Transcript Their presentation can be here.

Interviewing
Desiree Galenti & Beilee Tracey
Northrop Grumman
SDSU
March 2010
Who is Northrop Grumman?
 Leading
government
defense
contractor
 Provider of
cutting edge
technologies
and capabilities
that ensure the
safety of our
nation and its
allies
 120,000+
employees
 Presence in 50
states and 27
countries
 Over $30 billion
in sales
Topics
The résumé
Interview Preparation
What to wear (and not!)
Types of Interviews
The Interview
Practice Questions
Where to look for guidance
Additional Resources
The Résumé
Important Points to consider about your resume:
• Bring hard copies of your resume to the interview
• Be CLEAR, CONCISE and CONSISTENT
• Tailor your resume to the specific job you are interviewing for
– Make sure you highlight the accomplishments that are most relevant to the
position you are applying for
• Make sure your resume accurately represents your abilities and
accomplishments
You should look at your resume as a test!
The Résumé
Should contain
– Contact information (email, alternative phonecurrent!!)
– Your Graduation Date
– Your GPA
– Pertinent Classes
– Projects related to career path
• Remember to list your role in the team:
i.e.: Team Lead
– Internships (paid and unpaid)
– Technical skills
– Student Organizations- can list under extracurricular section
Showcase your accomplishments NOT your tasks!
Tailor your résumé
– Have several versions
Make it scannable– Do not get fancy i.e.: type setting
– Bullets
– Underlining
Have your resume reviewed for errors
Interview Preparation
• Research industry
• Research the company
• Research the position
• Know who you will be meeting
with & their role in the company
• Come up with sample questions
and formulate potential answers
• Practice in front of a mirror
• Have a friend/family member
practice interview you
Interview Preparation cont.
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Career Center-Mock Interviews
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Formulate a set of questions that you
can ask of the interviewers
•
MapQuest and drive the route
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Bring all needed documents to fill out
an application (former work history,
addresses, names etc)
What to Wear for Women
Your appearance makes your first impression
KNOW THE INDUSTRY ATTIRE
– Manufacturing
– Government
– Entertainment
Slacks vs. Skirts?
Blouses-necklines
Shoes- closed toe, low heeled
Conservative makeup
Hair color
Minimal jewelry
– What about body piercing and tattoos?
Perfume
What to Wear for Men
•
KNOW THE INDUSTRY ATTIRE
– Manufacturing
– Government
– Entertainment
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Pressed Suits
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Shined Shoes
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NO WHITE SOCKS
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Hair color
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Cologne
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Jewelry
– Piercing and tattoos
Types of Interviews
1. Phone Screening
– Preliminary interview stage
– Usually conducted by recruiter
– Used to develop applicant pool
– Surface level
– Necessary to advance to on-site
2. On-Site Interviewing
− Secondary interview stage
− Conducted by one or more hiring managers and/or HR
− More in depth
− Can include site tour and/or lunch
– Be prepared to “sell” your skills
& back up your resume
Systemic Format for Conducting Interviews
Interview Steps
Interviewer Tasks
Preparing for the Interview
Review candidate’s resume
– Identify areas to explore
– 3-4 minutes
Breaking the ice:
– 2-3 minutes
Asking questions/verifying information:
– 14-17 minutes
Answering questions/Promoting organization to
qualified candidates
– 6-8 minutes
Closing the interview
– 1-2 minutes
Evaluating/Recording Information
– 3-4 minutes
Make candidate comfortable
– Set a relaxing tone
Extract job-related information
– Verify unclear items on resume
Answer candidate’s questions
– Promote organization
– Present realistic picture
Discuss next steps
– Bring interview to an end
Compare candidates qualifications
– Record information accurately
Phone Interviewing
Keep four things in mind
1. Get their attention
2. Generate interest
3. Create a desire to know more about you
4. Make the representative take action!
Tips
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Find a QUIET area/room and turn off all distractions
DO NOT ANSWER the other line or your cell phone
Communication Style-do not become familiar with the person
Let representative do most of the talking- take notes
Have résumé laid in front of you
Dress as if you are doing a face to face
Ask for the next step in the process
In Person Interview
•
Call to confirm you have the correct address, date, time and spelling of interviewers
name.
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Bring extra résumés (these can be your fancy version)
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Fill out application accurately
– If you sent ahead, bring a completed printed copy
•
Let the interviewer lead the conversation
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Look directly at the person that asked the question.
– Panel interview- start with person that asked question and end with that person
•
Do not make derogatory remarks about past experiences/ employers/team members
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Avoid self-serving questions
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Do not take your cell phone into the interview
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Have 3-5 prepared questions
– About the position/company/training
•
Don’t linger
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Send a THANK-YOU – email or card
In Person Interviewing-cont’d
Body Language
– Learn to control negative body movements
– Firm Handshake
– Taking your seat
• Personal zone
– Eye contact
– Acknowledging you are listening
– Smile
– Hands- keep them under control
• Hold onto something
Behavior-based interviewing
WHAT IS IT?
•
Behavior based interviewing focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and
abilities that are job related.
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Based on the belief that past behavior and performance predicts future behavior and
performance.
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Use work experience, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, school projects, family life anything really - as examples of your past behavior.
•
Be prepared to give specific examples
• Looking to assess your past performances
Behavioral Interviewing cont.
How Can I Best Answer Behavior-Based Questions?
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Think of "PAR for the Course". A complete answer to a behavior-based
question must explain the task or problem for which you were responsible, the
specific action you took, and the results of your actions. Your answer must
contain all of these components to be a PAR answer. Tell the
interviewer a "story" (with a beginning, a middle, and an end) about
how you used a practical skill.
•
Problem (P) -- Advertising revenue was falling off for the Daily News and
large numbers of long-term advertisers were not renewing contracts.
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Action (A) -- I designed a new promotional packet to go with the rate sheet
and compared the benefits of DN circulation with other ad media in the area. I
also set-up a special training session for the account executives with a College
of Business professor who discussed competitive selling strategies.
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Result (R) -- We signed contracts with fifteen former advertisers for daily ads
and five for special supplements. We increased our new advertisers by twenty
percent (quantities are always good) over the same period last year.
Practice Questions
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Describe a situation where your work/idea was criticized
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Have you ever had any confrontations with a teammate
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Have you done the best work you are capable of doing
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Tell me something you are not very proud of
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How did you get your summer jobs
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What type of position are you interested in
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What do you know about our company
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Why did you choose the college you decided to attend
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What are your biggest accomplishments
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Can you work under pressure
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What are your outstanding qualities
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Why should I hire you over the other candidates
Practice Questions cont.
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What was the most challenging part of your internship
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What exactly do you mean when you say you want a position that challenges you
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What would your references say
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In what way, has your education prepared you for this position
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Why do you want to work for this industry
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Do you have any questions
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You should be prepare to ask 3-5 career related questions
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Training
Continuing education
Mobility in the company
Are there any concerns you have regarding my background that I can clarify- your chance to
resell your self
Ten factors being assessed
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Energy, drive, initiative
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Overall talent, technical competency
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Trend of performance
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Management and organizational skills
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Comparability of past accomplishments
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Team leader/motivate others
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Experience, education, industry
background
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Character-values, commitment, goals
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Personality/culture fit
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Problem solving and thinking skills
Where to look for guidance
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Career Center on Campus
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Career Fairs
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Make sure that they are the correct service for your specialty
References
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Thousands of overlooked opportunities since the web
Employment Agencies
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i.e.: www.monster.com; www.hotjobs.com
Newspapers
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Search companies profiles
Resume Databases
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Target those companies that you want to talk to-know something about them
Direct Research
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Remember to have them check your resume
mock interviews
Go back to those that know you well
Networking/Professional Associations
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Back to not what you know but who you know
Additional Resources
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Hire With Your Head: A rational way to make
a gut decision
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Knock “em Dead 2004
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by Martin Yate
The Everything Etiquette Book
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by Lou Adler
by Nat Segaloff
NACE’s Guide to Interviewing College
Students
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www.naceweb.org