Interviewing

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Interviewing

• With More Success
• And Less Stress

Includes materials from Guffey text Ch 16 and
www.CareerPerfect.com
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Job Search - Discussion

• Communication Matters,
• The Dos and Donts of an Effective Job Search
• What did you find most interesting, surprising,
  or unbelievable in this article?

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EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWING
RESEARCH REHEARSE RELAX
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EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWING
RESEARCH REHEARSE RELAX
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Interview Preparation
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Sources

• Companys web site, ads
• Online databases
• Business and Company Resource Center
• Moodys Company Data
• Vault
• Hoovers
• Standard Poors Compustat
• Give.org for charitable organizations

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Data to collect

• Company research
• Financials (annual report)
• SWOT
• Fit (mission, culture)
• Questions (minimum 3)
• Salary research
• Your goal
• Your bottom line

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Self Preparation

• Clean up digital dirt
• Record a professional voicemail message
• Obtain a professional email address for
  resume/cards
• Update your resume andprint on high quality
  paper
• Buy thank you notes

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Getting Inside

• Friendly introduction (mentor, friend)
• Information interview
• Cold call/letter (least effective)
• If rejected, ask for reference to another source
  (friendly introduction)

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EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWING
RESEARCH REHEARSE RELAX
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Before the InterviewRehearse

• Identify required skills/traits
• Connect the dots to you (3 things)
• Prepare success stories
• Keep extemp. feel

• Success Stories
• Dealing with a crisis
• Successfully juggling many priorities
• Changing course to deal with new situation
• Working on a team
• Going above and beyond expectations

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Interview - Discussion

• Communication Matters, Picking the
  PowerPhrases
• Which PowerPhrases discussed in the article do
  you plan to use in the Mock Interview?
• Which of the PowerPhrases do you think will make
  you sound too cocky or insincere if you tried
  to use them?

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Before the InterviewRehearse

• Prepare for negative questions
• Resume gaps, layoffs,firing, no experience
• Weaknesses, failures
• Nonsense questions
• Illegal questions

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Negative QuestionsWhats wrong with this
picture?
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Negative Questions

• Identify real, but nonfatal weakness and failure
• Spend 10-20 seconds on the flaw/failure (just the
  facts, no emotion)
• Spend 1-2 minutes on
• What you are doing to mitigate weakness
• What you learned
• What you will do differently in the future

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Negative Questions

• Interviews are performance art, not confessional
• You owe the truth about skills and abilities
• You do NOT owe details of every mistake you ever
  made
• Stay positive
• Dont volunteer more information than needed
• Ask your own questions
• Dont be baited
• More stress interview prep http//www.asktheheadh
  unter.com/hastress.htmhttp//www.interview101.com
  /stress_interviews.htm

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Nonsense Questions

• Examples
• Why is a manhole cover round?
• Driving a bus past Madonna billboard
• How would you redesign a giraffe?
• Strategies
• How you manage yourself more important than
  answer
• Refocus interview by asking question about the
  company

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Illegal Interview Questions

• Cant Ask
• Whats your birth date? How old are you?
• Whats your marital status? Do you plan to have a
  family?
• Whats your native language?
• Have you ever been arrested?

• Can Ask
• Are you over 21?
• Would you relocate?
• Can you attend events in the evening/on weekends
• Are you authorized to work in the United States?
• Have you ever been convicted of crime related to
  the performance of job

Managers should be aware that there are
numerous other can and cant ask questions. Be
sure to always check with your HR department for
specific guidance.
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Illegal Questions

• Strategies
• Answer the concern behind the question
• Dont take the job unless the slip was small,
  inadvertent, or made by a non-manager
• Beware of concerns that exist even if not asked
• Address concern without mentioning the concern

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EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWING
RESEARCH REHEARSE RELAX
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Relax

• Get a good night sleep
• Eat for strength/stamina
• Bring what youll needin briefcase/portfolio
• Resume, reference list
• Notebook, pen, calculator
• Girls spare hose, lipstick
• Work samples
• Arrive early (10 min.)
• Dress appropriately
• Attempt to schedule your interview on last day

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During the Interview
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During the Interview

• Establish relationship/rapport (professional,
  not chummy)
• Look for connection/ similarity
• Use empathetic body language
• Eye contact
• Smile
• Lean toward interviewer
• Open physical stance

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During the Interview

• Establish rapport (continued)
• Mirror the interviewer physically/ verbally
  (with discretion)
• Actively listen
• Use interviewers name
• Show interest ask clarifying, open-ended
  questions
• Dont criticize or be negative

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During the Interview

• Ask any questions about the job as soon as
  possible
• Dont forget this is an interview always
  maintain professional physical and vocal delivery
• Stay focused on your strengths, when in doubt
  go with your 3 things
• Behavior questions (tell me about a time when)
  use STAR (situation/task, action, result)

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During the Interview

• Dont volunteer more information than needed
• Ask your own questions
• Be prepared for salary discussion
• Do homework
• Dont talk first (if possible)
• Respond to high end of ranges
• Respond commensurate with skills and abilities
  and/or vague range (40s) if pushed
• Conclude positively
• Next steps, timing
• How/whom to contact

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During the Interview

• Convey enthusiasm
• Convey tolerance and team work
• Convey assertiveness and confidence
• Convey initiative
• Convey high internal locus of control

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Examples

• Video John and Laura go interviewing

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Manager ConcernsWhats wrong with this picture?
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Behind the Questions5 Major Employer Concerns

• CAN YOU DO THE JOB?
• Do you have the skills? Have you done this job
  elsewhere? If not, is there enough evidence you
  have the skills and are likely to succeed?
• Material from www.CareerPerfect.com

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Behind the Questions5 Major Employer Concerns

• WILL YOU DO THE JOB?
• Are you motivated? Will you be dedicated, hard
  working, give 100? Will you be a good
  employee? Will you stay long enough to
  contribute?
• Material from www.CareerPerfect.com

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Behind the Questions5 Major Employer Concerns

• WILL YOU GET ALONG WITH OTHERS?
• Will you be a team player? Will you be a
  positive influence on your co-workers? Will you
  fit in with the corporate culture?
• Material from www.CareerPerfect.com

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Behind the Questions5 Major Employer Concerns

• ARE YOU MANAGEABLE?
• Will you be easy to manage? Will you take
  direction and follow policies and procedures?
  Will you support organizational change? Will you
  fit in with the existing management style?
• Material from www.CareerPerfect.com

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Behind the Questions5 Major Employer Concerns

• CAN THE COMPANY AFFORD YOU?
• Is the salary range compatible with your salary
  history? Is what you want to earn reasonable?
• Material from www.CareerPerfect.com

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Interview Questions Sources

• www.Monster.com
• www.CareerPerfect.com
• www.AceTheInterview.com
• www.Job-Interview.net
• The 250 Job Interview Questions Youll Most
  Likely Be Asked by Peter Veruki

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After the Interview

• Make notes on the interview
• Write a thank-you letter (get business cards
  from each person you meet with)
• Follow-up with references

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Activity Bluebook Homework

• Find a partner and interview each other using
  one of the 3 questions provided
• Make notes and provide feedback on content and
  physical/vocal delivery
• Make notes on questions to discuss with whole
  class
• What is your biggest weakness?
• Tell me about a time you failed.
• Tell me about a time you used conflict management
  skills.

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The End