Effective Interviewing Techniques

1. Effective Interviewing Techniques Christine Brooks Hillsboro High School

3. Purpose of an Interview • Exchange information • Make a judgment (two-way) • Establish a positive relationship • Interviewing is a microcosm of how you might behave in the work setting

4. One-on-One Interviews Group Interviews Panel Interviews Behavioral-Based Interviews Mealtime Interviews Job Fair Interviews Telephone Interviews Video Interviewing Types of Interviews

5. One-on-One Interviews (Traditional) • Directed by the interviewer • Interviewer speaks about 25% of the time • Interviewee controls 75% of the time • Structured, with an introduction, a question and answer period, and a close • Tone set by room layout

6. Group Interview • A group interview involves several applicants being interviewed at once • Applicants may be interviewed by an individual or team • Usually formal, highly structured

7. Panel Interview • Involves one applicant being interviewed by two or more interviewers. • Typical for grad school and teaching • Formal • May be intentional stress

8. Behavior-Based Interviews • Questions ask for examples • Based on past performance • Focus on transferable skills and job-related tasks

9. The “STAR” Approach • Give the Situation • Identify the Task to be completed • Action that was taken • Results achieved

10. STAR Applied (often to behavioral) Sometimes Situation/Task are combined into one

11. Behavioral Questions Learning a new skill can sometimes be challenging, even difficult. Tell me about a challenging learning experience you have faced. What was the situation? What learning demands were placed on you? What did you do? What was the outcome of the situation? Describe a time when you felt motivated to pursue a goal. What was the situation? What did you do to get yourself motivated? What did you do to keep yourself motivated? What was the outcome?

12. Behavioral Questions Tell me about a time you worked with a team member who was not actively participating or living up to the rest of the team’s expectations. How did you personally deal with this team member in this situation, and what ultimately happened within this group? We all have bad days, including our customers. Tell me about a difficult customer you have encountered. What was the situation? What did you do to empathize with the customer? What was the customer’s reaction to your approach?

13. Example of a ranking categories • Attitude, motivation • Initiative • Problem-solving • Customer or client relations • Communication • Interpersonal skills • Program management

14. Mealtime Interview • Interviewer(s) watch your social habits and interpret them for clues to your job performance. • Be careful not relax too much, this is still an interview. • Interviewer speaks about 25% of the time • Interviewee speaks about 75% of the time • Unstructured • Tips on alcohol/smoking

15. Job Fair Interviews • Impromptu, unstructured questions • Prepare an introduction before the fair • The goal is to get a formal interview • Learn about the available positions • Do not simply leave resume on the table

16. Telephone Interviews • Most frequently used for screening • Tone, attitude, and professionalism are important • Treat just as you would an in-person interview • Take notes ahead of time AND during the call • Prepare roommates/family members

17. Video Interview Same rules apply; do your homework, dress the part, avoid interview no-nos • HireVue, Active Interview, InterviewStream • Often for pre-screening • Web-based video interviewing • Why? • Reduce travel and optimize scheduling for first round candidates • Get valuable feedback from all members of the hiring team

18. Interview Attire (Women) • Keep accessories (rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings) simple. • Do not wear a short skirt or low-cut apparel. • Wear a business suit or conservative dress • No use of perfume is recommended

19. Professional Attire (Men) • Keep to solid shirts- standard white or pale blue • Keep ties on the conservative side. • No earrings or extensive jewelry • Polished shoes

20. On The Way… • Be sure to arrive early—about 10 minutes • Wear a watch • Drive out the day before to be sure you know where you are going, parking, etc. • Do not bring friends or family!!! • Bring a copy of your resume or application, letters of recommendation or list of references, and a notepad • Put the phone away, even while waiting • Get rid of gum!

21. About References • Remember that there are two kinds of references—Professional and Character • Character: Family friend, priest, your old babysitter (generally you don’t use these types of references unless requested) • Professional: Teachers, coaches, employers, club sponsors (preferred) • DO NOT LIST FAMILY • Let references know you are applying or being interviewed

22. The Actual Interview: Introduction • Initial impressions are made in the first 3-5 seconds • Greet the interviewer by name, establish eye contact • Firm handshake • Rule of 12

23. Rule of 12 12 words 12 steps 12 inches • The first 12 words you speak, the first 12 steps you take, and the first 12 inches from your head and your feet, can make a lasting impression.  Make it a memorable one! • The first 12 words should:    Include some form of thanks.    Include the other person’s name.    “Thank you for meeting me for lunch, Mr. Jones” or “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me Ms. Hall.” • The first 12 steps should be taken:    With confidence.    With a purpose.    With a lively pace. • The first 12 inches from your head:    Should be impeccably groomed.    Hair should be clean and neat.    Be selective of your tie and other accessories.    Be sure your tie and collar are neat. • The last 12 inches from the floor should also be impeccable.    Your shoes should be polished.    Your socks/stockings should blend with your outfit.

24. The Actual Interview: Presentation • “Heart” of the interview - your opportunity to sell yourself and relate your skills and background to the job. • Maintain eye contact, watch your posture and control nervous habits.

25. Sloppy Speech Habits • Nonwords • Um, ah, you know, like • Think first, pause and take breaths • Up-Talk • Singsong effect; sounds non-confident • Grammatical Errors • Ain’t, she don’t, me and my friend • Speed talking • Weak speak • Avoid “hopefully” or “I feel” or “kind of”

26. Nonverbal Cues Shake hands when you walk in!

27. Personal Space • During hand-shaking, do not get too close to the other person. Being within the other person’s arm-length ensures you are within his/her personal zone, and out of the intimate zone. • Zones: • Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches • Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet • Social distance - 4 to 12 feet **

28. Structure • Establish connection, put you at ease • Background on the position shared • Employer questions on your background, abilities and interests • Resume review • Questions • Closing comments…next step

29. Questions to Think About • Be ready to answer other questions like: • What do you know about the company? • How do you perform under pressure? • Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with? (be careful) • Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for? (give a range) • If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you? Always elaborate! Never answer just yes or no!! Tell Me About Yourself Greatest Strength/Weakness

30. Tell Me About Yourself Shows how the candidate views herself or himself and what they might be like to work with as well as how they think and communicate Be natural and tell only the parts about yourself that paint a picture of someone who fits the job you’re interviewing for Start with a strong simple statement about yourself (again related to the job and type of person they’re looking for) and expand with a synthesized work history that shows how miraculously every thing you’ve done up to now has led you to this precise moment and prepared you perfectly for this job! Less is more! Keep it short—90 seconds to 2 minutes

31. Greatest Strength • You don’t want to sound boastful – and yet you certainly don’t want to come off so humble you look like you don’t believe in yourself. • Think about what your new employer would find most interesting about you – and most important to the job you are applying for. • Identify FOR REAL what yours is: • Strong leader, Initiative (willing to take on new things), Determination (as in seeing a project through to the end or in finding a solution to a problem), Quick learner

32. Greatest Weakness • Helps them see how a person will react, even when confronted by the obvious • Short summary of the weakness like “I can get caught up in the details sometimes.” • Have a great real life story from one of your jobs to back up whichever weakness you choose to answer this interview question and how you are working on it! • Don’t use the predictable—I work too hard, perfectionist, etc.

33. The Actual Interview: Closing • Prepare questions in advance (non-salary) • Summarize your qualifications • Know timeframes of next step • Thank the employer

34. Questions You Can Ask What are the biggest challenges in this position? What do you like best about working here? How long did the previous person hold this position? Why did he/she leave? What is the timeline for getting back to candidates about the position?

35. Legal Issues • Illegal interview questions • Medical Tests • Drug Testing • Personal/Family Background • Criminal Background Checks

36. Illegal Questions • Marital Status • Inappropriate: Are you married?Is this your maiden or married name?With whom do you live? • Appropriate: After hiring, marital status on tax and insurance forms • Parental Status • Inappropriate: How many kids do you have?Do you plan to have children?Are you pregnant? • Appropriate: After hiring, asking for dependent information on tax and insurance forms  • In the U.S., illegal interview questions are those that discriminate against you on the basis of • Age • Color • Disability • Gender • National origin • Race • Religion or Creed

37. Illegal Questions • Deal with them • Just Answer • Mention you feel it is not appropriate • Sidestep tactfully • Examples: • Do you have children? • Do you have a disability? • How much do you weigh?

38. 10 Interview “Knock-Outs” • Being late • Poor personal appearance • Poor body language – eye contact, posture, weak handshake • Poor voice diction or grammar • Knowing too little or too much • Lack of personal goals and objectives • Lack of confidence – too nervous • Condemnation of or complaining about previous employer • Cynical, intolerant or strong prejudices • Failure to express appreciation of interviewer’s time and failure to ask questions

39. One BIG Thing… An interview is a two-way street. Not only is the employer trying to decide if you would be a fit for them, but you have to figure out whether you think the job would be right for you. You can get a lot of cues about the way a place operates and how you might be treated from the interview. It’s all about CHEMISTRY.

40. After…Thank You Letter • Handwrite it…it’s more personal. Or, you can e-mail if appropriate. • NOTES: • If they don’t like you, the letter won’t help. • Not everyone sends one—In today’s competitive market, even a tiny edge is worth the effort. • Keep it short and simple; tell them you enjoyed meeting them and look forward to hearing from them. Maybe mention one thing you connected with them on in the interview that might help them remember you. Don’t overdo it and try to sell yourself again—just be polite. • Don’t just use one off a website. Gross. http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2009/08/24/did-i-screw-up-my-job-interview-thank-you-letter/

41. Follow-up • Evaluate your impressions: You don’t have to WANT the job • Handle offers and acceptances in a timely and professional manner • Honor your acceptances and withdraw from job search process