Interview Success

1. Interview Success Presented by LaWanda Woods, M.Ed., B.A. On-Ramp Program Coordinator On-Ramp Program 2010

2. Objective The participants will learn tangible and intangible success factors for interview success. On-Ramp Program 2010

3. The Interview Levels The Playing Field On-Ramp Program 2010

4. Competitive Interview prep You can’t cram the night before and ace the interview. Take the time to fully prepare yourself for interview success. On-Ramp Program 2010

5. Mock Interviews Sadly, fewer than 10 percent of all graduating students take advantage of mock interviews. And fully 90 percent end up stumbling through several interviews before they have any practical sense of how they are doing because that is when the rejection letters start arriving. On-Ramp Program 2010

6. Insider Information READ the corporate annual report. READ the Presidents Letter to the Shareholders. Some companies will even have annual themes or areas of specific focus. On-Ramp Program 2010

7. Visualization Technique Go through the motions in your mind. Anticipate the questions that may be asked. Visualize yourself as confident and self-assured. (Not cocky, just confident in your background and the benefits you can provide the employer). Play the part over and over again until you feel you have truly lived it. Visualize your success until it becomes reality. On-Ramp Program 2010

8. Mastering the interview What really counts… and how to master your next one! On-Ramp Program 2010

9. The Truth The truth about interviewing is that most initial interviews last only about five minutes. On-Ramp Program 2010

10. The Dirty Dog Technique If you gripe about your current or past employers or professors or make note of any shortcomings in your life of missed expectations (even though they may be few!), you have just relegated yourself to the position of complainer. On-Ramp Program 2010

11. The Parroting Technique If a question is unclear to you, it is entirely appropriate to ask a clarifying question or paraphrase the question to make sure you understand. Parrot back the question in your own words to make sure you have the correct meaning. On-Ramp Program 2010

12. The Lockdown Technique If you are truly interested in the job, do not expect the employer to make the first move – ASK FOR THE JOB! On-Ramp Program 2010

13. Interview Nonverbals Side Bar VIDEO On-Ramp Program 2010

14. Posture • During the interview, sit up straight with your bottom into the back of the chair. • You may wish to lean forward at certain stages during the conversation, but avoid getting in the interviewer’s personal space. On-Ramp Program 2010

15. Eye Contact • Maintain comfortable eye contact throughout the interview. • You can use a nod of the head to indicate understanding and agreement. • So you’re shy…. Don’t try to overcompensate…practice! Technique On-Ramp Program 2010

16. Facial Expressions Take a good, long, hard look at yourself in the mirror. Look at yourself as others would. REMEMBER TO SMILE! On-Ramp Program 2010

17. Gestures Gestures should be very limited during the interview. Don’t use artificial gestures to try to heighten the importance of the issue at hand (pardon the pun). When you do use gestures, make sure they are natural and meaningful. On-Ramp Program 2010

18. Be Honest & Sincere Don’t use phrases such as “To be honest with you”, “Just between you and me”, and “Well, I’ll be completely honest about this”. Eliminate them from your vocabulary. On-Ramp Program 2010

19. Dressing for the interview Campus fashions don’t cut it here. On-Ramp Program 2010

20. Personal Grooming • Women – light make-up with natural lipstick shades. • Light or no perfume/cologne work best. • Brush your teeth before the interview. • Eat a breath mint before the interview. • DO NOT chew gum or have a mint in your mouth during the interview. On-Ramp Program 2010

21. Personal Grooming con’t • For cigarette smokers, please make sure that your clothes and hair do not smell of cigarettes. • Make a practice run to the interview place. • Get to the interview early enough to attend to your hair, cool down and touch up. On-Ramp Program 2010

22. Attire For Men &Women • Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best) • Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best) • Clean, polished conservative shoes • Well-groomed hairstyle • Clean, trimmed fingernails On-Ramp Program 2010

23. Attire For Men & Women • Minimal cologne or perfume • Empty pockets. No bulges or tinkling coins • No gum, candy, or cigarettes • Light briefcase or portfolio case • No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.) or tatoos On-Ramp Program 2010

24. Standard interview questions Be prepared! On-Ramp Program 2010

25. Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your experience. What is your most important accomplishment to date? How would you describe your ideal job? Why did you choose this career? When did you decide on this career? What goals do you have in your career? Entry Level Interview Questions On-Ramp Program 2010

26. Can you tell me more about the position and the type of person you are seeking? Tell me about an employee in your organization who is considered to be an outstanding employee. What makes that person special? What would you consider to be exceptional performance from someone performing in this position in the first 90 days? How does my background compare with others you have interviewed? I feel my background and experience are a good fit for this position and I am very interested. What is the next step? Candidate (your) Interview Questions for HR Manager On-Ramp Program 2010

27. Can you tell me more about the position and the type of person you are seeking? What are the measurements for success within your organization? How are you measured as a manager? What can I do to make you successful? What will be the measurements of my success in this position? I feel my background and experience are a good fit for this position and I am very interested. I am ready to consider your best offer! Candidate (your) Interview Questions for Hiring Manager On-Ramp Program 2010

28. Job fair success How to rise above the crowd On-Ramp Program 2010

29. At The Job Fair • Wear business attire and tone down jewel and makeup. • Arrive early, put cell phones on vibrate mode and make your rounds alone (NOT WITH FRIENDS). • Make eye contact, smile and shake hands firmly. • Be able to explain yourself and what you do (or want to do) in 20 seconds. • Hand out your resume; not a business card. • Energy Matters. You might only have 60 seconds in front of an employer. You want to come across as engaged and interested. On-Ramp Program 2010

30. After talking with a recruiter, shake their hand again, say “thank you” and ask what the next step in the application process will be. • Throughout the Job Fair, talk with people and exchange cards. You never know when that person you’re talking with in line may be able to help you. • When you find an employer that you’re interested in pursuing further, ask for a card so that you can follow up later. • If there’s one particular employer you’re especially interested in, try to stop by their booth right before the job fair ends. Often the crowd has died down at that point, and you’ll have less competition for their attention. On-Ramp Program 2010

31. Follow Up • Always send a thank-you note to recruiters with 24 hours. The note should express appreciation, enthusiasm and continued interest in the job. • Include another copy of your resume and specify a time that you will contact them. Then do it! On-Ramp Program 2010

32. After The Interview Do your part to generate job offers. On-Ramp Program 2010

33. The Two Most Important Post-Interview Activities The first is to call the interviewer to thank them for their time. The second activity is to immediately write the interviewer a short note, thanking them for their time and re-emphasizing your interest in the position. On-Ramp Program 2010

34. Generating Job Offers Staying in close contact (at least once a week) with your primary company contact. Always make sure you know the next step in the process. On-Ramp Program 2010

35. The Number One Statement To Generate The Job Offer So what is the very best statement you can make to generate the job offer? Simple. Ask for the job. “I feel my background and experience are a good fit for this position and I am very interested. I am ready to consider your best offer!” On-Ramp Program 2010

36. Graduation and Still No Job "If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door."Milton Berle On-Ramp Program 2010

37. The Retracing Technique The first thing you should do upon graduating without a job is to retrace your job search steps over the past year. On-Ramp Program 2010

38. Step Number Two After Graduation Contact all your friends and classmates who just graduated. On-Ramp Program 2010

39. Your Job Search Schedule Congratulations! You have just accepted a full-time job. You are now a full-time job seeker. On-Ramp Program 2010

40. Don’t Quit! Your job is just around the corner. Stay with it. Don’t be afraid to work hard at finding work. In the end, you will succeed. I know you will. My thoughts are with you. On-Ramp Program 2010