Mastering the Art of Mastering the Art of InterviewingInterviewing

Career CenterCareer Center

Qualifications and the InterviewQualifications and the Interview

““Was I judged on my Was I judged on my qualifications for the job or qualifications for the job or on how well I performed in the on how well I performed in the interview?”interview?”

Careful preparation and Careful preparation and effective communication could effective communication could give the applicant an edge over give the applicant an edge over the competition and help the the competition and help the applicant get that job.applicant get that job.

Advantages to Being PreparedAdvantages to Being Prepared

If you know what you want to say ahead If you know what you want to say ahead of time, you can usually articulate it of time, you can usually articulate it better.better.

If you know something about the If you know something about the organization to which you are organization to which you are applying, you will have a better idea applying, you will have a better idea as to how to frame questions and as to how to frame questions and answers.answers.

Being prepared will give you more Being prepared will give you more confidence and boost your overall confidence and boost your overall performance.performance.

How to Prepare:How to Prepare: Write out answers to sample questionsWrite out answers to sample questions VideotapesVideotapes Give answers to friend, mirror, tape Give answers to friend, mirror, tape recorderrecorder

Attend professional eventsAttend professional events Practice InterviewPractice Interview Mock InterviewMock Interview Research the company or organization Research the company or organization that is interviewing youthat is interviewing you

Ask people you know questions about the Ask people you know questions about the organization you are applying toorganization you are applying to

Next comes library and internet research Next comes library and internet research

What to look for:What to look for:

Age of the organizationAge of the organization Products or Services it offersProducts or Services it offers Past and anticipated growthPast and anticipated growth Current problems or needsCurrent problems or needs Location of plants, offices, and Location of plants, offices, and storesstores

Does it have a parent organization or Does it have a parent organization or subsidiaries?subsidiaries?

Identify information which coincides Identify information which coincides with your education, interests, or with your education, interests, or experiences.experiences.

What to Look For: (cont.)What to Look For: (cont.)

Key people in the organizationKey people in the organization Size in terms of sales and Size in terms of sales and employeesemployees

Organizational structure of the Organizational structure of the companycompany

Major competitorsMajor competitors ReputationReputation Assets and earningsAssets and earnings Types of customersTypes of customers

Keep In MindKeep In Mind

Why do you want to work for this Why do you want to work for this organization?organization?

What interests you about the What interests you about the products or services the products or services the organization provides?organization provides?

What do you know about the What do you know about the organization?organization?

Why do you think you would like Why do you think you would like this job?this job?

Find Out Ahead of TimeFind Out Ahead of Time

Salary information: Salary information: rangerange Nature of the position: Nature of the position: duties duties involved, and how the position fits into involved, and how the position fits into the overall structure of the organizationthe overall structure of the organization

Information about your interviewer:Information about your interviewer:--name, title, pronunciation, and positionname, title, pronunciation, and position

* When you are finished with your * When you are finished with your research, draw up a list of research, draw up a list of questions on the organization or questions on the organization or position position

Review Your RReview Your Réésumsuméé and Portfolio and Portfolio Review your résumé: Review your résumé: -find what you want to highlight in your -find what you want to highlight in your interviewinterview-pick most relevant experiences and note these -pick most relevant experiences and note these on a separate piece of paperon a separate piece of paper-note personal strengths or accomplishments -note personal strengths or accomplishments not mentioned in your résuménot mentioned in your résumé-recall any positive work habits developed at -recall any positive work habits developed at work or in school work or in school

Review your portfolio:Review your portfolio:-leave only the most relevant examples of your -leave only the most relevant examples of your work in itwork in it

--add any pertinent informationadd any pertinent information-determine how these might be presented during -determine how these might be presented during the interviewthe interview

Self-ConfidenceSelf-Confidence

Mental preparation is just as Mental preparation is just as important as library/internet important as library/internet research. research.

A self-confident applicant A self-confident applicant communicates to the interviewer communicates to the interviewer by demeanor as well as words.by demeanor as well as words.

The Day Before the InterviewThe Day Before the Interview

Decide what you are going to wear Decide what you are going to wear and lay it out.and lay it out.

Have all your materials organized Have all your materials organized and ready to go.and ready to go.

Schedule sufficient travel time to Schedule sufficient travel time to allow you 5-10 minutes in the allow you 5-10 minutes in the waiting room.waiting room.

* * you may want to travel to the location the you may want to travel to the location the day before to be sure you know where you’re day before to be sure you know where you’re

going. going.

Dress to ImpressDress to Impress

MenMen Clean, pressed business Clean, pressed business

suitsuit Light shirtLight shirt Conservative tieConservative tie Matching socksMatching socks Shined shoesShined shoes Clean, trimmed head and Clean, trimmed head and

facial hairfacial hair Fresh shaveFresh shave Minimal or no cologneMinimal or no cologne No food, gum, or No food, gum, or

cigarettescigarettes Clean nailsClean nails Empty pocketsEmpty pockets

WomenWomen Clean, pressed suit or Clean, pressed suit or

tailored dresstailored dress Conservative hosiery Conservative hosiery

without runswithout runs Polished pumps in good Polished pumps in good

repairrepair Carry either a purse or Carry either a purse or

attache caseattache case Attractive, controlled hair Attractive, controlled hair

stylestyle Minimal make-up and perfumeMinimal make-up and perfume Moderate jewelryModerate jewelry Clean fingernails with no Clean fingernails with no

chipped polishchipped polish No gum, food, or cigarettes No gum, food, or cigarettes Positive attitudePositive attitude

What to Bring:What to Bring:

PortfolioPortfolio Extra resumesExtra resumes TranscriptTranscript List of referencesList of references 3-5 key strengths3-5 key strengths List of questionsList of questions Interview portfolio - if you Interview portfolio - if you have onehave one

Behavior-Based Interviewing (BBI)Behavior-Based Interviewing (BBI)

Behavior-based interviewing is based Behavior-based interviewing is based on the premise that an applicant’s on the premise that an applicant’s past behavior will predict how he or past behavior will predict how he or she will respond in similar she will respond in similar situations in the future.situations in the future.

BBI focuses on determining how you, BBI focuses on determining how you, the interviewee, have actively the interviewee, have actively applied your skills.applied your skills.

The interviewer is looking for proof The interviewer is looking for proof that you can demonstrate the desired that you can demonstrate the desired capabilities in the real world.capabilities in the real world.

The BBI ProcessThe BBI Process

The interviewer’s questions will be The interviewer’s questions will be designed to elicit detailed descriptions designed to elicit detailed descriptions from you on how you handled yourself in from you on how you handled yourself in certain situations. certain situations.

BBI challenges you to recall (in detail) BBI challenges you to recall (in detail) what you did, thought, and felt in key what you did, thought, and felt in key situations as if you were reliving them.situations as if you were reliving them.

This helps the interviewer better This helps the interviewer better understand your thought process, understand your thought process, decision-making skills, and emotional decision-making skills, and emotional state- as well as the results of your state- as well as the results of your actions.actions.

How to Respond:How to Respond:

You will be expected to give You will be expected to give detailed, but focused, detailed, but focused, descriptions of actual descriptions of actual circumstances.circumstances.

Expect to think-often in Expect to think-often in painstaking detail-under painstaking detail-under pressure.pressure.

Take your time in formulating Take your time in formulating your response.your response.

Be thorough, yet direct.Be thorough, yet direct.

Create a S.T.A.R. storyCreate a S.T.A.R. story

SituationSituation: describe an : describe an overview of the situationoverview of the situation

TaskTask: talk about the task: talk about the task ActionAction: describe the action : describe the action you tookyou took

ResultResult: positive result: positive result

Commonly Asked Questions in the Commonly Asked Questions in the BBI InterviewBBI Interview

Describe a creative/innovative idea that you Describe a creative/innovative idea that you produced which led to a significant produced which led to a significant contribution to the success of an activity or contribution to the success of an activity or project.project.

What was the most complex assignment you have What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role?had? What was your role?

Tell me about a suggestion you made to improve Tell me about a suggestion you made to improve the way job processes/operations worked. What the way job processes/operations worked. What was the result?was the result?

What are three effective leadership qualities What are three effective leadership qualities you think are important? How have you you think are important? How have you demonstrated these qualities in your demonstrated these qualities in your past/current situation?past/current situation?

Give me a specific example of a time when you Give me a specific example of a time when you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the subsequent situation?the subsequent situation?

Stages of the InterviewStages of the Interview

Introductory Stage: Introductory Stage: 2-5 minutes2-5 minutes Qualification/Background Qualification/Background Assessment Stage: Assessment Stage: 15-20 minutes15-20 minutes

Organizational Information Organizational Information Stage: Stage: 10-20 min.10-20 min.

Termination Stage: Termination Stage: 1-2 minutes 1-2 minutes

Introductory StageIntroductory Stage

Shake handsShake hands Use interviewer’s nameUse interviewer’s name Assure interviewer has resumeAssure interviewer has resume Project positive attitude-Project positive attitude-enthusiasmenthusiasm

Qualification/Background Qualification/Background Assessment StageAssessment Stage

Questions regarding goals, Questions regarding goals, objectives, education, experience, objectives, education, experience, interests, activitiesinterests, activities

Listen activelyListen actively Watch for cues for feedbackWatch for cues for feedback Pride in past performancesPride in past performances Answer complete, clear, concise, Answer complete, clear, concise, truetrue

No “yes” or “no” answersNo “yes” or “no” answers

Common Interview QuestionsCommon Interview Questions Tell me a little about yourself: Tell me a little about yourself: Why are you interested in working for this Why are you interested in working for this

organization? organization? Why have you chosen this particular field?Why have you chosen this particular field? Describe your best/worst boss.Describe your best/worst boss. What is your major strength/weakness?What is your major strength/weakness? Give me an example of a problem you encountered Give me an example of a problem you encountered

either in school or at work, explain how you either in school or at work, explain how you solved it.solved it.

Where do you see yourself in three years?Where do you see yourself in three years? Describe an experience in which you worked as a Describe an experience in which you worked as a

part of a team.part of a team. If you could be an animal, which would it be If you could be an animal, which would it be

and why?and why? What was the last book you read?What was the last book you read? Do you have any questions for me?Do you have any questions for me?

More QuestionsMore Questions

Organizational Information StageOrganizational Information Stage

Listen.Listen. Clarify any questions about job-Clarify any questions about job-organization.organization.*What aspects of the job would you like to see improved?*What aspects of the job would you like to see improved?* What are the key challenges and/or problems facing the * What are the key challenges and/or problems facing the person in the position?person in the position?*Is there room for professional growth and upward mobility?*Is there room for professional growth and upward mobility?*When, how, and by whom would I be evaluated? What are the *When, how, and by whom would I be evaluated? What are the performance criteria? performance criteria?*What is the department’s environment/culture like?*What is the department’s environment/culture like?

Prepare 3 Thought-Provoking Prepare 3 Thought-Provoking questions.questions.

Questions to AskQuestions to Ask

How do you like working for XYZ How do you like working for XYZ organization/company?organization/company?

How are new projects or jobs How are new projects or jobs determined or evaluated?determined or evaluated?

Tell me about your background Tell me about your background and how working at XYZ has and how working at XYZ has helped satisfy your career helped satisfy your career desires.desires.

Termination StageTermination Stage

Briefly summarize your strongest Briefly summarize your strongest qualificationsqualifications

Express enthusiasm for the jobExpress enthusiasm for the job Make certain you understand the Make certain you understand the next step (follow-up interview, next step (follow-up interview, etc.)etc.)

Thank the interviewerThank the interviewer*Make sure you have the *Make sure you have the interview’s name and address so interview’s name and address so you can send a thank you letter.you can send a thank you letter.

Interviewing Rule of ThreeInterviewing Rule of Three

List three strengthsList three strengths List three weaknessList three weakness List three reasons why an List three reasons why an employer should hire youemployer should hire you

List three reasons why you want List three reasons why you want the jobthe job

Interview ChecklistInterview Checklist ResearchResearch PracticePractice Be prompt and preparedBe prompt and prepared Act professionallyAct professionally ConverseConverse Be enthusiastic Be enthusiastic Thank the interviewerThank the interviewer Follow-upFollow-up Write a thank you letter to anyone you Write a thank you letter to anyone you have spoken tohave spoken to

Review the interview process and your Review the interview process and your performanceperformance

EvaluateEvaluate

Thank You for Coming!Thank You for Coming!

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