Joe Scott, Assistant Director

1
PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

• Joe Scott, Assistant Director
• joscott_at_rci.rutgers.edu
• Rutgers Career Services
• Career Interview Center

2
WHAT WE WILL COVER TODAY

• Purpose of Interviews
• Types of Interviews
• Preparing for the Interview
• Interview Structure
• Typical Questions
• Next Steps

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PURPOSE OF INTERVIEW(Employer Perspective)

• Do you have the skills to do the job?
• Will you fit into the organizations culture?
• Are you motivated to do the job?
• Will you stay?

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PURPOSE OF INTERVIEW(Candidate Perspective)

• Learn about the organization
• Determine if you fit into the culture
• Get the job offer

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INTERVIEW TYPES

• Screening/Human Resources
• Behavioral
• Group
• Phone/Video

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PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW

• Research find out what is happening in your
  career field and the particular company you will
  be interviewing with
• Preparation identify what you have to offer the
  company and prepare for common interview
  questions

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RESEARCH

• Organization
• Organization website, literature, and Kilmer
  Library
• Services, products, locations, divisions and
  competitors
• Recent news, new product launches, mergers
• Organization strengths
• Trends in the Profession
• Career publications, professional organizations
  and networking
• Other Tools
• www.rileyguide.com/The Rutgers Online Career
  Library

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PREPARATION

• Selling Points
• Character Traits
• Practice Interviewing

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SELLING POINTS

• Technical skills, advanced training
• Management/supervision experience
• Awards
• Customer service ability
• Advanced coursework
• Special projects
• Internships
• Volunteer, community service, activities

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CHARACTER TRAITS

• Team Player
• Adaptable
• Good judgement
• Quick thinker
• Ethical
• Leadership
• Communication verbal written
• Attention to detail

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NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Attire/appearance
• Hand shake/Eye contact/Posture
• Hand gestures

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PRACTICE INTERVIEWING

• Mock Interview
• Interview Stream, Virtual Mock Interview
• Career Services Guide (sample questions)
• Career Resource Center Publications

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INTERVIEW PROCESS

• Warm up - Rapport Building
• Questions/Dialog
• Questions from interviewee
• Wrap-up
• Follow-up

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WARM-UP

• How about this weather?
• How about the Super Bowl Champion New York
  Giants?
• How are your classes going?

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QUESTIONS/DIALOGUE

• Traditional
• Traditional interview questions focus on your
  educational background, work experience,
  activities, skills, etc.
• Behavioral
• Behavioral interviews focus on specific past
  behaviors, Describe a time when..
• Past behavior is the best predictor of future
  performance

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TRADITIONAL QUESTIONS

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you choose Rutgers?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Why did you choose this profession?
• Why should I hire you?
• What do you know about us?
• What is your biggest weakness?

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BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS

• Describe a major problem you have faced and how
  you dealt with it.
• Describe a situation where 10 different things
  had to get done at once and how you handled it.
• Use the P.A.R. system (Problem-Action-Result) in
  answering these types of questions

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QUESTIONS FROM INTERVIEWEE

• What kind of assignments might I expect in the
  first six months?
• What skills are important for someone in this
  position?
• How would you describe the ideal candidate for
  this position?
• What do you like most about working for the
  company?

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INTERVIEW WRAP-UP

• Express interest in the position
• Clarify next steps
• Get business card
• Send thank you letter

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NEXT STEPS

• Make an appointment at any Career Services office
  to conduct a Mock Interview (option to be
  video-taped)
• Use Interview Stream, Virtual Mock Interview
  self assessment