Professional Development Seminar Series

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Professional Development Seminar Series

• Interviews dos and donts

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Interview dos and donts

• Introduction
• Preparing for the Interview
• Performance during the interview
• Persistence after the interview
• Conclusion

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Purpose of the Interview

• To see what you know
• To elaborate on information
• Determine Mutual Suitability
• Determine your interpersonal skills
• To get to know you Personally

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Purpose of the Interview(Contd)

• Ability
• Willingness
• Fit

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Preparing for the Interview
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Preparing for the Interview

• Research!
• Anticipate!
• Plan!

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research
• Yourself
• The Job
• The Company
• The Industry

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research yourself
• This is part of the skills assessment discussed
  in the Self-Marketing Workshop and carried out in
  the preparation of your résumé

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research the Job
• Major Responsibilities
• Required Skills
• Typical Environment

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research the Organization
• Products
• Management
• Projects
• Organizational Structure
• Revenues

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research the Industry
• Suppliers
• Major Customers
• Competitors
• Government
• Technology
• Economy

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research!
• Anticipate!
• Plan!

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Preparing for the Interview

• Anticipate! Information Requirements
• What are they looking for?
• Determine the five most important things this
  employer is looking for.
• Write them out.
• Think about what you have.
• Think about how you will elaborate upon those
  aspects.

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Preparing for the Interview

• Anticipate! The Types of Interviews
• Structured
• Unstructured
• Mixed
• Behavior-based
• Stress interviews

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Preparing for the Interview

• Anticipate! The Questions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Personal and Motivational
• Skills and Abilities
• Career Goals/Objectives
• Extra-curricular Activities
• Academic Performance
• Ice-Breakers

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Preparing for the Interview

• Frequently asked Questions
• Why did you apply for this Job?
• I see from your resume that you worked
• What is your greatest strength/weakness
• What are you most proud of?
• What do you know about our company?
• What would you like to be doing in five years?

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Preparing for the Interview

• Frequently asked Questions
• What do you know about
• How would you design a Questionnaire?
• Why should I hire you?
• What is necessary for success in this field?
• What have you done which shows you have initiative

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Preparing for the Interview

• Research!
• Anticipate!
• Plan!

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Preparing for the Interview

• Plan! Your Strategy
• Determine your selling points
• Base it on the Job Description and other
  research.
• E.g. Work Experience
• Overseas Experience
• Volunteering, etc...

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Preparing for the Interview

• Plan! Questions you should ask
• General Questions
• Career Motivation Questions
• Job Responsibility Questions
• Work Environment Questions
• Quality of Work Questions
• Long-Term Employment Questions

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Conducting the Interview
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Performance Conducting the Interview

• The Interview Structure
• Introduction
• Exchange of Information
• Conclusion

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Keys to Success
• Knowledge
• Appropriate Background
• Personality
• Obvious Enthusiasm
• Presentation

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Interview Checklist
• Appearance(bearing, expression)
• Education
• Amount of Preparation
• Attitude

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Performance Conducting the InterviewNon-Verbal
Cues

• Facial Expressions
• Eye Contact
• Posture
• Gestures
• Dynamism/Confidence

• Pitch
• Volume
• Tone of Voice
• Articulation
• Vocal Fillers
• Acknowledgement

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Dress Code(Men)
• Suit
• Shoes and Socks
• Shirt and Tie
• Grooming
• Jewelry

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Dress Code(Women)
• Suits
• Blouses and Scarves
• Shoes and Stocking
• Grooming
• Jewelry
• Makeup

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Dos
• Be Prepared
• Answer all questions honestly and factually
• Be well-groomed
• Be Pleasant
• Be Enthusiastic
• Ask pertinent questions
• Be Calm

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Dos(contd)
• Arrive on time
• Make Eye-Contact
• Have a firm handshake
• Express appreciation for the interview

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Donts
• Talk about irrelevant information
• Dress inappropriately
• Be aggressive or combative
• Appear Bored
• Use inappropriate forms of Address
• Smoke
• Be quiet

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Performance Conducting the Interview

• Donts(contd)
• Ask about salary
• Downplay your successes
• Arrive Late
• Chew gum
• Criticize previous employers

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Persistence

• Evaluate Performance
• Reflect on what you did and said during the
  interview as well as what you did to prepare for
  the interview
• Ask yourself what you liked about the Interview
  and what you didnt like
• Think about what you can do different next time