Tips for Interview Success

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Tips for Interview Success
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Highlights

• Purpose of the interview
• How to Prepare
• Types of interviews
• The Interview Process
• QA

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Purpose

• To determine if This job Your job
  qualifications are a GOOD MATCH

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Why Should I Hire You?
Quality of Cover Letter Quality of
Resume Interview Performance Professionalism Refer
ences Years of Relevant Work Experience Fit with
Company Culture Relevant Skills Internal
Candidate Candidates Familiarity with the
Organization
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Before the Interview
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Self-Awareness

• Know yourself
• Be very familiar with your resume
• Be able to articulate your goals and strengths
• Have your sales pitch ready to go. Include
• Your current position
• Relevant experience
• Your fit for this position
• Include, if possible, 1 recent relevant
  accomplishment
• Why you have applied for the position

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Position Awareness

• Know the company and specific job description
• employees, culture, philosophy, news,
  challenges/opportunities
• primary secondary functions of job

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PREP

• Prepare 3-5 questions for the interviewer
• Review 3-6 key skills about yourself that fit the
  position
• Establish 10 examples to showcase yourself
• Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

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What to Wear

• Tailored, clean, conservative suit
• Polished shoes
• Conservative jewelry/accessories
• Little to no cologne

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Opening the Interview
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Professional Appearance

• Know where to go and where to park
• Have gas in your car
• Take a pen, notepad, and several resume copies
• Be 15 minutes early
• Look yourself over once before entering the
  office

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Positive Body Language

• Positive Entrance
• Enthusiasm
• Relaxed Smile
• Direct Eye Contact
• Straight Posture
• Firm Handshake
• Leaning Slightly Forward
• Use of Hand Movement
• Feet Flat on Floor

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Negative Body Language

• Lack of Enthusiasm or Curiosity
• Frowning
• Weak Handshake
• Lack of Eye Contact
• Staring
• Nervous Movements
• Arms Crossed
• Hands Clenched
• Looking at Watch

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The Interview
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Types of Interviews

• Traditional
• Behavioral
• Pre-screening
• Case (scenarios)
• Technical (math, computer)
• Stress (dead space)
• Phone
• Presentation to audience
• Committee or group
• Dining Interview

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Traditional Interviews

• Traditional Interviews Historical
• Why are you applying for this position?
• How would you describe yourself?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

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Behavioral Interviews

• Behavioral Contemporary
• Tell me about a time that you had a difficult
  problem to solve. How did you try to solve it?
  What did you learn from the experience?
• Give me your best example of working as a team
  member to accomplish an important goal. What was
  the goal? What was your role? What were the
  results?

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Behavioral Interview Responses

• Use the STAR approach to answer behavioral
  questions

ST (Situation/Task) Describe the situation/task A
(Action) Explain what you did R
(Result) Describe the results
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In Any Interview

• Be ready for Tell me about yourself
• Be honest, show your personality
• Help the interviewer to know
• Are you dependable?
• Are you a good worker?
• Will you fit in here?
• Take support documents or portfolio if
  appropriate
• Give reasons to hire you over the 100 other
  applicants

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All Interviews

• Be prepared to be offered drink or food
• Be prepared to meet others in the office
• Be prepared for a tour of the building
• Be prepared to meet other interviewees
• Take a notebook to write notes or questions
• Its OK to pause before answering a question
• Remember This is about the job fitting with you,
  too

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Typical Interview Questions

• Why do you want to work here?
• Why should I hire you?
• What can you do for us that other candidates
  cant?
• Why did you leave your (are you leaving) your
  job?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What are your goals?
• When were you most satisfied with your job?

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Atypical Interview Questions

• Expect random questions
• What was the last book that you read?
• If you were an animal, what animal would you be
  and why?
• If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would
  you choose and why?

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Closing the Interview
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Closing the Interview

• Summarize key strengths and match for the
  position
• Always ask questions
• Thank the interviewer by name
• Ask about the next step
• Express an interest in hearing from them

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After the interview
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The Next Step

• Follow-up with a thank you note
• Be prepared for negotiating offer(s) or a second
  interview
• Contact them by phone or e-mail if you do not
  hear back within the time frame indicated
• Always leave them with a positive impression

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Questions?