Preparing for the Employment Interview

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Preparing for the Employment Interview
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Identify the 1 Obstacle to Your Getting a Job

• Write it down on the paper in front of you,
• Then

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Agenda

• The Resume
• Scheduling the Interview
• What you should know before the interview
• What is your goal in the interview? Developing
  Your Interview Strategy.
• Questions your interviewer may ask you
• Questions to ask your interviewer
• Body Language Cues
• The Interview
• Dos and Donts
• 10 Biggest Job Interview Blunders
• Invest in Yourself and Keep Yourself Up-to-Date

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The Resume

• A good resume will not get you a job offer
  but will help get you an interview.
• Some tips
• Important, but not critical, to limit the
  resume to one
• page
• Chronological order by job, most recent job
  first
• Dont go back more than 15 years unless to show
  experience or skills critical to job being
  applied for
• Focus on job functions, responsibilities and
  accomplishments that align with job being applied
  for. Dont just describe activities.
• Be specific, where possible- increased sales X,
  managed Y people, reduced expenses Z.
• Use short, descriptive phrases, not extensive and
  wordy text

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• What you should know before the interview
• What position are you interviewing for?
• Who is the employer? What industry, size,
  history?
• Who will be interviewing you? Human Resources,
  your manager, co-worker?
• Research the company and industry. Read the
  companys mission statement.

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• What is your goal in the interview? Developing
  Your Interview Strategy
• You must understand the objective you want to
  achieve.
• Market yourself- you are the product you want
  your prospective employer to invest in. You will
  help solve the companys problem. Focus on how
  the company will benefit by hiring you, not how
  you will benefit.
• What are the most important 3, 4, 5 aspects of
  your character, abilities, talents and skills
  (CATS)? Are they critical for the job?

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CATS Inventory

• My CATS CATS Interviewer
• 
  Desires
• 1. 1.
• 2. 2.
• 3. 3.
• 4. 4.
• 5. 5.
• Do your CATS equal or exceed the CATS required
  for the job?

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Tips for Answering Questions Try to use
the key words when describing your skills
accountable, responsible, reliable, honest,
committed, dedicated, hard-working, loyal, team
player, trustworthy, well-organized, quick
learner, persistent, creative, innovative,
resourceful, pro-active, flexible, adaptable,
competitive, like to be challenged, multi-tasker,
responsive, decisive, problem solver,
experienced, goal-oriented, drive for results,
handle ambiguity, meet deadlines, leadership
qualities, detail-oriented, tactful,
self-confident. Give examples from your
employment history and experience to support
your response.
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SAY Your Interview Strategy S-promote
your SKILLS A- validate your skills with ACTUAL
examples Y- focus on how to help YOU (the
employer)
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Questions Your Interviewer May Ask You

• ??????????

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General Questions 1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Anything on your resume. 3. How will
this company benefit by hiring you? 4. Why do
you want to work at this company? 5. What in
your experience indicates you are a
good candidate for this job?
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General Questions (cont.) 6. What do
you hope to find out during the interview process
that will help you decide whether you want to
work at this company? 7. What do you feel is
your greatest accomplishment? Why?
8. What are your strongest job-related
skills? 9. What job-related skill do you feel is
your greatest development opportunity?
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General Questions (cont.) 10.
What attracts you to this type of work? 11. What
motivates you to do a good job? 12. What do you
do outside work? 13. Where do you see yourself
five years from now? 14. Why should we select
you over other top candidates?
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(No Transcript)
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Job-Related Questions 1. What do you think this
job entails and what might you like or dislike
about the work. 2. How would you respond to a
customer, client, or employee who complains to
you 3. How would you respond to a co-worker who
complains to you about a manager or company
policies or procedures?
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Job-Related Questions (cont.) 4. You have
an employee who doesnt appear to be working
hard. How do you motivate that employee to
improve performance? 5. How do you handle
constructive criticism given to you?
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Job-Related Questions (cont.)
Questions about Your Previous Job 6.
Describe a conflict you had with a colleague and
how you resolved it. 7. Tell me about a time
you saw room for improvement in some area of your
work or a process that could be more efficient.
How did you make the necessary changes?
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Job-Related Questions (cont.) 8. Describe
a time when you had 2 bosses telling you to do
conflicting tasks. How did you handle it? 9.
Tell me about a time where your job required you
to do a task that you did not know how to do. How
did you get it done?
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Job-Related Questions (cont.) 10. How did
you handle criticism from your boss? Did you
welcome feedback and discussion about your job
performance? 11. Did you ever hire or fire
anyone? 12. What didnt you like about your
previous job?
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Job-Related Questions (cont.)

• 13. Tell me about a difficult situation you
  encountered at school or at a previous job and
  how did you resolve it.
• 14. Tell me something you failed at and what you
  learned from that failure.

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• Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

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Questions to Ask Your Interviewer 1. What are
the top three tasks you want me to perform after
being hired? 2. Why did you choose this company
and why do you like working here? 3. Is there
room for growth and advancement? 4. What advice
do you wish you had received when you started
working here?
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• Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
• (cont.)
• 5. Where do you think this company will be in
  5-10 years?
• 6. Are there opportunities for professional
  training or further education so that I can be a
  more effective employee?
• 7. How will I be evaluated and by whom?
• 8. What is the general culture of the company?

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Questions to Ask Your Interviewer (cont.) 9.
Are there other job responsibilities not
mentioned in the ad? 10. Do you have a mentoring
program? Volunteering program? 11. What do you
expect me to accomplish short term and long term?
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Questions to Ask Your Interviewer(cont.)

• 12. When will you be making a decision on the
  successful candidate?
• 13. May I call you if other questions arise?

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• More Interview Tips

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Body Language

• The unconscious outward reflection of internal
  feelings
• The Definitive Book of Body Language Allan And
  Barbara Pease

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The Body Language Cues Your Cues
Make a good first impression Use the
interviewers name Make and keep eye
contact. Lean slightly forward when speaking
Sit facing the interviewer. Dont cross legs
(men) or fold arms Nod your head The
Interviewers Cues Impatience Lack of
interest and focus
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The Interview Let
interviewer complete question. Respond and
react to what the interviewer says
Dont interrupt. Be enthusiastic and
energetic. Talk as if youre going to work for a
long time Are you passionate about something on
your resume? Part-time job, accomplishment?
Show passion when discussing it.
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Dos lt Do be nice to the
receptionist lt Do shine your shoes lt Do turn
off your cell phone lt Do have extra copies
of your resume lt Do send a thank you note
or email within a day of the interview
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Donts Dont be
late Dont dress casually, unless told
beforehand (dont ask) Dont take notes
during the interview Dont ask about benefits
in the first interview Dont order
spaghetti at a lunch interview
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• Top 10 Interview Mistakes

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Top 10 Interview Mistakes

• 10. Criticizing your previous boss
• 9. Not showing energy and enthusiasm
• 8. Not researching the company interviewing you

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Top 10 Interview Mistakes(cont.)

• 7. Talking too much about what you want and not
  how you will benefit the company
• 6. Not rehearsing answers to tough questions

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Top 10 Interview Mistakes(cont.)

• 5. Not differentiating yourself from your
  competition
• 4. Thinking you have all the answers
• 3. Not making a good first impression

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Top 10 Interview Mistakes(cont.)

• 2. Going to the interview without a strategy as
  to how you will get the job
• 1. Not being prepared

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Invest in Yourself

• Keep yourself up-to-date
• Professional, industry journals
• Webcasts
• Books, tapes
• Seminars, lectures
• Internships
• Adult education courses
• Organization memberships
• Certifications
• Pursue outside interests
• Hobbies, volunteering

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Final, Pre-Interview Checklist

• Do I have my strategy clear do I know what to
  SAY?
• Am I confident and prepared??
• Do I look professional?
• Is my energy level up?
• Am I ready to make a great first impression?

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Summary

• Develop your strategy
• CATS inventory 3-5 critical CATS
• Just SAY it!
• Practice for the tough ones
• Use the key words
• Avoid the Interview Mistakes
• Dos and Donts
• Invest in yourself
• Ask for the job
• Remember

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Get the Job!