the job interview - mock interview activity

“The Job Interview”

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Mock Interviews Activity – David Truss

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Good Application Forms get interviews!

What information do you need in order to fill out an application form?

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Bad application forms

get filed here!

Good Resumes get interviews!

What looks good/bad on a resume?

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Bad resumes get filed

here!

How honest should you be on a resume?

Emphasis / Exaggerations / Lies(It’s ok to emphasize or even exaggerate your strengths.)

Here are my examples:

Emphasis / Exaggerations / Lies(It’s ok to emphasize or even exaggerate your strengths.)

Here are my examples:

1 good(Had the skills, exaggerated the experience.

And my reference check backed me up!)

I was hired!

Emphasis / Exaggerations / Lies(It’s ok to emphasize or even exaggerate your strengths.)

Here are my examples:

1 good(Had the skills, exaggerated the experience.

And my reference check backed me up!)

1 bad (Had some skill, exaggerated how good I

was.)

I was hired!

I was hired… and then

fired!

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Your references WILL be checked!

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Bad reference checks

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Good Digital Profiles get interviews!

If you are “Googled”, will future employers see what you want them to see?

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“Luck is what happens when preparation

meets opportunity.” Seneca

“The interview”

What should you do to prepare for an interview?

Scenario or Behavioral Questions?

Scenario: An angry customer/client comes to you and complains about

________. What will you do?

Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you dealt with an angry

customer/client. What happened and how did you deal with it?

Scenario or Behavioral Questions?

Scenario: An angry customer/client comes to you and complains about

________. What will you do?

Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you dealt with an angry

customer/client. What happened and how did you deal with it?

Scenario: Give if___ then___ answers. (It depends on the situation.)

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Behavioral: Pause and think first! You need to be authentic.

Make sure you answer the question rather than just tell a story.

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What qualities/traits do you want to show in your interview?

Believe in yourself!

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Practice some of the harder questions to answer.

“Why do you want to work for us?”

Possible answers:

• I know you have a good training program…• My friends say it is a good place to work…• It seems like a great working environment...• Other suggestions?

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“Do you have any questions?”

“Do you have any questions?”

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“Do you have any questions?”

If you must ask about salary, or benefits, make sure that isn’t the only question.

If you are currently working… ask this question:“I am wondering about the process, if you decide to hire me. The reason I ask is that I am currently working for _______ and I would like to give them as much notice as possible.

A good question to ask:“What is the process from here?

-or-“If you are interested in hiring me,

then what is the timeline to find out?”

Mock Interviews

Everyone will get these 7 questions…1. Tell me a bit about yourself.2. Why do you want to work for us?3. What are your strengths?4. What do you know about our company?5. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?6. Why should we hire you?7. Do you have any questions?

(Each group will also get 3 different questions.)

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Our process for the mock interviews. Groups of 3

Choose an interviewer, an interviewee and an observer.

Interviewees walks ‘in’ and shakes interviewer’s hand.

Sit down with the interviewer facing the screen (so you can read the questions), and with the interviewee facing the back wall (so you can’t see the questions), observer on the side, taking notes.

Interviewer will say “Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for ___________. I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.

Then the 10 question interview begins… 15 min, then switch.

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Example:What did they do well? What suggestions do you have?

Advice that will help themimprove their interview skills!

Question Compliments Suggestions

1. -emphasized strengths-good eye contact

Avoid “Uptalk” (Sounded like you were ending with a question?)

Digital handout: http://2di.me/ihubmockinterviews

Observer Role – Comment on the following:Poise/posture/movement (hands, bouncing knee)

ConfidenceEye Contact

Clarity: good annunciation/clear messagePace: talk too fast/slow

Pauses: appropriate/umm’s/‘like’or lack of pauses: and…and…and

Did they answer the question?Did they go off topic or emphasize the wrong things?

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1. Tell me a bit about yourself.2. Why do you want to work for us?3. What are your strengths?4. Tell me about a time when you worked really

hard to achieve something. 5. What do you know about our company?6. How would you deal with an angry customer

that got the wrong order?7. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?8. If I were to ask your parents what your best

character traits were, what would they say?9. Why should we hire you?10. Do you have any questions?

Mock interviews – 1st Interview “Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for _________. I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.

1. Tell me a bit about yourself.2. Why do you want to work for us?3. What are your strengths?4. Tell me about a project you did at school where

you worked really well with others.5. What do you know about our company?6. Tell me what you would do if you saw a customer

spill their drink on themselves?7. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?8. If I were to ask your best friend why you are such

good friends, what would they say?9. Why should we hire you?10. Do you have any questions?

Mock interviews – 2nd Interview “Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for _________. I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.

1. Tell me a bit about yourself.2. Why do you want to work for us?3. Tell me about a time when you achieved

something that you were proud of.4. What are your strengths?5. How would you deal with an upset customer that

says they got the wrong amount of change?6. What do you know about our company?7. If hired, how long to you expect to work for us?8. Why should we hire you?9. If I were to ask a previous employer what traits

you have that make you a good employee, what would they say?

10. Do you have any questions?

Mock interviews – 3rd Interview “Thank you for coming in today. As you know, this is a job interview for _________. I’ve had a chance to look over your resume and I’d like to ask you a few questions.