Job Interviewing for Students in the Sciences

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Job Interviewing for Students in the Sciences

• Judy Brobst College of Natural Sciences
• Erin Fendrich College of Veterinary Medicine
  and BioMedical Sciences

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STRESS

• Only a fool would tell you that looking for a job
  isnt stressful. And it would take an even
  bigger fool to tell you that interviews will not
  produce stress. After all, youre in an
  unfamiliar setting, meeting strangers, risking
  your ego, and about to embark on a conversation
  that can affect the rest of your life.

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Presentation Format

• We will discuss
• Types of Interviews
• ABCs of Interviewing
• What to do Before the Interview
• Do Your Homework
• What to do During the Interview
• What to do After the Interview

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Types of Interviews

• Information Interview
• Telephone Screening
• In-Person Screening
• Selection Interview
• Work Sample Interview
• Peer Group Interview
• Behavioral Interview
• Consulting and Case Interview
• Video Interview

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Types of Interviews

• Telephone Screening used to eliminate
  candidates based on essential criteria
• In-Person Screening used to verify the
  candidates qualifications
• Information used to gather information from
  someone currently working in an you wish to
  explore

• Work Sample allows the applicant to opportunity
  to show their wares.
• Peer Group opportunity to meet and talk with
  co-workers and they evaluate the candidate
• Consulting problem posed relevant to the
  business and look for logical steps to solve

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Behavioral Interview

• Based on the premise that the most accurate
  predictor of future performance is past
  performance in a similar situation

• Situation describe a challenge you faced
  similar to the example posed by the interviewer

• Action explain the actions that you took to
  resolve the situation

• Results/Outcome detail the beneficial and
  positive outcomes that came from your initiatives

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ABCs of the Job Interview

• Always
• Beware of
• Crash and Burn

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• Always
• Research the company with a focus on customers
  and competition
• Research can be done on the internet, by reading
  annual reports, and by talking with credible
  people in the industry
• Provide examples of when you have successfully
  worked in team environments
• Demonstrate creativity and responsibility

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• Beware of
• Having an I attitude
• Dont overstate your accomplishments - be honest
• Negotiating too early
• Doing this during the job interview sends a
  message that you are more interested in money
  than the job
• Being too casual with the interview
• Recognize that the job interview starts when you
  first arrive and does not end until you are out
  the door and on your way home

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• Crash and Burn
• Displaying bad manners
• Poor etiquette and boorish manners send a message
  to the interviewer that you will behave that way
  with clients
• Demeaning your current or past employer
• It is a very small world, and reputations are
  made and broken on the basis of sometimes unknown
  relationships
• Being dishonest
• An interview is the time to put the best spin
  possible on your career, but not at the cost of
  your integrity

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Before The Interview

• Review your skills -- be positive and honor your
  achievements. Do not underestimate your skills.
  Write your top accomplishments down on paper
• Know your resume well. Look at ways that your
  qualifications meet the job description
• Are there things NOT on your resume that are
  relevant to the job?
• Recognize areas for improvement and develop a
  plan for downplaying these weaknesses in the
  interview

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Know the Specifics of the Job

• Become very familiar with the job description and
  the requirements for the position
• List the specific qualifications and requirements
  sought by the employer.
• Match these qualifications with the
  accomplishments that you already wrote down
• In order to support this, identify and list
  specific examples (quantify if possible) of your
  past accomplishments
• Be prepared to answer questions regarding gaps in
  your skill level

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Know the Employer

• You should learn as much about the company as you
  can
• Company website. Know it well!
• Company literature
• Annual reports
• Network with current employees
• Attend employer informational session at the
  Career Center, if applicable

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Do Your Homework

• News Sources
• Find general interest web sites to see what they
  say about this employer
• Find hometown newspapers on-line to read about
  this employer
• Trade Journals
• Read these for new products, find its place in
  the industry
• Industry Directories
• If you belong to a professional organization go
  to its directory

• Employers Web Sites
• Best place to see the company as it wants to be
  seen
• Check the annual report, look for press releases
• Look for the head of RD
• Research Sources
• Get vital statistics and independent perspectives
  on the employer from On-line resources
• Look at financial data, list of competitors

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During the Interview

• Arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to relax
  and complete any paperwork
• Learn the interviewers name and greet with a
  firm handshake
• Make sure you have a clear understanding of the
  job and the company
• Consider offering examples of your work

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• Structure your answers to speak to your
  qualifications, be concrete and detailed
• Be sure to answer ALL parts of a question
• Closure and timeline for decision
• Thank You and a firm handshake

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AFTER the Interview

• Write down notes after you leave the building
• Follow-up with thanks by sending a note to your
  contact

And WE
for your time Any Questions?