Interviewing Tips

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Interviewing Tips

• Why should I hire you?

Marquettte Career Services Center, Holthusen Hall
1st Floor 414-288-5304 Career.services_at_marquette
.edu
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Employers Concerns

• Do you look the part professional
• Can you be counted onresponsible
• Can you perform Job done well
• Will you work hard above and beyond?
• What will you bring to the table.
• What else do you have to offer, academics being
  equal with other candidates

3
First Impressions

• Get there early
• Treat receptionist with respect
• Formal greeting Use Mr. or Ms. Or just say
• nice to meet you.
• Firm handshake Firmnot hard
• Polished shoes Shows attention to detail
• Confident smile Everyone likes a smile
• Good eye contact Shows confidence

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What to Bring

• Padfolio
• Extra copies of resume
• Official Transcript
• List of References
• At least six questions, written out, to
• ask interviewer
• Pen and paper to use to take notes,
• especially after interview

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Appearance

• Quality suit/natural fabrics
• Minimal jewelry/fragrances
• Conservative/neutral colors (ok to have a
  brighter scarf or tie)
• Professional looking accessories (not your
• back-pack from freshman year)
• Tailored and pressed garments
• Polished shoes

6

Personality

• What are your traits?
• Honest, trustworthy and reliable?
• Sense of humor? Preferred by someone
• working next to you
• Ability to listen?as important as talking
• Likability factor?dont be so nervous you cant
  show your wit or humor
• Adaptable to company culturewill you fit?

7
Interview Preparation

• Research organization (visit employer website,
  talk to people.)
• Prepare 3-6 thought-out questions.
• Write notes before interview.
• Practice interviewing. (Do a mock interview or
  use InterviewStream in
• Career Services)
• Attend pre-meeting for on-campus interviews, if
  offered.

8
Responding to Questions

• Be yourself never put on an act
• Answer honestly and as directly
• and sincerely as possible
• Focus on positive dont point out
• weaknesses (until asked)
• If you talk quickly, count to three before
• answering
• Talk about what you have to OFFER the
• organization.

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• WHY
• SHOULD
• An Employer
• HIRE
• Y U ?

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• Because
• I have KNOWLEDGE,
• SKILLS and
• STRENGTHS
• to offer!!!

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• Back up everything with
• EXAMPLES

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• Job-Content Skills
• Knowledge learned from majoring in a particular
  area (i.e. nursing, accounting, engineering,
  computers),
• AND/OR
• Hands-on experience and application in your major
  gained through an internship, volunteer or
  part-time experience

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Transferable Skills

• Positions in every field needs these skills
• They come out of an AS based education and
• They TRANSFER !
• ABILITY TO
• write effectively
• speak well
• research
• analyze
• critique
• problem solve
• Etc.

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Personal Characteristics
Individual strengths that are natural to your
personality or that come out of
experience

• Reliability
• energy leadership
• work ethic
• initiative
• confidence
• self-discipline

• creativity
• resourcefulness
• motivation
• interpersonal skills
• flexibility
• organization
• leadership ability

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What Do You Have to Offer?

• What are your strengths?
• (You have more than threechoose
  most career-related)
• Talk about how you developed the strength
  prove that you have it by giving an example
  when you used it.
• What arent you good at (weakness)
• Think about what you wish you did
  better, what are you
• not so strong in, but are taking
  measures to better yourself.

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Behavioral InterviewingProve It

• Present concrete situations
• Back up everything you say with examples
• Quantify data if possible
• Emphasize successful results
• Relate your strengths to the question
• AND explain where you developed that strength!

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Typical Behavorial Questions

• Tell me about a difficult situation and how
• you dealt with it. PAR Problem, Action, Result
• Tell me about your most satisfying position or
  accomplishment your least satisfying
• Tell me about a time when you went above and
  beyond what was expected
• Describe what you think would be an ideal
• relationship between a supervisor and
• employee

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Other Common Questions

• Describe yourself (in terms of your career when
  you
• Became interested in your field, why you chose
  your major, what a great education you got at MU
  internships? future goals? Where does this
  position fit in? and maybe add a couple
  interesting hobbies or activities that you are
  involved in.)
• Why are you interested in our organization
• What do you know about our company
• What did you learn from part-time, co-op or
  internship experiences?
• Professional goals in five years?

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Answering Problem Questions

• Answer briefly.
• Acknowledge the facts.
• Try to turn negative into positive.
• (example low grade point average)
• Yes, my grade point is lower than I would like.
  However, I had to work 25 hours a week off-campus
  to finance my tuition. This didnt allow as much
  study time as I would have liked.

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Salary Negotiations

• NEVER initiate salary discussions
• Know salary RANGE
• If likely salary is 35k, say mid to high-thirties
  
• Most employers wont be in a position to
  negotiate -- entry-level salaries are typically
  established well in advanced

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Questioning the Interviewer

• You will be evaluated on the questions
• you ask
• Never ask about salary or benefits until the
  employer brings it up or a job offer exists
• Avoid asking questions available in company
  literature
• End with this question What is your timeline
  for filling the position?

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Closing the Interview

• Reiterate interest in position
• Ask for the job! (if youd like it)
• (Now that Ive talked to you, Im even more
  convinced that I am a good match for this
  position. Please seriously consider me as I
  would love this job.)
• Establish follow up procedures
• Write thank you note to all interviewers
• Judge whether an e-mail will suit the employer
  better or a more formal handwritten card. Mention
  something you may have forgotten

23
Evaluate Your Interview

• If you dont feel you did well
• Think about how you could have answered the
  questions differently.
• Remember Practice Makes Perfect!

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Final Interview Tips

• Dont talk too much
• Watch nervous mannerisms
• Be on time
• Be friendly and enthusiastic
• Wear a suit!!!
• Be confident!
• Knock em dead!!!