Interview Skills For Business Professionals Mike Major, SPHR Director Career Services

1. Interview Skills For Business Professionals Mike Major, SPHRDirectorCareer Services

2. Earning the Interview • Develop top quality résumé & cover letter • Utilize available resources (Cardinal Career Network) to apply for positions • Use a professional voicemail message and email address • What’s on your FACEBOOK? • Reply promptly to messages from potential employers • Networking! • Are you on LinkedIn or have an E-portfolio? www.svsu.edu/careers

3. www.svsu.edu/careers

4. The Value of Internships Overall first-job offer to new college graduates with NO internship experience: $37,621 Overall first-job offer to new college graduates with an internship experience: $41,580 Difference of $3,959 Source: 2013 NACE Salary Survey www.svsu.edu/careers

5. The Community Advancement Network (CAN) is currently advertising 5 opportunities for Fall 2014. 20 hours / week for 15 weeks between 8/25-12/5 $9.00/hour Apply via the Cardinal Career Network www.svsu.edu/careers JobID: 26609 Job Title: Public Relations / HR Internship Non-Profit Location: Adoption Option, Inc. Location: Midland, Michigan JobID: 26610 Job Title: Public Relations / Marketing / Communication Internship Non-Profit Location: Downtown Saginaw Farmers' Market Location: Saginaw, Michigan JobID: 26611 Job Title: Public Relations / Marketing / Communication Internship Non-Profit Location: Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum Location: Saginaw, Michigan JobID: 26612 Job Title: Marketing and supply-chain research and process development Internship Non-Profit Location: Saginaw Future Location: Saginaw, Michigan JobID: 26613 Job Title: Public Relations and Communications / Marketing Internship Non-Profit Location: Underground Railroad, Inc. Location: Saginaw, Michigan www.svsu.edu/careers

6. Cardinal Career Network (page 3) www.svsu.edu/careers

7. www.svsu.edu/careers

8. www.svsu.edu/careers

9. Cardinal Career Network Tips • Login at http://www.svsu.edu/careers • Cardinal Job Postings • Recruited / posted exclusively for SVSU • NACElink Extended Job Search • National Association of Colleges & Employers • Create Job Search Agents • Personalize resumes/cover letters for positions that accept them in CCN www.svsu.edu/careers

10. Who is your competition? www.svsu.edu/careers

11. Winning Résumés Pages 9-13 www.svsu.edu/careers

12. What is the purpose of a resume? www.svsu.edu/careers

13. Value Proposition • What will you bring to the organization? • Do you have the skills necessary to do the work? • Do you have the experience that the organization desires? www.svsu.edu/careers

14. Importance of Effective Bullet Statements(Page 10) • “A picture is worth 1,000 words” • Paint a picture in the employer’s mind • Statements should be clear, concise and detailed • “Presented to a group of students” vs.“Presented to a group of 35 college freshmen” www.svsu.edu/careers

15. If this is like your resume, come see us! • Fry CookMcDonald’s Restaurant • Helped customers • Stocked shelves • Used cash register • Cleaned store • Dealt with complaints • Not very impressive • Tasks implied by the title • Add no value to resume www.svsu.edu/careers

16. This is a little better, but still not great - • Crew MemberMcDonald’s Restaurant • Assisted customers in a warm and friendly manner • Stocked shelves during down times to ensure a professional environment • Processed financial transactions through the cash register in a fast and efficient manner • Cleaned store to maintain an appealing atmosphere to enhance customer satisfaction www.svsu.edu/careers

17. “Say More with Less” • Describe accomplishments and achievements • Increase something good or decrease something bad? • Employers want individuals who will make a difference • Crew MemberMcDonald’s Restaurant • Earned Crew Member of the Month in June 2012 for consistently providing outstanding service www.svsu.edu/careers

18. Other Activities Volunteer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Midland May 2006 – Present * Received ultimate brother award by successfully logging over 1,000 hours of volunteer service, assisting four youths who all went on to attend college Member, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity Sept. 2008 – Present * Served as treasurer for an on-campus organization of over 50 members and $10,000 in resources Recipient, SVSU Award for Excellence Scholarship Aug. 2007 – May 2008 Marketing Project, Saginaw Valley State Tennis Jan. 2006 – May 2006 Marketing 331 Course, Saginaw Valley State University * Created a brochure using Adobe InDesign to advertise a series of summer tennis fundraising tournaments generating a total ROI of more than $2,000 * Organized a bowling-event fundraiser that generated over $600 in revenue www.svsu.edu/careers

19. Last words on documents… • Review, review, review! • Career Services • 964-4954 • Appointments & Workshops with staff • SVSU Writing Center • Faculty members • Guidelines and Tutorials available: • http://www.svsu.edu/careers www.svsu.edu/careers

20. Don’t be THAT person! Common Dress Code Mistakes(Page 20) MEN suits that don’t fit properly and are wrinkled mismatched socks mismatched belt and shoes facial hair that is not trimmed or shaven properly inappropriate ties strong scented cologne WOMEN skirts that are too short strong scented perfume too much make-up no hosiery with skirts lack of hygiene improper jewelry large, mismatched purse www.svsu.edu/careers

21. “Business Casual” vs. “Professional” www.svsu.edu/careers

22. Males – It’s all about the suit www.svsu.edu/careers

23. Preparation before the Interview • Research the organization • Internet – how do they present themselves? • Contact HR for company packet • Assess culture through current employees • Prepare copies of résumé • Select or purchase proper attire • Develop sample questions and answers • Videotape practice interview www.svsu.edu/careers

24. Boston Marathon bombing victim Halloween costume makes Michigan woman target on social media A photograph posted to Alicia Lynch's Twitter account, @SomeSkankinMI, shows the Michigan woman wearing an SVSU race shirt with fake scars on her legs. The photograph has gained national attention and led to death threats following the costume tweet. http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/what-happens-when-you-dress-as-a-boston-marathon-victim Manage your online presence – PAGE 21

25. General Rules of EtiquettePage 22 • Firm handshake • Eye contact • Posture and grace • Do not sit until offered a seat • Greet everyone you meet with a smile, introduction & handshake • Treat everyone as though they are a decision maker www.svsu.edu/careers

26. Interview Process • Step 1: Introductory State • First impressions are made • Building a rapport • Step 2: Review your qualifications • 30 Second Pitch • Focus on your strengths & skills • Use your research and establish that you are a good fit in their culture • Give concise and thorough responses www.svsu.edu/careers

27. Interview Process • Step 3: Matching • Will you fit in the corporate culture • Are you coach-able • Do you have the passion and drive to be successful in the position • Interviewer may explain job in detail • Step 4: Conclusion • Ask questions and discuss selection timeline • Collect business cards for writing thank you notes www.svsu.edu/careers

28. Types of Interview QuestionsPage 23 • Traditional • Behavioral • Situational • Experiential www.svsu.edu/careers

29. Traditional Questions • Common interview questions • “Tell us a little bit about yourself.” • “Where do you see yourself in five years?” • “If you were a type of salad dressing, what one would you be?” • Describe yourself with 30 second pitch • Clear, concise and thorough • Describe thought process when necessary www.svsu.edu/careers

30. Behavioral Interviewing • Question about something that happened • Past actions are predictors of future behavior • “Describe a time when you had to work in a team environment.” • “Tell me about a time you had to deal with a co-worker who didn’t complete their ‘fair share’ of the workload • Be specific: “A time” is one event www.svsu.edu/careers

31. Situational Interviewing • Hypothetical circumstances • Predictor about how you would handle an event if it actually happened • “What would you do if you had a dispute with a co-worker?” • “How would you handle a client who is upset with the organization?” • Tell a story of anecdote if one is available www.svsu.edu/careers

32. Experiential Interviewing • Experience with a certain task • “Have you ever completed tax audits?” • “What type of experience do you have managing clients?” • “Have you ever completed a marketing plan?” • Be thorough and specific • Elaborate upon the depth of your experience www.svsu.edu/careers

33. S.T.A.R Approach(Page 22) • Situation • Briefly provide a broad description of the background where your example is taking place • Task • Share more details about the problem, challenge, or task that you needed to address • Action • Describe several possible courses of action and explain why the one you chose was best. Give details that illustrate what you were like in action • Result • Analyze the outcome of your action and the resolution of the situation. Indicate whether or not you would follow the same course in the future www.svsu.edu/careers

34. Steps for Managing an Interview Interact with the entire panel • Make direct eye contact with the individual asking the question • Begin by directly responding to the interviewer • Make eye contact with remaining panel members as you answer • Finish response with initial interviewer www.svsu.edu/careers

35. Resources available from Career Services • Resume and cover letter building and critiques • Online Tutorials • Resume, Cover Letter, Interviewing, Job Search Strategies • Mock interviews and interview coaching • Network development • Career fairs on campus exclusively for SVSU students to network with potential employers • Internship/Co-op advising • Job search strategies • Developing personal brand • On-campus student employment www.svsu.edu/careers

36. Employer Partners, Friday February 21st • Cintas • Chad DeBord • www.cintas.com • Rehmann • Pam Strohmeyer • www.rehmann.com • Target • Brett Woomer • www.target.com www.svsu.edu/careers

37. T H A N K Y O U mmajor@svsu.edu989.964.7130 www.svsu.edu/careers

38. Employer Partners, Thursday February 20th • Hantz Group, CPAs and Financial Advising • Allison Capp, Chad Capp (SVSU Alumni!) • John Bringard • www.hantzgroup.com • Morley Companies, Inc. • Trevor Keyser • Jennie Wideman • www.morleynet.com www.svsu.edu/careers

39. T H A N K Y O U mmajor@svsu.edu989.964.7130 www.svsu.edu/careers