Interview Like a Pro

Agenda Purpose of the interview What employers are seeking Types of Interviews Preparing for the interview During the Interview After the Interview

Purpose of the Interview A way for both the hiring

organization and the candidate have an opportunity to exchange information to determine whether a good fit exists between them.

Employer Concerns Content Skills: Does candidate have skills

necessary to perform job in this field (i.e., programming, word processing, book keeping)

Transferable Skills: Does candidate have skills necessary for handling work: managing, operating, coordination, communicating, etc…

Adaptive Skills: Does candidate have the personality and temperament for this job? Can she/he self-manage (assertiveness, honesty, open-mindedness, flexibility, adaptability, tolerance).

Employer Concerns Do you present a professional

appearance and demeanor? Are you capable of doing the job

successfully? Do you wholeheartedly want the job? Are you able to relate well to the staff? Are you a good fit with the

organization?

Professional Demeanor Many employers make an initial

judgment about you based on first impressions: BUSINESS ETIQUITTE DINNER May 11, 4-6pm, $10.00 (includes

dinner) Learn about first impressions,

business etiquette, etc…

Types of Interviews & Interview Questions

Behavioral Case interviews Industry-specific Open ended questions/self-

evaluative Questions

On site, telephone, videoconference

Behavioral Interviews Behavioral interviewing is based on the

principle that the best indicator of your future performance is your past performance:

“Tell me about a time that you had to find a creative solution to a problem”

“Tell me about a time your work was criticized”

Case Interview A case interview is the analysis of a business

question. Most commonly used by management consulting

firms. Demonstrate your ability to work through business

cases similar to those you might face as a consultant.

Typically last between ten and thirty minutes. Often scenario-based problem-solving activities

designed to uncover competencies. See Vault for a great Guide to Case Interviews

Industry-Specific Interviews Interviews/questions that center on

finding out your knowledge of a specific industry:

“What did our firm’s stock close at yesterday?”“Name a product that you believe is well/poorly positioned

and why “What do you think investment bankers do on a daily basis?” “What factors drive mergers and acquisitions” “Rank order the important characteristics for brand

management” “What is a hedge fund?”“What are some common anti-takeover tactics?”

Open-Ended Questions and Self-Evaluative Questions

Most questions will be open-ended: You control the content. Provide examples/substantiate. How you answer can be revealing.

“Tell me about yourself” “What kind of manager are you” “How good are your analytical skills?”

Interview Venues On-site interviews. Phone interviews. Videoconference interview. Lunch interview.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!!!

Know thyself Research the organization/industry Practice Prepare questions for interviewer Prepare references Logistics (time, date, location…) Check attire/appearance

Prepare: Know Thyself You must PREPARE yourself to talk

about your skills and capabilities intelligently and persuasively.

“Successful candidates know how to showcase their … experience on their resume and in the interview to demonstrate to employers that they have a strong work ethic, for example, or the necessary teamwork skills. It can set them apart from their competition.“

-Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director, January 20, 2005

Prepare: Know Thyself Know your resume! Be able to articulately discuss

every item on the resume. Be prepared to provide more detail

about any item on the resume.

Prepare: Know Thyself Make an Accomplishment Log

"Your [interview question] answer demonstrates how well you can articulate your thoughts. As an interviewer, I'm interested in how well a candidate can use a personal experience to illustrate a point that ultimately answers the question."

-Tim Ruch, Risk Manager for El Paso Corp. in Houston

Prepare: Research the Organization Learn as much as you can about

the organization and industry: Visit their website Recent news items Trade journals / industry publications Contacts (friends, professors, family)

in the industry or organization

Importance of Research

“One thing that really makes for a poor interview, in my opinion, is when a candidate clearly did not make any effort to do research about the company and cannot state his or her reason for selecting our company rather than our competitors.”

-Tats, Manager, Tokio Marine Group (from “How to Interview Like a

Top MBA”)

Resources for Researching Vault (via OCS website) WetFeet (via OCS website) BusinessWeek (library) CareerSearch (library) BusinessInsights (library) Hoover’s Pro (library) Market Research.com (library) Sorkins (library)

Prepare: Practice Write out answers Practice out loud Schedule mock interview Tape record yourself Practice with friends Utilize PAR technique

PAR or STAR Technique Use this method to frame your

response in an organized manner Problem (Situation/Task) Action Result

PAR Example“Tell me about a time you were on a team and a member wasn’t contributing?”(P) I was assigned to work on a class project with a team of 5 other students. One our our team members wasn’t showing up for our meetings or completing his assignments. (A) I finally met with him in private, explained the frustration of the team and asked if there was anything I could do to help. He told me he was preoccupied with another class that he wasn’t passing, so I found someone to help him with the other course. (R) He not only was able to spend more time on our project, but he was also grateful to me for helping him out. We finished the project with an A grade.

PAR ExampleProblem: During my internship last summer, I was

responsible for managing various events. I noticed that attendance at these events had dropped by 30% over the past 3 years and wanted to do something to improve these numbers.

Action: I designed a new promotional packet to go out to the local community businesses. I also included a rating sheet to collect feedback on our events and organized internal round table discussions to raise awareness of the issue with our employees.

Result: We utilized some of the wonderful ideas we received from the community, made our internal systems more efficient and visible and raised attendance by 18% the first year.

Strategies for Specific Questions

“Run me through your resume”

Start with college and work forward, outlining your employment history, graduate studies, key accomplishments and transitions.

Should take no more than 2 minutes. Be prepared to answer more in depth if

asked. Highlight the activities and prior

positions that are most applicable to the job in question and relevant skills.

“Tell me about yourself” If this is asked first, answer as you

would the “run me through your resume question”

If you’ve already explained your background, focus instead on strengths and traits.

Avoid personal information.

“Tell me About Yourself”“I have been in the customer service industry for the past

five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the high tech industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job, I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase in sales in a matter of months. My real strength is my attention to detail. I pride myself on my reputation for following through and meeting deadlines. When I commit to doing something, I make sure it gets done, and on time. What I am looking for now is a company that values customer relations, where I can join a strong team and have a positive impact on customer retention and sales.”

“Where would you like to be in five years?” This question is usually asked to

determine whether or not you plan to stick with the organization.

Describe new experiences or responsibilities you'd like to add in the future that build on the job you are applying for.

Avoid mentioning specific job titles. “My interest is to grow with [Company Name]. "In five years, I would like to have progressed to

the point where I have bottom-line responsibility and the chance to lead an operations unit."

“Why are you interested in our organization?” Hopefully you’ve done your homework. The interviewer wants to know why you are

interested in their organization versus a competitor.

Go beyond the superficial (reputation, industry leader) and demonstrate a good fit (emphasize your skills and interests and how they relate specifically to this company).

Show that you know a lot about the firm and industry and that you are focused.

“Why should we hire you?” Illustrate your understanding of the

position for which you are interviewing. Show the excellent fit between your

skills/education/background and the job and organization.

Discuss what you can offer the company and how you’ll be an asset.

Use examples to illustrate your points.

“Why are you interested in the buy-side instead of the sell-side?”

This question is often asked to gauge your knowledge of the differences between the two sides of the business. With these types of questions, interviewers aren’t looking for a specific answer, but a reasonable rationale.

For example, a good response might provide references to closer interaction with portfolio managers, more input into investment decisions, dedicated focus on performing investment analysis, for example.

Illegal Interview Questions It is illegal for an employer to ask:

Your age Your birth date Your marital status Your sexual orientation Your plan for having a family Height/weight If you have any disabilities Medical history questions

See handout for additional information

Prepare: Questions to Ask Interviewing is reciprocal Prepare educated questions that

are: Genuine and honest Not too presumptuous or pushy

Do not ask questions about salary, personal issues, or uninformed questions.

Sample Questions to Ask What have you most enjoyed about working for

[Company]? What are some challenges your

company/department is facing? How would you describe the culture here at

[Company]? What are the most important goals at

[Company] currently? Can you tell me more about the training

program here? What does a typical day look like for an (analyst,

brand manger, etc…)?

Prepare: References Line up your references several weeks

prior to interviews. Take a list of references and contact

information with you, in case employer asks (on resume paper – see example)

Make absolutely certain the reference KNOWS you’ve given his/her name to employer.

Prepare: Logistics Be sure to know:

where you are going, when you should be there, who you are meeting with, etc…

How long/how to get there. Make a dry run. Factor in CTA time!

Attire and Appearance First impressions count! Well groomed, showered, hair in-control. Suit for men and women, conservative

colors, well-fitting, comfortable, pressed, clean.

No strong perfume/cologne, no flashy jewelry, etc…

See “Interviewing Guide” for advice.

Attire and Appearance

DURING THE INTERVIEW What to expect Greetings Sell yourself Listen to the employer Take notes Do’s and Don’ts

What to Expect BE ON TIME. Introductions and handshake. Small talk. Employer may provide brief overview of position,

organization. You respond to questions (if it is a good interview,

this is the longest part). You ask questions of the interviewer. Interviewer closes the interview and gives you

information about next steps. Thank the interviewer for his/her time.

Be ON TIME Arrive about 10 minutes before

interview. Being late is a HUGE red flag. Don’t be TOO early – might

inconvenience the interviewer. If too early, find a nearby coffee shop

and prepare for interview.

The Greeting Greet your interviewer by name, with a

firm handshake, good eye contact and a smile. Until your interviewer tells you otherwise,

use the more formal "Mr. (Smith)" or "Ms. (Johnson)."

Wait for the interviewer to sit down or invite you to sit down before seating yourself.

Sit comfortably, maintain good body posture.

Sell Yourself Market your brand. Make sure the employer

understands what you have to offer.

Keep in mind which key points you want to convey and make sure that information gets conveyed.

Listen to the Employer Listen to the employer and make sure

you understand his/her questions. Practice active listening skills

(acknowledge, pay attention, make eye contact, etc…)

Don’t be afraid of silence. Don’t be defensive when asked tough

questions.

Take Notes Always take notes during an

interview. Demonstrates interest and shows you

are listening. Ask early in the interview, “Do you

mind if I take notes?”

Interview Do’s Arrive early/on time. Bring copies of resume. Bring pen/paper. Wear something professional. Be enthusiastic - Match your energy level to

the interviewer’s. Listen carefully. Take a few moments to think about your

response. Get interviewer’s business card. Maintain good eye contact.

Interview Don’ts Don’t chew gum or suck on candy Don’t make up answers to questions

you don’t know or understand. Don’t badmouth former employers/co-

workers. Don’t fidget (watch nervous habits) Watch “Ummms” Don’t be late!

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Evaluate/take notes. Send a thank you letter/email. Follow-up.

Evaluate Take a few moments to evaluate

your performance. Write down the questions you were

asked. Consider where you need

improvement.

Send a Thank You Note Thank interviewer once again for

his/her time. Restate your interest in the position. Mention any facts you may have

omitted

See example letters.

Follow-Up If it is after the time when the

interviewer indicated he/she would follow up: Call or email to inquire as to status of

job. Reiterate interest.

Reason What it really means

1.Lacks sufficient industry/company knowledge

Students didn’t do their research and weren’t prepared for the interview

2.Lacks related work experience Students didn’t demonstrate transferability of skills

3.Needs to sell self better Student isn’t emphasizing their strengths and skills

Student isn’t showing how they would be a fit and an asset to company

Student may be using negative language to describe situations

4.Did not convince me of interest in my company

Student didn’t show in-depth knowledge of company

5.Needs to be more focused on career direction

Student couldn’t answer “Where do you see yourself in 5 years” question

Student spoke in generalities

6. Lacks demonstrated leadership experience

Student probably talked too much about being a good member of a team

Student used the word “we” too much

Student did not define their contribution specifically or impactfully

Top Reasons for Not Getting Job after Interview

Reason What it really means

7. Lacks necessary communication skills

Student wasn’t prepared and focused, so they babbled

Student may be international with mediocre command of English language

8. Lacks desired level of enthusiasm

Related to #4 (lack of company interest); students that aren’t really interested in an interview will receive both responses

Student is too low key and doesn’t show excitement

9. Lacks desired level of assertiveness

Usually results from apathy or not demonstrating skills requiring the ability to step up and take initiative

10. Too abrasive or too shy Student isn’t matching their interpersonal style to that of the interviewer

Questions/Evaluation Any questions? Please complete an evaluation.