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Get the job you deserveBy being A Little More Prepared For Every Interview

Anne H. JonesPiton Inc

www.pitoninc.org

www,Pitoninc.org all rights reserved

Goals

• Be able to respond to some of the most common interview questions confidently.

• Have a plan to answer any interview question.

• Efficiently prepare for any interview.

Prevent Snappy Answer Delay Syndrome “S.A.D.S.”


InterviewsWhat’s in it for Them?

• Interviews exist to collect a lot of information in a short amount of time.

• Interviews help a recruiter understand the risks and value of hiring a candidate

• Interviews provide a recruiter information used to “sell” a candidate to an employer


InterviewsWhat’s in it for You?

• Interviews allow you to share the key details and stories that will illustrate your fit for a job.

• Interviews allow you to mitigate the risks and identify the value of hiring you.

• Interviews provide a recruiter information used to “sell” you to an employer

Interviews are your one “at bat” with a company


The Basics of Interviews

Two most common styles of interview questions:

Behavioral Questions “Tell me about a time when…”

Evaluative Questions “Walk me through your resume”


Behavioral Questions

• Tell me about a time you went above the normal duties of your job to satisfy a difficult customer.

• Describe for me a time when your work was criticized. Why was it criticized and how did you react?

• Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex technical information to a client.

Why?

“Past performance is a predictor of future success.”


Evaluative Questions

• “Walk me through your resume”

• Why did you choose to join the Army?

• Walk me through your transition from the Navy to University of Pittsburgh.

• Tell me about the an achievement from your role as Staff Sergeant.

Why?

Choices and achievements provide data:

“1 data point is interesting, 2 is a coincidence, 3 and more is a pattern.”


“Popular” Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself• Provides you the opportunity to show how your past

experiences have led you to this job.

• Why are you interested in this job?• Provides you the opportunity to share you understanding of

the company and job and to provide a story to how you fit.

• Tell me about your weaknesses.• The interviewer often already spotted a potential

weakness, this is your chance to make any concerns a ‘nonissue’ and to show your self awareness.


The Basics of answering questions

We communicate through stories. Your answer is a story that should:

1. Set the Scene

2. Tell what you did

3. Tell why it matters

PAR = Problem, Action, Result.


Telling YourStory

• Problem = Set the Scene

• Answer = Tell what you did

• Result = Tell why it matters

Your Story

PAR


You may have 20 minutes of story, but the interviewer has only 1-3 minutes of attention.

Preparing for your interview

• Research the company and yourself

• Print off pages from the website

• Prepare your stories and your style using the words and ideas based on what you read

• Choose a few questions.


Preparing for the interview


When a Question Highlights a Weakness

• What do you do when a question highlights your weakness?• Acknowledge if you need to. • Give reasons, never excuses. • Provide an answer that minimizes and

shows your value.


Inappropriate Interview Questions

When you’re asked an improper question: first consider the motive. Then, you have three choices:

1. Answer

2. Don’t Answer

3. Answer the concern that lies behind the improper question.


The Question that is Not Asked

What do you do about question that is not asked (but you know they are thinking it)?

• If you know the concern is out there, address it.

• Share information in a manner that is not defensive and can be easily shared with the decision maker.

Reasons, never excuses.


Final thoughts

• Practice makes a difference

• It’s never over until it is over (never give up)

• Be careful of “TMI” too much information

• Be the person that you want to be in your job.

• Say thank you.


Thank you


Download - Interviews getthejobyoudeserve

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