The Job Application ProcessInterviews and Follow-Ups

Successful Preparation for Interview

A. Prior to the Interview

B. Chronology of the Interview

C. Activity During the Interview

D. Answering or Asking Questions During the Interview

Interview Preparation

1. Know yourself2. Know your resume3. Know the company4. Know the position5. Know some questions and answers6. Know your nonverbal appearance communicates

loudly.7. Know that your oral delivery also communicates.8. Know the meeting place, time, and other details.9. Know some basic salary ranges.10. Know that you must rehearse.

Interview Preparation

1. Know Yourself

Review the self-assessment documents you created based on your:

Skills Accomplishments Interests, and Personal values.

Interview Preparation

2. Know Your Resume

Take at least two copies of your resume with you; and know its content well.

Interview Preparation

3. Know the Company

Do some research about the company where you are going for an interview.

Information may be available from professional or industry journals.

The best source of information, nowadays, is company websites.

Interview Preparation

4. Know the Position

Prepare with the strongest qualification if the job position is known.

If the position is general, come with your personal qualifications, well-rehearsed and known.

Interview Preparation

5. Know Some Questions and Answers

Prepare some of your questions in advance.

Try to anticipate some of your interviewer’s questions-and your answers.

Interview Preparation

6. Know that Your Nonverbal Appearance Communicates Loudly.

It suggests that your clothing, your shoes, your jewelry, your lotion, your colour choice, your grooming-all say something about you.

When in doubt, be conservative in dress.

Interview Preparation

7. Know that Your Oral Delivery Also Communicates.

A monotone rarely holds attention.

Oral variety is pitch, rate, and volume will help

Interview Preparation

8. Know the Meeting Place, Time and Other Details.

Arrive early, know the name of your interviewer.

Interview Preparation

9. Know Some Basic Salary Ranges.

Avoid locked-in-stone positions on salary; initial interviews are not the place for negotiation sessions.

However, knowing possible salary ranges is advisable.

Interview Preparation

10. Know that You Must Rehearse.

Mock interviews-with video playback are recommended.

Take the advantage of placement office of your educational institute to rehearse for oral and nonverbal appearance.

Chronology of Interview

As with most communication instances, an interview also has:

An introductory period A middle assessment period, and A concluding period

Chronology of Interview

There is no consistent pattern for job interview.

Many first interviews are done to screen candidates for a possible second interview.

A typical interview pattern is as follows: Introduction

Company Information

Candidate assessment

Conclusion.

Chronology of Interview

Introduction (about 2 to 5 minutes)

Interviewers seeks to put candidate at ease.

Chitchat, causal talk about personal information on resume.

Candidate tries to make positive up-front impression: smile, handshake, sense of enthusiasm.

Chronology of Interview

Company Information ( about 5 to 10 minutes)

Interviews may indicate type of positions available, some information about the company.

Candidates suggest a high degree of interest in company, in the position.

Chronology of Interview

Candidate Assessment (about 10 to 20 minutes)

Interviewer tries to assess the qualification of the candidates

His or her strengths and weaknesses

Candidates employs data, evidence: via goals, skills, accomplishments, interests, and personal values.

Questions: during this period a variety of questions, challenges testing of candidate occurs.

Chronology of Interview

Conclusion (about 1 to 2 minutes)

Interviewers determine the ending of the interview: suggests when an answer will be forthcoming.

Candidate tries to summarize his or her qualifications, reaffirm interest in the company and position, and express appreciation for the interview.

Positive and Negative Behaviour During an Interview

Positive, Desirable Behaviour1. Show Enthusiasm, vitality, interest:

You can do so by the alert way:

You sit and look By your facial expressions The questions you ask, and The answer you give.

2. Be Honest

State your data clearly, without exaggeration.

3. Listen Attentively, Concentrate

Do not interrupt. Let the interviewer finish. Then try to link your achievements with your answer.

Positive and Negative Behaviour During an Interview

Positive, Desirable Behaviour

4. Keep Answers Brief

The more answers you provide, the more varied the information you can give about yourself.

5. Show Interest in the Company

Here, too, tactfully relate your achievements to your future employer’s need.

6. Show Analytical Skills

Organize your answers, take time to comment on both pros and cons, short-and-long-term benefits.

Positive and Negative Behaviour During an Interview

Negative Factors to Avoid1. Discourtesy:

Avoid first names, doodling, disinterest.

2. Jargon, slang This is not the time to project an image that you are tuned

into jargon of youth.

3. Overaggressive or cynical attitude Avoid the superiority complex and “know-it-all” attitude.

Positive and Negative Behaviour During an Interview

Negative Factors to Avoid

4. Unfavourable Comments

Focus on positive. Omit criticisms of former colleagues or other employees.

5. Disregard for Positive Factors

If you put the word “failure to” before each of the six suggestions for positive behaviour, you will have a total of 11 in this list of negatives to avoid.

Answering or Asking Questions During the Interview It is hard to predict which question will occur in your

interview. Each interviewer has a set of favorite questions and the

time of day according to the convenience of the company.

Regardless of your preparation, there will be some unexpected questions.

Pause, try to organize your answers, and offer it with a high degree of confidence.

During interview, you could also refer to your resume, using it as a support for your comments.

Answering or Asking Questions During the InterviewHere is the list of favorite and a bit difficult

questions that are usually asked by the interviewers: Where do you expect to be in five years? Give me list of your strengths and weaknesses? When have you successfully motivated others over

whom you had no authority or power? What do you think it takes to be successful in this

position? Why should we hire you?

Answering or Asking Questions During the Interview Tell me about your work experience. What did you

accomplish? Give me three reasons why you are interested in our

company. How well do you do you work with teams and other

people; what evidence do you have for that statement? How is the job search going? Who else have you spoken

with? Which course did you like best? Least? Why? If you were starting your schooling over, which courses

would you add to your program? Why?

Answering or Asking Questions During the Interview Describe the kind of boss you prefer? What personal characteristics are necessary for success

in your field? Give me an example of a situation which upset you in

either your school or your place of work. What do you know about our company? Do you prefer working alone or with others? Which of your college years was the most difficult? Can you get recommendations from all your previous

employers? Do you like routine work?

Answering or Asking Questions During the Interview Define cooperation for me. Give me an example of analytical mind? What was the last book you read? What is your major weakness? What are the disadvantages of your chosen field?

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