The Employment Interview

The Employment Interview Guidelines for Success Based On “The Interview Kit” by Richard Beatty Doug Pierce May 25, 2011

TEN THINGS YOU’LL LEARN TODAY • 1. Tips on Interview Preparation • Interview Day Reminders • Presentation Style Guidelines • Communication Skills, Do’s and Don’ts • Five Winning Interview Strategies • Killer Questions, how to Prepare for • The Keys to a Successful Closing Interview • Traditional and Behavioral Questions • A Personal Philosophy on Hiring • Think Outside the Logic Box…About Interviewing

Logic Box

Logic Box Solution

PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW KEY JOB INFORMATION Job Title & Description Reporting Relationships Size & Scope of Position Budget-Personnel Functional Responsibilities NICE TO HAVE Key Challenges-Problems S.T. & L.T. Objectives ADVANCE RESEARCH General Information Products & Services Markets & Customers Business Philosophy Financial Performance Strategies for Growth Key Problems Internal/External

PREPARATIONFOR THE INTERVIEW • Company Culture/Work Environment • Overall Philosophy • Principles, Values & Beliefs • . Management Style • Participative, Autocratic, Controlling • Profile of Hiring Manager • Profile of High Performers • LinkedIn is a great source for this type info

THE INTERVIEW DAY • Know Where You’re Going • Time to Get There, Make a Trial Run • Proper Dress & Appearance • Conservative, No Negatives • The Greeting, Pleasant Smile, Eye Contact • Starts with the Secretary, Adm. Assistant • Do a 180 Degree Scan of the office • Thanks for the Opportunity to Meet

YOUR PRESENTATION STYLE • Show Energy & Enthusiasm • Good Body Language • Avoid a Monotone Voice • Be Persuasive & Convincing • This is a Sales Interview, You’re Selling You • Warm, Friendly, Open & Honest • Make Sure You Understand the Question • Here’s an Example

Name the Rock Group all of whom were men, all of whom are dead, one by assassination Hint: It’s not the Beatles

Mount Rushmore

YOUR PRESENTATION STYLE • Show Energy & Enthusiasm • Good Body Language • Avoid a Monotone Voice • Make Sure You Understand the Question • The Echo Technique • Be Persuasive & Convincing • This is a Sales Interview, You’re Selling You • Warm, Friendly, Open & Honest

COMMUNICATION SKILLS • Expressive (Alive & Animated) • Articulate (Words Clearly Pronounced) • Concise (Not Too Wordy -Too Much Detail) • Don’t Tell Them How to Make a Watch • Did I Answer Your question? • Focused ( To the Point) • Direct (Straight Forward, Not Evasive)

FIVE WINNING STRATEGIES 1. The Perfect Candidate 2. The Performance Improvement Strategy 3. The Strategic Objectives Strategy 4. The Key Problems Strategy 5. The Key Challenges Strategy

THE “PERFECT CANDIDATE” STRATEGY • How would describe the Perfect Candidate for this job? • What do you think are the most important qualifications for this job? • What factors do you feel are the most important for success in this position? • Of the past success holders of this position, what factors most contributed to their success?

“PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT”STRATEGY • As you think about others who have held this position, where do you think they could have improved? • In the context of overall department success, what aspects of this position would you most like to see improved from a performance standpoint? • If you could change something about how this position has been performed in the past, what would it be and what improvement would you most like to see?

THE “STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TECHNIQUE” • As you think about some of the organization’s longer term goals and objectives, what are some of the changes and improvements that are going to be needed to be brought about in this position in order to realize these goals? • How do the organization’s longer term goals impact this job? • What are some of the longer term strategic improvements that you would like to see made by the successful candidate for this position?

THE “KEY PROBLEMS” STRATEGY • As you think about this position, what are some of the key problems you would most like to see tackled by a new person in this job? • What fundamental problems do you feel a successful candidate for this position will need to be able to solve? • If it were a year from now and a person had been particularly successful in this job, what things would be different from the way they are today?

THE “KEY CHALLENGES” STRATEGY • What do you feel are some of the major challenges to be faced in this job? • What do you visualize as the major opportunity areas for this position? • From an improvement standpoint, where do you feel the major challenges of this position lay?

THE EMPLOYER HAS A JOB TO DO TOO The Killer Questions • BE PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS • ABOUT YOUR: • Technical Competence • Job Motivation • Fit With the Environment • Fit With the Boss • Inter Personnel Relationships • Past Failures/Successes

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER More Killer Questions • TELL ME ABOUT YOUR: • Major Strengths • Biggest Weaknesses • Formal Education • Prior Job Performance • Motivation and Drive • Skills- Personal, Planning & Organizational

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER • MAJOR STRENGTHS: • What factors have contributed to your success? • What are your most outstanding qualities? • Why should I hire you for this job? • What are your strongest attributes? • What skills have contributed to your success? • Which 2 to 3 major accomplishments best illustrate your greatest strengths?

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER • BIGGEST WEAKNESSES: • What would you most improve about yourself ? • What’s been your biggest work related failure? • What steps have you taken to improve yourself ? • What areas has your Boss suggested you improve? • In what ways could your improve your effectiveness with others? • In what ways could you improve your overall job performance?

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER • BIGGEST WEAKNESSES STRATEGY: • Choose shortcomings that are not severe. • Pick weaknesses that are least job related. • Select areas where you have already improved. • ****************************************** • I’m highly focused and results oriented, as a result I sometimes appear too pushy. • I’d like to improve my written communications, I’m currently enrolled in a class at UTD.

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER More Killer Questions. continued • TELL ME ABOUT YOUR: • Major Strengths • Biggest Weaknesses • Formal Education • Prior Job Performance • Motivation and Drive • Skills- Personal, Planning & Organizational

Let’s Have A Practice Session Right Now

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER More Killer Questions. • TELL ME ABOUT YOUR: • Major Strengths: • What factors have contributed to your success? • B. Biggest Weakness: • What would you most improve about yourself?

PRACTICE AND PREPARATION ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS • PLAYING GOLF OR TENNIS • COOKING DINNER FOR THE BOSS • HUNTING AND FISHING • ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT • IN HAVING A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW WOULD YOU CONSIDER:

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER The “Will You Fit In” Questions • What’s Your Preferred Work Environment? • What Kind of Boss Do You Like? • What’s You Operating Style? • Are You Creative? • Are You a Risk Taker? • Are You Persistent? • Are a Good Communicator?

THE CLOSING INTERVIEW The Six Key Elements Of An Effective Close • 1. Expression of Interest • The Value Statement • Requesting Feedback • 4. The Path forward • The “Thank You” • The Parting Impression

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST If You’re Interested….. “Tell Them” I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the day and the effort everyone went through to answer all of my questions and explain all of the aspects of the job. This has been quite an exciting day for me and I am very interested in the position described to me. It sounds like a very challenging opportunity, exactly what I’m looking for.

THE VALUE STATEMENT A Brief Statement of How You Can Add Value EXAMPLE I am really excited about this position and know I could do an excellent job for you. I already have some ideas for tackling the xyz problem. And, I think my experience with abc type plans should also be an asset.

ASKING FOR FEEDBACK Nothing Ventured-Nothing Gained EXAMPLE Dave, I want you to know that I really enjoyed the day, and at this stage I am interested in the position. I was wondering if there is interest in me for this position as well? Can you provide me with some feedback on how things went?

ASKING FOR FEEDBACK The Two Primary Reasons Candidates are Rejected • 1. Lack of technical proficiency in a given area. • Lack of fit with the organization’s culture. • “Answer the Objection and Close the Sale” • If you can isolate the exact reason, you now have an opportunity to overcome that rejection by providing more information on the topic in question

ESTABLISING THE “PATH” FORWARD During the Closing Interview • Request Information Concerning the Next Steps • When can I expect to hear from you? • What’s the approximate timing in your process? • Is There any More Information I Can provide? • What you’re trying to do is force a commitment from them to follow up with you, which also gives you a legitimate follow up date.

THE PARTING IMPRESSION An Instant Replay of Your Original Meeting • Remember the old saying: • “You only get one chance to make a first impression?” • The Flip Side of That is: • “You only get one chance to make a lasting impression on your first interview.” • Your friendliness will be remembered and may be that fine line between being the candidate they hire or the one they don’t.

SAY “THANK YOU” Enhance Your Image Take the Time to be Gracious and “Thank” Your Host. EXAMPLE George, I really appreciated the opportunity to be here today. Everyone was very cordial and helpful. I just wanted to say “Thank You” for putting all of this together. Always send a hand written ‘Thank You’ card, in addition to an e-mail

THE INTERVIEW KIT Richard H. Beatty • North America’s leading job-search author, has interviewed thousands of job seekers in the past 30 years as a corporate employment professional. Currently president of Brandywine Consulting Group. • Mr. Beatty spent 17 years as a Human Resources executive with Scott Paper Company, where he held both corporate and Division-level employment positions. • Buy The Book…..$6.95 at Half Priced Books!

MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY The Key Attributes Important To Me • 1. Intellectual Honesty • 2. Technical Competence • 3. Team Work • Work Ethic • Are You Ready To Answer These Type • Of Questions Asked By Interviewers? • First An Exercise

PERCEPTUAL “K”

PERCEPTUAL “H”

TRADITIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS • Write Down the Key Talking Points on a 3 x 5 Card for Your Answer to Each Of the Following Questions: • How do your friends describe you? • What are your Strengths • What are your Weaknesses • What would you like me to know about you that is not on your resume? • How flexible are you? Give me an example • Who else are you interviewing with? • How do you feel about work related travel? • Why do you think you are qualified for this position? • What did you like most and least about each of your prior positions? • Tell me about yourself…this a lot of work!!!!!

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Confucius

BEHAVORIAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS • 1. Tell me about the 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 were the results? • USE THE “STAR” FORMULA FOR ANSWERING THESE TYPE OF QUESTIONS • S ………Describe the SITUATION • T……….What was the specific TASK? • A……… What ACTION did you take? • R……….What was the RESULT?

A SELF AUDIT OF YOUR SEARCH • How much time have you spent on: • Developing your resume? • Searching the internet for opportunities? • Seeking out “Target Companies” • Networking via LinkedIn and Meetings? • In depth preparation for “The Interview?”

The Employment Interview