StressFree

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• Stress-Free
• Interviewing

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(No Transcript)
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YOUR INTERVIEW GOALS

• Demonstrate value, skills, abilities.
• Identify employers needs, problems challenges.
• Obtain a second interview if needed.
• Obtain a job offer.

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• You are the sales person of this product.
• You want the buyer to pay you a living wage for
  your skills, knowledge, experience and abilities.
• Your resume and cover letter are your
  advertising.

THIS IS SALES!
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THIS IS SALES, contd.

• Like any sale, you have to focus on the needs of
  the buyer and provide more value than other
  suppliers.
• They will only hire you if you can help them
  overcome their challenges, meet their needs, or
  solve their problems.
• In your preparation you have to review a job
  description to identify what they might need you
  to do (ONET).

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Research the Employer
An interview justifies putting the time and
energy into learning all you can about the
employer.

• Revisit your network talk to.
• People you know who work there.
• People you know who know people who work there.
• People you dont know who may know people who
  work there.

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Research the Employer, contd.

• Size of organization
• Location of facilities
• Types of clients or customers
• Product lines or services
• Market share
• Expansion plans
• Primary competitors

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Research the Employer, contd.

• Recent news items about the company
• Web site
• Annual reports
• Media/News/Press Releases
• Information interviews
• Periodicals
• Names of decision-makers

Resources You Could Use REFERENCE USA
CAREER INFO NET
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Research the Employer, contd.
Based on what youve learned, you need to prepare
yourself for the interview.

• What are their needs, problems, and challenges?
• What new products/services have they initiated?
• What types of positions have they advertised in
  the last 6 months?

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Relevant Experiences

• Review your accomplishment/achievements.
• Review the projects and coursework completed.
• Review your employment which jobs relate?
• What have you done that might be important to the
  employer?

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Relevant Experiences, cont.d

• If youre having a hard time remembering your
  accomplishments, complete the Sentence
  Completions Exercise in our Job Interviewing
  handout.
• The best predictor of future performance is past
  behavior.
• Write stories based on your accomplishments to
  demonstrate the value of your past performance.

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SAC METHOD

• Use the acronym SAC to help you write
• your stories in three sentences
• Situation what was the problem
• Action what did you do about it
• Consequence what happened.

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SAC STORY EXAMPLE

• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult
  decision
• S - A group project where one person was not
  doing their share of work and they plagiarized
  their section of the project.
• A - I had to determine the facts and be sure I
  had accurate information. I decided to confront
  the and to encourage them to confess. I told
  them that if they didnt do it, I would tell the
  professor myself.
• C - The person confessed to their wrongdoing,
  accepted responsibility for their behavior. They
  apologized to the entire group and the remainder
  of the group received an A on the project.

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PREPARE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE
How You Prepare Should Be Based On The Audience

• Is the interviewer a decision-maker
• or a human resource representative?
• Is this a formal interview or a meeting you set
  up to discuss the companies needs?

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QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER

• Prepare open-ended, probing questions
• that focus in on their potential problems,
• like
• What are the most difficult projects you are
  currently working on?
• What types of problems have been the most
  difficult to overcome?
• Tell me about a current project where you had to
  overcome obstacles to get it completed?

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QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER, contd.

• How do the results of this department affect the
  rest of the company?
• What are some of the services youd like to offer
  customers, but cant right now?
• What areas of the market hold potential for
  greater growth?

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Types of Interviews for Job Openings

• Screening interview
• First interviews conducted in person, over the
  phone, or via webcam used to determine if
  applicant meets the minimum qualifications for a
  posted position.

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Interviews

• One-on-one interviews
• The most common interview format could be
  conducted by an HR representative or a
  supervisor focus is on questions that relate to
  the position they are trying to fill.

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Panel Interviews

• Group interview conducted by three or more
  people panelists may come from different
  departments ask questions that are relative to
  their department and the job demands.

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Phone Interviews

• BE PREPARED
• BE PROFESSIONAL
• BE PERSONABLE
• SMILE WHILE YOU TALK

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Prepare a Power Greeting

• Present your education and related coursework.
• Your experience in the field (work, Internships,
  Co-op jobs, volunteer, related projects, etc.).
• Your strengths (what you do best).

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SAMPLE POWER GREETINGS

• Example
• I have a Bachelors degree in Merchandising from
  East Carolina University and have taken a number
  of courses in product promotions and store
  layout.
• I have worked at two retail department stores, JC
  Penney and TJ Maxx. Last Fall I completed an
  Internship at Belk Stores in the Raleigh regional
  office.
• I enjoy helping customers select the right
  outfits and I am particularly good at developing
  creative windows and in-store displays.

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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

• Tell me about yourself?
• How have your educational and work experiences
  prepared you for this position?
• Why are you the best person for the job?

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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, contd.

• What do you know about our organization?
• Tell me about a team project where you are
  particularly proud of your contribution.
• What aspects of this position interest you the
  most?

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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, contd

• What are your short and long term career goals?
• What were the biggest problems you have
  encountered in college?
• How have you handled them?
• What did you learn from them?

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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, contd

• What are your greatest strengths?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What are your salary requirements?
• What else should I know about you?

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PREPARATION

• Prepare answers to overcome obvious
  liabilities/obstacles like lack of experience,
  wrong major, low GPA, low class standing, lack of
  certification, or felony record.
• Prepare answers to dodge illegal questions (use
  WinWay resume in our office for help).

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Interview Checklist

• Review your written answers to the most common
  interview questions
• Put your SACs on 3X5 cards to take with you.
• Prepare open-ended probing questions on needs,
  problems, challenges and write them on the back
  of your 3 X 5 cards.

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Interview Checklist, contd

• Prepare a portfolio if you need one and burn a
  CD to give them.
• Prepare your wardrobe.
• Develop a Power Greeting and appropriate closing
  for the interviewer.
• Practice, practice, practice!

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Interview Checklist, contd

• Drive by the building the day before at the same
  time of day so you will know how long it will
  take to get there and where you are going.
• Walk into the building no more than 10 minutes
  early.
• Ask for the job or second interview.

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PRACTICE

• Based on what you know about this company and
  this position, what are they looking for?
• Write down your answers to each question.
• Read your answers out loud and revise them until
  they present you in the best light.
• Use RezFusion to practice on-line

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Greatest Weakness Examples

• I have a strong need for organization and order.
  I have found that not everyone appreciates my
  wanting to know what is expected of me.
• I prefer to think of it not as an area of
  weakness, but as an area I am working to improve.
  For example, I would really like to improve my
  communication skills.

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What to Wear - Guidelines

• Select apparel, fragrances, jewelry, hairstyle,
  etc. that do not detract from your professional
  image. The interviewer's attention should be
  focused on what you say and your qualifications.
• Make sure your hair is clean, neat and
  professionally styled. Avoid hair styles that
  cover more than your forehead or that you have to
  brush back.
• University of Washington Career Services Guide
• Dress to Impress

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What to Wear Guidelines, pt. 2

• Choose professional apparel that you like for
  which you receive positive feedback from people
  who are knowledgeable about the industry standard
  or specific company policy.
• Dress like the employees who work there would
  dress if they were going to an interview.

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What to Wear Guidelines, pt. 3

• Remove facial and body jewelry other than single
  ear jewelry for interviews.
• Visible tattoos should be covered to avoid
  distraction.
• Apparel should be clean and neatly pressed.
• Apparel should fit well and remain in place while
  sitting and/or walking.

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What to Wear - Women
LEAST RECOMMENDED
MOST RECOMMENDED
University of Washington Career Services
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What to Wear - Men
MOST RECOMMENDED
LEAST RECOMMENDED
University of Washington Career Services
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Make a good first and last impression

• Direct eye contact
• Smile
• Know and use their name
• Extend your hand first and match their hand shake

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After Interview Evaluation

• After you have left the interview but before you
• even leave the parking lot, write out answers to
• the questionnaire in our handout
• How did the interview go?
• What did you do or say that you feel went well?
• What did you do or say that you think needs
  improvement or practice?

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After Interview Evaluation, contd

• What needs, challenges, or problems did you
  uncover?
• What questions asked were you unprepared for?
• What would you do differently to demonstrate your
  value?

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After Interview Evaluation, contd

• How were you able to create a positive image?
• Which answers to questions need to be shortened
  next time?
• What seemed to be the interviewer's greatest
  area(s) of concern?
• What could you have said to minimize or eliminate
  those concern(s)?

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After Interview Follow-Up

• After the interview complete an After Interview
  Questionnaire to help you improve.
• Send thank you note to each person who met with
  you.
• Make a Follow-up phone call to the decision-maker
  asking about their progress in filling the
  position.

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SALARY NEGOTIATIONS

• What is the average national, state, and local
  salary for this position Career OneStop)?
• Compare the cost of living to your current
  situation and the new location (Best Places).
• What salary do you want/need?
• At what salary point should you reject the offer?

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SALARY NEGOTIATIONS, contd

• Dont negotiate salary until they are ready to
  make you an offer ask if they are.
• Always negotiate salary first, then benefits.
• The person who mentions a figure first loses.

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SALARY NEGOTIATIONS, contd

• Use the following questions to help you get a
  figure from them.
• What salary range have you budgeted for this
  position?
• What salary could someone with my skills and
  abilities expect to make?
• What salary range does this position qualify for?
  

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MOCK INTERVIEW _at_ TCC

• Once you are ready, call
• our office and schedule a
• practice interview. We will
• evaluate and discuss the
• mock interview with you upon
• completion.

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White house on the corner of Fifth and Jarvis
next to the Chancellors house.
252-328-6050www.ecu.edu/e3careers
THE CAREER CENTER