Transcript Interviews - Bilkent University

Writing Application Letters
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What you’re sending,why you’re sending
it and how the reader can benefit from
reading your material
Be specific
Never volunteer salary information
unless an employer asks for it
Keep it short
Show some personality
Aim for high quality
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Solicited versus Unsolicited
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Solicited Application Letter: In response
to an announced job opening, should
know requirements of the organization
Unsolicited Application Letter: To an
organization that has not announced an
opening. Focus on the needs of the
employer, start by capturing the reader’s
attention and interest
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Organizing Application Letters
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Getting Attention:Use AIDA (AttentionInterest-Desire-Action) approach, focus
on your audience & emphasize reader
benefits => Opening paragraph:
1. Clearly state your reason for writing
2. Give a recipient a reason to keep
reading
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Organizing Application Letters
Middle Section: Expand on your
opening, present a more complete
picture of your strengths
 Final Paragraph: Respectfully ask
for specific action and make it easy
for the reader to respond
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Application Follow-Ups
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If application letter and resume fail to
bring a response within a month, write to
keep your file active
If kept on file, don’t hesitate to send a
follow-up letter 3 months later to show
that you’re still interested showing that:
You’ve continued to add to your skills or
that you’ve learned more about the
company or the industry
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Interviews
Discussion with a purpose
 Include facial expressions, eye
contact, gestures & posture
 May cause misunderstanding &
confusion => develop strong
interviewing skills
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Understanding the
Interview Process
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Employment Interviews have a dual
purpose:
 Finding the best person available for
the job
 Your main objective: Finding the
best job suitable for your goals &
capabilities
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Typical Sequence of
Interviews
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Stages:
I)
Screening Stage: Campus, invitation of
the candidates for further evaluation,
similar questions, standardized
“evaluation” , Get-to-know-you interviews.
Follow the interviewer’s lead; keep your
responses short, differentiate yourself
from others, emphasize the “theme” you
used in developing your CV.
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II) Selection Stage:
Will talk with several people
 Show interest in the job
 Relate your skills & experience to
the organization’s needs
 Listen attentively
 Ask insightful questions
 Display enthusiasm
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III) Final Stage:
 May
receive a job offer
 May be invited back for final
evaluation
 Underlying objective: Selling
you on the advantages of
joining the organization
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Common Types of
Interviews
1) Structured Interview: Screening
– Asking a series of prepared
questions in order.
– Answers noted
– Poor measure of applicant’s
quality
– But create uniformity in hiring
process
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2) Open-ended Interview
Less formal & unstructured with a
relaxed format
 Open-ended questions, encourages
you to talk freely
 Good for bringing out your
personality & testing professional
judgment
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3) Group Interviews
Meeting with several candidates to see
how they react
 Useful for judging interpersonal skills
4) Stress Interview: Help recruiters see
how you handle yourself under pressure;
Pause for a few seconds to collect your
thoughts, then continue knowing what
the interviewer is up to.
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5) Video Interview
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Videoconferencing systems to screen
middle-management candidates
To interview new recruits at universities
Speak clearly but not more slowly than
normal
Look up but not down
Sit straight
Arrive early enough to get used to the
equipment
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6) Situational (Behavioral)
Interview
You’re asked to explain how you would
handle(d) a specific set of circumstances
 No correlation exists between how well
people answer traditional interview
questions & how well they perform on
the job
=> Each job requires different mix of
personality traits; Interviewer’s task is to
find out whether you will be effective on
the job.
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What employers look for in an
interview?
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Suitability for the specific job is judged
on the basis of:
– Academic preparation
– Work experience
– Job-related personality traits
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Preemployment Testing
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Integrity tests: For ethical or legal issues
Personality tests: Used to assess
general character or suitability for the
demands of a specific situation
Job skills tests: Assess the competency
to perform a job
Substance tests: Drug & alcohol testing
Background tests: Verifying credentials
in CV, learning if you have a criminal
history etc.
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Preparing for a job
interview:
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help you perform better
under pressure
 Consider any cultural
differences
 Base your approach on what
your audience expects
I) Learn about the organization
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II) Think ahead about questions:
A) Planning for the Employer’s Questions:
Your skills, achievements, goals, attitudes
toward work & school, relationships with
others, hobbies & interests or; (Table 15-2)
What was the hardest decision you ever
had to make?
What are your greatest weaknesses?
What didn’t you like about previous jobs
you’ve held?
Where do you want to be five years from
now?
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Tell me something about yourself
B) Planning questions of your own:
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You are responsible for deciding whether
the work and the organization are
compatible with your goals & values. Are
these my kind of people. Examples:
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Can I do this work?
Will I enjoy the work?
Is the job what I want?
Does the job pay what I’m worth?
What kind of person would I be working
for?
– What sort of future can I expect with this
organization?
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B) Planning questions of your own:
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You don’t necessarily wait until the
interviewer asks if you have any
questions of your own; look for
smooth ways to work prepared
questions into the conversation
Impress the interviewer with your
ability to organize be thorough by
bringing a list of questions
Table 15-3
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Bolster Your Confidence
Make a better impression & make the
whole process less stressful
 Emphasize positive traits (warmth, wit,
intelligence, charm)
 Instead of dwelling your weaknesses
focus on strengths
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Polish you Interview Style
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Competence & confidence are the
foundation of your interviewing style
Enhance these by giving the interviewer an
impression of poise, good manners & good
judgment
Role-playing, videotaping or audiotaping
Nonverbal behavior; Eye contact, sit in
attentive position, use frequent hand
gestures => alert, assertive, dependable,
confident, responsible & energetic: U.S.
Sound of your voice; the way you speak
Avoid: You know, like, um etc. Table 15-4 23
Plan to Look Good
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Dress conservatively (dark, solid color)
and be well groomed
You DON’T need to spend a fortune on
new clothes, but you do need to look
clean, prepared and professional.
One of the best ways to look good is to
smile at appropriate moments
Make professional appearance and
habits a routine part of your day after
you had the job; Meeting times, t-shirts
etc. => sign of mutual respect
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Be Ready when you arrive
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Take a small notebook, a pen, list of the
questions you want to ask, 2 copies of
CV, outline of what you have learned
about the organization
May also take your transcript, list of
references, portfolio containing samples
of your work, performance reviews,
certificates of achievement
Arrive early & relax, bring stg. businessrelated to read. If opportunity available,
express enthusiasm for the job.
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Checklist
Interviewing for success
Present a memorable “headline” at
the screening stage
 Cover all your strengths during
selection stage; touch briefly on all
your strengths, but explain 3 or 4 of
your best qualifications
 Emphasize your personality during
a final interview
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Every interview has these stages:
I)The Warm-up: Most important, 20 sec.
Body language is important
Hand shaking
Seating
Let the interviewer start the discussion
Listening cues telling you what the
interviewer is interested in knowing
about you as a potential employee.
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II) The Question-and-Answer Stage
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Questions & answers consume the greatest
part of the interview
Dealing with questions: Let the interviewer
lead the conversation, NEVER answer a
question before he/she has finished asking
it
Listening: Paying attention to both verbal &
nonverbal messages help you
Fielding discriminatory questions: Related
to your qualifications, information- personal,
responding.
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Table 15-5
III) The Close:
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Concluding the interview with courtesy &
enthusiasm
Discussing salary: Research salary
ranges in your job, industry &
geographic region before
Negotiating benefits may be one way to
get more value from an employment
package
Checklist
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Interview Notes
Keep a written record of your job
interviews
 Briefly summarize the interviewer’s
answers to your questions
 Evaluate your performance during
the interview
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Following up after the interview
1) Thank-you-message: Express your
thanks within 2 days
Acknowledge the interviewer’s
time and courtesy, convey your
continued interest and then ask
politely for a decision
Keep your message brief and
organize it like a routine message
Sound positive without sounding
overconfident. Figure 15-3
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2) Message of Inquiry
If not taken an answer by the
promised date or within 2 weeks
 Appropriate if received a job offer
from a second firm
 Follow the model for a direct
request
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3) Request for a time extension
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Preface your request with a friendly
opening; ask for more time, stressing
your enthusiasm for the organization
Conclude by allowing for a quick
decision if your request for additional
time is denied
Ask for a prompt reply confirming the
time extension if the organization grants
it
Direct request, but be careful to show
your continued interest.
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4) Letter (e-mail) of acceptance
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When you receive a job offer that you
want to accept, reply within 5 days
Begin by accepting the position &
expressing thanks
Cover any necessary details
Conclude by saying that you look
forward to reporting for work
Be careful: Legally binding contract
Positive letter: Should convey your
enthusiasm & eagerness to cooperate
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5) Letter declining a job offer
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The model for negative messages
Open warmly, state the reasons for
refusing the offer
Decline the offer explicitly & close on
a pleasant note, expressing gratitude
By taking the time to write a sincere,
tactful letter, you leave the door open
for future contact.
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6) Letter of resignation
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Should always be written in a gracious &
professional style that avoids criticism of
your employer or your colleagues
Follow the bad news plan & make the
letter sound positive
Say stg. favorable about the
organization, people or what you’ve
learned in the job
State your intention to leave & give the
date of your last day on the job
Give at least 2 weeks notice Checklist 36