Mastering Performance-Based Interviewing: Techniques and Strategies for Success

2. Interviewing & Networking

3. What is Performance Based Interviewing? • Used by many energy companies • Based on the premise that past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior • Interviewer wants to see how well each applicant’s knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for successful job performance

4. Guidelines • Firm handshake and eye contact • Answer accurately, honestly and promptly • Be enthusiastic • Speak clearly and sit up straight • Do not discuss personal problems or situations • Refrain from nervous habits • Avoid filler words, such as “ummm,” “like,” and “y’know”

5. Guidelines • Always listen carefully to the question and ask for clarification, if necessary • If you encounter a question where you are unprepared, do your best and move on • View the interview as a two-way conversation where you are gathering information to help you make the best career choice

6. Guidelines • Let the interviewer guide the questions • Do not expect to leave an interview with a job offer • When given a chance to ask questions, demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the position • If you have the opportunity to make closing remarks, touch on qualifications you did not mention and inquire about the next stages in the process

7. Appearance Checklist • Shoes: clean; closed-toes • Clothing: professional, neutral, conservative • Jewelry: avoid large or flashy items • Face: makeup should be natural; limited • Hands: clean, conservative nails • Teeth: fresh breath is a must – avoid coffee, tea and smoking • Body: clean and with limited perfume

8. Ask Appropriate Questions • What are the primary responsibilities of this job? • What qualifications are you looking for in the person you hire? • What is the process for training or learning the job? • Are there opportunities for advancement? • How do you measure employee performance? • How would you describe the company culture?

9. How to Prepare for the Interview • Learn about the organization, including its mission • Learn as much as you can about the job • Review the duties listed in the vacancy announcement and think about how your work history relates • Identify past experiences that demonstrate the required job skills

10. How to Prepare for the Interview • Be prepared to share an example when you experience a contrary outcome • Identify 2-3 of your best qualities & decide how to convey these during the interview • Prepare two or three thoughtful job-related questions for the interviewer

11. The Interview • Most of the interview will be spent asking questions about your background & experiences • Some questions will take you a few moments to construct your answer—the interviewer expects you to give some thought to your responses • You’ll be expected to talk about yourself using specific examples

12. “Musts” when Responding to Questions • Be honest – but not to a fault • Be positive – the glass is half full • Answer from their perspective – what do they want to hear? • Prove it – history and facts • Relate to the job – limit open-ended response • Establish your qualifications with every answer • Answer the question – don’t get into a drawn-out story

13. Mock Interview – Round 1 • Tell me about a specific time when you made a suggestion to improve the quality of the work for your unit (military or non-military). • Describe a major change you’ve made in the past two years. How did you accomplish the change? What difficulties did you encounter and how did you work through them? • Part of this job is documenting your work. Give a specific example of something you had to write for your supervisor recently. What feedback did you get from your supervisor? • Describe a time when you were working with a group and there was a conflict in getting the job done. What was your role? Was the conflict resolved? If yes, how? If no, why not? • Tell me how you keep your job knowledge current with ongoing changes? • How does the work you most recently did have an overall impact of the organization’s mission and goals?

14. Mock Interview – Round 2 • Give examples to illustrate how you have generated ideas that are “outside of the box.” How were the ideas received by others? What became of your ideas? • Tell me about the last new procedure you had to learn at your job. What was the hardest aspect of learning the procedure? How is the new procedure working now? • Describe a situation where you felt you didn’t communicate well. How did you correct the situation? • Give examples of things you’ve done in previous jobs that demonstrate your willingness to work hard. • Describe a time when you disagreed with an evaluation or feedback you received on your performance. How did you handle the situation? What impact did it have on you? What did you learn? • Describe how you have used a technical skill in your field.

15. Tricky Questions • Questions that are… • Broad • Illegal • Negative

16. Networking • Importance cannot be understated • Can’t just read ads and check on-line • Prime reason this program exists • Dig the well before you are thirsty • Good networks yield good recommendations • Good networks yield job referrals • Good networks put you in the right place at the right time when a job opens

17. Who will say good things about you? • Past or current supervisors • Co-workers • Mentors/Mentees • Classmates • Friends • Family • Volunteer workers

18. What do you want people to say about you? • Good work ethic • Team player • Excellent work • He/she is my best employee. • I want to hire him. • I want to work with her.

19. How do you get people to say positive things about you? • Make sure your work has positive results • Ask for feedback • How would you go about asking for feedback? • What might keep you from being able to ask for feedback?

20. What are some important points about networking? • Don’t hesitate to help others when you can • You can’t wait until you need help to start building a network • Look at every interaction as an opportunity to network

21. Networking Exercise • Work together to solve problems by using your combined networks • What you know about people in this class • What you know about your relationships outside of this class

22. Problems for Network Solutions • You don’t get off work until 6pm, but you have two children that are let out of school at 3pm. • You have a leaky sink, but don’t have the money to pay a plumber to look at it. • You need a ride to the airport. • You are headed to a jobsite on a long country road. The next gas station isn’t for 20 miles. One of your tires blows. You don’t have Emergency Roadside Assistance.

23. Problems for Network Solutions • Your car is in the repair shop for the next week, but you have to be at work across town at 6am and in class at 6pm. • One of the guys on your worksite is giving you a hard time and all the grunt work. • You are thinking about switching from a pipefitters apprentice to a plumbers apprentice. • You know you want to be a plant operator but don’t know what to study. • Your supervisor has asked you to do something that you feel could injure you or a co-worker.

24. You have a Network • Your classmates have given you ideas on solving problems that will arise. • They can help you solve other problems. • Think of all the problems you could have • Start building your network of help now • Find back-ups: two or three people for each problem • Know who to call before you need the help • We can’t succeed alone • We must help each other • Helping is a two-way street