Resumes Get You Interviews

1. Resumes Get You Interviews Interviews Get you Jobs

2. Dear Mike, Thank you for your efforts in making our interview day possible at your university yesterday. We appreciate your assistance and your campus is impressive. We would, however, like to make some remarks concerning the interview process: • Unfortunately, all students were not prepared for the interview. They did not do any research on our company and industry; • The quality of the students in general was disappointing. Especially referring to their social quality skills; • There was no clear understanding from the students what we are looking for.

3. Similarities Between Interviewing & Dating • Need to be prepared (e.g. think about questions to ask and how to ask them). • You dress up for it. • It usually makes you nervous. • You need to be flexible. • You need to be yourself, yet somewhat different and interesting. • If you like what you see, don’t be afraid to ask to continue the relationship. • Be loyal if you said you would be.

4. Types of Interviewers • Human Relations (personnel) Employees • Technical Staff

5. Interview Locations & Length • On Campus • 1st interview usually • 20-45 min. range • 30 min. average • Off Campus • 2nd or 3rd interview usually • 2 day range • 1 day average

6. Research the Company • Key people • Major products or services • Size (sales, employees) • Locations • Major competitors • View of the company by customers, employees, competitors • Annual report • Latest news related to the company • Informational meeting (attend!)

7. Cardinal Sins in Interviewing Preparation • Mispronouncing the Name of the Company • e.g. Bunge • Confusing the Company with Another Company

8. Research Yourself • Strengths/Weaknesses • Goals • SR & LR • Personal and Career • Successes/Mistakes • Likes/Dislikes

9. Common Interview Tips • Research the company • Practice answers to anticipated questions (however, avoid ‘canned’ answers) • Dress appropriately • Avoid annoying mannerisms • Ask intelligent questions

10. You never get a second chance to make a positive first impression.

11. Creating a POSITIVE First Impression • Be early • Neat, well groomed appearance • Firm handshake • Clear, positive self introduction • Act professionally

12. Creating a Positive Impression During the Info Exchange Part of the Interview • Give positive nonverbal feedback: • Body language • Smile • Nod • Eye contact, etc. • Listen • Ask intelligent questions • Give articulate answers

13. Talking Mistakes in Interviewing • Using or overusing the interviewer’s first name (unless told to by them) • Poor grammar and diction (e.g. yeah vs. yes) • Filling pauses with um’s, ah’s, or uh’s • Ending sentences with ‘you know’, ‘see’, ‘okay’, ‘like’ • Monotonic or unusual tone

14. Behavioral Interviewing • Where interviewer is looking for specific past activities or behaviors that are likely to be indicators of desirable future performance • Stay away from vague answers Dave Tierney DeKalb Ag Bus Club Meeting 3-2-95

15. ‘STAR’ Interview Method => ‘Tell me about a . . .’ S = a situation you were in or T = a task you had to do A = action taken, and R= results

16. Traits on Which You Will be Judged • Personal Characteristics Do you have good grooming? Do you have good manners? Do you maintain good eye contact? • Self-expression Are you forceful or vague in expressing your ideas and when responding to the interviewer’s questions? • Maturity What about your overall sense of balance? Can you make value judgments and decisions? • Personality What are you like? Outgoing? Shy? Overbearing? Quiet? Tactful? Enthusiastic? Warm? • Experience What about your academic achievements? Involvement in extracurricular activities? Job accomplishments? Job skills? • Enthusiasm and interest Are you really interested in the employer? The particular job? Industry? • Career goals What do you want to do in your professional life?

17. Skills to put on Resume = Same Skills to Demonstrate in Interview • Organizational (e.g. activity you organized?) • Communication • Problem Solving • Leadership/Managerial (e.g. motivate others? Time mgt? Stress mgt?) • Interpersonal (e.g. difficult person)

18. Thought for the Day • There’s very little difference in people, yet that littler difference makes a big difference. • The LITTLE difference is attitude. • The BIG difference is whether it’s positive or negative. - Anon

19. Conflict Creating Personalities • Critic or cynic – negative opinions on everything • Aggressor – desire to be boss or leader all the time • Gossip – source of all information • Moralist – tell other people how to live • Martyr – tell others how much you’ve done for them • Perfectionist or braggert – always right • Short fuse – loses temper fast • Con man – dishonest • Hypocrit – have double standards

20. Examples of Difficult Qs (Interviewing) • What would you say is your biggest weakness? • Give me an example of something that you have done that is creative or innovative. • Tell me about a situation where you were in the minority. - Barry Cooper Cargill Inc.

21. Unlawful and Lawful Interview Questions (examples)

22. Examples of “Make You Think” Qs • If you could be any part of a pizza, what would you be and why? • If you were a horse in a pasture and your owner left the pasture gate open by mistake, would you stay or leave? Why? • If you were to be any animal in the jungle, which would you most like to be and why? • What do you foresee as being your biggest challenge in making a successful transition from college to the work place?

23. Practice ‘Damage Control’ • Soften or even mention possible ‘strengths’ associated with your ‘weaknesses’. • Emphasize what you’ve learned. • Point out a weakness is not related to the job. • Provide justification for the weakness.

24. Closing & Following Up An Interview • Ask for the job • Thank them there and with follow up letter

25. Pay Attention to Off-Campus Interview Details • Name, Title, Address, Phone Number of Coordinator • Travel and Lodging Details • Interview Schedule – where, when, who • Paying for the Interview Expenses

26. Lunch & Conversation Suggestions • Appropriate dress • Ordering • Don’t go first (or ask for recommendations), pick the most costly, select sloppy or unfamiliar foods, ask for alcohol, overindulge • Conversation • Be relaxed, friendly, interesting • Focus on company and job • Avoid past personal embarrassments, religion, politics

27. Everyone you meet on your visit is interviewing you all the time.

28. Other Things To Do On Site • Observe the People (happy, challenged, enthusiastic, …?) • Observe the Facilities • Be Prepared for Offer

29. Questions for the Personnel Manager • Are employees encouraged to express their ideas and concerns? If so, then how is this done? • What do employees like best about the company? Least? • How much employee turnover is there? • What are the living conditions in this area of the country? • How large is the department in which the opening exists? How is it organized? • Why is the position open? • How much travel would normally be expected?

30. Questions for the Personnel Manager • What are the chances of being relocated, once on the job? • What type of training program/orientation does a new employee receive? Who conducts it? When does it start and end? • How often are performance reviews given and how are they conducted? • How are raises/promotions determiend? What is the salary limit assigned to the position? • What are the long-range possibilities for employees in similar positions who consistently perform above expectations? • What are the employee benefits offered by the company?

31. Questions for your would-be supervisor • What are the major responsibilities of the department? Of the job? • What would the new employee be expected to have accomplished in the first six months on the job? The first year? • What are the special projects now ongoing in the department? What are some that are coming in the future? • How much contact with management is there? How much exposure? • What is the path to supervision in this dept? How long does it take to get there? How long do people stay there? • What is the path to management from this department?

32. Questions for a would-be colleague: • What do you like best about working for this company? In this department? Least? • What does on during a typical workday? • Do you feel free to express your ideas and concerns? Does everyone in the company? • What are the possibilities here for professional growth and promotion? • How much interaction is there with superiors? Colleagues? Customers? How much independent work is there? • How long have you been with the company? Does your future here seem secure?

33. Agri Selling Steps - Applied to Selling ‘Yourself’ PREPARATION • Know Yourself • Know the Company • Prepare Resume • Prepare for Interviews • Write Letters SERVICE OPENING • Follow Through • Check Back • Greet Prospect • Build Rapport • Probe for Needs • Arouse Interest CLOSE PRESENTATION • Review Problem • Outline Solution • Detail Features & Benefits • Handle Objections • Ask for the Job • Establish Next Step • Thank Them • Leave