How to be Interviewed

1
How to be Interviewed

• Southwest Minnesota State University
• Career Services, BA 156
• 507-537-6221
• www.southwestMSU.edu/CampusLife/CareerServices

2
Objectives

• Learn how to quickly attract an interviewers
  interest by matching your skills, interests and
  experiences with the requirements of the position
• Gain skills in how to answer key questions asked
  by interviews
• Learn how to ask the right questions
• Learn some techniques for follow up
• Practice interviewing in a structured rehearsal
  and get feedback

3
3 Stages of the Interview Process

• Preparing for the interview
• The actual interview
• The follow up
• All of these stages are crucial to getting an
  offer!
• Less than 1 of people conduct any research
  prior to the interview

4
Preparation will help you

• Market your strengths
• Match your skills and experiences with the
  position
• Gain confidence
• Increase communication skills and polish
  interviewing responses
• If you dont know where you are going---you
  might end up
• somewhere else. Source Unknown

5
Research the Position

• What skills are required?
• What knowledge will the interviewers be looking
  for?
• What experiences are needed to perform this
  position?

You can find this information online, in the job
description or through your contacts at the
company.
6
Research the Company

• Find out the mission statement of the company?
• Read press releases and news articles?
• Look over the companys website?
• Find out the companys work culture?
• What is the history of the company?
• Who owns the company?
• What are the companys major products, services
  and competitors?

7
Research Yourself

• What are your strengths?
• What are your opportunities for improvement?
• How does your education support the position you
  are seeking?
• What are your short and long term goals?
• What are your interests?
• What awards/recognition have your previously
  received
• What are your experiences?

8
Match Yourself to the Position

• Ask yourself the following questions
• How do your strengths and education relate to the
  position?
• How will your skills and experiences make you
  successful in the position?
• How do your short and long term goal relate to
  the company?
• How do you fit the needs of the company?
• What benefit can you bring to the company?

9
Practice for the Interview

• What you say and how you say it will help
• determine if you get the position

What you Say Interviewers look to see if you
have the skills they need based on your answers.
How you Say It Interviews pick up on your non
verbal communication. Tone, Pitch, Posture, Eye
Contact, Dress, etc.
10
Behavioral Interviewing

• What is Behavioral Interviewing?
• The philosophy behind behavioral interviewing is
  that past performance is an accurate predictor of
  future performance
• The questions force you to give specific examples
  of experiences that demonstrate particular skills
• Examples.

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Preparing for Behavioral Questions

• Determine the skills the employer is seeking
• Remember your research of the position
• Refer to the Skills Traits handout for examples
• Formulate examples from work, internships,
  classes, team involvement, community service,
  etc..
• Pick examples that demonstrate skills the job
  will require

12
Answering Behavioral Questions

• The process of answering these questions is very
• important.
• Tip Use the STAR approach. Briefly give the
• Situation or Task
• Action
• Result or outcome

13
Canned Questions

• Canned questions are standard questions that
• interviewers use to determine general information
• about a candidate
• Match your responses and experiences to the needs
  of the employer.
• Identify your skills and abilities that fit
  with the position and the company

14
Frequently Asked Questions

• Tell me about yourself.
• What two or three accomplishments have given you
  the most satisfaction? Why?
• What are your top three strengths? Weaknesses?
  Give me an example of each.
• What are your short and long term goals?
• Tell me about a time you have failed?
• Give me an example of how youve dealt with a
  difficult customer?

15
Questions to Ask Interviewer

• Develop a list of thought provoking questions to
• ask the interviewer
• What is the most challenging aspect of the
  position?
• How do you see this position growing over the
  next couple of years?
• What kind of opportunities will I have to grow
  within the company?
• How would you describe your management style?
• What kind of training and development
  opportunities do employees have?
• DO NOT ask about the salary on the first
  interview

16
The Actual Interview

• First impressions are critical for the interview!
• Fast Facts
• On average the interviewer makes a decision on
  the candidate within the first 4 minutes
• 95 of the time, the initial decision did not
  change by the end of the interview
• Interviewers seek information to substantiate
  their first impression

17
Things to Remember

• Carry a professional folder and non click pen
• Bring extra copies of your resume
• Bring reference page
• Have 3-5 written questions for the interviewer
• Arrive 10 minutes early
• Dress professionally no perfume/cologne
• If appropriate, bring your portfolio
• The rule of 13
• Whether you think you can or think you
  cantyoure right. Ford

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Dos and Donts

• Give a firm handshake
• Answer the questions askedboth succinctly and
  honestly
• Make good eye contact
• Be confident and enthusiasticsmile
• Ask the interviewer for a business card (for
  follow up)
• Dont fidget
• Avoid We and They StatementsThe interviewer
  is interested in what youve accomplished

19
Dos and Donts

• Dont speak to quickly
• Dont speak to loudly or softly
• Dont ask about salary at the first interview
• Match your answers to the research youve done
  about yourself, the position and the company
• Rememberthe company is interviewing you but you
  are also interviewing the company

20
The Follow Up

• Now the interview is overyou can do one more
• thing to show the employer you are interested in
• the company and the position.
• SEND A THANK YOU
• Formal letter
• Thank you note
• Email
• 99 of the population neglect to send a thank
  you note

21
Thank you Letters

• Guidelines for writing a Thank You Letter
• Make sure your letter is concise and to the point
• Double check for spelling and grammar errors
• Spell the interviewer (s) names correctly (use
  the business card you requested to verify
  spelling)
• Refer to the Thank You Letter Guideline handout

22
Follow Up Call

• When to make the follow up phone call
• If you have some additional questions about the
  position or company
• OR
• If the date the interviewer has indicated they
  would follow up with you has past, you may
  contact them

23
Need Practice?

• Schedule a practice interview with a Career
  Counselor at Career Services
• Stop by BA 156 or call 507-537-6221
• Watch Interviewing Tips and Prep Videos
• Go to SouthwestMSU.edu/CampusLife/CareerServices
• Click on
• Practice on Interview Stream
• Go to SouthwestMSU.edu/CampusLife/CareerServices
• Click on