Interviewing

1. Interviewing ISP 499z Jennifer Powers Your First Interview, Ron Fry, 2002

2. Personal inventory • Employment history • Volunteer activities • Educational accomplishments • Extracurricular activities • Honors and awards • Military record • languages

3. Personal inventory • Dig a little deeper—for your eyes only • Which achievements did you enjoy the most? Which are you most proud of? • What mistakes have you made? Why? What did you learn? • How well do you interact with authority figures? • What are your favorite games and sports? Competitive? Give up too easily?

4. Personal inventory • Dig a little deeper, continued • What kinds of people are your friends? Do you enjoy differences? • If you were to ask a group of friends to describe you, what adjectives would they use (good and bad)?

5. Personal inventory • Divide what you’ve written so far into following headings • My strongest skills • Areas in which I am most knowledgeable • Strongest parts of my personality • Things I do best • Skills that I should develop to do well in my career • Parts of my personality I could stand to improve

6. Personal inventory • Write down on another sheet • What in my personal inventory would convince this employer that I deserve the position? • What are the strengths, achievements, skills and areas of knowledge that make me most qualified for this position? What separates me from the pack? • What weaknesses should I admit to and how will I improve on them?

7. How to get the info you need • Outside info • Libraries • Chamber of commerce • Business/industry associations • Placement agencies • Business news editors • Trade magazines • School alumni • Stockbrokers/analysts • Online

8. How to get the info you need • Inside info • Annual reports • Employee handbooks • Sales/marketing brochures

9. How to get the info you need • Additional sources • College placement office • Job fairs • State employment agencies • Job info centers (library) • Online job sites

10. Interview process • Telephone screener (calls you to set up an interview) • Make it easy (have an answering machine) • Be cheerful and enthusiastic • Be prepared • Stay in control • Buy yourself some time • Ask for correct spelling, title, address, etc • Don’t volunteer anything

11. Interview process • Interview types • Structured/database interview • Everyone answers same questions • Targeted interview • Narrower in scope, will get at info employer really needs/wants • Keep answers short but thorough • Only give answers to the questions asked • Team interview

12. Interview process • Interview types • Situational interview • “what if…” • Avoid bull • Use real-life examples • Think through your answers • Stress interview • Never let them see you sweat • Remember, it’s only hypothetical • Don’t give up • Watch your tone of voice

13. First impressions • Men • Red tie, white shirt, blue suit • Black shoes (recently polished) • Women • Muted colors, non-provocative • Subtle jewelry • Unisex • Don’t overdo cologne/perfume • Carry slim leather folder • Pay attention to grooming and hygiene

14. First impressions • Body language • Control your hands • Sit when offered a seat • Make small talk • Relax • Take a deep breath

15. Hiring manager • Less experienced at doing interviews than human resources-->makes it harder on you • Show your confidence • Be polite, enthusiastic • Smile, make eye contact • Be honest, positive • Take control

16. Hiring manager • “So tell me about yourself” • The HM wants to feel good about you--let her • The HM wants you to make him feel good about hiring you • Refer to your personal inventory • 2 minutes (250-350 words) • Brief intro • Key accomplishments • Key strengths • Importance of these strengths to the employer • Where and how you see yourself developing in the position

17. The finer points • Demonstrate an interest in the interviewer • Use positive action words • Concentrate, be attentive, listen • Answer the question • No question is a throwaway • Be decisive • Don’t fill silence for the sake of talking • Be positive

18. The finer points • Special tips for recent college grads • Don’t be afraid to let interviewer know that when you need help, you’ll ask for it • Admit that you don’t have all the answers • Don’t be afraid to go through school of hard knocks • Don’t express any negative reactions to job description, no matter how bad it sounds • Admit it if it took a while to find your direction • Don’t talk about who paid for your education

19. Questions and answers • Education and experience (facts) • Interviewer wants to know if you’re a know-it-all or realize you have more to learn

20. Questions and answers • Who are you? • They are looking for enthusiasm, confidence, energy, honesty, dependability and pride in work • Don’t volunteer your negative qualities • Highlight how you get along with other people • Exhibit loyalty • Outside activities should be remotely job related

21. Questions and answers • How will you perform? • They want to know if there is organizational fit • Wrap it up • Do you have any questions? • Questions about the company • Questions about the department • Questions about the job

22. Follow up • Write a thank you letter and mail it that day • Give list of references later that day or next morning (use this time to warn your references)

23. Any questions?