The Art of Interviewing: Winning the Job You Want

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The Art of InterviewingWinning the Job (You
Want)

• Lynn Wecker, Ph.D.
• Distinguished University Professor
• Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Medicine
• University of South Florida College of Medicine

EB Workshop 8 April 2008
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The Purpose of the Interview
Is this a place where I would like to be?
Do we want her?
Remember that the interview is a fact-finding
mission for both sides.
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The Interview A Two-Way Street
Their goal To determine whether you have all the
best qualities and skills the institution needs
to be successful. How do you present
yourself? What research and teaching experience
do you have? What are your short- and long-term
goals? Are you results and performance driven?
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The Interview A Two-Way Street
Your goal To determine whether you want this
position at this institution Is this a place
where I would like to work? What is the culture
like and do I fit in? How long have faculty been
here? What are attitudes towards women and
minorities? What is expected of me? Do my goals
and attitudes match those of other faculty? What
are the values of the institution?
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The Preface
Many questions can and should be answered prior
to your interview. Do your homework!!!!
Identifying the scientific strengths/weaknesses
of the institution and research support
infrastructure is easy. Discovering the values,
attitudes, and culture is more difficult.
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What is the institution seeking?

• Most institutions today are using
  competency-based interviews to determine which
  individual best fills their needs.
• Candidates are evaluated based on competencies,
  technical expertise, work history references.
• Competency-based interviews
• use behavioral questions to help interviewers
  evaluate candidates based on critical
  competencies identified for a particular position
• are based on the theory that the best predictor
  of future behavior is past behavior

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What are competencies?

• a description of measurable work habits and
  skills used to achieve an objective
• characteristics, behavior, knowledge, and skills
  required to differentiate performance
• key characteristics held by the most successful
  performers that help them achieve success

habits and skills you have developed that have
enabled you to achieve your objectives
success factors
competencies
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The Top 10 competencies

• initiative
• integrity
• information seeking
• interpersonal understanding
• impact influence
• conceptual thinking

• achievement/results oriented
• customer service orientation
• organizational awareness
• analytical thinking

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Thoughts
One of the most frequently used competencies is
motivation to achieve
Are you results and performance driven? Are you
goal-oriented? Are you relentlessly focused? Do
you think creatively? Do you remain persistent
when you encounter obstacles?
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The Plan
identify the relevant competencies required for
the position and be prepared to answer questions
with a focus on these attributes

• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• teaching/mentoring
• research
• How did you approach it?
• creativity
• analytical and conceptual thinking
• information seeking
• What obstacles did you have to overcome?
• be objective as we all have weaknesses
• What did you learn from this experience and how
  have you used what you've learned?
• increased awareness, understanding

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Introspection - Know thyself
Who are you? What are your strengths and
weaknesses? What are you looking for? Where do
you want to be in 5 years? Where do you want to
be in 10 years? Will this institution provide
the environment for me to reach my goals?
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Always Remember

• how well you perform on the interview provides
  the interviewers an idea of the quality of work
  they can expect from you in the future
• the best predictor of future behavior is past
  behavior

Good Luck !!!