Interview Skills

1
Interview Skills
2
Overview

• The interview is the most important part of the
  job search process.
• Its the first opportunity to interact with a
  potential employer in person.
• This interaction will determine whether or not
  you will continue in selection process.
• Prepare prepare prepare!
• You must be convinced that the job and company
  are right for you before you can convince them
  that you are the right candidate!

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Preparation Before the Interview

• Research the company/industry thoroughly using
  information from network contacts and published
  materials. You must understand the products,
  processes, history, industry challenges, and
  people involved in each interview.
• Reread job descriptions and newspaper ads.
• Match your competencies and experiences with the
  companys needs. Identify themes that are
  relevant for the company and position including
  prior work experience, academic performance and
  extracurricular activities.
• Develop a thoughtful list of questions to ask the
  interviewer about the company, industry, and
  position.
• Prepare for open-ended introductory questions.

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Preparation Before the Interview

• Review a copy of your resume and keep a copy with
  you. However, do not pull out a copy of your
  resume during the interview unless the
  interviewer asks for another copy.
• Reconfirm interview details time, location, and
  interviewers name/position.
• Plan your outfit ahead of time!
• Project a professional image
• Dress as they dress
• Err on the conservative side
• Eliminate distractions

5
Preparation The Day of the Interview

• Check your appearance carefully.
• Give yourself a pep talk and approach the
  interview in a positive state of mind.
• Allow plenty of time to get to the interview and
  relax. Arrive 10-15 minutes early prior to set
  interview time.
• Reflect on the image you wish to project.

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At the Interview General Reminders

• Arrive on time 10 minutes early is a good rule
  of thumb.
• Greet the interviewer by the individuals last
  name in a friendly but businesslike manner.
• Introduce yourself confidently and shake hands
  firmly.
• Do not sit until invited to do so, then sit where
  asked to sit.
• Do not place anything on interviewers desk. If
  you brought a portfolio or work samples, ask may
  I? before intruding their space
• Avoid uncalled for gestures- they can be
  distracting.
• Take your cues from the interviewer.
• Let the interviewer signal the end of the
  interview.
• Be polite to EVERYONE you meet you are on stage
  from the moment you arrive until the moment you
  leave.

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Questions Legal Aspects

• The laws and regulations concerning
  pre-employment address the questions that can be
  asked and not the answers that you offer.
• It is illegal for employers to ask the following
  types of questions
• Questions about your race, religion, or ethnic
  origin.
• Where does your family come from?
• Thats an interesting last name. What
  nationality is it?
• What is your native language?
• Questions about your marital status, children, or
  future plans in that direction.
• What kind of work does your husband do?
• Do you plan to get married soon/have children?
• Questions about age.
• I see you graduated in ___. How old were you
  then?
• Questions about height, weight, health, or
  disability unless they relate to the requirements
  of the job.

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Questions Characteristics and Rating Scales

• Many questions that are asked in a competitive
  interview are predetermined to allow for fair and
  equitable interviews for all candidates. The
  questions will vary for different positions, but
  the objective is to determine the candidates
  overall fit for the position. The evaluation
  is often in the form of a numerical rating
  scale. 
• Examples of characteristics that are often rated
  are
• Experience - quality, extent, stability,
  achievement
• Education - grades, honors, extra-curricular,
  applicable training
• Appearance - dress, grooming, posture
• Attitude and manner - poise, alertness,
  personality
• Self expression - voice, fluency, comprehension,
  persuasiveness
• Job knowledge - duties, responsibilities
  (general, specific, complete)
• Motivation - goals, drive, initiative, sense of
  responsibility
• Judgment - tact, logic, soundness of reasoning
• Leadership - plan, organize, direct, coordinate,
  inspire confidence

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Questions that Probe your Past

• How you have handled a situation in the past
  tells a lot about how you will behave in the
  future. Can you guess which qualities or skills
  these questions attempt to assess?
• Give me a specific example of something you did
  that helped build enthusiasm in others.
• Give me an example of a time you had to make an
  important decision. How did you make the
  decision? How does it effect you today?
• Give an example of a time you had to persuade
  others to take action. Were you successful?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a
  difficult person. How did you handle the
  situation?
• Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple
  responsibilities. How did you organize the work
  you needed to do?

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Tough Questions

• Tell me about a time when you had to make a
  decision, but didnt have all the information you
  needed.
• Use a real anecdote from your experience
• Answer doesnt have to be great and grand. Could
  be a simple situation that was handled well.
• Could explain how you selected Salem from among
  the colleges you applied to. Were you satisfied
  with your choice? Why or why not?
• What is the biggest mistake youve made?
• Be honest. Youll show credibility and
  integrity.
• Sometimes a mistake can show youve pushed
  yourself to the limit.
• Concentrate your answer on describing what you
  LEARNED from the mistake.

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More Tough Questions

• What suggestions do you have for our company?
• Dont answer with an expected or obvious answer.
• Talk about new products you might add, ways to
  increase market share, etc. Show your
  creativity!
• What is the most significant contribution you
  made to the company during your internship?
• Tell a story about an accomplishment that added
  value to the company.
• Demonstrate initiative or resilience.
• Tell the interviewer about the options and the
  outcome of your work.

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The Big Finish Questions to Ask the Interviewer

• What sort of training will the person in this
  position receive? Who will this person work with
  primarily? What will be some initial projects?
• Is this a new position or one that has been
  recently vacated? If recently vacated, was the
  person who held the position promoted or did they
  leave the company?
• What is a typical career path for someone who
  begins at this level? Where could I expect to be
  in 5 years?
• What key qualities would the ideal candidate for
  this position possess?
• What do you like best about working for this
  organization?
• Describe the office environment and how
  individuals work and communicate.
• What opportunities do entry-level employees have
  for creative input/decision-making?
• How are employees evaluated? How is performance
  rewarded?

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Its not just what you say

• Watch the tone, quality, and volume of your
  voice.
• Make sure it conveys efficiency, warmth, and
  pleasantness.
• Guard against sloppy language.
• Avoid slang and other non-professional language.
• Speak the language of your chosen field.
• Read trade publications and business magazines to
  familiarize yourself with the buzz words of your
  field.
• Organize your thoughts and rehearse expressing
  them.
• Plan your presentation ahead. This gives you
  more control over the way information is being
  presented.
• Become aware of non-verbal communications.
• Make sure that appropriate eye contact and other
  non-verbal messages are congruent with verbal
  messages.

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Interview Dos

• Research the company and ask intelligent
  questions
•  Be prompt
•  Have a firm handshake
•  Respond to questions emphatically
•  Smile develop rapport
•  Maintain a positive attitude
•  Speak in a clear, strong voice
•  Make eye contact
•  Show openness and a willingness to learn
•  Be enthusiastic and energetic

•  Maintain a sense of humor
•  Be courteous, tactful, and polite
•  Be candid show honesty and integrity
•  Be prepared for obvious questions
•  Focus on the future
•  Dress to impress
•  Be inquisitive
•  Ask for the job
•  Sit straight and dont fidget

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Interview Donts

• Express radical ideas
• Question salary and benefits
• Make assessments during the interview
• Arrive too early (over 10 minutes)
• Arrive too late (exact time of interview)
• Wear large, flashy jewelry or too-short skirts
• Wear heavy perfume
• Forget to send a thank you note immediately!

• Forget to do your research
• Be overbearing, conceited
• Be evasive or hedge questions
• Condemn past employers
• Show dislike for school or town
• Emphasize who you know
• Discuss controversial issues
• Use slang and non-professional language
• Try to control the interview
• Cancel an interview
• Be unwilling to start at the bottom