Transcript Preparing students for a Job Interview

Preparing students for a Job
Interview
Levi Reese
Agriculture Education Instructor
Lakota High School
Keys to Success
Understanding what to
expect
Preparing and researching
Anticipating questions
Follow up
10 biggest mistakes
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Not dressing appropriately.
Not turning off your phone.
Not knowing the interviewer's name.
Not bringing extra copies of your resume.
Not bringing a list of references
Not making eye contact with the interviewer.
Criticizing your prior bosses and companies.
Not remembering your work history.
Asking about salary.
Not sending a thank you note after the interview.
Answering Questions
 Identify the skill sought by the question so that you can
best focus your answer
 Give a STAR answer:
 Situation—what was the context?
 Task—what was the specific problem or need?
 Action—what did you do? (produce, write, create, etc.)
 Results/resolution—what did you learn? what skills did you
develop?
“Tell me about yourself”
“Tell me about yourself”
Hint: They’re not asking for
your life story, and it’s not a
trick question…
“Tell Me About Yourself”
 This oldest of questions is not an invitation to talk
about your difficult childhood, your favorite
grandmother or how you won the state swim
competition in high school. Instead, it's a request
for you to describe what you can offer the
company.
 How to answer
 Your key accomplishments at previous jobs.
 The strengths demonstrated by those accomplishments.
 How these relate to the job for which you're applying.
Preparing for the Questions
 What would you like us to know about you and what
are some of the reasons you are interested in this job?
 What part of your current (most recent) job do you
enjoy the most? What part of you current (most
recent) job do you enjoy the least?
 Briefly summarize your greatest personal and
professional strengths you would bring to this
position.
 Tell us about a project that you have been responsible
for from start to finish.
Preparing for the Questions
 What are your professional goals? Where do you see
yourself in five years? In ten years?
 If we were to interview a person who works with you
now, how would they describe you?
 Is there anything we haven’t covered that you would
like to know?
 Why do you believe you are the best match for this
position? (Why should we hire you?)?
 Do you have any questions for us?
Preparing for the Questions
 Why did you apply for our company?
 Do you know what we do here?
 Do you have any work experience?
 What are your favorite classes?
 What are your favorite subjects?
 What are your career goals
Preparing for the Questions
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Do you like your high school?
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
Why are you looking for a job?
Are you okay working nights and weekends?
If your teachers were here, what would they say about
you?
 Are you planning on going to college after you graduate?
 Do you know what you want to study?
 How comfortable are you doing X task?
“Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?"
 IF YOU WERE FIRED:
 Be honest, but quick about explaining it. Don't get into the
political details; rather, explain what you learned from the
experience and how it makes you an even stronger employee
today. It's not a good idea to lie about your termination. When
the interviewer calls your references, he or she will most likely
find out you were fired anyway. So be honest, and explain what
you learned.
“Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?"
 IF YOU WERE LAID OFF
 This is not nearly as taboo as it was even five years ago,
so don't apologize or act defeated. If a company goes
bankrupt or had massive layoffs, simply explain,
"Because of the economy, the company decided to
eliminate six departments, including mine."
“Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?"
IF YOU QUIT
 Again, be honest and stay positive. State that the work
being offered wasn't challenging enough, that you are
seeking higher levels of responsibility or simply that you
are ready to make the next step on your career ladder -and that the job for which you are interviewing is the
ideal next step.
"What's Your Biggest Weakness?"
 Pick a weakness that is real but understandable or
relatively harmless. Whatever weakness you pick, be
sure that it is work-related ("I have a tendency to
overfeed my dog" is NOT an appropriate weakness)
and that you present the strategies for how you
overcame it.
"What's Your Biggest Weakness?"
 "I used to have a tendency to procrastinate. So now I
am always sure to set a strict schedule for all of my
projects well in advance and I set personal deadlines.
This organization has really helped."
"What's Your Biggest Weakness?"
 "Once in a while, I focus too much on the details of a
project. So now, when I'm working on a project, I
always make sure at the end of the day to sit back and
take a few minutes to think about the general scope
of my work. It forces me to keep priorities straight
and helps me keep the right mindset."
"What's Your Biggest Weakness?"
 "I used to have some problems with organization. So
now I carry a schedule book around throughout the
day and I also use this Palm Pilot to keep me on track.
It's worked out great!"
"Do You Have Any Questions for Me?"
 Yes you do.
 Don’t focus on salary or benefit questions.
Questions to ask.
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What would you expect me to accomplish in this job?
What are the responsibilities for this position?
How much travel is involved?
What is you management style?
What do you bring to the interview?
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Cover Letter or Letter of Introduction
Resume
Work Samples (when appropriate)
References
Letter of Recommendations
What makes a good first impression?
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Proper handshake
Proper introduction
Good posture
Neat appearance:
attire
grooming
personal hygiene
Proper Posture
Sit up
Sit on edge of seat
Place feet underneath you
Lean slightly forward
Tips
 Hair should be trimmed, neatly arranged, and
clean
 Fingernails should be neat, clean, and
trimmed
 Avoid using colognes, scented powders, and
perfumes
 Keep pockets empty of tinkling coins
Tips
 No gum or candy
 Women: Don’t wear too much makeup
 Keep hair pulled back and out of face
 Be conservative:
earrings, piercing, etc.
It’s Time
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Use good manners and appropriate gestures.
Pay attention to the interviewer.
Ask appropriate questions about the job.
Have necessary personal reference information with
you.
Body Language
Don’t be a slouch!!
Keep your head up!!!
Mirror!
Make eye contact. (40-60% of
the time)
Body Language
 Smile. (don’t over smile)
 Hands
 Don’t jingle with change, play with ring or fiddle with tie.
 Have hand clasped in front of you.
 Voice
 Keep pitch low.
 Don’t start by apologizing
Do’s
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Act Natural
Be Prompt
Carry out promises
Ask Questions
Allow Employer to express ideas.
Read Company Literature
Follow Procedures
Be Clear and Precise
Listen Effectively to Interviewer
Don’ts
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Be Late
Present an Extreme Appearance
Come unprepared
Oversell yourself
Become Impatient
Try to be funny
Put emphasis on salary
Criticize yourself
Talk too much and control intervew
Closure of Interview
 Stand
 Thank them for their time.
 Shake hands, look them in the eyes and smile.
 Ask for a business card (from them or the secretary).
 Ask them when they will make their decision.
 Tell them you will call at that time to hear their plans
Thank You
 Apply the same tone reflected in the conversation
during the interview (friendly, formal, etc.).
 Reaffirm your interest in the position and thank the
interviewer for the time given to you.
 Recap your key qualifications that apply to the
position, your understanding of the employer's
immediate needs and what can you do to make his
or her job easier.
 Any objections to your candidacy. For example, you
may know they typically hire someone with a
different background from yours.
 Reiterate the commitment you made at the end of
the interview and state the next steps. For
example, "I'd like to get together with you to
discuss my ideas on..." or "If I don't hear from
George within the next week or so, I'll follow up
with a call."
Things to think about.
 How did it go?
 What did they say? What did you say?
 How many people did you see and how much time did
you spend with each one?
 What role does each one play and who is important?
Things to think about.
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Who is the decision-maker?
Which one is likely to most influence the decision?
How quickly do they plan to decide?
What do you believe you have to offer that your
competition doesn't?
 What problems does the interviewer have and what
solutions do you recommend?
Follow up Letter
 Use the first paragraph to thank the interviewer
for taking the time to meet with you. Mention
your interest in the job and how enthusiastic you
are about it.
 The second paragraph of your follow up letter
should include the reasons why you are an
excellent candidate for the job. List specific skills
that relate to the job you interviewed for. The
more detailed you are, the more the interviewer
will know about your qualifications.
Follow up Letter
 The third paragraph (optional) can be used to mention
anything that you didn't bring up at the interview that
you'd like the employer to know. This gives you another
chance to make a good impression, especially if you
remembered something you should have said after the
interview. Also used to answer questions that could not
be answered during the interview.
 In your closing paragraph, reiterate your appreciation for
being considered for the job and let the interviewer know
you are looking forward to hearing from him or her soon.
 It was very enjoyable to speak with you about the
assistant account executive position at the Smith
Agency. The job, as you presented it, seems to be a
very good match for my skills and interests. The
creative approach to account management that you
described confirmed my desire to work with you.
 In addition to my enthusiasm, I will bring to the
position strong writing skills, assertiveness and the
ability to encourage others to work cooperatively with
the department. My artistic background will help me
to work with artists on staff and provide me with an
understanding of the visual aspects of our work.
 I understand your need for administrative
support. My detail orientation and
organizational skills will help to free you to deal
with larger issues. I neglected to mention during
my interview that I had worked for two
summers as a temporary office worker. This
experience helped me to develop my secretarial
and clerical skills.
 I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I
am very interested in working for you and look
forward to hearing from you about this position.