Transcript The Art of Interviewing - Southern States University

The Art of Interviewing
Southern States University Career Services Department
What is an “interview?”
 Essentially the interview is the final step in the
hiring process.
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It is the one-on-one/face-to-face to see if you are who
you say you are.
Most importantly, it is the true first impression that will
make or break securing the position.
Preparation is the key!
 As with anything that is worthwhile – prepare ahead
of time.
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Review your resume and know the answer behind each point
you have listed
 Have a clear-cut answer to questions on:
 Previous job responsibilities
 Work environment of last position
 Why you left last position
 Why you applied for the position you are
interviewing for
Things to consider…
 Enthusiasm
 Leave no doubt as to your level of interest in the job.
 Employers often choose the more enthusiastic candidate in the case
of a two-way tie.
 Technical interest
 Employers look for people who love what they do, and get excited by the
prospect of tearing into the nitty-gritty of the job.
 Confidence
 No one likes a braggart, but the candidate who's sure of his/her abilities
will almost certainly be more favorably received.
 Intensity
 The last thing you want to do is come across as "flat" in your interview.
A Basic Strategy
 Interviews involves the exchange of tangible
information, make sure to:
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Present your background in a thorough and accurate manner
Link your abilities with the company needs in the mind of the
employer
Build a strong case for why the company should hire you
A Basic Strategy
 There are two ways to answer interview questions:
 The short version
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Depending on the question; a short concise answer is better.
The long version
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Some questions are less open-ended and may require a longer indepth answer.
Hint: Try to keep answers to no more than minute to minute and a half in
length. Don’t bore the interviewer.
When they ask you for questions…
 Candidate questions are the lifeblood of any
successful interview, because they:
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Create dialogue
Clarify your understanding of the company and the position
responsibilities
Indicate your grasp of the fundamental issues discussed so far
Reveal your ability to probe beyond the superficial
Shows your enthusiasm for the position
Typical Questions…
 There are four types of questions they ask:
1.
Resume questions
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2.
Self-appraisal questions
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3.
Example: “What do you feel is your greatest asset?”
Situation questions
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4.
Verifying that the resume is yours, not someone else’s
Concerning how would you act in certain situations
Stress or “psych” questions
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Designed to evaluate your emotional reflexes, creativity under
stressful conditions.
Hands-on Exercise
 Using the handout of “Typical Questions” read
through them and write out your answers
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Take 6 minutes or so
Be prepared to read your answers aloud when called upon.