Quick Job Interview Guide

1. Quick Job Interview Guide Seven Steps to Acing Your Interview

2. The Seven Steps • Learn the Basics and Make a Positive Impression • Know Who You Are and What You Can Do • Do Your Homework and Come Prepared • Answer Key Interview Questions with Ease • Handle Tough Interview Situations with Confidence • Follow Up • Negotiate Your Way to a Fair Salary

3. Eight Keys to Interview Success • Make a positive impression • Communicate your skills • Use control statements to your advantage • Answer problem questions well • Ask the interviewer appropriate questions • Help employers know why they should hire you • Close the interview properly • Follow up after the interview

4. Show up on time Check your appearance Use appropriate waiting room behavior Be conscious of your dress and appearance Act alert and interested Pay attention to your voice and your habits Give a firm handshake Use the interviewer’s name Make small talk Ask opening questions Making a Good Impression

5. The Three-Step Process for Answering Interview Questions • Understand what is really being asked. • Answer the question briefly in a non-damaging way. • Answer the real question by presenting your related skills.

6. The Prove-It Technique • Present concrete examples • Quantify your achievements • Emphasize results • Link your experience to the job

7. The Three Types of Skills • Adaptive • Transferable • Job Related

8. Adaptive Skills Adaptiveskills are the skills you use every day to survive and function. Some of them could even be considered part of your basic personality. Such skills include getting to work on time, honesty, enthusiasm, and getting along with others.

9. Transferable Skills Transferable skills are general skills that can be useful in a wide variety of jobs, like the ability to write clearly or to prioritize tasks.

10. Job-Related Skills Most job-related skills are specific to an occupation, such as knowing how to fly an airplane. Job-related skills are most often gained through work experience, education and training, and hobbies.

11. The Skills Employers Want 1. Learning to learn 2. Basic academic skills in reading, writing, and computation 3. Good communication skills 4. Creative thinking and problem solving 5. Self-esteem, motivation, and goal setting 6. Personal and career development skills 7. Interpersonal/negotiation skills and teamwork 8. Organizational effectiveness and leadership

12. Preparing for the Interview • Research the industry • Research the careers that interest you • Research the company • Research the job itself • Research the interviewer

13. Important Questions to Answer in Your Research • Who is the employer and what does it do? • Who is its main competition? • What has the organization accomplished in the last three years? • What is the job description and salary range for the job I’m interested in? • What skills and training does the job require? • How can I contribute to the organization?

14. The Ten Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions • Why don’t you tell me about yourself? • Why should I hire you? • What are your major strengths? • What are your major weaknesses? • What sort of pay do you expect to receive? • How does your previous experience relate to the job we have here?

15. The Ten Questions (Cont.) • What are your plans for the future? • What will your former employers say about you? • Why are you looking for this sort of position, and why here? • Why don’t you tell me about your personal situation?

16. The Laws That Protect You from Discrimination • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act Makes discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, or national origin illegal in hiring discussions. • The Americans with Disabilities Act Requires that an employer provide an equal opportunity for an individual with a disability to be considered for a job

17. The “Turtling Technique” Turn a perceived disadvantage into an advantage by showing how it can benefit the employer (turning it around) Example: Too Old… “I am a very stable worker requiring very little training. I have been dependable all my life, and I am at a point in my career where I don’t plan on changing jobs. I still have 10 years of working until I plan on retiring.”

18. Following Up After the Interview • Make notes on the interview • Schedule your follow-up • Send your thank-you note • Call when you said you would

19. Seven Tips for Thank-You Notes • Decide whether to use e-mail or regular mail Use quality paper and envelopes • Decide whether to handwrite it or computer-print it • Use a formal salutation • Keep the note short and friendly • Be sure to sign it • Send it within 24 hours after the interview

20. Sample Thank You Note

21. Farr’s Rules of Salary Negotiation • Never talk money until after an employer decides he or she wants you. • Know in advance the probable salary range. • Always bracket your stated salary range to begin within the employer’s probable salary range and end a bit above what you expect to settle for. • Never say no to a job offer either before it is made or within 24 hours afterward.

22. Final Tips • Know yourself • Know the employer • Turn negatives into positives • Don’t forget to follow up • Remember, no matter what questions interviewers ask, the underlying question is always, “Why should I hire you?”