JOBTALKSJOBTALKS

Interview Issues

Indiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC. Randall Powell, Ph.D

Contents used in this presentation are adapted from Career Planning Strategies and used with the permission of the author.

INTERVIEW ISSUES

Offer withdrawal

discrimination

application blanks

interviewing for experience

NERVOUSNESS Important Natural Feeling Builds Alertness Important Motivator

NERVOUSNESSHow to Minimize

• PreparationBuilds confidenceDiminishes Uncertainty

• Experience InterviewingFamiliarity Breeds Confidence

GRADES• grades relate • to past • achievement

good grades - tout thempoor grades - accentuate positive

Recruiter’s Crutch: “grades predict future”

TURNDOWN LETTERSConfidence DestroyersThe Best Get Them: Be PreparedDon’t Read Into ThemDon’t Get Defensive

REJECTION CORRESPONDENCE

Your Credentials: Not You

Compared to….

Your Competition and/or the job description

Feedback… Legally unwise to give you reasons!

DISCRIMINATIONSex

RACE

Need Facts - Not Hunches

OFFER WITHDRAWALS• not uncommon• Moral Issue; not Legal

issue• pressure to accept is legal!• set decision target date

together• set high ethical standards

The Bad News Is ...

APPLICATION BLANKS

name

experience

education

salary

DISCOURAGEMENT

bounce backseek advice

get feedbackdon’t give up

Feedback Issues

• Not Employer’s Role

• Market Conditions Influence

• Timing is Important

112

2

3

4567

8

9

1011

DELAYS

Usually Between 2 & 8 WeeksWhy?– Correspondence Backlog– Waiting For Other Responses– Complete Candidate Base– Not Recruiter's Decision Alone

why mention plans?

Graduate School

INTERVIEWING FOR EXPERIENCEBAD IDEA!!!

insincere attituderejection resultsconfidence destroyers

rehearse your presentation

• Friends• Mirror• Video or tape recorder• Network Partner

Practice Makes Perfect

Best Interviews

COMPENSATIONjob worthphilosophyqualifications

outside competition

salary schedule

JOB WORTH

pay lesspay averagepay top

Employer CompensationPhilosophies

Candidates Qualifications

• Experience• Education• Field-occupation• Activities• Competitiveness

COMPENSATION

• seldom key factor in job choice

• varies little from basic mean

• rarely negotiable• offers occasionally

are withdrawn

LACK OF ADEQUATE FOLLOW-UP

Destroys manygreat interviews

“Thanks so much Ms. Blatantly. I really hope to hear from International Fools.”

WHAT RECRUITERS SEEK

* Evidence Of Competencies

* Desire To WORK* Ambition: Goals* Ability To Communicate* Compatible Attitude

* Education* Grades* Experience* Future Career Plans* Interview Presentation

MATCHJob Requirements Your Evidence

Fifteen Knockout FactorsIll-Defined GoalsShopping AroundLacks ConfidenceOver AggressiveNot Prepared

Restricted LocationPoor CommunicatorPoor QuestionsSalary OrientedEvasive

Little Interest & EnthusiasmPoor Personal AppearanceNot Academically QualifiedLittle Evidence Of achievementWants Too Much Too Soon

“I could tell by the interviewer’s body language that I wasn’t doing well…she got up and left the room.”

FOLLOW-UP

make notes immediatelythank you correspondenceevaluate results

Follow-Up Strategy

maintain extensive employer filerecontact at designated intervalsset reasonable time frameforce closure within reasonable time

Follow-up!

1. analyze self

2. conduct employer research

3. prepare presentation

4. attend to follow-up

THE COMPANY AVERAGE ON CAMPUS INTERVIEWINGInterviewsinvitevisitofferacceptances

1002016126

“I take it this isn’t your first interview, Fred!”

If you would like to If you would like to learn more, learn more, Career Career Planning StrategiesPlanning Strategies textbook will supply textbook will supply additional information additional information on this topic.on this topic.