interviewing and networking skills presenter: matthew price o director, esd june 24, 2014 military...
DESCRIPTION
3 O The interviewer is assessing applicants to determine the best fit for the job. O Everyone being interviewed will be a “Best Qualified” applicant. The interview helps to provide the selecting official with additional information on each applicant. O Fairness. An interviewer may not know the important skills and abilities for every applicant. Why hold an Interview?TRANSCRIPT
Interviewing and Networking Skills
Presenter:
Matthew PriceO Director, ESD
June 24, 2014Military Outreach for Service 1
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At the end of this presentation, you will have learned:O How to prepare for an interview.O How to understand the interview format and respond to
questions.O How to research a position and incorporate “buzz words.”O The importance of networking and mentoring in the process. O How to follow-up when the interview is over.
Objectives
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O The interviewer is assessing applicants to determine the best fit for the job.
O Everyone being interviewed will be a “Best Qualified” applicant. The interview helps to provide the selecting official with additional information on each applicant.
O Fairness. An interviewer may not know the important skills and abilities for every applicant.
Why hold an Interview?
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O Oral Communication
O Ability to Influence Others
O Prioritization Skills
O Ability to Meet Deadlines
O Conflict Management Skills
O Ability to meet Organizational Needs
O Organizational Savvy
O Decision Making Skills
O Problem Solving Skills
O Interpersonal Skills
O Leadership
O Motivation
O Planning & Organization
O Organizational Comprehension
Important Skills & Abilities
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O Focus on communicating what will make you stand out from the crowd! O As an applicant, you are selling a product—and that product is YOU! O Know where the interview will be conducted. O Dress in business attire.O Tone down perfume and jewelry.O Arrive slightly early. O Remember - first impressions are key: Smile! O Shake hands with each of the panel members, acknowledging them by name.O Focus on your body language, making it relaxed, poised, and leaning forward
with hands clasped. Speak clearly.O Use a strong tone of voice, with an even delivery. Make direct eye-contact with
all interviewers (without staring). O Use “I” statements in your answers.O Communicate the impact of your examples.
Pre-Interview Basics
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O Communication through facial expressions and body language has been eliminated.
O Clear speech, tone, and vocal inflection are especially critical during a phone interview. Practice.
O Smile and your voice will reflect your personality and confidence.O Use humor only sparingly, if at all. O Do not ramble to fill pauses or silence.O Use interviewers’ names to help retain personalization.O Outlining written bullet points can be a clear advantage in a phone interview.O If using papers, arrange them prior to the interview to avoid rustling noises.
Pre-Interview Basics for the Phone
How to Prepare for an Interview
O Research the business unit’s mission, goals, structure, and the specific management chain.
O Buzz Words: Research the PD, CJEs, KSAs, technical competencies, and required skills & experience. Review the vacancy announcement itself. Usually there is a spot with highly desirable skills in bold.
O Network: Speak with someone from that area who has done the work.O View samples of work products (if possible). O Familiarize yourself with their Intranet site and public info (Internet)O Compose a brief, opening statement that includes your education and
experience related to the position.O Focus all your responses on positions and responsibilities you’ve had
that were related to the position.O Prepare specific examples to describe your experience and
accomplishments that highlight your strengths.O Schedule a mock interview and practice, practice, practice! 7
Networks are relationships. They include personal ones with friends and family, as well as business relationships you develop with vendors, customers, supervisors, subordinates, (and even competitors) you encounter during the course of your career.
Don’t leave networking to chance. Take some time and define what you are looking for in your network.
Don’t dismiss anyone as irrelevant. Being a member of employee organizations is a good start. Reaching out to a wider audience could connect you across functions.
Networking is about building trust and relationships. Don’t expect anything. Networking is about helping each other, and is not always asking someone to help you. You must provide value, too..
Mentoring begins with Networking. Strong relationships naturally lead to mutual support and mentoring.
Networking and Mentoring
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Get a Mock Interview First
O It’s best if you already have an existing professional relationship and can contact someone personally to schedule a mock interview. However, if not you should network. Note: If you need help from an executive, it would be best to work through existing channels.
O Identify someone who can add specific value:O Have they worked there previously?O Do they have past or current contacts there?O Do they know what the area primarily looks for in an employee?
O Avoid Conflicts of Interest.O Do not ask for a mock interview from someone who may be interviewing the
actual applicants for the real interview.O Do not ask for a mock interview from someone who may be the selecting
official for the position.O Try to avoid asking someone who is already helping a number of others (if
possible). Identify mock interviewers familiar with the function. 9
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Locating “Buzz Words” to Incorporate into your Examples
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Duties and Qualifications
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Keywords
Other Information Section
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Standard Position Library
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Position Description Listings
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PD BUZZ WORDS
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O First impressions are key: Remember to smile!
O Shake hands and acknowledge panel by their names.
O Focus on your body language. Relax. Make eye contact.
O Speak clearly, using “I” statements.
O Use a confident tone of voice, with an even delivery.
O Communicate the impact of your examples.
O Maintain a conversational flow and ask questions. Keep all comments professional—both before and after the interview.
O Everyone there is a qualified applicant. Focus on communicating what will make you stand out from the crowd.
Sitting Down at the Table
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Dialing into the Interview
O Smile. Friendliness comes through the voice.
O Use a land line phone rather than a cell phone.
O Speak slowly and clearly.
O Call from a quiet room.
O Make eye contact with the camera if the interview is done using two-way video conferencing.
O Keep resume or paperwork in front of you to use as a guide.
O Compose a brief, opening statement in advance.
O Include education and experience related to the position.
O Focus on positions and responsibilities related to the position.
O Mention one or two accomplishments, focusing on your strengths.
The Interview Format
The standard opening question is like the free space in bingo, if you prepare for it: “Tell us a little about yourself…”
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Traditional Questions
Hypothetical Situation
O How would you deal with an irate customer?
O What do you think…?
O How could you…?
Behavioral Questions
Specific Example
O Tell us about a time when you had to deal with an irate customer. How’d you handle it?
O Give us an example…?
O Describe an incident…?
The Two Types of Interview Questions
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O Traditional Questions = Hypothetical Situations
“You will support many off-site presentations in this position. How would you prepare for such an assignment?”
Asking the same thing… Two Different Ways
O Behavioral Questions = Experience
“Describe a situation when you had to support an off-site presentation. How did you accomplish it, and what was the outcome?”
Organizing Responses — “SOAR” Formula
O SituationO ObstacleO ActionO Result
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EXAMPLE RESPONSE USING “SOAR”: Describe a time when you had to support an off-site presentation. How did you accomplish it, and what was the outcome?
O Situation: “Recently, I coordinated the delivery and set-up of a TAS symposium booth in St. Louis.”
O Obstacle: “I had not done that before, and no one was available to help me with the booth.”
O Action: “I read everything I could get my hands on and spoke with other TAS employees who had staffed symposium booths. I completed all actions early, and followed-up with contacts the day before the event to ensure no problems had arisen. I then arrived early on the day of the event to ensure all equipment was still functioning properly.”
O Result: “I prepared so thoroughly that I’d even planned extra time for troubleshooting. So, when an unanticipated power outage occurred during the event, I immediately implemented my contingency plan and ensured service from my booth went uninterrupted. Ultimately, feedback from attendees at my booth was extremely positive from the taxpayers, my co-workers, and my manager.” 23
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O Listen to the entire question.
O Keep responses around two- or three-minutes. Avoid Rambling.
O Try to determine what each question is really asking about (e.g., technical knowledge, prioritizing, quality, etc.). There is a reason for each question.
O Ask for questions to be repeated, if necessary.
O Be concise, focused, and specific with your responses.
O Don’t be distracted when the interviewer stops to take notes. Stay focused.
O On the phone, this can create periods of silence. Do not feel compelled to keep talking. Just wait for the next question quietly.
During the Interview
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O Thank the interviewers for their time.
O Add anything important you did not get to address during the interview.
O Briefly recap and spotlight your key abilities that would benefit the organization.
O Avoid asking questions. If you do, only ask questions that are relevant and cannot be researched in advance.
O Do not ask, “When do you plan to make the selection for the position?”
O Leave a positive and memorable final impression.
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Closing the InterviewThis is the second bingo “free space” to prepare for in advance, “Is there anything else you’d like to share or questions that you have?”
Post-Interview Follow-upO At the end of the interview, request permission to contact the
interviewer once the selection and notifications have been finalized.
O Maintain the interviewer as a networking contact.
O If you did a good job, you are still on their radar. Next time, you will be even better because you’ve gained invaluable experience.
O Once selection has been finalized be completed follow-up with the interviewer. Set up an appointment to discuss your performance.
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O Research involves networking, and “buzz” words are on USAJobs. Each job is unique.
O Preparing for the interview makes you successful.
O There are two types of questions, but you will always provide non-hypothetical, concrete examples.|
O Following-up after a selection is made increases your network, improves your interviewing skills, and may result in a mentor.
Summary
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