work allotted, for
example, to my subordinates. However, during such anxious
moments, I never lose presence of mind and inclines, rather, to
boost the work to be done in time, however not at the cost of its
quality. My greatest strength is to be able to work even under
pressure, particularly when certain company or customer demands
are to be fulfilled within short stipulated time during which time to
complete it. I’ve other strong areas like leadership_ taking my
teammates along successfully by using various admissible tactics
and management techniques. [The panel feels impressed and
shows to one another such signs.]
Interviewer2: Where do you see yourself five years down the
line?
Interviewee: Sir, though the universal fact is that human life is
quite uncertain, considering my life as more or less stable, I think
I’d have a slightly higher position than the one I was entitled to
hold recently by my ex-employer. Then, I’d be even more
productive and one of the most efficient citizens, holding a
prestigious place in my prospective company.
Interviwer3: That’s very good.
Interviewee: [Nodding with a gentle smile]. Thank you sir.
Interviewer3: Now, please, tell me what are your career options?
Interviewee: My preference and priority would be almost for the
management work as a team-member or a team leader in the
corporate sector. Given the opportunity, I’d be one of the best in
your company. However, if I don’t get what I desire, I would still
manage to work as a leading supervisor as I used to do in the
previous job. I’d also like to work as a machine repairing guide as
I’ve a mechanical engineering degree from one of the reputed
universities in India. Whichever the option, I’d enjoy the work and
try to bring the maximum output from it. [Nods and gently smiles.]
Interviewer2: If conditions demand, would you lie for the
company?
Interviewee: [Gently laughs] Sir, telling lies is not my cup of tea.
But if it’s the question of the company’s reputation or well being,
I’d speak a lie for the company, though with certain pain and guilt
within because my conscience would surely give me a sharp sting
that time. If speaking a lie is taken into consideration’ even
Yudhistira in ‘Mahabharata’ had to speak a lie at the behest of Lord
Shree Krishna in order to save his brother’s life during the major
war with the Kauravas in Kurukshetra. If this is the case for such a
great personality, so can the similar one be with me.
[The panel smiles gently.]
Interviewer1: What angers you most?
Interviewee: [Nods and gently smiles.] I generally prefer to be
away from anger. No doubt, at times, I was mildly angry with my
subordinate for telling false things to my senior; however, I soon
made amends and became again friendly with him. Nowadays,
what makes me angry is my inability to be angry with my family
members, colleagues and friends or anybody. [The panel laughs
gently].
Interviewer2: Why should we offer you the job that you may like
to do here?
Interviewee: Sir, I may be wrong, but as far as I can see I consider
myself as an eligible candidate for the said post whose job-
requirements largely match my overall abilities that I’ve acquired
by knowledge and experience. Given the chance, I’d make the
most of them for the company’s growth, progress and
development.
The panel members: Nicely answered.
Very good.
Interviewer1: Who inspired you in your life? How?
Interviewee: It’s my mother, who taught me so many things of
life, inspired me the most. She taught me to observe things of life
carefully, thoroughly examine them from different angles and,
then, make a tentative view-point of them. Her philosophy of life
inspired me the most since it taught me to view things beyond their
surface realities. That’s how, it has made my life very fruitful and
productive as I could make observations in an objective manner.
Interviewer1: I enjoyed being with you, young man. Well done.
Wish you all the best. We’ll definitely see you again soon.
Interviewee: Thank you sir.
Interviewers2, 3: The same here.
Interviewee: Thank you sirs. [Gently shakes hands with a gentle
smile]. I really enjoyed being with you sirs. Good bye you all.
Have a nice day and see you again.

[Departs gracefully.]