interviewing workshop preparing for a successful interview bill curtis, ma mba ms © 2008 bill...

Interviewing Workshoppreparing for a successful interview

Bill Curtis, MA MBA MS

© 2008 Bill Curtis

Interviewing workshop Overview

What is the university looking for? The three basic questions Role of resume, cover letter Your role in the interview Self-analysis Research

Interviewing workshop Overview

Interviewing basics The ten questions Internet resources Summary & conclusions

What is the university looking for?

Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes What are they looking for? What are they trying to find out?

Why?

The three basic questions

Can doCan you succeed here?

Will doDo you really want to be in this program?

FitWill you fit in well in our university?

Role of resume & cover letter

What is the primary purpose of the Resume PS Cover letter

Get an interview Once you get the interview the PS is a

roadmap for the interviewer Avoid the rejection pile

Your role in the interview

I can succeed I want to succeed in your program I am a good fit for this program The interview is a two-way street Ask questions

Research

Two areas for your research:1. Yourself2. The university program

Researching yourself

Abilities Skills Interests

Self-analysis

Self-awareness Westerners value the individual and

teamwork Westerners value self-confidence “Self” does not mean “selfish” This is not the time to say “My oral

English is very poor”

Abilities

Organizational ability Leadership ability Analytical ability Team work and team contribution Problem solving

Abilities & skills Entrepreneurship An entrepreneur is someone who

starts or organizes a business, especially one with a financial risk Bill Gates Michael Dell Phil Knight Li Ning

Technical skills, e.g., computer skills

Self-analysis

Tell me about yourself. What’s your future plan? Why do you want to come to this

university?

Interests

Watching TV Talking to my

friends Computer games Shopping Sleeping

Mountain climbing Reading nonfiction Jogging Listening to music Reading fiction

Rank the following interests as positive or negative from the interviewers viewpoint

Research the university

History (especially with Chinese students)

Successful graduates Strengths Growth & trends Program ranking Faculty & faculty interests

Research the program

Entrance requirements Course of study Opportunities for individualized study Real world experience Placement assistance Program strengths and weaknesses Success stories

Interviewing basics

Dress and appearance Practice! “Near memorize” Create key words Role play with a friend

Arriving for the interview

Introductions Shake hands firmly Look the individual in the eye Do not offer to shake a woman’s hand

unless she offers it first

Interviewing basics

Enthusiasm Motivates others Positive attitude Likely will work well with others

Remember the 3 questions the interviewer is trying to answer

The interview is a conversation It’s ok to take notes

Interviewing basics Be certain you understand the question

before you answer it Repeat the question to be sure

“You want to know if I have team leadership experience?”

If you need to have a question repeated: “Could you repeat that please?”

Asking for clarification “I’m not sure I understand the question. Could

you re-phrase it?”

Interviewing basics

Focus give precise answers think before you speak

Length Short answers are good Be concise

Always give examples Body language & eye contact

Interviewing basics

Thank the interviewer “Thanks for you time. I appreciate the

opportunity to have the interview.” Shake hands

Ask about next steps “Do you know when you will be making

your admissions decision?

The art of interviewing

The three general questions: Can do Will do Fit

The art of interviewing

Can this person work well with others?

Is the person a leader or a follower? How does the person relate well with

colleagues? Is the person a team player? How can this person contribute to the

university?

The art of interviewing

Is this person qualified for admission? Is this person realistic in terms of

abilities and goals? Is this person motivated to work hard

and do well? Does the person want to study at our

university? What kind of a person is this?

Qualification questions

Question #1 Tell me about yourself. Please describe yourself

Qualification questions Purpose

Fit Check your judgment: do you know

what’s important to mention about yourself

Strategy Key is to focus on the most important

information Present it in an organized, concise

manner. Choose information that shows you are a

good fit with the university

Qualification questions

Sample answer“Last June I graduated from (school name) (with a Bachelor’s degree in English). I am an energetic and motivated student. Once I complete my preparation at COACE, I’ll be ready to continue my academic career at (UIC) to earn my (MBA) degree.”

Qualification questions

Question #2 Why should we admit you to this

program? Why are you a good candidate for

admission into this program?

Qualification questions Purpose

Can you provide adequate information? Do you understand the requirements of

the program and are you a good match? Strategy

Target the specific details in the program objectives, the needs of the university, & how your qualifications match the program’s needs

How do you get university information?

Qualification questions

Sample answer“I think I’m ideally suited for this

program. I have a degree in accounting (and practical experience as an intern in a company), so I can fit in well and adjust to the program quickly. Also, my future plan is to use my MBA to (…) so I am highly motivated to succeed.”

Qualification questions

Question #3 What classes did you like best? Of the classes you took, which ones

would be most useful for you at UIC? What did you learn from your

previous job that would be useful to you if you studied at UIC?

Qualification questions Purpose

Tells if you are interested in learning skills important to success in the program

Strategy Let the interviewer know you are an

eager learner Try to match your answer with the

requirements of the program

Qualification questions

Sample answer“My oral English classes were my favorite. I enjoyed interacting with my teachers and other students using English. English is the international language of business. Studying for an MBA at UIC would be exciting because I would be able to use my oral English abilities to learn business skills.”

Qualification questions

Question #4 What are your greatest strengths and

weaknesses? What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness? What about yourself would you like to

improve most?

Qualification questions Purpose

To see if you are aware of yourself and match the requirements of the program

How will you tackle the course of study? Strategy

Choose two of your best strengths and show examples

Select a weakness that is not a possible problem for successfully completing the program.

Qualification questions

Sample answer“My greatest strength is my ability to think

critically. When I’m faced with a serious problem, I try my best to critically evaluate the alternatives to arrive at the best solution. For example, I decided on UIC because in comparison with other programs it not only has a solid ranking, it has significant experience in working successfully with Chinese students.

Qualification questions

Sample answer“My greatest weakness is my inability to

remember numbers. I overcome this problem by keeping a card with me at all times that have the important numbers I need to remember. For example, bus numbers, telephone numbers, classroom times, and room numbers.”

Qualification questions

Question #5 What are your strongest skills?

Purpose Focus is on skills rather than strengths Requirements of the program How well you know yourself

Strategy Research yourself Match the program requirements

Qualification questions

Qualification questions

Sample answer“My strongest skill is my ability to

communicate effectively with my teachers and classmates face to face and electronically. Email and chat, where body language cannot be seen, are particularly challenging, but I am comfortable using both.”

Mental state questions

Question #6 Why did you decide to apply to this

program?

Mental state questions Purpose

Are you sincere about this program? Do you have potential for greater

commitment and loyalty (e.g., as an alumni)?

Strategy Show sincere interest in the program Demonstrate that you’ve done your

research

Mental state questions

Sample response“The program seems well suited to my interests and future plan [be specific]. Your program has a good reputation and a great deal of experience working with Chinese students. I want to study in a program that can utilize my talents and abilities and provide a good opportunity for me to succeed in my future career.”

Mental state questions

Question #7 What do you know about our school?

Mental state questions Purpose

Did you do your research? Strategy

Show you understand the MBA academic environment and where UIC fits

Show you understand details of the program

Show that you have an idea of what the goals and objectives of the program are

Mental state questions

Sample answer“I have read your descriptive materials and reviewed your website. Your program is an AACSB-accredited MBA program ranked 4th in the city of Chicago. You provide real world experience to students. This is important to me. I also think my experiences and Chinese perspective will contribute to the business school community.”

Mental state questions

Question #8 Where do you see yourself in five

years? What are your long term goals?

Mental state questions Purpose

People who do not set goals are not motivated

Are your goals achievable by studying in this school?

Strategy Have a clear vision—it doesn’t have to be

detailed Make sure your vision is a good fit with

the program

Mental state questions

Sample answer“I would like to move into a management position in 5 years. The main thing right now is to learn as much as I can to be well prepared for this move. With my previous experience and my ability to learn quickly, I think I will be ready for a management position in 5 years.”

Character questions

Question #9 What is your most significant

accomplishment? What are you the proudest of?

Character questions Purpose

Discover what you value The school is looking for the kinds of

values that will result in quality work and reflect well on the program

Strategy Show you are proud of your

accomplishments Contributions to team endeavors are

important

Character questions

Sample answer“My greatest accomplishment was participating in a team effort to organize an English speech competition. It was a lot of work and I was pleased that many of my ideas were accepted by the team. The competition was successful. All of us on the team felt proud when it was finished.”

Character questions

Question #10 What motivates you?

Character questions Purpose

Similar to question #9 but more direct. Helps you explain the objects that

motivate you (specific motivators) Strategy

Most difficult question to answer Relate your answer as closely as possible

to your academic and working life

Character questions

Sample response“I’m motivated by successfully using my abilities. For example, when I had the opportunity to lead a team, such as (give example). I was able to use several different skills important to team success such as leadership and relationship building.”

Principles

Practice your answer to these questions until you are fluent and natural, but do not memorize them. Memorizing will make your answers inflexible, make you appear insincere, and cause you to speak like a robot.

Ask questions

The interviewer will ask you if you have any questions

Be prepared to ask several questions. Some may be answered during the interview.

Website research for resume writers http://www.schoolrack.com/BillCurtis/

www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html

www.jobweb.com/resumes_interviews/default.htm

www.10minuteresume.com/ jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php www.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resume/ owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/

Summary & Conclusions Put yourself in the interviewers shoes when

you prepare for your interview Research yourself & the program Be specific—always give examples Be confident & smile! Practice, practice, practice Don’t memorize Introduce yourself at the beginning and say

“Thank you” at the end Ask questions