The first interview and first job always stay close to your heart. At the start of my career when I attended my first interview I had a lot of mixed emotions popping up in my mind as a fresher. Excitement, Fear of failure, what kind of questions they may ask, etc. In those days we never had a google search to find out tips to attend the interview.
I would like to share my experience of my first interview in my career and how I aced it. After writing my B. Pharm final year exams, I enjoyed a week at my home relaxing and doing nothing. After a week of B.Pharm final exams, I started getting bored at home doing nothing and I was really breaking my head about what to do next.
I was totally clueless and was in a confused state thinking that ” should I pursue my higher studies or should I work or should I take a break and be at home what should I do next?”
I always had a dream and ambition to start something on my own, so initially, I was not keen on searching for jobs. At the same time, I had doubt in my mind without any job experience how will I start something on my own, whether my parents will lend me money to start something on my own, etc. Right from my childhood I always had an aspiration to be financially independent. But my parents insisted that I stay at home and advised me not to work. Especially my dad’s mindset was like this “When you have everything at home being a lady why do you have to go to work?
God has been always kind to me, within a few days of completing my B. Pharm exams, fortunately, I received a call letter through the post from Cipla asking me to attend the campus interview for the post of Management Trainee at Madurai. I didn’t have any clue about the job profile of a Management trainee. But still decided I will give try for the above job.
If I have to attend the interview, from my place I have to travel 5 hours to reach Madurai. For traveling from my native I always used to depend upon my dad, he used to accompany me where I want to go, (the fact is that he won’t allow me alone).
My dad refused to take me to Madurai for attending the interview. I was trying to convince him. He was very stubborn that I shouldn’t work or study further.
Finally, I stood up for my dream to achieve something in my life. I clearly told my dad if you are not taking me, I have decided to go alone. Since I was stubborn and adamant, finally after lots of argument and fight with few conditions my dad allowed me to attend the interview at Madurai
In my journey of life, the most difficult and challenging thing that I have ever faced is convincing my dad to allow me to work and stepping out of my house to attend an interview.
I had felt attending the interview was much easier for me than convincing my father for allowing me to work.
Finally, I attended the first round of Cipla’s interview at Madurai and by god’s grace, I got selected in the first round.
In those days I didn’t get any exposure or training for how to crack the interview etc.
I was interviewed by Cipla’s Regional Co-ordinator of Tamil Nadu Mr.Venkateshwaran and Ms. Padma Gayathri, District Manager of the Cardiac Task Force. They asked me so many questions but I remember 3 questions for a lifetime.
The first question in my interview was “Tell me about yourself”?
Since I had good English communication skills I told them about myself and introduced myself confidently.
My second question was “Do you know to drive a two-wheeler?
I said at present I don’t know but I can learn to drive within a week if required.
Third question
If you are going to meet a doctor residing far away from a city unknown place for you. The doctor has given you an appointment to meet you at 9. pm and “suddenly if the doctor says you have to wait till 10.30 pm to meet me” what will you do, will you see the doctor or Will you get scared and return to your place since you are alone, late night and you may not know the proper way to return to your hostel?
*Note 23 years back we don’t have google maps or Mobiles.
I replied saying that I will definitely meet the doctor; why should I be scared I can always find out the way to reach my place by asking someone and I don’t think it is going to be difficult for me.
Around 150 people attended the interview from 2 colleges and they selected 20 people in the first round and I was one among them.
I was so happy that I got selected in my first interview and in the 2nd round of interviews they asked me to do a retail survey on Roxithromycin and which are the brands doing well at Nagercoil.
2nd round was a cakewalk for me since I did my survey very well and my report presentation was good too. Needless to say, that finally I got selected as a Management Trainee of Cipla for the Asthma Task Force based at the Chennai Location.
Key Elements that made my first interview successful as a fresher from college was
1. Positive attitude
2. Being Genuine
3. Confidence
4. Good Communication Skill(Oral,Written ,Listening & Body language)
5. Passion and enthusiasm
6. Desire to learn a new skill
7. Courage and Openness
8. Willingness to work or face any situation,
9. Strong Fundamental Knowledge
10. Strong determination
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