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Perfecting Your Interview Dance

Steps

Theresa LiedtkaVirginia Cairns

UT-Chattanooga

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Visit our Wiki• Everything we’ll cover today is available on our

wiki

• http://wiki.lib.utc.edu/index.php/Interview_Dance_Steps

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Dance Steps• Finding jobs• Preparing your application

o Resume, CVo Cover letter

• Preparing for the interviewo Background Researcho Questions they will asko Questions you should asko Presentations and Writing Samples

• The Interview • Landing the job

o Closing the saleo Negotiating your salary

04/10/2023

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Finding Jobs

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Your Resume / CV• Clean, neat, nicely formatted

o Use tables in Word for proper alignmento Google examples to get wording, content and formatting ideas o PDF is the most commonly accepted format

• Can be more than one pageo Descriptive, detailed, action wordso Include relevant awards, honors, projects, committees.o Have others proofread and critique it!o Sample CVs are on the wiki

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The Cover Letter• Each application calls for a custom cover letter.• It can exceed one page. • It must match your skills and experience to the

individual qualifications listed.• You should address everything the job ad asks for.• Make a strong case. You are the ONLY logical

choice for this position.• It should reflect your unique personality and

passion. It should tell the story of who you are.o We should want to interview you in person based on this letter.

• Have several people read and edit it.

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Activity• Choose a job ad.• Identify the skills and experiences listed.• Pick one skill or qualification and develop a few

sentences addressing how your individual experience has prepared you to handle it.

• Be concrete: illustrate with a specific example, a project, a situation.

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Background Research

• Do your homework and gather as much information as your can about a potential employer.

• Get to know yourself inside and out.

• Create a binder for each interview

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Question Preparation• Job Specific• General Questions• Hypothetical Questions• Behavioral Questions• Use the STAR Approach

o Describe the Situationo What was the Task (or problem) you facedo What Action did you takeo What were your Results

• Illegal and Stress Questions• Sample Questions on the Wiki

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Questions to ask them• Particular challenges?• Short term goals?• Long term goals?• Organizational culture• Management style and structure• Teams, Groups• Funding, budget, financial outlook• Support, professional development• What are they looking for in this position?

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Activity• Pair up

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Other Interview Events

• Phone Interviewso Start to put your research and preparation to work

• Writing Sampleso Address the topico Have friends read it and reread

• Presentationso Address the topico Include an activity, engage with your audienceo Nail the timeo Use humor, try and demonstrate creativity, uniquenesso Practice, practice, practice

• References

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The Interview• Dress for Success!

o Put on your suit of armoro This feels like an endurance evento Listen carefully, take your timeo Study the itinerary and who will be doing what

• Structured portionso Department meetingso All Faculty meetingso The Presentation

• Unstructured portionso Mealso Transportation time

• One-on-Oneo Building or campus touro Meetings with individual dept head or dean

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Evaluating the Offer• Job Content and Responsibilities • Salary and Benefits• The Boss• The Co-Workers• Typical Work Week• Geographic Location• Organizational Culture

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Components to Consider

• The Job• Compensation• Retirement• Benefits• Paid Leave• Others

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Steps in a Negotiation• Receive the offer and ask for it in writing• Evaluate what you want• Do more / Review your research• Determine way to present your counter offer• Consider the other point of view• Practice• Make your counter offer• Negotiate• Close the deal

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Activity

• Pair up• Take a minute to review your confidential data

sheet and collect your thoughts• Assume the role of department head or candidate• Begin negotiate• You have 10 minutes • Write down the results of you negotiation

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Closing Thoughts• Be yourself and be self aware• Interviewing is a two-way street

o You are interviewing them as much as they you• Choose a job and culture in which you can thrive• If you don’t get the job, ask for feedback

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Questions?

All presentation materials can be found here:

http://wiki.lib.utc.edu/index.php/Interview_Dance_Steps