“How To Interview Successfully” (CDP Workshop 3.M)

1. Pathfinder “How To Interview Successfully”(CDP Workshop 3.M)

2. Our Game Plan • Review the Career Development Program process • Framing of the Career Tools section • Review & Discuss “How To Interview Successfully” • Discuss “Next Steps”

3. The Career Development Program • Career Choice • Career Plan • Career Tools • Career Searches • Career Management

4. “Career Tools” • Career Tools are those tangible items we use throughout out careers: • Resume • Cover Letter • Reference List • Interview Skills • Career Portfolio

5. Interviewing: Purpose • In today’s highly competitive job market, employers are looking for new ways to distinguish exceptional job candidates from average job candidates. • Interviewing is THE primary way in which employers cull their list of applicants. In the U.S., the Interview is the single most important step of the hiring process.

6. Interviewing: Topics • We will cover the following topics regarding Interviews: • Tasks To Complete Before The Interview • Day of Interview “Must Dos” • Day of Interview “Don’ts” • At The Interview Session • Questions You Should Expect To Be Asked • Questions You Should Ask • After The Interview • The Mock Interview Exercise

7. Tasks To Complete Before The Interview • Research details on the employer • Research employer web site • Speak with associates who know the employer • Conduct Mock Interviews • Prepare Career Portfolio • Get yourself conservatively groomed • Select conservative, career-appropriate attire

8. Day of Interview “Must Dos” • Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early • Arrive alone • Introduce yourself in a confident manner • Shake hands firmly • Make and maintain appropriate eye contact • Use interview team names (ask for business cards) • Be friendly and courteous • Be enthusiastic, demonstrate interest, use industry-specific language • Bring Career Portfolio with extra copies of Resume

9. Day of Interview “Don’ts” • Don’t wear excessive jewelry, piercings, perfume • Don’t fidget, use slang or profanity • Don’t smoke or chew gum • Don’t argue or engage in any negative comments; don’t gossip or tell jokes • Don’t stress your NEED for the job • Don’t make negative comments about current employer • Don’t bring-up wages, salary, benefits or vacation • Don’ t mention health, personal or financial problems • Avoid illegal interview questions

10. At The Interview Session • Introduce yourself to each member of the interview team • Ask for a business card from each member • Arrange in order of seating to prompt recall of name and area of responsibility • Use as a resource for writing thank you letters • Make eye contact when replying to questions; use the interview team member’s name

11. Questions You Should Expect To Be Asked • On Pathfinder’s “How To Interview Successfully” Resource (CDP Resource 3.N), a list of frequently used interview questions is supplied • Use these interview questions for your Mock Interviews [utilize Pathfinder’s “Mock Interview Critique” Exercise (CDP Exercise 3.O)] • Copy and paste these interview questions into an MS Word document, and write-out your ideal responses to them

12. Questions You Should Ask • On Pathfinder’s “How To Interview Successfully” Resource (CDP Resource 3.N), a list of questions important to you is supplied • Use these questions to select four to six questions that are most important to you • Copy and paste these interview questions into an MS Word document, and take them with you as a reference and for note taking

13. After The Interview • Immediately upon completion of the interview, head to a coffee shop or pub to conduct a debrief session • Determine what went well; what did not go well • Identify issues you want to restate in your follow-up letters • Within one business day, send follow-up thank you letters to each member of the interview team • Use the buisness cards you received from each member • Thank them and reinforce your interest • Supply any requested materials: • List of References • College Transcripts • Proof of Professional Certifications or Licenses

14. Interviewing FAQs • Should I bring a “support person”? • How should I bring-up the subjects of compensation and benefits? • Why should I conduct “Mock Interviews”? • I hate video cameras. Why consider video taping my “Mock Interviews”? • How do I find out the status of the hiring process after the Interview?

15. Interviewing Skill Development • Review and reflect upon Pathfinder’s “How To Interview Successfully” Resource (CDP Resource 3.N) • Now prepare the following: • Selection of Interview attire • Practice most common Interview questions • Prepare for your “Mock Interviews”

16. Next Steps • Now that you have prepared for your Interview process conduct “Mock Interviews” utilizing Pathfinder’s Mock Interview Critique Exercise(CDP Exercise 3.O) • Be sure to consider video taping the “Mock Interviews” – this is a great learning experience!

17. Next Steps • You will discuss the results of your Interviewing work with Coach Davis • And, you are ready to progress to the next section of Pathfinder’s Career Development Program: CAREER SEARCHES