interviewing skills · interviewing skills practical skills for a memorable interview . what are...
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Interviewing SkillsPractical Skills for a Memorable Interview
What are your goals
for today?
Learner Objectives
• Perspective
• Purpose of the Interview
• Interview Essentials
• Behavior-Based Interviewing
• The Sandwich Technique
• Practice
• Power Posing
Agenda
“According to most studies, people’s number
one fear is public speaking. Number two is
death. Death is number two. Does that sound
right? This means to the average person, if
you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the
casket than doing the eulogy.”
Jerry Seinfeld
Giant Snowball Theory
•Qualified for the Job?
•Three Questions:⁻ Can They Do the Job?
⁻ Will They Do the Job?
⁻ Will We Be Able to Stand Them?
•Do You Like Them and the Company?
Purpose of the Interview
•Every Job Vacancy is a PROBLEM.
•See the Situation from the Interviewer’s Perspective
•Present Yourself as the SOLUTION.
•This Is How You SellYourself!
WIIFM – What’s In It for Me?
•Smile!
•The Handshake
•Dress for Success
•What to Bring
•Summary Statement
•Interview Close
Interview Essentials
•Why Smile?
•How Does Smiling Help You?
•What Are the Benefits of Smiling?
Smile
•Why is a Good Handshake Important?
•What Does a Weak Handshake Communicate?
•How Does One Shake Hands Properly?
The Handshake
Video: How to Shake Hands and
Introduce Yourself
The Handshake
•Dress Appropriately
• Industry Specific
•Company Culture
•Recruiter
•Common Sense
Dress for Success
• Clothing should be neat, clean, and pressed
• Simple dark suit with a skirt or pants
• Wear conservative blouse with suit
• When in doubt, be more conservative
• Nothing tight, bright, short, or sheer
• Knee-length skirts are suggested
• Understated make-up and nail polish.
Dress for Success: Women
• Jewelry and hair accessories at a minimum
• Conservative, fairly low-heeled shoes
• Neutral hose matched to skin tone
• Shower or bathe morning of interview
• Wear deodorant but not perfume
• Brush teeth before interview
• Don’t eat or smoke right before interview
• Neat, clean, conservatively-styled hair.
Dress for Success: Women
• Dark-colored suit with light colored shirt
• Avoid loud colors and flashy ties
• Clothing should be neat, clean, and pressed
• Shower or bathe morning of interview
• Wear deodorant but not cologne or aftershave
• Brush teeth before interview
• Don’t eat or smoke right before interview
• Neat, clean, conservatively-styled hair.
Dress for Success: Men
•Directions and Contact Information
•Folder or Briefcase
•Notepad
•Pen
•Resume Copies
•Professional References
•Written Questions
•Breath Mints or Gum
What to Bring to the Interview
You should have a Summary Statement,
which is a useful device to assist you to
convey – briefly and succinctly – what you
have to offer the company with which
your are interviewing.
Summary Statement
• Years of relevant training and experience
• Special technical skills or knowledge
• Individual talents
• Relevant job-related values
• Tied to job for which interviewing
Summary Statement
Exercise:
Write an Interview Summary Statement
Summary Statement
• Years of relevant training and experience
• Special technical skills or knowledge
• Individual talents
• Relevant job-related values
• Tied to job for which interviewing
Summary Statement
• Come prepared with your own questions
• Closing statement
Enthusiasm for position and company
Interest in position and company
Qualifications
• Smile
• Shake hands
• Thank the interviewers
• Business cards
Interview Close
Behavioral Interviewing
• Job-Related Questions
•Specific Examples
•How Candidate Handled:o An Actual Situationo An Actual Projecto An Actual Challengeo An Actual Conflict
What is Behavioral Interviewing?
is thebest
predictor of
Key Premise
Probes Job-Related Skills
Focuses on Accomplishments
Decision Based on
Concrete Evidence
Key Premise:
₋ If You Have Done it Before, You
Can Do it Again
Why Behavioral Interviewing?
•Problem
₋ Context
₋ Exposition
•Solution
₋ “I” Statements
₋ Action Verbs
•Results
₋ Quantify
₋ Benefits
90 seconds!
90 seconds? How
am I supposed to
get all that out in
only 90 seconds?
How to Answer Behavioral Questions
Tell me about yourself.
Behavioral Interview Question?
What do you know
about this company?
Behavioral Interview Question?
Tell me about an
improvement you have
made in the last six months.
Behavioral Interview Question?
Why should we hire you?
Behavioral Interview Question?
Tell me about a time
when you worked with a
difficult team member.
Behavioral Interview Question?
Tell me about a time you
had a conflict at work.
Behavioral Interview Question?
Give me an example of when
you cost your company money.
Behavioral Interview Question?
Why are you looking for a new
opportunity now?
Behavioral Interview Question?
Can you tell me about a time
when you were frustrated at
work?
Behavioral Interview Question?
• POSITIVE Questions
₋ Most Typically Asked
₋ Easier to Handle
₋ Evoke Pleasant
Memories
₋ Probe for Positive
Accomplishments
Types of Behavioral Interview Questions
• POSITIVE Questions
₋ Most Typically Asked
₋ Easier to Handle
₋ Evoke Pleasant
Memories
₋ Probe for Positive
Accomplishments
• NEGATIVE Questions
₋ Can Be Stressful
₋ More Challenging
₋ Evoke Unpleasant
Memories
₋ Probe for Difficult
Circumstances
Types of Behavioral Interview Questions
• Give me an example of when you went above the “call of duty” to accomplish a work-related goal.
• What is your greatest work-related accomplishment?
• Tell me about a time when you used an innovative approach to solve a problem at work.
• Describe a time when you had to makean independent decision.
• Describe a project or idea that wasimplemented primarily because of youractivity and efforts.
POSITIVE Behavioral Questions
•Select an Example from Past Experience
•Write a PSR for Targeted Competence
•Aim for 90-Second Answer
•Avoid Too MuchInformation
•Avoid Too LittleInformation
•Practice Your PSRs!
How to Handle POSITIVE Questions
• Give me an example of when your planning and organizational skills failed you.
• What is your greatest professional failure?
• Tell me about a time your anger was obvious to another person.
• Describe a time you were ineffective as a leader.
• Describe a situation that demotivated you.
NEGATIVE Behavioral Questions
USE THE SANDWICH
TECHNIQUE!
POSITIVE
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
ON THAT NEGATIVE QUESTION!
PUT A POSITIVE SPIN
Handling NEGATIVE Questions
Tell me about a time when you cost your employer money:
POSITIVE:
When I was the Finance Manager at Sterling-Cooper, I was a top
performer with respect to ROI, cost recovery, and under-budget
performance. I established a well-earned and solid reputation for
financial savviness.
NEGATIVE:
However, I once delegated a long-term account to a junior employee
and the client quit. As a result, the company lost revenue.
POSITIVE:
However, because of my very strong relationship with the client,
I was able to recover the account. Moreover, I conducted additional
training to address the junior employee’s poor performance.
Additionally, I reviewed and revised our internal protocol to
prevent this from ever happening again.
Sandwich Technique Example
Practice
Practice
VS.
Process
• Smile
• Eye Contact
• Body Language
• Rapport
• Being Present
• Listening
• Tone of Voice
• Volume of Voice
• Pace of Speech
• THE “HOW”
Content
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Abilities
• Job History
• Credentials
• Examples
• THE “WHAT”
• Interview Rounds: ₋ One Interviewee
₋ One Observer
₋ One Interviewer
•Each Round 20 Minutes Total
•Feedback Forms
•Rotate Roles after each Round
Breakout Session Logistics
Introduction 1
Interview Core 10
Closing 1
Interviewee Self-Assessment 3
Feedback from Observers and Interviewer 5
TOTAL FOR INTERVIEW 20
Practice Time Guidelines
•What Went Well?
•What Didn’t Go Well?
•What Knowledge or SkillsDo You Need to Develop?
•Key Takeaways?
Practice Interview Debrief
Amy Cuddy: Power Poses
“We all face daunting moments that must be met with poise if we want to make progress in our lives. Presence gives us the power to rise to these moments.”
-- Amy Cuddy
Author of Presence
Presence
