Interviewing Tips

1
Interviewing Tips

• How to Plan, Prepare, and Deliver

2
Looking for a new job

• Its All About Networking!
• PMI Meetings
• LinkedIn.com
• Former Personal and Professional Contacts
• Head Hunters
• Industry Specific Networking Groups
• Traditional Methods
• Career/Job Sites (PMI, Local Chapter Sites,
  Monster, CareerBuilder, TheLadders, Dice, etc.)
• Company Websites
• Local Community and State Programs

3
Preparing for the interview

• Research
• Figure Out Who You Know There
• Search People on LinkedIn
• Talk to the Admin or HR Doing Your Scheduling
• Know Everything on the Company Website
• Newspapers, Trade Magazines
• Find Out EVERYTHING You Can About the People You
  Will Interview With
• Find Out About the Culture
• Have GREAT References
• Ask Permission
• Prepare Them
• Use LinkedIn

4
Preparing for the interview

• Preparing Your Resume
• Customize to the Job
• Dont Have a Book (Keep to 1-3 Pages)
• Leave Something for the Interview, but Stay
  Relevant to the Position
• Highlight Relevant Skills and How You Used Them
• Highlight What YOU Did Not the Company,
  Project, or Team
• Resume Must Substantiate Your Listed Competencies
• Proofread Your Resume, Again and Again!
• Have Others Read Your Resume and Give Feedback
• Consider Hiring a Professional
• Bring Samples
• Presentations
• Schedules
• Project Management Plans
• If You Dont Have Any, Make Some Up!
• Nothing better than showing through a
  presentation that you know the concepts that
  matter to them
• Dont show those that dont matter to the
  interviewer

5
Preparing for the interview

• Preparing Yourself
• Believe that You Deserve the Job and Are
  Qualified
• But make sure you really are!!
• If you dont believe it, they wont!
• Be confident, not arrogant!
• Dress to Impress, But Dont Forget the Culture
• Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
• Be Honest
• Emphasize Your Eagerness to Learn from Mistakes
• Find Someone to Mock Interview You
• Use Organizations/Forums Like Toastmasters to
  Sharpen Your Speaking Skills
• Run Through Scenarios and Plan for Them

6
Interviewing Tips

• If You Arent Very Interested, Dont Go!
• The Interviewer Will Sense This and Disengage
• Dont Yawn!! Nervous Habit for Some, but Very
  Bad!
• Read the Interviewer Let Them Drive
• Adjust Your Approach When Its Not Working
• Answer the Questions, Check for Understanding
• Take Breaks in Talking
• Engage Eye Contact, Sit Tall, Lean Forward
• Have GREAT Questions Prepared
• Have GREAT Answers Prepared