Interviewing

1
Interviewing

• ISP 499z
• Jennifer Powers
• Your First Interview, Ron Fry, 2002

2
Personal inventory

• Employment history
• Volunteer activities
• Educational accomplishments
• Extracurricular activities
• Honors and awards
• Military record
• languages

3
Personal inventory

• Dig a little deeperfor your eyes only
• Which achievements did you enjoy the most? Which
  are you most proud of?
• What mistakes have you made? Why? What did you
  learn?
• How well do you interact with authority figures?
• What are your favorite games and sports?
  Competitive? Give up too easily?

4
Personal inventory

• Dig a little deeper, continued
• What kinds of people are your friends? Do you
  enjoy differences?
• If you were to ask a group of friends to describe
  you, what adjectives would they use (good and
  bad)?

5
Personal inventory

• Divide what youve written so far into following
  headings
• My strongest skills
• Areas in which I am most knowledgeable
• Strongest parts of my personality
• Things I do best
• Skills that I should develop to do well in my
  career
• Parts of my personality I could stand to improve

6
Personal inventory

• Write down on another sheet
• What in my personal inventory would convince this
  employer that I deserve the position?
• What are the strengths, achievements, skills and
  areas of knowledge that make me most qualified
  for this position? What separates me from the
  pack?
• What weaknesses should I admit to and how will I
  improve on them?

7
How to get the info you need

• Outside info
• Libraries
• Chamber of commerce
• Business/industry associations
• Placement agencies
• Business news editors
• Trade magazines
• School alumni
• Stockbrokers/analysts
• Online

8
How to get the info you need

• Inside info
• Annual reports
• Employee handbooks
• Sales/marketing brochures

9
How to get the info you need

• Additional sources
• College placement office
• Job fairs
• State employment agencies
• Job info centers (library)
• Online job sites

10
Interview process

• Telephone screener (calls you to set up an
  interview)
• Make it easy (have an answering machine)
• Be cheerful and enthusiastic
• Be prepared
• Stay in control
• Buy yourself some time
• Ask for correct spelling, title, address, etc
• Dont volunteer anything

11
Interview process

• Interview types
• Structured/database interview
• Everyone answers same questions
• Targeted interview
• Narrower in scope, will get at info employer
  really needs/wants
• Keep answers short but thorough
• Only give answers to the questions asked
• Team interview

12
Interview process

• Interview types
• Situational interview
• what if
• Avoid bull
• Use real-life examples
• Think through your answers
• Stress interview
• Never let them see you sweat
• Remember, its only hypothetical
• Dont give up
• Watch your tone of voice

13
First impressions

• Men
• Red tie, white shirt, blue suit
• Black shoes (recently polished)
• Women
• Muted colors, non-provocative
• Subtle jewelry
• Unisex
• Dont overdo cologne/perfume
• Carry slim leather folder
• Pay attention to grooming and hygiene

14
First impressions

• Body language
• Control your hands
• Sit when offered a seat
• Make small talk
• Relax
• Take a deep breath

15
Hiring manager

• Less experienced at doing interviews than human
  resources--gtmakes it harder on you
• Show your confidence
• Be polite, enthusiastic
• Smile, make eye contact
• Be honest, positive
• Take control

16
Hiring manager

• So tell me about yourself
• The HM wants to feel good about you--let her
• The HM wants you to make him feel good about
  hiring you
• Refer to your personal inventory
• 2 minutes (250-350 words)
• Brief intro
• Key accomplishments
• Key strengths
• Importance of these strengths to the employer
• Where and how you see yourself developing in the
  position

17
The finer points

• Demonstrate an interest in the interviewer
• Use positive action words
• Concentrate, be attentive, listen
• Answer the question
• No question is a throwaway
• Be decisive
• Dont fill silence for the sake of talking
• Be positive

18
The finer points

• Special tips for recent college grads
• Dont be afraid to let interviewer know that
  when you need help, youll ask for it
• Admit that you dont have all the answers
• Dont be afraid to go through school of hard
  knocks
• Dont express any negative reactions to job
  description, no matter how bad it sounds
• Admit it if it took a while to find your
  direction
• Dont talk about who paid for your education

19
Questions and answers

• Education and experience (facts)
• Interviewer wants to know if youre a know-it-all
  or realize you have more to learn

20
Questions and answers

• Who are you?
• They are looking for enthusiasm, confidence,
  energy, honesty, dependability and pride in work
• Dont volunteer your negative qualities
• Highlight how you get along with other people
• Exhibit loyalty
• Outside activities should be remotely job related

21
Questions and answers

• How will you perform?
• They want to know if there is organizational fit
• Wrap it up
• Do you have any questions?
• Questions about the company
• Questions about the department
• Questions about the job

22
Follow up

• Write a thank you letter and mail it that day
• Give list of references later that day or next
  morning (use this time to warn your references)

23
Any questions?