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Job InterviewsLecture 9.4University of Alberta ALES 204Nancy Bray

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Housekeeping iClicker funny business and clarification

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iClickers You can miss 3 lectures without penalty. You can be late once without penalty. After that if you are

late and missed the question, you must come to me after class to explain your lateness. Be prepared to show me the notes you took during class.

The number of questions that you answer will count towards the grade.

Giving your iClicker to someone else to answer for you is academic fraud. You and the person who takes your iClicker face an investigation.

If you think your iClicker is not working, please come to sign in after class. Be prepared to show me the notes you took during class.

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Lecture Outline1.Before the job interview

2.At the job interview

3.After the job interview

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1. Before the interview

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Know yourself

Your strengths Their needs

EducationExperienceQualifications“Fit”

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Example: conservation officer

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Example: conservation officer

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Know yourself Record your “accomplishment statements”

What + How + Result

Write down three things that you did well

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P.A.R. questions Practice for P.A.R.

interview questions, i.e., tell me of a time you faced a difficult situation at work.

Problem

Action

Result

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Practice Write a P.A.R. script from one of your accomplishment

statements

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Know the organization Research the organization

Print material

Internet

Friends

Organization statements

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Researching the organization Organization structure Type of product/service offered Customer base and target market Competition Interview process and notification Recruiting team and selection process Dress code Organizational culture / values Training and development mandate Promotional opportunities Future goals Trends in the industry

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Dress the part You need the right costume

Find out about the organization’s dress code and match it

Conservative

Business casual

Casual

Creative fashion

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Before the interview1.Know yourself

2.Know the employer

3.Dress the part

4.Practice!

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2. At the Interview

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Types of interviews

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Screening and selection

Structured interview

Unstructured interview

Panel interview

Serial interview

Telephone/video conference interview

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Phases of an interview Introduction

Exchange of information

Your questions

Closing

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The Introduction Enter smiling, with

confidence

Wait for the interviewer to offer to shake hands

Wait for interviewer to offer you a seat

Sit straight up, lean forward, open body language

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The Interviewer’s Questions Maintain eye contact

Watch your body language

Watch the tone and pitch of your voice

Keep your answers focused

Give examples to support your answers

Ask if your answer was clear

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Interview Questions and Answers

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Typical themes in questions Can you do the job?

Will you do the job?

Will you fit in?

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5 Types of Questions1.Directives, i.e, How has your education prepared you for this

job?

2.Non-directive, i.e., Tell me about yourself

3.Hypothetical, i.e., What would you do if...

4.Behaviour Descriptive, i.e., Tell me about a time when you...

5.Stress, i.e., Have you ever missed work due to stress?

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Top 10 Interview Questions1.What is your greatest strength? 2.What is your greatest weakness? 3.How do you handle stress and pressure? 4.Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you

overcame it. 5.How do you evaluate success? 6.Why are you leaving or have left your job? 7.Why do you want this job? 8.Why should we hire you? 9.What are your goals for the future? 10.Tell me about yourself.

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1. What is your greatest strength? Keep a list of your strengths and examples to support your

claims

For every interview, choose a strength that matches the need of the organization

Sample answer: When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule.

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2. What is your greatest weakness? Briefly state a weakness that is really a strength

Follow up with how you deal with this weakness

Sample answer: Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills.

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3. How do you handle stress? Use the P.A.R. formula

Sample answer: If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.

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4. Describe a difficult work situation Use the P.A.R. formula

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5. How do you evaluate success? Use your accomplishment statements

Sample answer: I evaluate success in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my supervisors and my fellow workers. It is my understanding, from talking to other employees, that the GGR company is recognized for not only rewarding success, but giving employees opportunity to grow as well. After work, I enjoy playing softball, so success on the field is catching the winning pop-up.

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6. Why are your leaving or have left a job? Employers use this question to determine if you are a job

hopper

Avoid criticizing your former employers or managers

Sample answer: I found myself bored with the work and looking for more challenges. I am an excellent employee and I didn't want my unhappiness to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer.

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7. What do you want this job? Choose reasons that will align with the organization’s

priorities

Sample answer: I want this job because it seems tailored to my competencies, which include sales and marketing. As I said earlier, in a previous position I created an annual growth rate of 22 percent in a flat industry. Additionally, the team I would work with looks terrific.

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8. Why should we hire you? Give concrete examples of your accomplishments and how

they fit with the organization’s needs

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9. What are your goals for the future? Have a 2-year and 5-year plan of where you see yourself in

that particular organization

Don’t discuss personal, non-job-related goals

Sample answer: I see myself as a top performing employee in a well-established organization, like this one. I plan on enhancing my skills and continuing my involvement in (related) professional associations.

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10. Tell me about yourself Focus on experience, skills, personal strengths and values

that relate to the position

Be specific and provide specific examples

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Your Questions Should demonstrate your commitment, your long term

goals, your willingness to learn, your flexibility and self-worth

Prepare a number of key questions before the interview

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Sample questions for you to ask What skills are considered the most important for success in

the position I’m applying for? What is the most urgent or difficult part of the job? Tell me more about how this job fits into the big picture. Describe the type of person who does best in the

organization. What style of management does this organization prefer? What are the next steps in the job application process? When would you like the ideal applicant to start?

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Closing Ask the interviewer if there is any more info required Restate your qualifications and how they would benefit the

organization Reaffirm your interest in working for the organization and in

the job State when you would be available to start Ask when the decision will be made Thank the interviewer for their time Send thank you letter to interviewer within 48 hours. (Not to

government jobs)

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Negotiating pay Always research pay levels before your interview

Public sector pay levels are usually available online and there is little negotiating room

Look at job ads for similar positions to find representative pay scales

Decide before the interview what salary range you are expecting and why

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Negotiating Pay - During the Interview Interviewee should not bring up pay during an interview. Wait

until you are offered the job.

Interviewer may ask however:

What do you think you are worth to us?

We offer X for this position. Does that fit with your expectations?

We have had other candidates who will accept $X. Will you?

Back up your expected salary range with research from other organizations and tie it to your qualifications

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Negotiating Pay - After the Interview Don’t raise the question of pay during the interview, wait

until you have been offered the job

Base your expected salary on your research of the industry and your qualifications and state your reasoning

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Reasons that you didn’t get the job Your image doesn’t match the role you want to play

Your references are not stellar

Your expectations don’t match reality

One of the interviewers didn’t like you

They had someone else in mind

Another candidate was better than you!

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Take away Prepare, prepare, prepare!

Practice, practice, practice!

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