The Art of the Interview How to Survive and Thrive in an Interview

1
The Art of the Interview How to Survive and
Thrive in an Interview

• Employment Assistance
• Floris United Methodist Church

2
Tool Kit

• Decision Making Matrix Weighted
• Communications 3 elements
• The Negotiation Victor Victim
• Framing Negative Information
• Metrics on employee referrals

3
Decision Making Matrix - Weighted
4
Communications
5
Negotiating

• Ongoing Imperceptible Unspoken
• Victor Victim
• Power
• Expect Bill Gates, Tiger Woods
• Charismatic Oprah
• Position Gatekeepers offering a job
• Default our own natural influencing power
• Conveys authenticity and trust

6
Negotiating

• Win Win
• Benefits of the Bargain focus short term/long
  term
• Seat at the Table use your influence
• Show your interest in the job
• Review your Decision Making Matrix

7
Negotiation

• You are negotiating from the moment you speak to
  a potential employer.
• Learn your opponents goals
• Ask and do your homework
• Establish what you want
• Know your bottom line
• Gather information about opponent (has a negative
  ring) and his/her needs
• Reach for compromise

8
Framing Negative Information

• Emphasize how much you learned from the past
  experience in the job and how much you look
  forward to move on.
• Acknowledge your role
• Do not badmouth the previous employer
• Do not hide the real reasons
• Do not lie

9
Employee Referrals

• Corporate Trends Referral Metrics
• Limit of 3 referrals/month
• Privilege to refer a new job performance metric
• Build your social networks
• With each referral tell us
• What job, qualifying skill/knowledge, cultural
  fit
• Friends Family Program not here

10
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

11
Interview Preparation

• Company Research
• Company Website
• Mission Statement, Vision, ..
• Home page company stats
• Management background
• Press releases, investor relations new dev found
  here
• Hoovers.com source of competitive information
• Competitors website
• Trade rags, Web 2.0 (social networks) of choice

12
Interview Preparations II

• You Research
• Develop your weighted, decision making matrix
  ties into corporate TRP
• ID Behavioral Interview Questions tailored to you
• Know the job description and how it fits into the
  company growth
• ID at least 3 accomplishments and characteristics
  from your experience that would distinguish you
  for this role. Know your resume.
• Develop questions you have for the company

13
Goals in an Interview

• Yours Assess how compatible you are with the
  position and how well the position meets your
  stated goals.
• The companys To hire the most suitable
  candidate for the position, as quickly and
  efficiently as possible.

14
Interviewing

• Hiring Manager v. Recruiter/ HR
• What is the difference?

15
Know the Job Description/Ad

• Job description Why is the position open, what
  are the challenges? How is the job currently
  being handled?
• What your job will be and how it fits into the
  organization
• How the job has been done in the past. What are
  some of the recent successes in this job/group?
• Any changes the company may be making to the
  position or that would impact the position.

16
Prepare and Anticipate Questions

• Rehearse Giving Answers to Questions About
  Yourself
• Think of professional characteristics that are
  required by the job, such as meeting deadlines,
  clear communication, working with others, etc.
• Make a list of your past accomplishments in
  various areas (school, work, volunteering), so
  that you can recall them easily to illustrate a
  point.
• Put yourself on a webcam answering interview
  questions and see what others see. Leave voice
  mails for yourself and hear what others hear.

17
Prepare and Anticipate Questions

• Some Questions to Get You Started
• Here are some common interview questions to help
  you
• How would you describe yourself?
• What did you like most about your last job?
• Why should I select you over other applicants?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• Tell me more about the project you described on
  your resume.
• Describe a work or school-related problem and how
  you solved it.
• Tell me about a time you worked as part of a
  team.
• What are your short-term goals?
• Why do you want to work in this occupation and
  for this company?

18
Oral Communication in Interview

• Use Simple Language
• This involves speaking in clear simple sentences
  that are free of jargon.
• Practice Active Listening
• This means being engaged and alert.
• Observe if the other person is or is not engaged.
  If not, address it then or pay later.
• Ask for Feedback
• This involves asking for confirmation.

19
Interview Etiquette

• Dress for Success
• On balance, under-dressing is worse than
  overdressing. Dress up in a way you would for a
  very important meeting at work.
• Arrival time
• Water only
• Bring Extra resumes/business cards/completed
  application
• Dress for the Job You Want- Not the One You Have

20
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

21
Introduction/ Opening

• Let the Interviewer set the tone and pace.
• Business as Usual
• In this case the recruiter assumes a formal,
  business like demeanor. Be as succinct and
  businesslike without being rude.
• Friendly, Yet Professional
• If a recruiter is personable and friendly, there
  is more opportunity to engage in small talk.
  Finding a commonality can bring people together.

22
Introduction Phase

• Establish Rapport
• Objective
• Create trust
• Build internal alliance for negotiating
• Find common ground
• Make a good first impression
• A warm encouraging smile
• A firm handshake
• Let them know that you are a person worth knowing
  and have something to share with their company.

23
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

24
General Information Phase

• The purpose of this phase is to relay information
  about the employer and the position to the
  candidate, and may take 15 to 20 minutes.
• This is your opportunity to learn more about the
  job and organization.

25
Qualification Assessment Phase

• In this phase, your strengths and weaknesses are
  evaluated as they relate to the position.  You
  will be asked questions about your goals and
  assets. 
• Commonly used method is the Behavioral Interview.

26
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

27
The Behavioral Interview

• Behavioral questions usually start with phrases
  like "Describe a time" and "Tell me about a
  situation-talk about specific experiences.
• List the personal and professional attributes of
  the ideal candidate for the job.
• Think about which of your experiences can be used
  to illustrate you have these personal and
  professional attributes.

28
The Behavioral Interview

• Try to use the SAR technique to tell these
  stories. Describe the Situation you were in or
  problem you were facing at the start of the
  story. Describe the Action you took or took part
  in as a result. Then describe the Result of your
  actions.
• Spend less time on the Situation and more time on
  Action and Results.

29
Opening Questions

• 'Tell me a little about yourself.'
• Write this out and Practice
• This is about your ability to answer a question
  directly, keeping on point and express how
  engaging you are.
• This 30 second story should be committed to
  memory. Elevator Speech.

30
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

31
Recap

• When you sum up, you highlight what you want the
  interviewer to remember about you after you have
  gone. List a few of your best traits and how
  these would really add value to the job at hand.

32
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

33
Closing the Interview

• Show interest This is the best time to really
  show how interested you are to join the company.
  However remember not to go over board about it or
  it will backfire.
• Offer references
• Thank the interviewer

34
Closing the Interview

• The best way to finish an interview is by showing
  a positive attitude.
• Your exit is as important or may be more
  important that your entry.

35
Interview Stages

• Preparation
• Introductions Opening
• Job Description
• Behavioral Questions
• Recap
• Close
• Exit Follow-up

36
Exit

• with a walk of confidence and a smile of self
  assuredness that comes from a job well done.

37
Follow-Up Post Interview

• It's important to send a thank you letter after a
  job interview. Send your thank you note within
  24 hours of interviewing.
• If you were asked to send any other information
  submit it within 24 hours.

38
Evaluating a Job Offer

• Refer to your weighted matrix
• Consider the Total Rewards Package
• Salary/Bonuses
• Benefits
• Perks
• Paid time off
• Work schedule
• Just like an interview, a job offer can tell you
  a great deal about a potential employer.