Interviewing

1
Interviewing

• What Separates the Winners From the Rest of the
  Crowd

By Ron Hittle, Career Planning Placement
Center, Sinclair Community College
2
Job openings are not filled with the most
qualified personnel.
Credentials
Credentials
Credentials
Credentials
Credentials
Credentials
Jobs are offered to the people who best know how
to market themselves.
3
A great resume and effective interviewing skills
are the best preparation to assure getting the
most desirable job.
4
Personalize and Clear Job Focus

• I prepared just for you.

Know thyself
Research, Research, Research...
Dress for Success
Where?
Practice makes perfect
Professionalism
5
Three Parts to the Interview Process

• Preparation before the interview
• The interview
• Follow-up

2
3
1
6
Preparation Before the Interview

• Know yourself.
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Skills and abilities
• Research the occupation.
• Research the target company.
• Internet, CPPC, library, personal visit
• Select proper attire.
• Dress for success

7
Preparation Before the Interview

• Know where the interview is located.
• Practice answers to interview questions.
• Prepare questions to ask interviewer.
• Carry a portfolio binder.
• Write out key skills and questions to ask.
• Bring along your professional portfolio.

8
The Interview

• Companies are spending more time, effort, and
  money to select the right person.

9
Interview Formats

• Phone interviews Pre-screening
• Multiple interviews
• Committee interviews
• Tour of work setting

10
The Interview Game

• Begin with a firm hand shake and Thanks for
  seeing me.

11
The Interview Game

• Interviewers can use 5 different type of
  questions.
• Directive
• Non-directive
• Hypothetical
• Behavioral
• Stress

12
Directive Interview Questions

• Interviewer determines the focus of your answer.
• Information the interviewer wants is very clear.
• Example
• What skills do you have that relate to this
  position?

13
Non-Directive Questions

• You determine the focus of your
  answer.
• Interviewer does not ask specifics.
• Examples
• Tell me about yourself.
• Describe your weaknesses.

14
Non-Directive Questions

• Interviewer wants to know how your background and
  personality qualify you for this job.
• The focus is on your education, related
  experience, skills and abilities, and personal
  attributes.
• How do they relate to the job you are seeking?
• Decide your response before starting to speak.
• Keep response concise never over 2 minutes.

15
Hypothetical or Scenario Questions

• Interviewer describes a situation which you may
  encounter in the position and asks you how you
  would act in a similar situation.
• Theyre a good test of your problem solving
  abilities.

16
Problem Solving Model to Answer Hypothetical or
Scenario Questions

• Gather information.
• Evaluate the information.
• Prioritize the information.
• Seek advice.
• Weigh the alternatives.
• Make a decision.
• Communicate the decision.
• Monitor the results and modify
  if necessary.

17
Behavioral Questions
The Best Predictor of Future Performance is Based
on Past Success.

• They have become increasingly popular in
  interviews.
• They involve weaving a story.
• Examples
• Give me an example of a work situation in which
  you were proud of your performance.

18
Behavioral Questions

• Examples
• Give me an example where you faced some challenge
  in your life and how youve overcome it.
• Give me an example where youve
  used creativity.
• Give me an example where you were a member of a
  team and how it solved problems.
• Interviewer will continue to probe until they get
  a satisfactory, complete answer.

19
STAR Method of Answering Behavioral Questions

• Situation describe beginning as bleak
• Task what it involved
• Action you took to solve
• Results glorious

20
Effective Ways to Answer Behavioral Questions

• Think of your life experience both personal and
  work-related.
• Review the skills and qualities that the position
  would require.
• Link past experiences with a current experience.
• Link a personal experience with a work-related
  experience.

21
Effective Ways to Answer Behavioral Questions

• Relate your experiences from the past that best
  demonstrate the traits desired in the position
  that you are interviewing for.
• Theyre a great way to answer your
  weaknesses.

22
Stress Questions

• These may surprise you and make you feel
  uncomfortable.
• Examples
• If you were an animal, which would you
  be?
• Name 5 people, who are deceased, that you would
  invite to dinner.
• The desire is to see how you react to difficult
  situations.

23
Stress Questions

• They test your sense of humor.
• There is no right answer.

24
Common Interview Questions

• What do you consider to be your greatest
  strengths and weaknesses?
• Why did you choose your major?
• What are your career goals?
• Where do you see yourself five or ten years from
  now?
• How has your college experience prepared you for
  this job?

25
Common Interview Questions

• Why are you interested in working for our
  company?
• If I talked to your previous employer, what would
  he / she say about you?
• How would your co-workers describe you?
• What two or three things are most important to
  you in your job?

26
Common Interview Questions

• What salary do you expect to be paid?
• Why should I hire you?

27
Formulate Questions for the Interviewer
Never ask about salary or benefits in the first
interview.

• What is the philosophy of your company?
• What do you consider to be your companys
  greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
• What are your companys goals?
• What attracted you to this company?
• What opportunities exist for training and
  professional development?

28
Formulate Questions for the Interviewer

• Could you describe a typical
  first-year assignment?
• Do you mind if I ask how my qualifications match
  what you are looking for?

29
Interview Non-Verbals (Body Language)
Non-verbals must agree with the verbals or the
interviewer will always believe the non-verbals.

• Sit up straight, but not too rigid.
• Lean forward slightly.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Listen actively nodding.
• Elevate chin slightly it shows confidence.
• Show energy / enthusiasm in a way that is natural
  for you.

30
Value of the Interview Process

• The employer learns about you.
• Use your communication skills to describe why you
  are the best person for the job.
• You evaluate the employer.
• Inquire about the atmosphere, philosophy,
  technology, and protocol of the company.

31
Value of the Interview Process

• Obtain valuable information.
• Interest or no interest in the job opening
• Discovering new places / niches to use your
  skills
• Perfect your interview skills
• Obtain referrals for other job openings
  internally or externally

32
Predictors of Success

• Ability to communicate clearly and
  concisely
• Demonstrated teamwork skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Career-related work experience
• Involvement in campus or community
  activities

33
Predictors of Success

• Ability to identify and give good examples of
  transferable skills
• Knowledge of the company / organization
• Asking good questions
• Flexibility
• Enthusiasm
• Ambition and motivation

34
Predictors of Success

• People skills
• Good grades
• Professional appearance

success
35
Follow-Up
Always get their business card.

• Thank you letter / card
• Mailed within 24 hours
• Formal vs. informal
• Send to all who could be an influence.
• Personalize / express appreciation for the
  opportunities to interview, tour the facilities,
  meet other employees, etc.

36
Follow-Up

• Mention the day of the interview and the position
  for which you interviewed.
• Express continued interest in the position and
  the company.
• Reemphasize your most important skills and
  qualifications and how you expect to contribute
  to the organization.

37
Follow-Up

• Include any information you forgot to mention in
  the interview, if necessary.
• Be brief , though.
• Close your letter / note with a comment about
  future contact with the employer.

38
Sample Thank You Letter
100 Livable Way Dayton, Ohio 45429 March 4,
2000 Ms. Ima Stickler Human Resource
Manager Stuckney Memorial Hospital 1234 S. 23rd
Avenue Los Angeles, California 90210 I
appreciated the opportunity to interview at your
hospital on Monday, March 3rd. The tour of the
medical facilities and conversations with
Stuckneys laboratory staff gave me a clear
overview of the role of technologists at your
facility. In particular, I was impressed with the
state-of-the-art equipment in Stuckneys
laboratories and the exciting medical research
that is being conducted there.
39
Sample Thank You Letter
The entire experience has confirmed my desire for
employment as a medical technologist with
Stuckney Memorial Hospital. My internship as a
lab assistant, along with my microbiology and
chemistry course work, has prepared me well for
this position. Based on my interview, I am
confident I would fit in well with the Stuckney
laboratory staff. Thank you again for the
experience of getting to know your organization
better. I welcome the opportunity to work for
Stuckney Memorial Hospital and look forward to
hearing from you. I can be reached by phone at
[phone] or e-mail at sneedme_at_aol.com. Since
rely, Shirley U. Needme
40
What Separates the Winners from the Rest of the
Crowd?

• Preparation Communication

41
The Universal Hiring Rule
Any employer will hire an applicant so long as he
or she is convinced that hiring the individual
will bring more value than it cost the
company. Tom Jackson

• Did you prove that value in the
  interview?
• Take time to evaluate your performance and build
  on it.