The Job Interview

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The Job Interview

• Successful Interview Strategies

June 2005
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The Job Interview -

• Why are interviews necessary?
• Interviews remain the most popular method of
  assessment for selection.  You are unlikely to
  get a job without being interviewed as part of
  the selection process.
• Interviews
• give both candidate and employer a chance to meet
  face to face
• allow you to question them as well as vice versa

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The Job Interview -

• There are different types of interviews
• Competency Based Interviews
• Focus on particular areas of competence which are
  important to a job.
• Are clearly related to the job in question.
• The questions will relate to particular abilities
  or styles, for example Tell me about the time
  when you had to meet a tight deadline.  How did
  you cope?  What was the outcome?
• You will need to come up with lots of examples of
  situations, from your work experience, leisure
  activities or home life.

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The Job Interview -

• Biographical Interviews
• The most traditional format.
• Focus on the kind of information for example -
  Work experience - Educational background -
  Leisure interests - Aspirations
• Look at what you have done in the past
• Sometimes the link between the questions and the
  job youre applying for may not be apparent.

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The Job Interview -

• Situational Interviews
• Questions ask you to imagine yourself in a given
  hypothetical situation and ask what you would do.
  
• The situations may be taken directly from the job
  in question or may be more general.

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Getting the Interview -

• Before you can get an interview you must first
  submit a resume.
• Follow Up Quickly on All Resumes You Send
• Follow up within three to five business days. You
  can follow up by phone, or by email if replying
  to a blind ad or the ad specifies no calls.

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Resume Follow Up -

• When following up by phone, try saying something
  like, "Hi, my name is ______ and I submitted my
  resume for your ______ opening. I'm extremely
  interested in this opportunity, and I just wanted
  to touch base with you on how I can benefit your
  operation"

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Resume Follow Up -

• If you are following up by email, your message
  should be brief. Here's an example
• Dear Name (or "Hiring Manager" if name is
  unknown)
• I recently applied for your ______ opening, and I
  just wanted to follow up to make sure my resume
  was received. My strong background in ______,
  ______ and ______ appears to be an excellent
  match to the qualifications you are seeking, and
  I am very interested in your opportunity. I
  realize you may not yet be at the interview
  stage, but I am more than happy to answer any
  preliminary questions you may have, and I can be
  reached at ______. Thank you for your time and
  kind consideration.
• Sincerely,

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How do I Select the Interview Candidates-

• I look at the job as a complete circle made up of
  technical requirements and interpersonal skills.
• I select candidates to interview based on the
  completeness of their circles.
• Meaning what portion of the posted job circle do
  they possess, and what will it take to complete
  their circles.

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Candidate Selection -

• Did you know that you interview everyday?
• As you perform your day-to-day tasks
• You display your technical skill level
• You display your ability to problem solve
• You display your interpersonal skills
• You display how you handle conflicts
• I usually start by asking my team
• Who stands out in a group?
• Who are the top performers?

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The Job Interview -

• What I look for
• Knowing the technical requirements of the job, I
  look for skills/skill sets that match.
• I look for people skills/behaviors that
  compliment the existing team.
• I look for a solid foundation to build upon, a
  foundation thats adaptable.

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Preparing for the Interview -

• Well, your resume worked and now you have an
  appointment for the all important job interview.
  You have done your homework. You are confident
  that you can answer anything the interviewer
  throws at you. Finally the big day arrives and
  the final important choice must be made. What
  should you wear?
• It is no secret that how you look has everything
  to do with the first impression you make. A first
  impression is made in the first 27 seconds. If
  you are too formal in your appearance, you might
  give the impression of being rigid and stuffy. If
  you are too casual, you may send the signal that
  you do not take the interview or the job very
  seriously.

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Preparing for the Interview -

• Begin by talking to employees of your potential
  new employer and find out what the dress code is
  and how seriously management takes it. If you
  can't find out this information, you should
  choose clothing that is professional in the
  impression it gives.
• If you do not already own clothing that will work
  on an interview, you should go to a store where
  you can get good advice from the sales person. Be
  prepared to have the clothes tailored. No human
  being completely fits in clothes that are off the
  rack. To make the best impression the clothes
  must be altered to fit and accent your best
  features.

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Preparing for the Interview -

• The following ideas can never be neglected
• Look clean and neat. Make sure that your hair is
  done appropriately. Women - do not wear wild
  hairdo's Men - get a trim of head and facial
  hair.
• Do not wear a perfume or cologne as many people
  are allergic. Bathing with a good quality bath
  soap will leave a light scent. You will be
  nervous and a gentle scent can mask the
  perspiring you may be doing. An unscented
  antiperspirant can be used.
• Cover any tattoos and avoid gaudy jewelry.
  Definitely limit pierced jewelry to ears only. Do
  not wear nose or tongue jewelry.

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Preparing for the Interview -

• MEN
• Wear a suit or sport jacket with color
  coordinated trousers.
• The color should be neutral or dark - blue, black
  or gray is best.
• Wear a tie - even if you will never wear one
  after you get the job.
• Shoes should be leather - clean and polished -
  black is best.
• Make sure your nails are trimmed and that they
  are clean.

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Preparing for the Interview -

• WOMEN
• Wear a classic suit or a simple dress with a
  jacket. This is not a time to be provocative or
  sexy. Some appropriate colors are navy blue,
  black, dark green, dark red, burgundy, or gray.
• Dress in a higher style then the position calls
  for but do not attempt to out dress everyone
  there.
• Avoid wearing clothes that are tight, revealing
  or trendy. It may be the very latest fashion but
  it will not impress the interviewer.
• Fingernails should be trimmed to a length that
  doesn't leave an observer wondering how you keep
  from stabbing yourself. The polish should be
  closer to a color your mom might wear than to a
  color that your kid sister would go for.

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The Job Interview -

• Usually the interview starts with
• Tell me about yourself
• The toughest question in the Interview
• Your answer can make are break you as a
  candidate.

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Tell me about yourself The toughest question
in the Interview

• When you, as a job seeker, are asked the most
  common, and toughest, interview question,
• "Tell me about yourself," your answer can make
  or break you as a candidate. Usually job seekers
  will respond with their "30 second commercial,"
  and then elaborate on their background.

Most social psychologists recognize four basic
personality styles Analytical, Amiable,
Expressive, and Driver. Usually, each of us
exhibits personality characteristics unique to
one of the styles. However, we also possess
characteristics to a lesser degree in the other
styles.
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Here are the characteristics that are most
commonly associated with each of the styles

• AnalyticalPositive Traits Precise,
  Methodical, Organized, Rational, Detail
  OrientedNegative Traits Critical, Formal,
  Uncertain, Judgmental, Picky

AmiablePositive Traits Cooperative,
Dependable, Warm, Listener, NegotiatorNegative
Traits Undisciplined, Dependent, Submissive,
Overly Cautious, Conforming
ExpressivePositive Traits Enthusiastic,
Persuasive, Outgoing, Positive,
CommunicatorNegative Traits Ego Centered,
Emotional, Exploitive, Opinionated, Reacting
DriverPositive Traits Persistent, Independent,
Decision Maker, Effective, Strong WilledNegative
Traits Aggressive, Strict, Intense, Relentless,
Rigid
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Personality Styles -

• Gaining an in-depth understanding of your
  personality style has enormous value in your
  career as well as your personal life.

Once you have learned about your own style and
have studied the other styles. You can determine
the styles of others you can often identify
styles by observing a person's demeanor,
conversation, body language, appearance, and
possessions.
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Personality style examples

• Analytical Style Financial Manager (or
  programmers, engineers, and accountants). They
  like systems and procedures. They are slow to
  make decisions because they will analyze things
  to deathbut their decisions are usually very
  sound. They prefer working independently and are
  usually not very good in team environments, but
  they are also dependable. They buy cars with good
  resale value and great gas mileage. They are
  conservative dressers. At the party, they want to
  know why so much money was spent on Michelob when
  we could have purchased Busch. They come to the
  party with their laptops.

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Personality style examples
Amiable Style Human Resources Manager. Very
people-focused. They are dependable, loyal and
easygoing very compassionate. They will give you
the shirt off their backs and the last nickel in
their pockets. They are good listeners and value
team players that do not "rock the boat." They
are usually conformists and followersrarely
leaders. They avoid conflict and are not good
decision makers. They drive four-door sedans or
mini-vans to take the kids to sporting events.
They usually clean up after the party is over.
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Personality style examples

• Expressive Style Sales Manager. Very outgoing
  and enthusiastic, with a high energy level. They
  are also great idea generators, but usually do
  not have the ability to see the idea through to
  completion. Very opinionated and egotistical.
  Money motivated. They can be good communicators.
  They prefer to direct and control rather then ask
  and listen. They drive red convertibles with
  great stereos to heck with the gas mileage. They
  come up with the idea for a company party, but
  never help clean up. They are on their way to
  another party.

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Personality style examples
Driver Corporate CEO. Intelligent, intense,
focused, relentless. They thrive on the thrill of
the challenge and the internal motivation to
succeed. Money is only a measure of success it
is not the driving factor. They are
results/performance oriented. They have
compassion for the truly disadvantaged, but
absolutely no patience or tolerance for the lazy
or whiners. They drive prestige cars, not because
the car attracts attention, but because it was a
wise investment. They want to know why we had a
party what were the benefits of the party, and
did we invite the banker?
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Interview examples using the different
personality styles

• You will be interviewing with the human resource
  manager, the finance manager, the sales manager,
  and the CEO. The first question each of them will
  ask you is "Tell me about yourself?" How should
  you respond? Remember focus on the needs of the
  people in the organization. Here are just a few
  examples of how to respond to that question

"Tell me about yourself?"
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"Tell me about yourself?"

• Response to Finance Manager "I have been
  successful in my career by making
  well-thought-out decisions based on careful
  analysis of all factors. I approach problems with
  logic and sound reasoning. I would enjoy working
  with you in developing the appropriate systems
  and procedures to make our two departments
  function efficiently together."

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"Tell me about yourself?"

• Response to Human Resource Manager "My career
  has been characterized by my ability to work well
  with diverse teams. I seek out opportunities to
  involve others in the decision-making process.
  This collaboration and communication is what has
  enabled me to achieve success in my department.
  People are the most valuable resource of any
  organization."

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"Tell me about yourself?"

• Response to Sales Manager "Throughout my career
  I have always adhered to the principle that
  everyone in the organization must be
  sales-focused. My department is always trained in
  customer service, providing outstanding support
  to the sales team and to our customers. Without
  sales, the rest of use would not have a job. I
  look forward to helping you drive sales in any
  way possible."

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"Tell me about yourself?"

• Response to CEO "I have achieved success in my
  career because I have been focused on the bottom
  line. I have always sought out innovative
  solutions to challenging problems to maximize
  profitability. Regardless of the task or
  challenge, I always established benchmarks of
  performance and standards of excellence. I have
  never sought to maintain the "status quo." An
  organization that does not change and grow will
  die. I would enjoy working with you to help
  define new market opportunities in order to
  achieve the organization's goals."

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Response summary -

• In each instance, the response is to the "needs
  of the individual." It is almost guaranteed that,
  when you respond appropriately to the diverse
  needs of the different managers, you will become
  the standard by which all of the other candidates
  will be measured.
• The challenge is for you to learn about your
  personality and leadership style, learn about the
  styles of others, and learn how to think on your
  feet when responding to questions. Whether you
  are seeking a job or you are gainfully employed,
  by understanding the needs of others you will
  become a more valuable person, employee, manager
  and leader.

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After you have the job -

• Even after you are successful in getting the job,
  you should continue to pay attention to your
  wardrobe. Interviewing for that first job is only
  the beginning in the role clothing will play in
  your career.
• You should regularly add pieces made of high
  quality, long wearing fabrics. It is best to buy
  separates that you can mix and match with the
  pieces that you already own. Each piece you buy
  adds to the variety of looks you can achieve. You
  may ask why this is important? The reason is that
  even after you have the job you sought, you might
  like to be considered for advancement and
  promotion. The impression you leave on the job
  every day will be added to your performance when
  the boss looks around for someone to promote.