INTERVIEWING

Getting the job you want!

PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW

• SCREENING FOR FUTURE INTERVIEWS

• INFORMATION EXCHANGE FOR THE CANDIDATE AND EMPLOYER

• CONVINCE EMPLOYERS THAT YOU’RE THE RIGHT ONE FOR THE JOB

• POINT WHERE HIRING DECISIONS ARE MADE

PREPARATION

PREPARATION

• KNOW YOURSELF

• KNOW THE EMPLOYER

Pre-Interview Checklist

Things to do BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

CHECKLIST

IDENTIFY YOUR TRANSFERABLE JOB SKILLS

BECOME AWARE OF YOUR STRENGTHS-MBTI, SDS

DETERMINE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN A JOB-GOALS

USE WRITTEN SOURCES AND “PEOPLE” SOURCES TO RESEARCH THE ORGANIZATION

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS• BUDGET MANAGEMENT• COPING WITH DEADLINE PRESSURE• CUSTOMER SERVICE• ORGANIZING/MANAGING• PUBLIC RELATIONS• SPEAKING• SUPERVISING• TEACHING/INSTRUCTING• WRITING

DRESS FOR SUCCESS • ALWAYS WEAR A SUIT AND ERR ON

THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE

• PAY ATTNETION TO DETAILS- SHOES, PRESSED SHIRT, CLEAN NAILS, PERFUME/COLOGNE, ETC.

DEALING WITH ANXIETY• PREPARE THOROUGHLY• PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!• TAKE DEEP BREATHS• GET INVOLVED IN THE INTERVIEW• KEEP PROPER PERSPECTIVE• REALIZE INTERVIEWERS ARE HUMAN TOO• BE AWARE OF YOUR PROBLEM AREAS• THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS WORKED FOR

YOU IN THE PAST

DO....

• ARRIVE EARLY

• SHAKE HANDS FIRMLY

• MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT

• SIT UP STRAIGHT

• LISTEN CAREFULLY

• SPEAK CLEARLY & DISTINCTLY

• SMILE

• ADDRESS INTERVIEWER BY TITLE

DO NOT...

• CHEW GUM, CANDY

• BAD MOUTH

• PLAY “COOL”

• STARE DOWN THE INTERVIEWER

• INTERRUPT

• SLOUCH

STRUCTURE OF A TYPICAL INTERVIEW

• GREETING

• SMALL TALK

• OPENING QUESTIONS

• PROBING SPECIFICS

• INTERVIEWEE’S QUESTIONS

• CLOSE

TYPES OF QUESTIONS TO EXPECT

• EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• EXPERIENCE

• CAREER GOALS

• PERSONAL QUALITIES

• BEHAVIORAL

• SENSITIVE QUESTIONS

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Sample Questions

• Why did you choose your major?

• In what courses did you excel?

• What courses have you enjoyed the most? the least? Why?

• Do you have plans for continued study?

EXPERIENCE Sample Questions

• Of what achievement are you proudest?

• Describe your most rewarding experience.

• Describe an experience where you faced a frustrating situation & how you dealt with it.

• How has your experience prepared you for a position with our organization?

CAREER GOALS Sample Questions

• What do you really want to do in life?• What are your short-term and long-

term career goals?• Why did you establish these goals &

how do you plan to achieve them?• Why did you choose the career you

are seeking to enter?

PERSONAL QUALITIES Sample Questions

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• How would people who know you well describe you?

• What qualities do you have that will make you successful in this field?

• What motivates you to do your best work?

BEHAVIORAL Sample Questions

• ARE ASKED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR HABITS

• CAN USE A NEGATIVE EXAMPLE- AS LONG AS YOU SHOW HOW YOU LEARNED FROM IT

• GIVE COMPLETE & RESULTES ORIENTED ANSWERS

RESULTS ORIENTEDANSWERS

What was the situation?

How did you handle it?

What was the outcome?

SAMPLE QUESTIONSAMPLE QUESTION::

Give an example of a situation where Give an example of a situation where you demonstrated initiative and you demonstrated initiative and

commitment to a project.commitment to a project.

EXAMPLES OF SENSITIVE QUESTIONS

• How old are you?

• Are you married?

• What is your religious background?

• Do you have children?

• Do you have any physical disabilities?

• Have you ever been arrested?

YOUR QUESTIONS• RESULT OF THOROUGH RESEARCH

• REFLECT SINCERE INTEREST & AWARENESS OF NEEDS

• WERE NOT ANSWERED BY OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

• What is a typical day like for someone in this position?

• What sort of training is provided?

• How is performance evaluated? When?

• What is your supervisory style?

• What is the typical career path for persons hiring into this position?

TOPICS TO AVOID

• SALARY

• BENEFITS

• VACATION/LEAVE TIME

• PERKS

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• THANK-YOU LETTER- Time & opportunity, reaffirm interest and revise

answer if needed

• EVALUATE

Other than the ability & willingness to do the job what is the one quality that impresses you most

about a candidate during a job interview?

• verbal skills (38%)• enthusiasm (24%)• appearance (8%)• honesty/integrity (7%)• past experience (7%)• poise/self-confidence

(4%)

• directness/

eye contact (2%)• etiquette/manners

(2%)• positive attitude (2%)• preparedness (2%)• professionalism (2%)• sense of humor (2%)