Interviewing Success

1. Interviewing Success Claiming your power in the interview Presented by the Humphrey School Career Services Office: Lynne Schuman, Director Martha Krohn, Assistant Director

2. Interviewing Success - Agenda • Measuring success • Preparing, conducting, and following-up • Using the power of story • Common interview questions • Questions that you ask • Handling illegal questions

3. Measuring Success Success for employer? Success for candidate?

4. Interviewing in three steps: • Prepare • Conduct • Follow-up

5. Prepare: The Employer’s Viewpoint Why is this position important to the organization? What are their needs? How can I demonstrate that I meet those needs? How can I address any concerns they might have?

6. Prepare: Content “An interviewer controls the flow of the interview, but the interviewee controls the content. “ H. Anthony Medley • Examples - that demonstrate your accomplishments using skills and abilities important to the employer • Answers - to common interview questions • The question you hope they don’t ask • Questions for the organization

7. Preparing for Difficult Subjects: Craft Good Answers • Welcome the question or acknowledge the employer’s concern • Minimize concerns by briefly explaining your solution • Tell employers what they gain by hiring you - be specific • Be proactive if you can minimize a problem by bringing it up

8. Prepare: Interview Formats • One-on-one interviews • Panel or group interviews • Phone interviews • Video interviews

9. Conduct: During the Interview • Strong beginning, strong ending • Listen • Slow down. Pause • Be professional in ALL interactions • Be wary of using humor

10. Interview Follow-Up

11. Two Types of Behavioral Questions • Behavioral - focused on past behavior • Situational – focused on future possible behaviors

12. Using the Power of Story – to demonstrate past behavior • Structure => S-A-R • Situation – a specific situation in which you played a significant role • Action – or actions that YOU took • Result – the good outcome that was a result of your actions

13. Preparing S-A-R stories • Using position description, pick out important skills, knowledge and duties • Prepare a S-A-R story for each relevant quality you can claim • Practice telling these stories concisely

14. Teamwork Story • S: I was on a 4 person team in my Economic Development class. One team member kept missing meetings and not keeping up her part of the work. • A: I volunteered to talk to her. We met outside school & discussed how things were going. She felt completely overwhelmed and unable to keep up. We worked out a schedule for the project that felt more realistic for her. In return, she promised to make the rest of the meetings. • R: The team project came together in good time, and we presented it to the class. The instructor gave us an A for the project and complemented us on our smooth functioning as a team.

15. Other Common Interview Questions • Tell me about yourself. • Key: Can the candidate sort and prioritize information that is relevant to this job and this organization? • Strategy: Often the first question – prepare a strong response. Give brief experience/education history, emphasizing how it led you to your interest in this career area/organization.

16. Questions • Why are you interested in this position? • Key: • Do your interests mesh with the job? • Will you stay engaged and interested? • What do you have to give and what do you have to gain? • Strategy: Prepare a brief explanation as to why your background (experience, training, interests) makes this position a logical one for you. This is where you could address “overqualified” concerns.

17. Questions • Where do you see yourself five years from now? • Key: • Is your future vision compatible with the direction this job and this organization will take you? • Are you worth investing in or will you leave quickly?

18. Questions • What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? • Key: • Are you self-aware and analytic? • Can you discuss strengths in a way that relates them to the job to be done? (Can use a S-A-R story to illustrate) • Do you take responsibility for weaknesses, problem solve and correct/mitigate them?

19. Selecting Your Weakness • Authentic • Generic, not personal • Not essential for this job • A problem that you are solving – emphasize the solution in your answer

20. Asking YOUR questions • Fill in gaps in information • Learn organizational culture • Explore challenges and trends • Express interest in and knowledge of their work • Clarify the hiring process and timelines 2/3rds of questions should be about the work & organization

21. Handling illegal questions • Personal information not related to job requirements

22. Areas to be aware of • National origin/citizenship • Age • Marital/family status • Affiliations • Religious beliefs • Height/weight • Disability • Medical history (physical or mental) • Arrest record • Military discharge

23. Responding : Your Choices • Answer the question, or • Refuse to answer the question, or • Answer the concern.

24. Interviewing Well • “In my career I have interviewed a lot of job candidates, and I can tell you the ones who stand out – and get the jobs – are those who project a clear sense of themselves...” James A. Johnson 2006 HHH Commencement Keynote Address

25. Other Resources on Interviewing • The Six Reasons You’ll Get The Job:MacDougall and Sanders-Park, 2010. Looking at a position through the employer’s viewpoint. Discusses the 6 areas that employers look for in a candidate, whether they know it or not, and ways to demonstrate how you have them. • Sweaty Palms: H. Anthony Medley, 2005. • Going Global: Access through GoldPass.umn.edu – Online resource on career opportunities around the world and how to secure them. • Ted Talk: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are by Amy Cuddy : http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html • Quiet: Susan Cain, 2013. Subtitled “The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking” • HHH Career Appointments: Meet with Lynne or Martha for interviewing coaching or a mock interview: Go to hhh.umn.edu/career & click on “Make An Appointment”