Tips-Tips Interviu Sukses JPA Edisi Terkini

My previous post was a motivational entry. Link: http://leongfm.blogspot.com/2011/04/spm-jpacom-jpa-interview.html

After seeing so much support and recommendation by friends and colleagues alike(Thank you!), I have decided to go a little further...

...I shall be your "Interview Coach."

This entry should help you be prepared for any interviews, especially for JPA which is currently the buzz now.



1.  Appearance

Put up a good smile, have a bright face full of confidence and energy. Don't DOTA or watch dramas late late the night before.

Guys: Formal. Collared shirt(long sleeve preferably) with trousers and shoes(I like black leather), a necktie and a good hairstyle. I've seen guys wearing their NS outfit but I don't know if it changes much things. I advice formal wear to look presentable and professional, and please avoid T-Shirt, singlets, jeans, shorts, slippers or anything in which by your logic, seems unprofessional.

Girls: I'm not pretty sure about girls, but I saw many wearing Baju Kurung, which seemed correct. But I think they can wear formally too, just nothing too sexy k? Dress appropriately. I saw a girl who wore formal but was asked to change to Baju Kurung because her clothes seemed...... improper. Anyways, do refer to a girl JPA senior if it's possible.

Normally they should have a dress-code guideline for this, right?


2. Preparations

Materials:
a) Your certificates. Normally after being informed that you have qualified for the interview there should be a list which states your certificates to bring. Follow the list, make photocopies of them and arrange them according to the list's orders. Prepare an album for your real certs, and bring along your photocopied certs.

b) Your stationery and a small notebook. In case you need them for group discussions.

Mental:
If you want an example of the questions they might ask, do check my previous post(link) and see the 6 questions I had for my interview. I'm not guaranteeing the same questions to be out again, but you can expect the same format.

Be confident, and be ready to answer any questions the interviewer may ask. They didn't ask me, but it would be embarrassing if you don't even know your Prime Minister or your Education Minister's name. Read and find out the current news in Malaysia or worldwide, stay up to date and be prepared to discuss them if the topic is brought up.

Research about your course and be prepared to talk about it if asked. Prepare to answer why did you choose this course too.

Some oral practices may help, like learning to pronounce and articulate your words correctly and smoothly.

And er... try to stop using vulgar words for a period of time. You don't want an F-bomb to slip through your lips, do you?


3. The Do's and Don'ts in the room.

Something I advise. But just keep in mind that the main thing is that you do what you think is acceptable, polite and correct and don't do things that are wrong and stupid, okay?

Do's
*) Go to toilet before interview
a) Knock before coming in
b) Greet Good Morning/Afternoon following the time.
c) If the interviewers are within reach, shake their hands. (Please don't shake a Malay lady's hand)
d) Wait until you are asked to be seated. Or ask "May I sit?"
e) Sit up straight.
f) Smile. Why so serious?
g) Answer in English if asked in English. Answer in Malay if asked in Malay.
h) Remain polite at all times.
i) Speak audibly and clearly.
j) Answer only to the questions they ask. Don't go off-track and do keep your time limited.
k) Think properly before you answer.
l) Keep calm, cool and confident.
m) Have eye-contact with the interviewers as you speak. Don't eye-contact so ganas that you're practically staring through them.
n) Lift up your hand and wait for the permission to speak if you wish to say something without interrupting other people.
o) In discussions, present the main idea of your points without elaborating too long.
p) In group discussions, participate actively and present your points without taking too much time and allow other people to speak too.
q) Just say that you don't know if you can't answer the question. It's better than to lie a miserable lie.
r) Apologize in case of any rudeness or mistakes in the end.

Don'ts
*) Don't forget to go to toilet before interview.
a) Don't be nervous.
b) Don't shake a Malay lady's hand.
c ) Don't cross/fold your legs.
d) Don't cross your arms.
e) Don't crack your fingers or any other bad habits.
f) Don't look around the room.
g) Don't look at the time.
h) Don't speak so loudly that you sound like shouting.
i) Don't speak too softly that noone can hear you.
j) Don't promote yourself or boast about your good points and stuff all the time. Do look for the right question and the right moment to slip them in without being so muka tembok.
k) Don't demote yourself, that's not an effort of being humble.
l) Don't interrupt other candidates as they speak.
m) Don't interrupt the interviewers. If you really need to, do lift up your hand and ask to speak.("Excuse me")
n) Don't make lame joke.
o) Don't be sarcastic or hurl insults.
p) Don't look so angry/fierce/sad/sleepy/drunk/high.
q) Don't smile unnaturally. Don't do pervert smile.
r) Don't talk too much.
s) Don't talk too little as well.
t) During discussions, don't bantai other people's ideas. Your job is to present your own ideas and let the interviewers conclude for themselves.
u) During group discussions, don't play captain and hog all the spotlight.
v) Don't give heavy political comments.
w) Don't rage/explode.
x) Don't dig your nose.
y) Don't fart.... loudly nor silently.


4. Useful phrases

Some of the phrases which might be useful during the interview. They're optional, you're not obliged to use all of them. Most importantly, do sound natural, alright?


"Good morning/afternoon."

"May I sit?"

"I'm sorry, I was afraid it would be rude to sit without your permission to do so."

"Excuse me, may I speak?"

"Excuse me, may I add something before we move on?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm sorry, can you please repeat your question?"

"I'm sorry, I do not understand your question. Can you please explain it to me?"

"I'm sorry, I do not know. But I'll look that up soon."

"Please excuse me if I have been rude or made a mistake at any time."

"Thank you."


5. Basic Format

a) JPA Interviews can last from 40 minutes to 1 hour plus or so. Depending on the number of questions your interviewers ask.
b) Number of interviewers may vary, I had 3.
c) Number of candidates in a room may vary, mine was 6.
d) Discussions may be by group or individual.


I am a Taiping boy, so I went to Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh for my interview. Jangan kecewa lo kalau stail tak sama nanti.


Conclusion

After having had my interview nearly 2 years ago, this is all I have to remember and share with you. I hope that this entry will help you in any way. If however you need more information, google up JPA Interview and you'll find many contributers as well. Try www.recom.org or even lowyat forums for example.

All the best and God bless!