Interviewing Skills

1. Interviewing Skills Springboard 24th February 2017 & 2nd March 2017

2. Congratulations You have been invited to an interview They already like the look of you on paper.

3. Results from yoursuccess in: Research Constructing an effective CV Writing a well constructed covering email

4. Why are they seeing you? • THEM – What do company want to get out of interview • YOU – What do you want to learn?

5. Why are they seeing you?What don’t they know? • Confirm Perceptions • Check that you are able to do job • What you are like as a person • Whether you will do the job as they think it needs to be done • Will you fit in • Can you be managed • Whether you share approach/philosophy/thinking • Whether you’re on ‘the same page’

6. Session Objectives • To provide pointers to enable • YOU to demonstrate to THEM how you match their needs and expectations • YOU to decide if company and job is right for YOU YOU are the focus

7. The 4 ‘P’s’ of Interviewing- All job Hunting Poor Preparation Precedes Poor Performance

8. INTERVIEWING SKILLS Before During After

9. BEFORE

10. Research Prospective Employer,their customers and industry • Size and Structure – Organisation/Dept. • Where would you fit in/reporting structure • Products/Services USP’s – Markets • Competitor strengths/weaknesses • Financial Ownership & Success • Business plans/Strategies • Challenges • Opportunities

11. Research Where How

12. Research Sources • Job Advertisement/Specification • Web Site –Organisation and Competitors • Annual Reports • News Articles – ‘Raconteur’/Harvard Business Review • Google ‘Media Update’ • Follow links eg conferences being attended • Professional Press • Especially New Techniques, Challenges Hot Topics and Key Issues • Linkedin and Networking

13. MAGIC INTERVIEW TOOL For use at each and every Interview

14. The ‘Ideal’ Employee • Employer will want to explore how technically skilled you are • Are you really as good as you appear to be on paper? • How do your skills link to THEIR NEEDS? • Can you do more? • How might this link to THEIR future • Might you be bored and leave after a short time • Will they be able to develop to meet planned growth

15. The ‘Ideal’ Employee • Employer will want to find out what type of employee you are likely to be with THEM • What motivates you • What demotivates you • How do you deal with pressure • How do you deal with ‘difficult’ customers/bosses/staff • How will you fit in as member of the team

16. What do they know or ‘might’ they know about you already?

17. Your Objective Demonstrate that YOU meet (better then any other candidate) • organisation needs, • overcome their problems, • maximise their opportunities and • fit in with manager, colleagues and team • because of your skills and past achievements.

18. What do they know or might they know about you already? • Your CV • Facebook • LinkedIn Profile • Reputation WHAT WOULD YOU BE ASKING IF PRESENTED WITH YOUR CV, Profile Reports on your reputation • Look at these from THEIR perspective • Strengths and Potential Shortcomings • What might trip you up

19. Preparing for Questions Base on Research – Job Spec, CV etc. • TMAY – Slick: focused on employer • Prepare for standard /predictable questions • strengths/ weaknesses, problems handled etc • Prepare for ‘boomerangs’ and ‘Difficult Questions’ • Practice

20. Calculating Questions THEY and YOU might ask • Skills • What are you able to do • Demonstrate by competency achievements • What kind of person you are/Your style and approach • Will you fit in, share philosophy etc • Can you be managed • Demonstrate by competency achievements

21. ‘STAR’Demonstrating Competency Achievements • Situation • Beyond basic accountabilities • Task • The particular Challenge/Problem • Action • What YOU did • Result • Quantify • saved, increased, met, improved etc etc.

22. SkillCompetency Example Problem Solving • S – A key customer needed to get a consignment ahead of normal delivery • T – Challenge = reduce working time from 4 to 3 weeks to retain business during maintenance period • A – Rescheduled work from a number of clients by liaising with customers – strong links already established to approve minor delays and led team to focus on key activities for manufacture and maintenance • R – Customer received products after 2.5 weeks and initiated us as key provider

23. Approach/StyleCompetency Example • S – A long term team members performance was coming in late and not performing at usual high standard • T- Collective productivity and potential bonus jeopardised and hacking off colleagues • A – Discussed with team member. Found wife ill/having to look after children. Reviewed schedule, shared with other team members gaining supportive cooperation, revised bonus structure with HR • R – Performance levels quickly returned and bonus expectations achieved for all.

24. What About You • What would you want to find out about you relative to the job you are applying for?

25. Example ‘questions to ask’ • I have read the current JD and spec. What changes do you anticipate in the role in the next year or so? • I have read about (news item re organisation) would this role be involved in this development? • What goals will be expected in the first 6 months? • How will my performance be measured? • What is your management style? – what are the characteristics for success in this company? • May be able to demonstrate ability to complement any of these with experience/skills • Why is the position open? • What do you want to maintain in the role and to change?

26. In addition to predicting and preparing for questions: • Check the route • Where to park – have money for machine etc. • Train and bus times • To get their early • Are there alternatives • Is car ready to go – fuel, oil, water, tyres • Check what to wear • get out in time to clean, wash, press, shine

27. On the Day

28. On the day • Get there early –15 minutes • Be polite and appreciative of reception and security staff • Go to the loo/private room – lock the door • Deep breaths – being nervous natural – drives adrenalin • Remind self of role suitability/career successes • Review prepared plastic folder • Research – company, team, interviewer • Questions • ‘must remember ‘bullets’ of model answers’ /TMA • Habits to avoid • Turn phone off

29. Written Information cant tell: • If you can be managed by THEM in THEIR preferred style • Whether you share THEIR approach, philosophy, values • Whether YOU will fit in with THEM • YOU need to establish RAPPORT

30. Establishing RAPPORT-will you fit in • Seek ‘common ground’ • Not seeking new best friend • No over familiarity, jokes, religion, politics • Focus on industry, organisation and role • Look right for the interview • Be Confident • Hand shake & smile, Relax but maintain posture & eye contact, ‘see things from THEIR perspective’ + action • Demonstrate Sincerity, Trust & Reliability • Mirror style and approach • Empathise • Put yourself in THEIR shoes – show you are on same page.

31. Emotional Intelligence Demonstrate • Ability to remain calm under pressure • Achievements ‘under fire’ • Self Awareness of emotions with control and action • Strengths and weaknesses • Active Listening – understand what told. • Enthusiasm, Interest, self driven motivation • Ability to make others feel good about themselves • Be Ready to answer how you have demonstrated EI • Make THEM feel good about THEM wanting YOU

32. After • At end of interview • Thank interviewer/s – shake hands/smile • Check ‘what’ will happen next and ‘when’ • Send email ideally to interviewer/chair/agency • Thanking them for interview • Confirming enthusiasm • Emphasising experience and skills • Related to key aspects referred to in interview • Allaying possible concerns expressed during interview

33. Telephone Interviews • Frequent and Increasing in popularity • Reduce travel costs and time • Filter large numbers of applicants • Brief • Check Experience, Availability, Salary Expectations • In Depth • Similar to face to face interviews

34. ‘Shrill’ Challenges • You may not know its them !!!!!! • Be professional when answering all calls • Positive, alert, don’t screw up at first hurdle • Check your answerphone message • Be prepared – have at the ready: • For each application – CV, JD, Spec, Notes • Pen and paper for notes. • Prepare ‘support staff’ – spouse, children • Get them to accurately record names, time called, what action required by you or by them and when

35. If you are calling them…. • Use land line where possible • Cancel ‘call waiting’ • Call on time • Not early or late • Leave message if person you are calling is not in • Ask when they are scheduled to return • Keep calling circa ever 30 minutes

36. Telephone Interview Objective • Secure face to face interview • Provide just enough to get face to face interview • Decide if you want to proceed – is job right for you • Close interview effectively

37. The Tricky Thing…… • You can't judge reactions in the same way as when you are face to face with an interviewer • It's harder to engage the interviewer in a two-way conversation if they have a schedule of questions and a row of tick boxes that you cannot see. • Feedback limited and unable to see body language

38. Telephone Interview Benefits • Can refer to notes, CV, application form, job spec and research notes etc. • Research as for any interview critical • Have bullet points to anticipated questions • Detailed notes can confuse and risk disjointed answers • Prepare for negative or boomerang questions • Have your critical questions to ask ready • Must be ‘critical’. If asked ref to anticipated F2F

39. Your Strategy • Provide facts that support your c.v. • Confirm sufficient and required information given: ask questions such as "is that what you needed to know?" or "do you want me to go into more detail?" • Use numbers and quantifiable information • Don't volunteer anything that could disqualify you • Sound professional but not personal – it’s not about rapport

40. REMEMBER INTERVIEW ISYour chance to shine You’re the expert You know more than the interviewers You can control most of what occurs

41. It’s Not Face to Face So……… • Especially for scheduled calls • Control Environment • Eliminate disruptions, family and pets • Remain particularly alert and focussed • Don’t sound bored • Dress professionally • Have glass of water handy • But don’t eat, smoke, chew • Stand up, maintain good posture and smile • Improves dynamism, energy, succinctness

42. Listen and Sound Right • Listen carefully, • Allow sentences to be finished – don’t interrupt , over speak or anticipate questions • Allow a gap between end of question and your response • Listen attentively • Check understanding of question if unclear • Write notes – may help at next stage • Speak clearly • Be succinct. Consider slowing down/don’t gabble • Record yourself to check that you • Speak with authority, confidence, enthusiasm • Check if further information needed

43. At the end of the call • Be particularly positive - providing you are! • Reaffirm interest • Ask when you might hear from them re next steps – if interviewers do not cover this • Ask when, where and with whom.

44. After Interview • Take/consolidate notes • Send thank you email reaffirming interest and • Highlight perceived suitability based on information gleaned during interview Or • Cover any questionable aspects raised in interview • Skill shortfall, lack of sector experience, age!

45. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING • - Good Luck

46. That’s all for today! • Still to come on programme • Handling difficult questions • Handling difficult interviewers • Practice • Making sure you can handle your most feared questions

47. Interview Questions The • Good • Bad & Ugly YOU CONTROL 80% YOU CAN PREPARE FOR 95%

48. ‘Good Questions’ to Demonstrate YOUR • Strengths • Proudest achievement/Greatest accomplishments • Personal • Team contribution • Time when you went beyond the call of duty • Manage time/plan • Outstanding ability to do the job they need to be done

49. Questions ‘feared’Uncomfortable Questions Select Questions: • Feared being asked • Have been asked in the past and found to be uncomfortable

50. Contrary Interview Questions • “We have heard about your positive achievements, but what happened when things did not go according to plan/backfired?” • Business plan, timetable people management or liaison • “What are your weaknesses” • Can turn these into attractive answers • Don’t lie • Be prepared but not rehearsed