The Art of Interviewing

1. The Art of Interviewing

2. Interviewing - What is it? • A structured meeting between you and an employer • Interviewing is a skill like riding your bike PRACTICE makes PERFECT

3. Interviewing is a two-way street • Employers want to determine if you are an appropriate fit for the job and their culture • You decide if the environment is right for you

4. What are Interviewers Looking For? The three C’s: Confidence Credibility Competence

5. Types of Interviews • Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to narrow the pool of applicants • One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you with the potential employer • Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once • Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a social setting • Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of the facility, meet the staff, and additional questioning from different employees and/or administration

6. Pre-Interview Preparation • Research position, company, & industry • Know yourself and be able to articulate skills, strengths, accomplishments, and career goals • Prepare necessary materials (Copies of resume, references, portfolio/pen, palm pilot or organizer, breath mints) • Ask for directions and where to park

7. Arriving • Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive calmly (you may want to do a dry run before your interview day) • Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to allow you to park, walk to the interview, use the restroom, or just gather yourself

8. Greeting & Introduction • Only 1 chance to make a good 1st impression • Dress appropriately • Smile • Maintain eye contact • Firm handshake • Remain poised and confident

9. Positive Signals Leaning forward = interest Smiling = friendly Nodding = attentive and alert Eye contact = curious and focused Negative Signals Crossed arms = defensive Fidgeting hands or tapping feet = nervous or bored Lack of eye contact = untrustworthy Leaning back= discomfort Body Language: What signals are you sending?

10. Standard Questions - target education - work experiences - career goals Examples: Tell me about yourself? What is your greatest strength? Weakness? Why did you choose to interview with us? What did you like most about your last job? Least? What are your short and long term career goals? Types of Interview Questions

11. Behavioral Questions - focus on actions and/or behaviors in a previous setting - past behavior provides clues to future behavior Examples: Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision? Tell me about a time you worked under a deadline? What do you do when a team member is not pulling his/her weight? Think about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it? Types of Interview Questions

12. Inappropriate or unethical questions - probe into private life or personal background - Question ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, marital status, body weight Examples: How old are you? Do you have children? Are you thinking about having children? Do you have a disability? What religion are you? Who do you live with? Types of Interview Questions

13. Questions you should ask Find out if the job is right for you Find out if the company/business if a “good fit” Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer Examples: What type of tasks can I expect? What is the biggest challenge facing this department? What skills are you looking for? What is the next step? Types of Interview Questions

14. General Interview Strategies -Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences -Master the art of storytelling -Provide specific and concrete examples of your results/accomplishments -Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident throughout the interview process

15. General Interview Strategies • An interview is a formal conversation--avoid filler words “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know” • Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good” • Think before speaking • Avoid long wordy answers--limit your response to 1-2 minutes • If you do not hear or understand a question, ask for clarification

16. General Interview Strategies • Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself • Try to focus on the message you are trying to convey--NOT how well you are doing!

17. Dressing for Success - Men • Suit, dress shirt • Polished shoes • Conservative tie • Neatly groomed hair, beard, and mustache • Avoid strong colognes, earrings, and body piercing

18. Dressing for Success-Women • Pant or skirt suit • Pumps with small to medium heels • Light makeup, perfume, and jewelry • Simple hair style

19. FOLLOW-UP at the Interview • Ask good questions • Thank the interviewer • Request a business card • Inquire about next steps in the process

20. FOLLOW-UP after the Interview • Send a thank you note within 24 hours • May be handwritten, typed or e-mail • Tailor each one to the individual

21. Final Thoughts • Remember that only 15% of the success of an interview is out of your control – that means 85% is within your control • Take some time to reflect - Overall, how well did I do? - What went well? - How can I improve for the next interview?

22. Suggestions • Conduct a test run the day before the interview • Practice! Practice! Practice! • Obtain a list of practice interview questions and jot down short answers • Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers • Get a good night’s sleep - be well rested and alert for the interview • Be relaxed and be yourself! Acknowledgement to St. Louis University Career Services and UCSF