Job Interviewing

Job Interviewing Hannah Franklin, Kelyn Freedman, Caitlin Green

An Introduction to Interview Techniques http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c00WlK1umS4

Types of Interviews

Phone Interview • Usually to decide whether or not its worth bringing you in for a face-to-face interview • Disadvantages: • Can’t read facial expressions to determine how the interview is going • Tips: • Research talking points • Turn the interview into a conversation • Tell stories • Prepare your surroundings • Follow up

Skype/Video Interview • 63% (up from 14% last year) said they often conducted video interviews • Replacing phone interviews for screening candidates • Dress as if you are meeting in-person • Practice looking at the camera • Check all lighting, acoustics, and connection

Behavioral Interview • What it is: • Looking for specific skills • Content skills • Functional skills • Adaptive skills • Focused questions, require detailed examples of how you handled past situations • Past performance as indicator of future performance • 30% of US organizations use behavioral interviewing • How to Prepare: • Study the job description and organization to find out what skills and attributes are desired • Come up with examples of times you displayed those attributes • PAR technique • Problem- situation you faced • Action- what you did • Results- effects of your actions • When possible, quantify results • Practice! Choragwicka, Beata (2009). Effects of Interviewee’s Job Experience and Gender on Ratings and Reliability in a Behavioral Interview. Revista de Psicologia del Trabajo de lasOrganizaciones, 25, 39-45.

Behavioral Interview Exercise • Work with the person next to you. Assign one person to the role of interviewer and one to the role of interviewee • Common questions: • Describe a time when you had to use your verbal communication skills to get an important point across • Tell me about a time you were able to build motivation for your peers or co-workers • Give me a time in which you had to set an important goal and tell me about your success in reaching it • Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty to get a job done • Tell me about a time you failed to meet a deadline. What did you learn? • Describe a decision you made that was unpopular and how you implemented it

Situational Interview • What it is: • Specific questions about what may happen on a job, hypothetical situations • May include role-play • In-basket approach • Candidate assesses situation and problem solves • 54% accurate in predicting job performance (conventional- 7%) • How to Prepare • Research the company to figure out attributes necessary to fit into company culture • Provide concrete examples of how you have acted in the past to back up your responses • Example Questions • If you know your boss is wrong about something, how would you handle it? • What would you do if the priorities on a project were suddenly changed? Latham, Gary P, & Sue-Chan, Christina (1999). A meta-analysis of the situational interview: an enumerative review of reasons for its validity. Canadian Psychology, 40.1, 56-67. Retrieved 2013 from ProQuestOnlinehttp://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/220803891/fulltext/140D6ECEE44194BEE79/1?accountid=11091

Case Interview • Problem/case • Ask questions • Give a recommendation • Practice Practice Practice!

Role Play Example

Stress Interview • Find out how the candidate handles stress • Types • Stressful Situations • Presentation • Hostile Environment • Don’t be offended • Keep your cool • Be clear and don’t back track

Panel Interview • Team of interviewers simultaneously interview the candidate • Tips: • Know it’s coming • Research the interview team • Shake hands with them all when entering and exiting • Make eye contact with the interviewer that asked the question • after finishing the answer evaluate how the other interviewers are responding • Direct your questions to the interviewer that looks the least interested at the time to engage him/her

Group Interview • What it is: • Multiple candidates interview at the same time • May include typical interview questions, problem solving, work simulation, or role play • Purpose: see how you interact with others, stand out, and solve problems • How to Succeed: • Research company culture, policies, and goals • Prepare a short introduction summarizing yourself, your qualifications, and your goals • Make friends, include others, delegate tasks, facilitate conversation, praise others • Learn names • Be yourself- contribute uniquely • Listen to others, stay engaged • Build on what others say Tran, Timothy, & Blackman, Melinda C. (2006). The Dynamics and Validity of the Group Selection Interview. The Journal of Social Psychology, 146.2, 183-201. Retrieved from ProQuest Online at http://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/199835654/140D6EEF68023BDEAFD/1?accountid=11091

Common Mistakes • Failing to research the job and company • Ignoring cues from interviewer • Not being yourself- lying about qualifications • Failing to ask questions • Company’s mission, practices, expectations, priorities • Failing to ask for or show interest in the job • Talking negatively about previous colleagues and employers • Dressing inappropriately, not turning off phone, chewing gum, lack eye contact Buckley, Peter F, MD. (2010). Getting a Great Job: “Wowing” at the Interview. Psychiatric Times, 27.9, 8-20. Retrieved from ProQuest Onlineat http://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/749619506/140D6F1DC8436DBDB31/5?accountid=11091

Strategies for Success • Do your research • Bring copies of resume and portfolio • Anticipate likely questions and practice • Develop a compelling story, portray passions and goals • Prepare questions (room for growth, people you’ll work with, etc) • Take time to think before beginning to answer questions • Be aware of body language • Follow up with a thank you note Hartung, G Chris (2011). The Job Interview. PM. Public Management. 93.10, 25. Retrieved from ProQuest Online at http://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/917952827/140D6F388E47C0FEC7A/5?accountid=11091

What to Bring • Directions and contact information • Copies of your resume and list of references • Pen and notepad • Folder or briefcase • List of insightful questions to ask • Portfolio (if applying to creative job) • Anything else the employer asks you to bring! • Do NOT bring: • Coffee, water, snacks • Generic questions

How to Tackle Interview Anxiety • Visit the interview site ahead of time • Arrive early • Prepare • Make sure your clothes are clean ahead of time • Get sleep the night before • Eat breakfast • Exercise that morning • Think before you answer

Strategy Misc. Type of Interview 100 100 100 200 200 200 300 300 300

References • All pictures retrieved from Google Images • Choragwicka, Beata (2009). Effects of Interviewee’s Job Experience and Gender on Ratings and Reliability in a Behavioral Interview. Revistade Psicologia del Trabajo de lasOrganizaciones, 25, 39-45. • Latham, Gary P, & Sue-Chan, Christina (1999). A meta-analysis of the situational interview: an enumerative review of reasons for its validity. Canadian Psychology, 40.1, 56-67. Retrieved 2013 from ProQuest Onlinehttp://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/220803891/fulltext/140D6ECEE44194BEE79/1?accountid=11091 • Tran, Timothy, & Blackman, Melinda C. (2006). The Dynamics and Validity of the Group Selection Interview. The Journal of Social Psychology, 146.2, 183-201. Retrieved from ProQuest Online at http://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/199835654/140D6EEF68023BDEAFD/1?accountid=11091 • Buckley, Peter F, MD. (2010). Getting a Great Job: “Wowing” at the Interview. Psychiatric Times, 27.9, 8-20. Retrieved from ProQuest Online at http://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/749619506/140D6F1DC8436DBDB31/5?accountid=11091 • Hartung, G Chris (2011). The Job Interview. PM. Public Management. 93.10, 25. Retrieved from ProQuest Onlineat http://search.proquest.com/socscijournals/docview/917952827/140D6F388E47C0FEC7A/5?accountid=11091

Job Interviewing