Interviewing Skills - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Transcript Interviewing Skills - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Interviewing Skills
UNLV Career Services
301 Student Services Complex
895-3495
http://hire.unlv.edu
Purpose of an Interview
The mutual exchange of information
relevant to the employment
opportunity and the candidate’s
qualifications – a two-way
conversation
Your Role in the Interview
Highlight experience, skills,
personality traits, and potential
contributions
Evaluate the position and organization
Get a glimpse of your possible
supervisor and co-workers
Employer’s Role
Assess your qualifications
Evaluate your communication skills
(both verbal and non-verbal),
appearance, and how well you fit with
the position and organization
Before the Interview –
Be Prepared!
Know yourself – review your skills,
experiences, and personality traits in
relation to the position and
organization
Know the organization – research
products, services, new projects,
competitors, fiscal health, etc.
Before the Interview –
Be Prepared!
Logistics – confirm interview time and
length, place, and personnel
Logistics – map out and run through
route to the location of interview
(should arrive 10 – 15 minutes early)
Have extra copies of your resume and
references (and any other requested
material)
The Interview - Opening
Arrival – prepare yourself mentally
and physically
Greetings/Introductions - first
impressions are both verbal and nonverbal (handshake, smile, eye
contact, general body language)
Small Talk – weather, parking, etc.
The Interview - Body
Candidate’s background and
qualifications for position
Overview of position and organization
Questions from candidate
Sample Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself
What attracts you to this
field/position?
What are your
strengths?/weaknesses?
Tell me about an accomplishment that
you are proud of
Sample Interview Questions
What motivates you?
What are your tactics for working
under pressure?
Talk about a mistake you made, and
what you learned from it
Why should I hire you over the other
candidates I will be interviewing?
Behavior-based Questions
The best predictor of future behavior
is past behavior
“Tell me about a time when you had
to…”
Work as part of a team
Meet a deadline
Deal with a difficult customer
Answering Behavior-based
Questions
“Tell a story” that:
Explains the situation/sets the scene
Illustrates your approach to the
situation
Highlights results/outcomes
Answering Questions in
General
Develop and rehearse your responses
Know yourself well, and how you fit
with the position and organization
Support your answers with solid
examples
Incorporate skills and personal
qualities/attributes into your answers
Answering Questions in
General
Be confident and enthusiastic
Relax and smile – an interview is a
conversation
Actively listen – follow the lead of the
interviewer
Personal Questions
Questions should focus on functions
of the position
Do not volunteer personal information
such as age, medical background,
marital status, religion, etc.
Focus on your qualifications for the
position
Responding to Personal
Questions
You can answer the question
You are giving information that isn’t
related to the job
You can refuse to answer the question
You may risk appearing uncooperative
or confrontational
Responding to Personal
Questions
You can analyze the question for its
intent and respond with an answer as
it may apply to the job
Personal Question - “How old are
your children?”
Intent of Question – “Would you be
able to travel as needed for the job?”
Answer – “I can meet the travel
schedule that this job requires”
Source: Rochelle Kaplan, NACE
Questions From the
Candidate
You are interviewing the company just
as much as they are interviewing you
Be prepared with a list of questions
Questions From the
Candidate
Questions to ask may include:
How is the orientation and training
structured/How much training?
How will I receive feedback about my
performance, and how often?
How did this position become
available?
Questions From the
Candidate
Questions to ask may include:
What are some of the challenges the
organization faces?
What are you looking for in the ideal
candidate?
What do you like about working here?
The Interview - Close
Clarify follow-up procedures
Timeline for hiring
Additional materials needed
Get a business card from
interviewer(s)
The Interview - Close
Leave with a positive impression
Reiterate your qualifications and fit for
the position
Reiterate your enthusiasm for the
position
After the Interview
Send a thank-you note (within 24-48
hours is best)
Personalize it (specific topic
discussed, etc.)
Reiterate interest and qualifications for
the position
Determine format (e-mail, typed on
paper, hand-written on stationery)
After the Interview
Keep records
Evaluate yourself
Follow-up timeline
Phone Interviews
Organizations conduct phone
interviews as a cost-savings
technique
Phone interviews can be one-on-one
or with a panel
Phone interviews can last anywhere
from 10 minutes to one hour
Phone interviews do not provide the
opportunity for non-verbal feedback
Phone Interview Tips
Be prepared for the call
Fifteen minutes before actual time
(account for time zone differences)
Create a quiet zone
Have documents and notes in front of
you – resume, cover letter, job
description, paper for note taking, etc.
Phone Interview Tips
Be prepared for the call
If using a cordless or a cell phone,
make sure it is charged
Have water handy to wet your mouth
Phone Interview Tips
During the call
Greet everyone by name when
introduced
Smile when you talk – your
enthusiasm will be heard by the
interviewer
Speak loud enough and at an
understandable pace
Don’t eat, chew gum, or smoke
Phone Interview Tips
During the call
Don’t walk around the room – it may
affect your signal
Don’t get distracted by using a
computer, having other people in the
room, etc.
Thank everybody at the conclusion of
the interview – first impressions are
conveyed over the phone as well
Interview Apparel
Women
Dark coordinated suits (skirt or pants)
with matching dress blouse
Skirt length no more than one inch
above the knee
Dress shoes with moderate heel (no
open toe)
Neutral colored hose
Interview Apparel
Women
Dress watch
Minimal, conservative jewelry
Hair past shoulder length pulled away
from face
Natural looking make-up
Clear or conservatively colored nail
polish
Interview Apparel
Men
Dark suits
Dark dress shoes (no loafers)
Dark dress socks
Conservative neck tie
Dress watch
Interview Apparel
Men
Well-groomed facial hair
Nails – trimmed and clean
Both Men and Women
No visible tattoos
No visible body piercing
No purple, green, etc. colored hair
No heavy cologne/perfume
Fresh breath
Freshly showered (use deodorant)
Freshly pressed clothing
UNLV Career Services
Mock Interview
Individual Counseling Appointment
SSC 301
895-3495
http://hire.unlv.edu