THE INTERVIEW…

1. THE INTERVIEW… PREPARE & PRACTICE

2. Parts of an interview • Greetings and small talk • Interviewer gives details of the position and the organization • Interviewer asks you questions • You ask the employer questions • Closing: What are the next steps

3. Prepare for all aspects of the interview! • Research the employer. • Practice sample interview questions. • Write down questions to ask.

4. Learn as much as you can about the employer! • Approximate number of employees • Products and/or services • Types of clients • Growth and financial stability • Competition • Mission/Values/Vision statements • Typical career path

5. Know Yourself! In order to convince an employer to hire you, you need to have a focus. Think of your goals,interests, strengths, and experiences. Be able to discuss them.

6. Types of interview questions Broad-based questions such as: Why do you want to work with us? What are your strengths/weaknesses? Why did you choose this major/career? What motivates you? Do you see yourself as a leader or follower? Where do you see yourself in five years?

7. The common ice-breaker: “Tell Me About Yourself” Think about how you might respond.

8. Have a concise, relevant response. I am a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I chose this major because I have always liked math and science and I have a natural curiosity for how things work. When I researched different majors, Mechanical Engineering seemed to offer the most potential for leading me to a career I would enjoy. I am active in several organizations on campus and I am eager to begin a Co-op to apply what I know and also learn more about this field.

9. Behavioral based questions Think “STAR”: Situation Task Action(s) taken Result of your action(s)

10. Situation and Task Describe the situation you were in and the task you needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.

11. Action Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what you did -- not the efforts of the team.

12. Result What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn?

13. Sample behavioral based questions: Describe a situation in which you…. …employed good time management skills. …had to persuade someone to do something. …had to make a split second decision. …had to go beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

14. Give me an example of a time when you showed initiative. Example of Setting up the Situation: After working one week at my summer job with XYZ, the person who supervised my position left. I was asked to take on some of his responsibilities until a replacement was hired. I didn’t mind helping out, but I was a little anxious about being so new and taking on a higher level of responsibility.

15. Example of Describing the Task: One of the assignments I was given involved contacting vendors to confirm delivery dates of inventory items. The vendor numbers and delivery dates were written in a notebook and in some cases, it was difficult to interpret the notes.

16. Example of Describing the Action When I had a little down time between customers, I created a record in Excel showing vendor names, numbers, inventory items being shipped, dates and any adjustments being made to the order. I also recorded the date of the confirmation call so the new assistant manager would know that status.

17. Example of Stating the Result When the manager asked if I had been able to reach all the vendors, I showed him the Excel file. He was pleased with the file I created and asked me to explain the process to the other staff. He also asked if I could set up files for other data.

18. They may pose hypothetical situations. What would you do if you made an error that cost the company? How would you persuade a team of colleagues to go with your plan? How would you solve this problem….?

19. When preparing for the interview… Think of examples you might share if asked about: Showing initiative ~ Juggling responsibilities Leading ~ Coping with disappointment ~ Using logic to solve a problem ~ Achieving ~ Working under pressure ~ ETC!

20. WHAT TO ASK THEM • What is a typical day like for this position? • How are employees trained? Evaluated? • Does each employee have a mentor? • What type of assignments might I expect during the first six months? • What is the biggest challenge the organization faces today? • *Think of what YOU want to know!

21. Save $$$ questions until the 2nd interview • In the first interview, keep the focus on your qualifications and interest in the job. • You can inquire about $$, benefits, vacation, etc. during the 2nd interview. • Know your worth!!! Before the interview, research starting salaries for the area and your field.

22. AFTER THE INTERVIEW… • Inquire about next step. • Close with a smile and a handshake. • Send a thank-you note to everyone with whom you interviewed. • Make sure you have an appropriate outgoing voice-mail message and a good system for receiving messages.

23. Make the first impression a GOOD one! • Arrive ten minutes early unless they ask you to arrive even sooner for paperwork. • Be pleasant and professional to everyone!

24. When you first arrive, you may be asked to complete an application. • Follow directions. • Print clearly; be neat. They notice! • Avoid providing negative information. • If you don’t have a lot of experience, emphasize education, volunteer work, etc. • If something seems unclear, ask.

25. Posture, Expression & Handshake • Sit straight with legs uncrossed or crossed at ankles. • Stand straight with shoulders back and eyes ahead. • Smile!!! • Offer a firm, but not crushing, handshake.

26. Dress Professionally; Groom Conservatively

27. Women’s Business Professional: • Skirt suits are thought to be more appropriate for a first interview • Always wear plain style, neutral colored hose to interviews • Be conservative with skirt lengths and necklines

28. Women’s Shoes: • Choose shoes with closed toes and moderate heels that do not impede walking • For interviews, black, navy, or neutral colored shoes are recommended

29. Women’s Accessories: Don’t! • Large and “dangly” jewelry can be distracting. Choose smaller, more conservative styles. • Don’t carry a purse with a briefcase. Choose one or the other for interviews.

30. Men’s Business Professional • Choose a classic dark suit with a light shirt and conservative tie for the interview. • You may wear more bold colors for business professional occasions other than interviews.

31. Men’s Shoes: • Choose either slip-on or lace-up shoes in dark colors • Wing tips and polished loafers with tassels are also appropriate • Wear dark socks that are calf-length or above the calf

32. Men’s Shoes: DON’T!! • Avoid athletic, hiking, or more novelty style shoes for at-work wear. • Do NOT wear white or athletic socks!

33. Head-to-Toe Mirror Check • Hair: neatly groomed, not distracting • Make-up: conservative, minimal • Breath: fresh/clean • Cologne/perfume: minimal if any at all

34. Mirror Check Continued… • Jewelry: conservative, minimal • Piercings: ears for women, anything else is a risk • Nails: clean, neatly manicured • Clothes: clean, pressed

35. Resources • http://www.quintcareers.com • http://www.jobweb.com • http://www.careerbuilder.com • http://www.collegegrad.com • http://www.wetfeet.com • www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting • Great Interview; Eyre, Osen, Williams