INTERVIEWING INTERVIEWING SKILLSSKILLS

The interview is the mostThe interview is the most

significant step in cultivating a significant step in cultivating a job offer. job offer.

Interviewing for most people Interviewing for most people may not seem to come naturally. may not seem to come naturally. There is however, much that There is however, much that can be done in advance to can be done in advance to increase your chances of increase your chances of success.success.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES:WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES:Upon completion of this workshop, the learner will be able to:Upon completion of this workshop, the learner will be able to:

Effectively prepare for interviews.Effectively prepare for interviews. Utilize non- verbal communication skills.Utilize non- verbal communication skills. Understand the four main concerns of the Understand the four main concerns of the

interviewer and be able to formulate interviewer and be able to formulate answers to traditional interview questions answers to traditional interview questions while appropriately addressing these four while appropriately addressing these four concerns. concerns.

Understand and answer behavioral based Understand and answer behavioral based interview questions. interview questions.

End an interview productively. End an interview productively. Successfully negotiate a job offer.Successfully negotiate a job offer.

PreparationPreparation

Re-assess past accomplishments and Re-assess past accomplishments and achievements that are relevant to a achievements that are relevant to a prospective employer’s needs. prospective employer’s needs.

Review the job description and read Review the job description and read information about the company/organization.information about the company/organization.

Contact yourContact your alumni network to see if any alumni network to see if any alumni work for the company interviewing alumni work for the company interviewing you. Try to set up an informational meeting you. Try to set up an informational meeting to learn about corporate culture, history, and to learn about corporate culture, history, and career paths.career paths.

Select appropriate attire. Select appropriate attire. Get directions to the interview site. Get directions to the interview site. Bring 3 or more copies of your resume, a Bring 3 or more copies of your resume, a

reference list and a pad of paper to take reference list and a pad of paper to take notes.notes.

Utilizing non-verbal communication Utilizing non-verbal communication skills to ensure a good first skills to ensure a good first impression:impression:

Smile, offer a firm handshake, Smile, offer a firm handshake, and make eye contact.and make eye contact.

Establish rapport.Establish rapport. Show interest and enthusiasm.Show interest and enthusiasm. Utilize active listening.Utilize active listening. Show confidence.Show confidence.

FOUR MAIN CONCERNS OF FOUR MAIN CONCERNS OF THE INTERVIEWERTHE INTERVIEWER There are four prospective There are four prospective

employer concerns that are employer concerns that are behind all interviewing behind all interviewing questions.questions.

Having an understanding of Having an understanding of these concerns beforehand will these concerns beforehand will enable you to formulate your enable you to formulate your answers in a manner that will answers in a manner that will impress the employer and result impress the employer and result in a job offer. in a job offer.

Concerns #1Concerns #1

Can this candidate do the Can this candidate do the job?job?

Does this candidate possess the Does this candidate possess the skills required to be productive skills required to be productive and contribute to the company and contribute to the company as expected?as expected?

Is this a proven candidate? How Is this a proven candidate? How successful was the candidate in successful was the candidate in similar positions?similar positions?

CONCERN #2:CONCERN #2:

Will the candidate do the job? Will the candidate do the job? Is there evidence to suggest the Is there evidence to suggest the

candidate is motivated and candidate is motivated and confident enough to do the job? confident enough to do the job?

Will the candidate be dedicated Will the candidate be dedicated and hard working? and hard working?

Will the candidate stay with the Will the candidate stay with the company? company?

CONCERN #3:CONCERN #3:

How will the candidate get How will the candidate get along in our organization?along in our organization?

Will the candidate be easy to Will the candidate be easy to manage and follow policies and manage and follow policies and procedures?procedures?

Will the candidate be a team Will the candidate be a team player and a positive influence player and a positive influence on others?on others?

CONCERN #4:CONCERN #4:

Can the company afford the Can the company afford the candidatecandidate??

Is what the candidate expects Is what the candidate expects and/or needs to earn compatible and/or needs to earn compatible with what the job pays? with what the job pays?

TRADITIONAL INTERVIEW TRADITIONAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONSQUESTIONS Tell me about yourself. The “90 Second Tell me about yourself. The “90 Second

Capsule” - Capsule” - Concern: Can this candidate do the Concern: Can this candidate do the job? Will this candidate do the job? How will the job? Will this candidate do the job? How will the candidate get along with others on the job?candidate get along with others on the job?

Answer:Answer: Be brief and focus on work-related skills and Be brief and focus on work-related skills and

personal qualities related to your professional life. personal qualities related to your professional life. The best way to answer this question is to tailor The best way to answer this question is to tailor your answer to the needs of the organization.your answer to the needs of the organization.

Example:Example: "I am an Operations Manager with over "I am an Operations Manager with over twenty years experience with a strong background twenty years experience with a strong background in security processing and system administration. in security processing and system administration. My achievements are a direct result of my strong My achievements are a direct result of my strong analytical skills. In my most current position as well analytical skills. In my most current position as well as my prior positions, I have been instrumental in as my prior positions, I have been instrumental in instituting changes that streamlined operations, instituting changes that streamlined operations, reduced costs and increased customer satisfaction.reduced costs and increased customer satisfaction.

What were your primary responsibilities?What were your primary responsibilities? ConcernConcern: Can this candidate do the job: Can this candidate do the job

Solution: Solution: Focus on your related responsibilities. Focus on your related responsibilities. Employers are looking for a candidate that can Employers are looking for a candidate that can contribute quickly. They are looking for the degree to contribute quickly. They are looking for the degree to which the candidate's past experience differs from that which the candidate's past experience differs from that of the new position. of the new position.

Why did you leave/are you considering leaving?Why did you leave/are you considering leaving? Concern: Will this candidate do the job?Concern: Will this candidate do the job?

Acceptable reasons for Acceptable reasons for voluntarilyvoluntarily leaving a position; leaving a position; more income, professional growth or challenge.more income, professional growth or challenge.

Solution: Solution: Avoid negative statements and convey a Avoid negative statements and convey a positive working relationship with prior and current positive working relationship with prior and current positions.positions.

What was the most important part of your job?What was the most important part of your job? Concern: Can this candidate do the job? Concern: Can this candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: This question mainly focuses on your This question mainly focuses on your ability to recognize priorities of the job. For example, a ability to recognize priorities of the job. For example, a website online professional counselor who felt the website online professional counselor who felt the most important part of his/her job was consulting on most important part of his/her job was consulting on web design did not have a grasp of the job’s priorities. web design did not have a grasp of the job’s priorities. It would be appropriate to say that consulting on web It would be appropriate to say that consulting on web design was a favorite part of the job; however, design was a favorite part of the job; however, providing online counseling was the most important providing online counseling was the most important task.task.

What was the most difficult part of your job? How did What was the most difficult part of your job? How did you deal with it?you deal with it? Concern: Can this candidate do the Concern: Can this candidate do the job? Will this candidate do the job? How will the job? Will this candidate do the job? How will the candidate get along with others on the job?candidate get along with others on the job?

Solution: Solution: Focus on how you handled difficult issues and Focus on how you handled difficult issues and what you accomplished, keep responses positive. “The what you accomplished, keep responses positive. “The most difficult aspect of my job was counseling clients who most difficult aspect of my job was counseling clients who did not want to attend. Although at times this was difficult did not want to attend. Although at times this was difficult the end result of being able to help and assist a client to the end result of being able to help and assist a client to succeed was extremely rewarding.”succeed was extremely rewarding.”

What are you weaknesses?What are you weaknesses? Concern: Can this Concern: Can this candidate do the job?candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: Don'tDon't ever reveal a damaging weakness. Use ever reveal a damaging weakness. Use a scenario early in your career that you successfully a scenario early in your career that you successfully corrected and learned from. “. My greatest weakness is corrected and learned from. “. My greatest weakness is neglecting to delegate work due to the fear of the work not neglecting to delegate work due to the fear of the work not being completed as to my standard. I have corrected this being completed as to my standard. I have corrected this weakness by delegating responsibilities and following up weakness by delegating responsibilities and following up on tasks to make sure they have been completed on tasks to make sure they have been completed properly. properly.

What were the most challenging aspects of your job?What were the most challenging aspects of your job? Concern: Will this candidate do the job?Concern: Will this candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: It is important to remember that your interests It is important to remember that your interests and preferences affect your motivation. The more and preferences affect your motivation. The more knowledgeable you are about the position, the easier it knowledgeable you are about the position, the easier it will be to focus your answers on how your interests and will be to focus your answers on how your interests and motivation fit into the requirements of the position. motivation fit into the requirements of the position.

What have you done to improve your skills? What have you done to improve your skills? Concern: Concern: Will this candidate do the job?Will this candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: Cite examples that show improving skills to Cite examples that show improving skills to become more effective at the job at hand without become more effective at the job at hand without emphasizing improvement to potentially leave the job at emphasizing improvement to potentially leave the job at hand. hand.

Give me an example when it was necessary to reach a Give me an example when it was necessary to reach a goal in a short period of time?goal in a short period of time? Concern: Will this Concern: Will this candidate do the job?candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: Demonstrate your effective use of time Demonstrate your effective use of time management in handling multiple projects or meeting management in handling multiple projects or meeting deadlines.deadlines.

Do you prefer to work in a group or alone?Do you prefer to work in a group or alone? Concern: Concern: How will the candidate get along with others on the job?How will the candidate get along with others on the job?

Solution: Solution: State your true preference, but state that you State your true preference, but state that you work well independently as well as within groups.work well independently as well as within groups.

Why should I hire you over another candidate?Why should I hire you over another candidate? Concern: Can this candidate do the job? Will this Concern: Can this candidate do the job? Will this candidate do the job? How will the candidate get along candidate do the job? How will the candidate get along with others on the job? Can the company afford the with others on the job? Can the company afford the candidate?candidate?

Solution: Solution: This is a perfect opportunity to sell your self. This is a perfect opportunity to sell your self. Recap your accomplishments.Recap your accomplishments.

What do you find hard to do? Why is that?What do you find hard to do? Why is that? Concern: Can this candidate do the job?Concern: Can this candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: Do not mention a damaging weakness: Do not mention a damaging weakness: rather cite a minor and common issue that will not rather cite a minor and common issue that will not hurt you. Examples may include something hurt you. Examples may include something unpleasant for anyone, such as firing someone.unpleasant for anyone, such as firing someone.

ExerciseExercise: Prepare your answer to the above listed : Prepare your answer to the above listed interview question.interview question.

Do you feel you were sufficiently recognized for Do you feel you were sufficiently recognized for your work by your managersyour work by your managers? Concern: How will ? Concern: How will the candidate get along with others on the job?the candidate get along with others on the job?

Solution: Solution: State that you felt recognized, but that State that you felt recognized, but that your primary rewards came from the job itself. your primary rewards came from the job itself.

Exercise:Exercise: Prepare your answer to the above listed Prepare your answer to the above listed interview question.interview question.

How do you handle criticism?How do you handle criticism? Concern: How will Concern: How will the candidate get along with others on the job?the candidate get along with others on the job?

Solution: Solution: This question is concerned with This question is concerned with potential manageability problems. You might want potential manageability problems. You might want to respond by indicating that you welcome to respond by indicating that you welcome constructive criticism and that it helps you to learn constructive criticism and that it helps you to learn and grow.and grow.

Why do you want to work for this organization? Why do you want to work for this organization? Concern: Will the candidate doConcern: Will the candidate do

the job?the job? Solution: Solution: All aspects of the company should pop into All aspects of the company should pop into

mind.mind. Have you ever found yourself really burned out from Have you ever found yourself really burned out from

a job and what did you do about it?a job and what did you do about it? Concern: Will the Concern: Will the candidate do the job; can the candidate do the job?candidate do the job; can the candidate do the job?

Solution: Solution: The interviewer is trying to figure out if you are The interviewer is trying to figure out if you are disciplined enough to avoid burnout and how you cope disciplined enough to avoid burnout and how you cope with stress. Interviewers want to be sure you will not over with stress. Interviewers want to be sure you will not over stress yourself and run from the job in one year. “I avoid stress yourself and run from the job in one year. “I avoid burnout by understanding my limits and by asking for new burnout by understanding my limits and by asking for new assignments so that I can keep myself motivated and assignments so that I can keep myself motivated and challenged”challenged”

Your previous earnings were too highYour previous earnings were too high: Concern: Can : Concern: Can the employer afford you?the employer afford you?

Solution: Solution: Down play your previous title and Down play your previous title and independence, while emphasizing your ability as a team independence, while emphasizing your ability as a team player. (If you are changing for a high paid corporate job player. (If you are changing for a high paid corporate job to a lower paying non-profit) Emphasize the need to to a lower paying non-profit) Emphasize the need to devote energy to a new and worth while cause.devote energy to a new and worth while cause.

BEHAVIORAL BASED BEHAVIORAL BASED INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING

Behavioral / Competency Based Behavioral / Competency Based InterviewingInterviewing: Behavioral / : Behavioral / Competency based interviewing is Competency based interviewing is built on the assumption that past built on the assumption that past experience (behavior) is the best experience (behavior) is the best predictor of future performance. It predictor of future performance. It focuses on accomplishments that focuses on accomplishments that are most relevant to the job for which are most relevant to the job for which you are interviewing. you are interviewing.

Behavioral / competency based Behavioral / competency based questionsquestions seek demonstrated examples seek demonstrated examples of behavior from your past experience of behavior from your past experience and concentrate on job related functions. and concentrate on job related functions. They may include: They may include: Open-ended Open-ended questionsquestions and they often begin with "Tell and they often begin with "Tell me...", "Describe...", "When...”me...", "Describe...", "When...”

Why questionsWhy questions are commonly used to are commonly used to reveal rationale for decisions you have reveal rationale for decisions you have made. made.

Answering Behavioral/ Competency -Answering Behavioral/ Competency -Based Questions?Based Questions?

Answer questions using the "CAR” Answer questions using the "CAR” story method. (Refer to resume story method. (Refer to resume writing workshop to learn how to writing workshop to learn how to develop “CAR” Stories.)develop “CAR” Stories.)

Sample Behavior Based QuestionsSample Behavior Based Questions Tell me about a time when your work or an Tell me about a time when your work or an

idea of yours was criticized. idea of yours was criticized. Describe a difficult problem that you've had Describe a difficult problem that you've had

to deal with and how you resolved it. to deal with and how you resolved it. Describe a situation in which you were Describe a situation in which you were

required to work under pressure and how required to work under pressure and how you reacted? you reacted?

Describe a time that you showed initiative. Describe a time that you showed initiative. Tell me about a time when you put your Tell me about a time when you put your

foot in your mouth. foot in your mouth. Describe a situation when you found Describe a situation when you found

yourself challenged. How did it work out? yourself challenged. How did it work out?

ENDING AN INTERVIEWENDING AN INTERVIEW

Ending an interview properly is vital Ending an interview properly is vital to securing an offer. The end of an to securing an offer. The end of an interview is typically indicated by the interview is typically indicated by the employer stating that they have employer stating that they have completed their questions, and by completed their questions, and by asking if you have any questions. asking if you have any questions. Occasionally, the employer may Occasionally, the employer may indicate something about the next indicate something about the next step. At this point you want to ask a step. At this point you want to ask a few questions. few questions.

Ask appropriate job-related questions. Some Ask appropriate job-related questions. Some examples include:examples include:

What is the biggest impact a new employee can What is the biggest impact a new employee can make within the first 30-90 days?make within the first 30-90 days?

What are the measures of success for the position?What are the measures of success for the position? Could you tell me the characteristics of those who Could you tell me the characteristics of those who

have performed well in this position?have performed well in this position? Ask if now would be a good time to set another Ask if now would be a good time to set another

appointment.appointment. Ask what you can do in the meantime to answer Ask what you can do in the meantime to answer

any further questions. any further questions. Ask for a business card: You need the correct name Ask for a business card: You need the correct name

and spelling, title, and address to follow up after the and spelling, title, and address to follow up after the interview.interview.

Express your interest in the Express your interest in the opportunityopportunity, and that , and that you are looking forward to working for the company. you are looking forward to working for the company. Ask about the next step.Ask about the next step.

Always send a thank you letter.Always send a thank you letter.