INTERVIEW OVERVIEW

1. INTERVIEW OVERVIEW Interviews • Purpose • Structure • Etiquette • Preparation • Types and Questions • Sample questions Resources

2. SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE • ? • ? • ? • ?

3. PURPOSE – SELECTOR’S PURPOSE To find out: • “Why are you here?” • “What can you do for us?” • “What kind of personare you?” • “What distinguishes you from the nineteen other people who can do the job.” • “Can we afford you?”

4. PURPOSE – YOUR PURPOSE To find out: • “What does the job involve?” • “What are the skills a top employee in this job would have to have?” • “Are these the kinds of people I would like to work with, or not?” • “If we like each other, can I persuade them there is something unique about me that makes me different to the nineteen other people who can do the job?” • “Can I persuade them to hire me at the salary I need or want?”

5. INTERVIEW STRUCTURE Start • Introductions • Description of interview structure • Puts you at ease Middle • About yourself • Academic/ educational record • Technical knowledge/ Skills End • Opportunity to ask questions • Closure – information on further communication • Final handshake

6. INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE “Interviews are most often lost, when they are lost, during the first two minutes.” Remember: • Appearance & hygiene • Nervous mannerisms • Lack of self-confidence • Consideration you show to others • Your values

7. KNOW THE COMPANY N.B. “Organisations love to be loved.” Research, research, research: • Ask if there is anything they can send you in writing about their organisation • Go to their website & read everything they have there “about us” • Go to the library & locate any newspaper articles or other information about the organisation • Check the Alumni database at the CAS • Ask your friends if they know anyone working there to whom you could talk • Become familiar with the organisation’s history, purpose, goals, values

8. BASIC TACTICS – REFLECT Know Yourself • Abilities, Interests, Values, Personality • Qualifications, Grades, Academic Achievements To carry this out review activities • Specific Achievements • Current Responsibilities • Course Work Projects • Work Experience - including Voluntary Work • Sports, Societies, Social Life Then - What Skills have I gained?

9. “Self-Profile” College Time Personal time • Managing Money • Take a Risk • Speaking in Societies • Being on a Committee • Organising an event • Helping Others • Catering for Others • Entertaining Others • Taking Initiative • Managing Time WorkExperience Academic Time • Writing Reports • Analysing Data • Researching information • Retaining Facts • Working to Deadline • Establishing Good • Customer Relations • Showing Reliability • Working Well with others • Being Adaptable • Using Languages • Communication Skills • Financial Skills • Interpersonal Skills • Time Management Skills

10. TYPES OF INTERVIEW • One-to-One interview • Panel interview • Telephone interview • Second interview Question Types • Motivational • Behavioural • Situational • Stress • Situational

11. ONE-TO-ONE INTERVIEW • Easiest to arrange • Relaxed • Opportunity to meet potential boss • Relies heavily on personality and ability of one person Panel Interview • 3-5 people • Each interviewer focuses on different topic: • Chairperson to coordinate questions • Specialist who knows job in detail • HR Manager • Difficult to establish rapport • Popular in public sector (e.g. education & local government)

12. TELEPHONE INTERVIEW • To sell yourself and your skills • Take a surprise call in your stride • Beware of how you sound • Allow enough time • Beware of over-familiarity • Beware of yes/no answers • “Dress” for the occasion • Keep a copy of your application, CV, pen, paper, diary, list of questions with you

13. 2ND INTERVIEW • You are one of 5% of individuals selected from original applicants • Differ from 1st interviews: • Length of process • Variety & depth • Emphasis on group/teamwork • Wide variety of interview formats • Group discussion • Case studies/Business games/Outdoor exercises • Informal discussion with employees • Personality & aptitude tests • In-tray exercises/Written exercises • Presentation skills • In-depth interviews

14. BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS “Employers don’t really care about your past; they only ask about it, in order to try to predict your future (behaviour)” • This type of interview is used by employers to evaluate your past experiences & behaviours to predict your future performance • Interviewer identifies desired skills & behaviours and • Structures very pointed questions to elicit detailed responses to determine if you possess the desired characteristics

15. BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS - HOW WILL I PREPARE? • Know the skills necessary for the job e.g. • Teamwork • Leadership • Technical Knowledge • Problem-solving • Planning & Organising • Communicating • In the interview your responses need to be specific & detailed • How? • Arm yourself with a small “arsenal” of example stories that can be adapted to any behavioural questions • Briefly describe the situation, what task was at hand, what action you took, and the positive result or outcome • Frame this as a 4-step process - S.T.A.R.

16. BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS AND S.T.A.R. • Sample S.T.A.R. story • Situation: Advertising revenue was falling off for my college newspaper, the Trinity Times, and long-term advertisers were not renewing contracts • Task: To address the crisis with an innovative solution, devise a plan, and ensure it was executed successfully • Action: I designed a new promotional packet and compared circulation of the Trinity Times with other ad media in the area. I also set up a special training session for account executives with a School of Business Professor who discussed competitive selling strategies • Result: We signed contracts with 15 former advertisers for daily ads and 5 for special supplements. We increased our new advertisers by 20% over the same period last year

17. SITUATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL QUESTIONS Situational • You are asked to respond to a specific situation you might face on-the-job • Designed to draw out your analytical/problem-solving skills • To see how you handle problems with short notice & minimal preparation Motivational • You are asked about the choices you made and why you made them • Helps a potential employer determine whether there's a good 'fit' between what a candidate likes and what the person will find in the position on offer.

18. STRESS QUESTIONS • Usually to see how you react under pressure • Used for positions where you will be facing stress on the job • Interviewer might: • Ask you 4/5 questions in a row • Act rude or sarcastic • Disagree with or challenge you • Important to: • Remain calm • Keep sense of humour • Avoid getting defensive • Take back control of interview by “ignoring” the stress

19. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

20. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

21. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

22. QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT ASK… • Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position? • How will my responsibilities & performance be measured? By whom? How often? • Does the organisation support ongoing training & education for employees to stay up-to-date in their fields? • What is the greatest opportunity facing the organisation in the near future? • What are the traits and skills of people who are most successful within the organisation? • NO salary, benefits etc. Wait until you are offered the job!

24. DON’T ... • Don’t talk too much (get to the point) • Don’t give a poor handshake • Don’t fidget • Don’t be soft-spoken • Don’t ever lie • Don’t ask about salary / benefits / vacation • Don’t wear loads of aftershave / perfume

25. DO ... • Do arrive 10 minutes early • Do your research, know the job, know yourself • Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry • Do wait until offered a chair before sitting • Do make eye contact with the interviewer • Do observe the twenty second to two minute rule • Do show off the research you have done on the company/industry • Do show what you can do for the company rather than what they can do for you • Do show enthusiasm for the position and the company • Do stress your achievements and don’t offer any negative information

26. TAKE ACTION! • Start a Careers Portfolio • Certificates of education • Proof of courses attended • List of achievements • Contact details for possible referees • Details of applications and interview feedback etc. • And…..

27. RESOURCES • www.tcd.ie/careers/students/jobsearch • www.gradireland.com • www.prospects.co.uk • www.jobhuntersbible.com • www.quintessentialcareers.com • www.damngood.com/jobseekers/tips.html • www.doctorjob.com • Attend a practice interview! Email careers@tcd.ie or call (01) 8961721 • Read “Careers Service Guide 2007” • Read “Student Guide to Career Planning & Job Seeking” - Aungier, C. & Walker, S. 2004 • Read “Making Wizard Applications”, Phillips, C. 1999