Mastering the Art of Interviewing

Career Center

Qualifications and the Interview

  “Was I judged on my qualifications for the job or on how well I performed in the interview?” Careful preparation and effective communication could give the applicant an edge over the competition and help the applicant get that job.

Advantages to Being Prepared

   If you know what you want to say ahead of time, you can usually articulate it better.

If you know something about the organization to which you are applying, you will have a better idea as to how to frame questions and answers.

Being prepared will give you more confidence and boost your overall performance.

How to Prepare:

         Write out answers to sample questions Videotapes Give answers to friend, mirror, tape recorder Attend professional events Practice Interview Mock Interview Research the company or organization that is interviewing you Ask people you know questions about the organization you are applying to Next comes library and internet research

What to look for:

       Age of the organization Products or Services it offers Past and anticipated growth Current problems or needs Location of plants, offices, and stores Does it have a parent organization or subsidiaries?

Identify information which coincides with your education, interests, or experiences.

What to Look For: (cont.)

       Key people in the organization Size in terms of sales and employees Organizational structure of the company Major competitors Reputation Assets and earnings Types of customers

Keep In Mind

    Why do you want to work for this organization?

What interests you about the products or services the organization provides?

What do you know about the organization?

Why do you think you would like this job?

Find Out Ahead of Time

 Salary information: range   Nature of the position: the organization duties involved, and how the position fits into the overall structure of Information about your interviewer: name, title, pronunciation, and position * When you are finished with your research, draw up a list of questions on the organization or position

Review Your R ésumé and Portfolio

  Review your résumé: -find what you want to highlight in your interview -pick most relevant experiences and note these on a separate piece of paper -note personal strengths or accomplishments not mentioned in your résumé -recall any positive work habits developed at work or in school Review your portfolio: -leave only the most relevant examples of your work in it add any pertinent information -determine how these might be presented during the interview

Self-Confidence

  Mental preparation is just as important as library/internet research. A self-confident applicant communicates to the interviewer by demeanor as well as words.

The Day Before the Interview

  Decide what you are going to wear and lay it out.

Have all your materials organized and ready to go.

 Schedule sufficient travel time to allow you 5-10 minutes in the waiting room.

* you may want to travel to the location the day before to be sure you know where you’re going.

Dress to Impress

           Men Clean, pressed business suit Light shirt Conservative tie Matching socks Shined shoes Clean, trimmed head and facial hair Fresh shave Minimal or no cologne No food, gum, or cigarettes Clean nails Empty pockets           Women Clean, pressed suit or tailored dress Conservative hosiery without runs Polished pumps in good repair Carry either a purse or attache case Attractive, controlled hair style Minimal make-up and perfume Moderate jewelry Clean fingernails with no chipped polish No gum, food, or cigarettes Positive attitude

What to Bring:

       Portfolio Extra resumes Transcript List of references 3-5 key strengths List of questions Interview portfolio - if you have one

Behavior-Based Interviewing (BBI)

   Behavior-based interviewing is based on the premise that an applicant’s past behavior will predict how he or she will respond in similar situations in the future.

BBI focuses on determining how you, the interviewee, have actively applied your skills.

The interviewer is looking for proof that you can demonstrate the desired capabilities in the real world.

The BBI Process

   The interviewer’s questions will be designed to elicit detailed descriptions from you on how you handled yourself in certain situations. BBI challenges you to recall (in detail) what you did, thought, and felt in key situations as if you were reliving them.

This helps the interviewer better understand your thought process, decision-making skills, and emotional state- as well as the results of your actions.

How to Respond:

    You will be expected to give detailed, but focused, descriptions of actual circumstances.

Expect to think-often in painstaking detail under pressure.

Take your time in formulating your response.

Be thorough, yet direct.

Create a S.T.A.R. story

   

Situation

: describe an overview of the situation

Task

: talk about the task

Action

: describe the action you took

Result

: positive result

    

Commonly Asked Questions in the BBI Interview

Describe a creative/innovative idea that you produced which led to a significant contribution to the success of an activity or project.

What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role?

Tell me about a suggestion you made to improve the way job processes/operations worked. What was the result?

What are three effective leadership qualities you think are important? How have you demonstrated these qualities in your past/current situation?

Give me a specific example of a time when you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the subsequent situation?

Stages of the Interview

    Introductory Stage: 2-5 minutes Qualification/Background Assessment Stage: 15-20 minutes Organizational Information Stage: 10-20 min.

Termination Stage: 1-2 minutes

Introductory Stage

    Shake hands Use interviewer’s name Assure interviewer has resume Project positive attitude-enthusiasm

Qualification/Background Assessment Stage

      Questions regarding goals, objectives, education, experience, interests, activities Listen actively Watch for cues for feedback Pride in past performances Answer complete, clear, concise, true No “yes” or “no” answers

Common Interview Questions

           Tell me a little about yourself: Why are you interested in working for this organization? Why have you chosen this particular field?

Describe your best/worst boss.

What is your major strength/weakness?

Give me an example of a problem you encountered either in school or at work, explain how you solved it.

Where do you see yourself in three years?

Describe an experience in which you worked as a part of a team.

If you could be an animal, which would it be and why?

What was the last book you read?

Do you have any questions for me?

 More Questions

Organizational Information Stage

  Listen.

Clarify any questions about job organization.

*What aspects of the job would you like to see improved?

* What are the key challenges and/or problems facing the person in the position?

*Is there room for professional growth and upward mobility?

*When, how, and by whom would I be evaluated? What are the performance criteria?

*What is the department’s environment/culture like?

 Prepare 3 Thought-Provoking questions.

Questions to Ask

   How do you like working for XYZ organization/company?

How are new projects or jobs determined or evaluated?

Tell me about your background and how working at XYZ has helped satisfy your career desires.

Termination Stage

 Briefly summarize your strongest qualifications   Express enthusiasm for the job Make certain you understand the next step (follow-up interview, etc.)  Thank the interviewer *Make sure you have the interview’s name and address so you can send a thank you letter.

Interviewing Rule of Three

    List three strengths List three weakness List three reasons why an employer should hire you List three reasons why you want the job

Interview Checklist

           Research Practice Be prompt and prepared Act professionally Converse Be enthusiastic Thank the interviewer Follow-up Write a thank you letter to anyone you have spoken to Review the interview process and your performance Evaluate

Thank You for Coming!

Career Center 201 Behmler Hall 589-6065 http://www.morris.umn.edu/services/career/