The Interview Process

1. Nairanjana (Jan) Dasgupta Professor, Dept. of Math and Stats Boeing Distinguished Professor of Math and Science Director, (CISER) Aided by: Stat 590 class of 2015 Spring The Interview Process

2. The Steps: Stage 1: Getting Ready • Resume • Cover letter In the process • The phone interview • The Video interview • On-site interview • Post interview negotiations

3. The Phone interview Preparing for it and some tips

4. Why phone interview • Employers usually have far more qualified candidates than they can interview, so they'll look for ways to narrow down that pool. • If you sound low-energy, unfriendly, distracted, or simply unprofessional, or if you chronically interrupt or don't communicate clearly, they'll put you straight into the "no" pile. • So make sure you put your best game face on for this very vital interview

5. Step 1: Phone Interview Research • Find the resume that you used to apply for the job • Find the job description you originally applied to • Ask the hiring manager how long the interview will take • Print out lists of possible interview questions: many on-line sources • Research the company/University/Agency again

6. Some Standard interview questions: • Describe your strengths • Describe your weaknesses • How well can you multi-task • How well you react in unfavorable circumstances • How well do you handle stress • Are you a team player • Most interviewers ask these questions on top of technical questions.

7. Step 2: Create a Work Station • Choose a quiet home space • Arrange to take the call from a land line (if possible) • Place the documents you just prepared on a clean • space in front of you • Keep a pen and paper nearby • Place a clock nearby, so that you know how much • progress the interview has made in the allotted time

8. Step 3: Phone Interview • Use the person's name several times during the call, after they introduce themselves • Dress up/ Smile increase self-confidence • Avoid using tentative words and sounds, such as "like," "um," "kind of" and "maybe." • Never answer a simple "yes" or "no" • Ask about the next step. 

9. The Video Interview If you have aced your phone interview most people want a video interview

10. Rise of the video interview

11. 1. Rehearse before the interview • Give it a try with your friend or family • Check the other side of the screen • Check your internet connection • Use an HD webcam and headphones • Clean the camera lens • Charge your batteries or use an outlet • Keep your profile professional • Practice sharing screen and sending files • Close all the irrelevant programs • DO NOT SURF WHILE INTERVIEWING • TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF

12. 2. Prepare the environment • Choose a quiet place • Background matters: choose a BLANK background • Play with the light • Turn off the sound and cover the lens until the interview starts • Prepare your notes • HAVE YOUR NOTES HANDY BUT NOT OBVIOUS

13. 3. Dress up • Dress from head to toe instead of head to waist • Color - Neither blend in nor conflict with the background • Pattern - Avoid stripes or busy patterns • Cover visible tattoos (optional)

14. 4. Watch your body language • “Digital handshake” - “slow, confident, professional, firm nod with a slight shoulder bend and eyes forward” (Paul Bailo) • Sit up straight, relax your shoulders • Keep eye contact - Eyes on the camera! • Lean forward, active listening • Minimize hand gestures • Don’t forget to SMILE

15. 5. Plan for tech problems • Address the problem the sooner the better • Emergency plan • ALWAYS SEND A THANK YOU LETTER

16. The onsite interview You are ALMOST there

17. The next step- the onsite interview • You are now almost there: you have the onsite interview • How to prepare for it?

18. PREPARE • Conduct Research: • Conducting plenty of research on the company you’re applying with and the position it’s offering. • Ask for your itinerary ahead so you prepare. • In academia know names and research/teaching interest of those who are interviewing you. • Locate Sample Interview Questions: • Take time to review those questions—and come up with great answers • Come up with questions you want to ask • Practice before the big day

19. Confidence building • The Confidence Mirror: • “Attractive” job candidates get more offers and make more money especially in industry • Power posing: • Try power posing before an interview will greatly improve how you feel and appear to others. • Elevator Speech • Have a elevator speech ready.

20. The next step: On-site Interviews

21. Arriving • Choose an early flight • Take luggage withyou, don’t check in anything vital • Be aware the travel time from airport to hotel

22. Pre-interview Dinner • Dress like a formal interview • Order a light meal • Remember it is a series of interviews, not a time to relax or eat

23. Dressing for your interview • Err on the side of conservative • Wear colors that suit you, you don’t have to wear black • Don’t try to be funny or cutesy – there is time for that later • Make sure the clothes are not a distraction – no mini skirts, or clothes that are too tight • Wear shoes that are polished and look good. Stay away from tennis shoes • Dress for the LEVEL you are interviewing. Don’t wear a designer suit unless you are interviewing for the CEO position.

24. Day of Interviews • Stay fresh and treat each meeting as a separate interview • Send your presentation slides ahead • Bring whatever you need WITH you as well • Have plan B and plan C worked out in your head.

25. Attitude and preparation • Focus on the positives • Make eye contact and smile • Be present: • Connected and fully engaged in the process and what you need to convey about yourself • BELIEVE that you are right for the job and the others will believe that too. • While they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them as well.

26. Departure • Ask for timetable before leaving • Thank-you letters to all pertinent individuals • Make the letters personal and no form letter • Leave a good impression of yourself

27. The Best step of all:Offers and Negotiations So they made you an offer what you do about that:

29. Job Offer • Notified by a phone call. • Get all aspects of the offer in writing. • Components: salary, summer support, course reductions, research funds, office set up budget, travel budget,… • Benefits: Relocation, medical, retirement plans, paid leaves, sign on and annual bonus, stocks and investment,…

30. Job Offer • Once you have an offer, call other departments/industries/agencies you visited if they can match the offer. • Serves as a good stimulus. • Academic departments unlikely to match offers from private sectors.

31. Evaluating Your Job Offer • Job Description • Benefits and Salary Package • The Work Week • Flexibility • Work life balance • Do You Like the Person Who Will be Your Boss? • Location, Location, Location

32. Negotiating a Job Offer • Don’t underestimate the importance of likability. • Help them understand why you deserve what you are requesting. • Make it clear that they can get you. • Understand the person across the table. • Understand their constraints. • Be prepared for tough questions. • Focus on the questioner’s intent, not the questions. • Consider the whole deal. • Negotiate multiple issues simultaneously, not serially. • Don’t negotiate just to negotiate.

33. Avoid These 10 Salary Negotiation Mistakes • Settling / Not Negotiating • Revealing How Much You Would Accept • Focusing on Need/Greed Rather Than Value • Weak Research or Negotiation Preparation • Making a Salary Pitch Too Early • Accepting Job Offer Too Quickly • Declining Job Offer Too Quickly • Asking for Too Many Changes in Counteroffer • Taking Salary Negotiations Personally • Not Asking for Final Offer in Writing

34. References • Cawley, J. A guide to advice for economists on the U.S. Junior academic job market. Department of Policy Analysis and Management and Department of Economics, Cornell University, NBER and IZA. • http://www.job-interview-site.com/salary-package-evaluating-job-offer-and-negotiating-your-salary-package.html • https://hbr.org/2014/04/15-rules-for-negotiating-a-job-offer • http://www.quintcareers.com/salary_negotiation_mistakes.html

35. Next step • Write an elevator speech that will take no longer than 3 minutes to deliver to tell someone who you are and what you are doing and would like to do.