JOBTALKS

1. JOBTALKS Inside the Mind of THE INTERVIEWER Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC. Randall Powell, Ph.D

2. Inside the Mind of Your Interviewer One person stands between you and your dream job. . . The interviewer

3. The Interviewer... The most important person in the world. Getting past him or her will advance the odds in your favor.

4. MBA Advantage

5. Interviewer Types Knowing your recruiter makes the sales job that much easier. You have a better chance of convincing the interviewer that you are the best match for the position.

6. Five Types of Interviewers • There are five general types of interviewers: • 1. Young Fast Tracker • 2. Middle Manager • 3. Technical Person • 4. Your Future Boss • 5. Professional Interviewer

7. The Young Fast Tracker The Young Fast Tracker (YFT) is the shining potential superstar returning to his or her alma mater. Their interviews are often scheduled for Monday, Thursday, or Friday.

8. The Young Fast Tracker Will try to do the same exceptional job at interviewing as he or she does everyday at the company, but they have limited experience at interviewing. They may be overly concerned about asking illegal or inappropriate questions. YFT's are often limited in their view of their company and may still be tinged with naiveté.

9. Identifying the YFT • External signs of the YFT: • Well-groomed, conservatively dressed • Mid twenties to early thirties • MBA from IU or other well respected school • Loves the company and IU • Pretty social (depending of the company)

10. Identifying the YFT • Questions to ask to find a YFT: • Did you graduate from here? • How long have you been with the company? • Do you do many interviews? • Do you have tickets for the IU game tonight?

11. The Middle Manager The Middle Manager (MM) places high priority on hiring the "Right Stuff" and believes in developing young talent. The MM doesn't do tons of interviewing but knows what it takes to be successful in the company. The MM approaches the interview from a paternal viewpoint.

12. Identifying the MM Here are some outward signs of the Middle Manager: • Highly polished wing tip shoes • Gray hair • Rumpled, expensive suit • Serious demeanor • Strictly business

13. The Technical Person The Technical Person (TP) is sometimes sent to fill specialized positions in production, operations, or finance. The belief is that "it takes one to know one."

14. Identifying The TP The TP has very little training or experience in interviewing and has been sent to find "one of his or her own kind." The TP probably loves his or her field almost as much as the company, if not more. The TP will have a title such as analyst, technical representative, engineer, etc.

15. The Future Boss The most critical type of interviewer is the Future Boss (FB). The FB has been with the company from 4 to 20 years and knows exactly what he or she wants in a candidate. If the FB has been with the company over 15 years and is still at the lower levels of management, he or she has probably peaked out.

16. Identifying the FB The simplest way to identify an FB is to ask: "Who will I report to in this position?"

17. The Professional Interviewer To identify a pro, ask: Is this your first visit to our campus?" or "Do you work in Human Resources?" Pros love their work but do occasionally get bored. They also love to talk about the company. Show interest in their company or they may wonder why you don't love their company as much as they do.

18. YFT Values • The Young Fast Trackers value: • Extracurricular activities • Common interests • Enthusiasm • Interest in company • Self-confidence • Leadership positions

19. MM Values • The Middle Manager Places Emphasis on: • Work Ethic • Grades • Company Knowledge • Confidence • Vocational Maturity • Dedication • Humility • Leadership

20. TP Values • The Technical Person looks for: • GPA • Interest and knowledge of field • Special academic achievements • Caliber of your school's program

21. FB Values • The Future Boss places value on: • Vocational maturity • Common sense • Practical perspective • Traditional work ethic • Work experience • Team player skills • Positive yet humble

22. The Professional Interviewer P101 Business Placement School Of Business Indiana University Phone: (812) 855-5317 Pro Values • The Professional Interviewer considers: • Personal impression • Communication skills • Enthusiasm • Leadership • Competence • Vocational maturity • Interest

23. Consider Type of Interviewer Know what the interviewer is looking for Highlight those aspects of your background

24. Interviewer Styles • Identifying the style will help you establish a rapport with the interviewer • Your rapport with the interviewer is one of the most critical factors • Will make you stand out from the other interviewees • If you can, get liked by the interviewer

25. Four Primary Styles ! The Intuitor The Feeler The Thinker The Senser

26. ! The Intuitor... • Relies on his/her intuition to make decisions • "Knows a good one when they see one" • To spot an intuitor... • Look for piles of paperwork in the room • Abstract art is often hung on the wall • Books on theory in the bookcase • unusual ties or scarves that imply creativity and abstract thinking

27. The Thinker... • Very organized • Relies on facts • To identify a Thinker... • A neat and orderly interview room • A calculator or laptop • Charts and computer printouts

28. The Feeler... • Relies on emotion • You can recognize a feeler by... • Personal photos present • Momentos on the walls

29. The Senser... • Has many creative ideas • Constantly looking for clues - something tangible • Clues to look for... • Cluttered and disorderly desk • Paintings are usually of action scenes

30. How to "Turn Them On" To build a rapport with these interviewer styles, you need to understand what "turns them on."

31. The Intuitor: • Prepare for frequent digressions by the interviewer • Stress long-term planning ability • Discuss ideas, trends, concepts • Emphasize your creativity • Avoid details, stick to broad concepts

32. The Thinker: • Be organized, specific, and to the point • Be logical and back conclusions with facts • Emphasize your analytical skills • Expect a relatively impersonal reaction • Be specific and objective

33. The Feeler: • Be prepared for fairly lengthy small talk and personal questions • Schedule meeting in informal atmosphere • Dress in warm lively colors • Emphasize sensitivity and concern for people

34. The Senser: • Be concise • Be ready with facts • Expect to run late or be interrupted • Anticipate a hurried or abrupt style • Use action words • Avoid sounding theoretical, philosophical, or too abstract

35. How Would You Answer... "What is your greatest accomplishment?" • For the "thinker," • Tell about solving a problem • The solution took study and analysis

36. How Would You Answer... "What is your greatest accomplishment?" • For the "feeler," • talk about a difficult work relationship • how did you make it more positive?

37. How Would You Answer... If "thinker" is a middle manager? How would you change answer if "thinker" is YFT?

38. Questions Will Also Differ The pro "intuitor" will want to heardifferent questions than the pro "thinker" Each situation with a different typeof interviewer will call fordifferent answers and questions

39. Generation X Versus The Baby Boomers Most of you belong to the generation that followed the Baby Boomers. As a generation, you don't want the same things the Baby Boomers want. Since the Baby Boomers constitute most of the people you will be interviewing with, you will be facing the "Generation Gap."

40. Successful Interviewing Tell the interviewer what he wants to hear. Understanding the generational differences will make it easier for you to determine what your interviewer wants to hear.

41. Generation X • Consists of those age 18 to 28 • Influenced by your "War Years", parents, and the Baby Boomers • You have grown up with a different set of standards

42. The Generation Gap • Baby Boomers • Love adventure, independence, risk • Can work with general goals/direction • Can live with ambiguity, multiple answers • Want to be artists • Understand "Paying Dues" • Cynical about the system • Distrust authority • Generation X • Love information, process, facts • Work best with specific concrete goals • Expect the right answer, standards, clear procedures • Want to be experts • Feel they have "Paid Dues" already • Assume the system works • Trust authority

43. The Generation Gap Problems for a baby boomer interviewingGeneration X'er...conflict in values: X'ers love glamour Perceived as being impatient May not work long hours to get ahead

44. The Generation Gap How would a baby boomer want you to answer "What do you want to be doing in five years?" You expect to "Pay your dues" by learning In five years, you expect to be making contribution Don't use the expression "keeping my options open"

45. What Employers Look For... • 1. Your personality • 2. Your Experience • 3. Qualifications for the job • 4. Your background and references • 5. Enthusiasm for the job and company • 6. Education and technical background • 7. Your growth potential • 8. Ability to fit in with work group • 9. Your intelligence and capacity to learn • 10. How hard a worker you appear to be

46. Influential Scale Of the top ten, six are personality driven Other four are factual measures In the interview, concentrate on getting along with the interviewer

47. Making the Recruiter's Job Easy The recruiter really wants one of two things: 1. An easy pursue 2. A reason to eliminate you

48. Interviewing Landmines • To eliminate yourself, step on one of these “Landmines of Interviewing”: • Poor/Unusual appearance • Conceited, know it all • Unenthusiastic • Expects too much, too soon • No tact • Condemnation of past employers • Poor eye contact

49. Interviewing Landmines • Shopping around • No sense of humor • Minimal interest in company or industry • Unworkable restrictions • Not focused • Heavy money focus • "What's in it for me?" • Focused on short term • Not willing to pay dues

50. Follow-Up • To make yourself an easy pursue, follow-up! • Follow-up with a letter or phone call • This reminds them of your interview • Tells them you are still interested