Job Interview Do's And Don'ts

Job Interview Do's And Don'ts

100 Potential Job Interview Questions

While there are as many different possible interview questions as there are interviewers, it always helps to be ready for anything. Which is why we've taken the time to prepare this list of 100 potential interview questions.

Will you face them all? We pray no interviewer would be that cruel.

Will you face a few? Probably.

Will you be well-served by being ready even if you're not asked these exact questions? Absolutely. How to be prepared for all manner of job interview questions begins here.

Now start practicing:

Basic interview questions:

Tell me about yourself.

What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Why do you want this job?
Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
What's your ideal company?
What attracted you to this company?
Why should we hire you?
What did you like least about your last job?
When were you most satisfied in your job?
What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
What were the responsibilities of your last position?
Why are you leaving your present job?
What do you know about this industry?
What do you know about our company?
Are you willing to relocate?
Do you have any questions for me?

Behavioral interview questions:

What was the last project you led, and what was its outcome?
Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?
What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
How do you handle working with people who annoy you?
If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.
If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?
If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?
Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.

Salary questions:

What salary are you seeking?
What's your salary history?
If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?

Career development questions:

What are you looking for in terms of career development?
How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?

Getting started questions:

How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?

More questions about you:

How would you describe your work style?
What would be your ideal working environment?
What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?
Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.
What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?  
If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
Tell me about your proudest achievement.
Who was your favorite manager and why?
What do you think of your previous boss?
Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
What are you most proud of?
What do you like to do?
What are your lifelong dreams?
What do you ultimately want to become?
What is your personal mission statement?  
What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
What are three positive character traits you don't have?
If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
List five words that describe your character.  
Who has impacted you most in your career and how?
What is your greatest fear?
What is your biggest regret and why?  
What's the most important thing you learned in school?
Why did you choose your major?
What will you miss about your present/last job?
What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?    
How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
How do you think I rate as an interviewer?
Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.
Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.
What kind of car do you drive?
There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
What's the last book you read?
What magazines do you subscribe to?
What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Who are your heroes?
What do you like to do for fun?
What do you do in your spare time?
What is your favorite memory from childhood?

Brainteasers:

How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?
How would you weigh a plane without scales?
Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.
Sell me this pencil.
If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of and why?
With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.

Articles in This Feature:

Make a Great First Impression home
Last-Minute Interview Preparation
Six Key Interview Answers Employers Need to Hear
100 Potential Interview Questions
Nonverbal Communications: Escape the Pitfalls
Job Interview Tips
Steer Clear of Interviewers' Pet Peeves
Do Your Homework Before the Big Interview
Assessing Your Skills 

How to get over a huge work blunder

So you messed up big time at work. The good news is that you are not alone. Most successful professionals admit to having messed up multiple times.

The bad news is you have to deal with it. If your blunder gets you fired, start looking for a job and figure out how will you explain the situation to prospective employers. If your huge mistake does not get you fired, here's how to recover your credibility and career.

Keep your feet on the ground

What could be the worst possible outcome? If you sent an inappropriate email to a client, will your company lose the account? What will it mean for your career? Will it cost you your reputation or job? Once you are mentally prepared for the worst, you can plan actions to reduce impact and initiate a recovery for your company and yourself.

Don’t act ‘hyper’

Cut the drama. Stop saying 'Sorry' excessively and apologising repeatedly to everyone while seeking their help to solve your mistake. You may be expressing remorse, but for your colleagues, you are wasting their time and thus the company's resources. To your boss, you are displaying an inability to handle pressure or take useful action.

Don’t be ‘chill’

You made a mistake and you wish to avoid telling others because it will spoil your reputation. When they find out, you act as if it isn't a big deal and have an excuse ready. This is a terrible idea. Your colleagues will believe that you do not care for consequences and are not truthful. Your team leader will decide that you lack judgement and cannot be trusted. By avoiding facts, you are denying yourself an opportunity to rectify the error and rebuild your reputation thereafter.

Own up

Come clean before someone else finds out about your error, advertises it and everyone makes negative assumptions about you. Figure out who you need to inform and apologise to. Usually this includes colleagues who are likely to be most affected and your boss.

If it is a client who will suffer from your mess up, then the sequence of telling people matters. Discuss it with your manager and client facing people first to figure out the best communication, timing and actions required. Taking ownership for your mistake displays maturity, concern and reliability.

Bring a solution

Your colleagues and your manager expect you to do your own thinking and to bring possible solutions to the table to reverse the error.

By presenting solutions, you save everyone's time and they find it easier to trust your abilities to solve the problem. If it is an irreversible mistake, then solve for what can be done to compensate. First, identify the actions that need to be taken and the people whose help will be required. If you sent a faulty shipment to a client, then you may need a few permissions for a second shipment. Second, articulate the correct communication plan to smooth ruffled feathers. Finally, spell out how will you do things differently in future to avoid such situations.

Allow for grief

It is ok to feel terrible for a while after having blundered but it is not ok to continue wallowing in it for ever. If you goofed up on a team project requiring rework and fresh deadlines, you will be mortified and will find it difficult to face your colleagues every day.

Permit yourself to feel wretched and guilty for some time. Thereafter forgive yourself, focus on your work and your positive contributions to keep your grief in check. No one has the time to remember your gaffes forever and neither should you dwell on them at the cost of performance.

Slog it out

When things go wrong, be prepared to dig deep and work really hard. Reach early to work and make sacrifices to deliver beyond expectations. Take on tasks no one wants to do, go the extra mile to exceed targets and put in effort to turn in the highest quality outcomes. Remember to make and keep promises to your team, manager and clients in output and deadlines. This rebuilds your credibility and marks you out as a person who works hard when there is a problem.

Accept micro-management

If you have messed up a deadline that is critical for your boss or your firm, it is natural for them to be concerned for the future. Accept that your team leader may micro-manage your output until you prove your reliability once again.

Have a positive attitude when you report your progress on an hourly or daily basis and help the person quickly audit and question your work. Be extra careful in meeting deadlines and quality standards and view this as an opportunity to rebuild trust. When things return to normal, you will know your credibility is restored.

Find the gold

Turn your mistake into an opportunity for learning. Once you have taken immediate actions, get a good night's sleep. After the initial agony, reflect on what went wrong and what attitudes, thoughts, communication and actions caused the error. Identify what needs to change. Most big mistakes offer solid takeaways for you to strengthen your career and join the league of the successful.

Process is critical

If you are focused on concrete goals, chances are you will forget to take the right steps and miss your goal by a mile. Though you may have a deadline and numbers to achieve, keep your mind focused on building and getting processes right.

Feelings are not important

Giving importance to how you feel is unproductive. When you dwell excessively on temporary feelings, output suffers and you make bigger mistakes. Focus on the present and the small tasks you are engaged in. That leaves no space to think about negative stuff.

Life plans are not fixed

Obsessing about your life plan and how your career is doing leads to loss of attention and mistakes in the present. Plans are based on past information while circumstances change. Review your plan every few months and focus on doing well at work every day.

Don’t seek acceptance

Do not be concerned of what people think of you. Your colleagues are too busy worrying about their own careers. Seeking popularity and acceptance leads to mistakes at work. Choose to work on what makes you happy and in doing it really well.

Guilt wastes energy, time

Observe the inner voice criticising what you are doing and the guilt that follows a blunder. Both prevent you from taking corrective actions and right decisions. Get going with a task to restore your energy levels and to make productive use of your time.

Top Fastest-Growing Jobs This Decade

Just how good is a dream job if it's unnecessary to society? Not much good at all, and therein lies the reason hiring demand is the most pervasive factor U.S. News uses when selecting and ranking occupations annually. Every one of our Best Jobs is expected to create new openings between 2012 and 2022, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the best of the bunch will produce those openings at a percentage rate that's faster than 10.8 percent, the average for all occupations. The BLS estimates total employment will increase by 15.6 million by 2022.

For a handful of occupations on our list, new positions will sprout particularly fast. Here's the skinny, by industry, on those jobs where employment should spike by 30 percent or more:

HEALTH CARE

The cause for job growth in this industry is easy to figure out – a large and aging population plus more insured people stemmed from health care reform – but specific reasons for the growth of particular branches of health care are more complex. For example, there should be openings in health care support positions in specialties such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and dentistry, because the qualified professionals who fill these jobs will enable rehabilitation centers and dentists' offices to treat more patients.

When it comes to wellness care, the new job openings and rate at which they'll pop up is different. Seeking treatment for emotional health is losing its previous stigma, so counselors trained to treat and advise on marriage and family issues plus substance abuse and behavioral disorders will face good job prospects. According to the BLS, job prospects will also be favorable because military personnel coming off active duty are expected to seek treatment and will need good therapists and counselors. Overall, health care and social assistance jobs should account for one-third of the projected increase for jobs, the BLS reports.

Here are the expected growth rates for the fastest-growing health care jobs between 2012 and 2022:

    Personal Care Aide: 48.8 percent
    Home Health Aide: 48.5 percent
    Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: 46 percent
    Occupational Therapy Assistant: 42.6 percent
    Physical Therapist Assistant: 41 percent
    Esthetician: 39.8 percent
    Physician Assistant: 38.4 percent
    Medical Secretary: 36 percent
    Physical Therapist: 36 percent
    Nurse Practitioner: 33.7 percent
    Dental Hygienist: 33.3 percent
    Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor: 31.4 percent
    Marriage and Family Therapist: 30.6 percent
    Medical Equipment Repairer: 30.3 percent

BUSINESS

It costs a lot of money to develop and promote a product, so most companies want to sell something that's a sure bet to be bought. Enter the market research analyst, who studies our preferences and makes recommendations to clients on how to create, package and promote their materials to best entice us to buy. The drive for more effective marketing strategies will also drive hiring for this position, and the BLS predicts this occupation will grow by 31.6 percent from 2012 to 2022.

The other swift-growing business job on our list, meeting, convention and event planner, includes social event planners, but the BLS predicts the strongest job prospects will be for job seekers who want to coordinate the logistics of corporate functions. Big businesses have international offices and job openings throughout the globe, and although technology allows colleagues to connect in a variety of ways, face-to-face communication is still preferred. Companies are re-upping their budgets for corporate planners – for both the salaries to employ them and the events they'll plan – so this job should grow at a rate of 33.2 percent between 2012 and 2022.

Here are the expected growth rates for the fastest-growing business jobs on our list:

Meeting, Convention and Event Planner: 33.2 percent
Market Research Analyst: 31.6 percent


CONSTRUCTION

Our six ranked construction jobs are overshadowed by professions in information technology and health care. The No. 1 job for this industry – construction manager – is a great one, but it has 36 other occupations ranked above it that steal a skosh of its glory on the overall 100 Best list. And a few jobs we were bullish on in 2013, like carpenter and electrician, have skidded out of our rankings. None of this is to say we don't have high hopes for these jobs as the housing market and economy recuperate, and the jobs expected to open at the quickest rates didn't necessarily make our rankings list.

For instance, one of our unranked jobs, insulation contractor, should grow at a rate of 37.6 percent. There will be more growth for mechanical insulation work – installing heating and cooling material to pipes and ductwork as opposed to ceilings, walls and floors. Brickmasons and blockmasons construct or repair a building's structure. Their job is another unranked entry on our list; still, the BLS predicts employment growth of 35.5 percent for this profession between 2012 and 2022.

Here are the expected growth rates for the fastest-growing construction jobs on our list:

Insulation Contractor: 37.6 percent
Brickmason and Blockmason: 35.5 percent

TECHNOLOGY

In the last 12 months, there have been major security breaches at Twitter, LivingSocial, Target and the University of Maryland. At this rate, there could be a cyberattack to yet another major corporation before you've finished reading this article. Take this lead-in – and that bad joke – to mean hiring opportunities for qualified information security analysts are cropping up. This job, which involves monitoring and maintaining software and networks plus analyzing and recommending the best cybersecurity practices, is expected to grow at a rate of 36.5 percent between 2012 and 2022. Keep your eye on openings at hospitals and other health care organizations, because as more medical records are transferred to electronic files, more information security analysts will be needed to protect patients' privacy.

Here is the expected growth rate for the fastest-growing technology job on our list:

Information Security Analyst: 36.5 percent


SOCIAL SERVICES

Social services is an elephantine industry of occupations on our list of the 100 Best Jobs. And from that group, the fastest-growing job is expansive all by itself. Interpreters and translators could technically be two occupations – those who are strictly interpreters handle verbal communication while translators work with the written word – and professionals from both pie halves are further segmented by specialty and language. For instance, the BLS anticipates increased hiring demand for interpreters and translators who are fluent in frequently translated languages in the U.S. – such as the Romance languages, German and Russian – but if you speak lesser-translated languages, like Arabic, you're poised to enter the harder-to-fill positions. Video relay service technology now allows people who are deaf to participate in online video conferences, so there will also be a greater need for organizations to hire more people who know American Sign Language.

If you're interested in this line of work but are struggling to fit a niche, pursue a master's degree in international business. The BLS also predicts verdant job opportunity to facilitate international trade, and if you've complemented your communication skills with an understanding of global markets, you'll be golden. Altogether, the interpreter and translator occupation should grow by 46.1 percent between 2012 and 2022.

How to apply for your dream job...when your skills don't meet the job spec

You see your dream job being advertised but you don’t quite match the job specifications listed: should you still apply? 

Eighteen-year-old Georgia Goodman faced this scenario last year when she applied for a digital marketing graduate scheme, despite having no university degree. Instead she had three months’ experience in marketing via an apprenticeship.  

“I was pleased to be offered an interview and told that, although I wasn't a graduate, my passion and experience working within the B2B sector is what made my employer change his mind about the position they were advertising,” she explains. Georgia is now a digital marketing assistant at the Nottingham-based company and has been funded to complete a vocational qualification.

“You have to be in it to win it,” says Becky Mossman, a HR director at HireRight. Ambition like Georgia’s is one of the key things that employers look for and as long as it isn’t a wild pipe dream, it’s commendable. “A lot of the time candidates have more skills and experience than they even realise, the struggle is often when it comes to articulating those skills in a meaningful way,” she adds.  

“No one candidate is ever actually perfect,” points out Jon Gregory, editor of win-that-job.com. Any shortlist will therefore represent a spread of skills, qualifications and experiences and you could aim to fit on one end of that spread. 

Highlight your transferable skills
If you’re short on specifically required qualifications, show that a combination of your other qualifications and experience are at least as good, if not actually better, says Gregory. What else have you done that brings along sufficient relevant experience? Where do you bring something unexpected and potentially very valuable with you to the organisation? It could be a relevant foreign language, or an extra qualification, for example. 

Draw from your academic experience as well as your work experience and think about your transferrable skills, says Mohammed Rahman, business development and placements executive at London School of Business and Finance. He says: “As an example, customer service skills are needed in every profession and are important skills to have.” 
He adds: “A lot of companies promote opportunities with requirements and would be willing to consider and take on people who do not meet all the criteria but have an open mind regarding how far they are willing to go to train and learn on the job.”

Make a strong case at the start - and don’t be negative
Make a clear, strong case in the introductory summary about your overall suitability, and at all costs, avoid drawing attention to your shortfalls, says Gregory. “One sight of those will switch the reviewer to a negative mindset, reading on only in search of further justification to drop your application into the shredder.” Don’t be deceptive, just selective.

Demonstrate that this is your dream job
“This is the application that has to hit the back of the net, nothing can be standard,” says Mossman. For example, if it’s a creative role, do something big that sets you apart from the field and makes the recruiter question whether the pure job description match is what they really need. 

“If it’s really your dream job, then you should be able to make a clear case for why that is, and still come across as completely genuine”, she says. Think carefully about what skills you can bring to the table – they might be from a job you had five years ago, they might be from a sports team or hobby. If they apply, make it clear what you’ve gained from that experience, and why that’s as valuable as the tick box achievements that are on the job description. 

Do your research - and remember they will do theirs too
Gregory advises that candidates research deeply into the company before compiling an application or tailoring your CV. “You need to show that you really do understand the role, the challenges, why this role is important to the organisation as a whole and what it is about you that makes you viable to shortlist for interview,” he explains. If you can, speak to the HR people organising the selection process and your potential line manager. The more you can engage in a dialogue with people inside the organisation and breed familiarity, the better. 

While you do your research on the company, remember that the company might do research on you too. Perhaps most importantly of all, check your entire online presence to make sure the image you paint in the application is consistent across LinkedIn and your references, warns Mossman. “Otherwise, the hard work of wowing them will all be for nothing. “Employers don’t all admit to checking up on applicants via external channels, but it’s not uncommon for decision makers to use every means available to reassure themselves of their choice,” she explains. 

And finally, remember: there are upsides to applying even if you don’t get shortlisted. Rahman says: “Remember, you have nothing to lose. If it is a dream job then it is worth the time invested in applying. It will act as a good testing ground for future opportunities.” Recognise that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, even if that’s only a list of what you need to work at for next time a role like that comes up. 

Most Keys to succeed in a telephonic interview

In a world where jobs are no longer restricted by political and geographical boundaries, several companies today are conducting phone interviews to short-list candidates before calling them in for a face-to-face interaction.

A phone interview has several advantages both for the employer and candidate. It is typically shorter than a face-to-face interview, allowing the interviewer to save on time.

For the candidate, who has the advantage of remaining unseen, a phone interview allows the use of cue cards and cheat sheets, as well as access to the Internet.

Here are 10 phone interview tips to help you ace your phone interview:

1. Choose a good spot
Companies generally tell you in advance when they will be calling. Choose a room where you can speak without disruption. Shut out other noises like TV and radio, take the kids away and lock the room from inside. Ask your family members not to disturb you when the interview is in progress. Get a good phone -- preferably a landline. You don’t want calls to drop at this time.  

2. Keep documents handy
Get a hard copy of your resume and cover letter and keep it ready. Keep pen and paper handy to take down notes. You could even keep your laptop on in case you want to refer to the Internet. But take care to be discreet -- don’t hammer away loudly at the keys of your computer.

3. Use a cheat sheet
One of the great advantages of a phone interview is invisibility. Prepare for expected questions in advance and jot down points on a piece of paper. Write clearly and legibly since you will be referring to it under pressure. Practice the answers to expected questions beforehand and prepare for any derivative question that may arise as well.

4. Be in a positive frame of mind
This may seem odd, but smile! Though the interviewer cannot see you, it is not difficult to sense your mood over the phone. If you feel happy, bright and enthusiastic, this will reflect in your voice. Some experts also suggest dressing for the interview. If you think this will put you in the right frame of mind for the interview, go right ahead and slip into formal clothes.

5. Do your homework
You’ve already visited the company portal while writing your cover letter, so you have a sense of what the organization is about. This may be a good time to go back to the portal and brush up on that knowledge. If you know the name of your interviewer, you could also search him/her on the Internet to learn more about him/her.

6. Treat the interview like a face-to-face interaction
It is easy to fall into the trap of not taking a phone interview as seriously as a face-to-face interview. But remember, this is a process of elimination as well. It will be unfortunate if you were eliminated at this stage because you did not take the interview seriously enough. Prepare for a phone interview as you would for a face-to-face interaction.

7. Ask intelligent questions
After he/she is done with the interview, your interviewer will typically ask if you have any questions. This is a chance for you to showcase your intelligence. You could ask questions on the role you are being interviewed for, company branding or its strategy to beat market slump. Asking questions that tell the employer you are serious about this role.

8. Don't bring up salary
It is too early at this stage to bring up salary and perks. The company is still assessing your suitability for the job. Salary discussions generally take place in the final stages of the hiring process. So hold your horses till then!

9. Ask if the interviewer has other questions
Asking the interviewer if he/she has any other questions is a good way to round up the discussion. This will give him/her a chance go back to the list of questions and see if something has been left out. If there are no more questions, ask what the next step will be in the hiring process.

10. Say thank you
Don’t forget to say thank you, even if the interview has gone badly. Some experts even recommend sending a short thank you note to the interviewer a day after the interview.

You may spend a lot of time talking on the phone, but that does not equip you to master a phone interview. So keep these pointers in mind to get one step closer to the job.

How to make a successful career leap :Sushant Singh Rajput

How can you tell if you should change careers or not? Many of us have faced this dilemma at some point in our professional lives. Your salary no longer makes up for the boredom you feel and you know you’re made for better things than what you're currently doing.

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput arrived at this moment of truth while at the peak of his television career. Despite a lead role in the hugely popular soap opera Pavitra Rishta, the actor felt like he was stagnating. “I knew exactly what my character was up to each day. There were no surprises left. I was doing the same thing day in and out. So I left TV,” he said in an interview to Filmfare magazine.

While many performers have failed to make the transition from TV to film, Sushant’s managed to stay ahead in the game with breakout film Kai Po Che. The buzz surrounding his upcoming release MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, where he plays cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is equally strong. “If you strongly desire something, then you should really go for it,” said the actor, who believes that success will come if you #LoveWhatYouDo.

Based on Sushant’s career, here’s what you’ll need to do to make a career leap:

#1 Follow your heart but do your prep
It’s essential to know where your passion lies. Sushant was studying mechanical engineering at Delhi Technological University when he realised that his heart lay in acting, not engineering. He decided to drop out of the college to pursue a career in acting. But he didn’t switch without doing his groundwork. While in college, he joined Shiamak Davar’s dance school. Soon after, he enrolled at Barry John's acting school, where he learnt the basics of acting. For his new movie, Sushant learnt cricket from former Indian cricketer Kiran More and also met Dhoni a couple of times to get to know him better so he could play him better.

Takeaway: Just finding your calling isn’t enough. You need to work towards it. So take a class, get training or find a mentor.

#2 Take small steps, and keep your eyes on the big picture
A career leap is all very well but a gradual approach to changing your career works better for most of us than a radical reinvention. When Sushant decided to take the leap to acting, he went from theatre to TV to cinema – learning and enhancing his skills every step of the way. He was on stage in a play when Ekta Kapoor, who said she would make him a “star”, spotted him. His role as Manav Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta did just that. But he didn’t stay content and kept experimenting with his choices.

Takeaway: Take up small jobs that are similar to what the big prize is, for you. Preparing for them will make the transition easier.

#3 Keep up-skilling, be it upgrading skills or adding new ones
Shiamak Davar may have told him that he wasn’t “one of my finest dancers” but Sushant – his eyes on Bollywood, perhaps – thought that he could better his dancing skills. He joined Zara Nachke Dikha, a dance reality show in 2009, and followed it up with Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 in 2010. He may not have won either of the shows, but he did make a mark as a dancer of note, with even Madhuri Dixit, a judge on Jhakak Dikhla Jaa, applauding his talent. That’s not all, he even took martial arts classes, worked on a six-pack and learnt ballet. He was planning to go to UCLA to study acting, but changed his mind after he was offered Kai Po Che.

Takeway: Focus on learning new skills that will make you more attractive to potential employers.

#4 Figure out what works for you and then take the leap
Everyone needs to know what they’re willing to do and what they aren’t. Sushant did TV for more than two years. “The money and fame were good but I began feeling suffocated. There was no challenge, no improvisation,” he said in an interview. When he realised he was not learning anything, he decided to take the leap but only after thinking things through. “Actors have their priorities – money, passion, big names, working with friends. I work for the script. I was offered seven single-hero films before this…then I got this [Kai Po Che] script with three main guys. When I read it, I got goose bumps and I knew I had to play Ishaan,” he said.

Takeaway: Your heart may have done the thinking when you made the leap but let your brain decide the way to get it done.

#5 Focus on the journey, not the destination
Sushant, who decided to begin with and stick to unconventional roles, has said that he doesn’t obsess over the destination. “It's the journey that matters more than the destination. Right now is very important,” he said in a recent interview. The actor, who is winning applause for his portrayal of Dhoni even before the film’s release, says his mantra for giving the role his best was living in the moment, what he calls “total immersion”.

Lesson: The result is important, but the many steps that take you there are just as important so focus all the way.

To be the best, you need to #LoveWhatYouDo. Search and find a job that you love here.