don’t get fired before you get hired tips for successful interviewing
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Don’t Get Fired Before you Get Hired Tips for Successful Interviewing. In a Nutshell. Before the Interview Logistics/Research Appearance /What to bring First Impressions The Interview 3 Types of interviews 3 Question styles After the Interview Follow up Final thoughts. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Don’t Get Fired Before you Get Hired
Tips for Successful Interviewing
In a NutshellBefore the Interview
• Logistics/Research• Appearance/What to bring• First Impressions
The Interview• 3 Types of interviews• 3 Question styles
After the Interview• Follow up• Final thoughts
“We’d like you to come in for an interview.” How do you get ready?
You Get the Call…
Get Ready, Get Set… Get the logistics
• With whom are you interviewing?• Directions and parking
Research and review• Organization and industry• Your goals, values, experiences• Resume: Know what is on it
Practice, practice, practice• Answer common questions• Visit your career service office
Prep
Make It Look Good
Appearance Timing Preparation Non-verbal Communication
Prep
Dark suit (black, navy, grey) Light colored long sleeve shirt
(white, cream, light blue)
Hem falls on your shoes No funky tie- keep it simple Wing tip or other polished
business shoes
No athletic socks Limited accessories Err on the side of conservative
Tips for menPrep
Tips for women
Dark suit (black, navy, grey) Pants or skirt Shirt underneath with
appropriate neckline Panty hose Conservative shoes (closed toe,
not high-heeled, simple) Keep accessories and jewelry simple Err on the side of conservative
Prep
Before You Go…
What to bring but leave in the car:
• Water, breath mints, grooming items• Directions/parking information• Cell phone!What to bring in with you:• Extra copies of your resume and
references• Professional-looking folder and pen• List of questions to ask the interviewer• Any requested items from employer
Prep
First Impression
Body Language• Sit up straight, head up, eye contact, no
fidgeting Enthusiasm
• Smile when greeting others and while speaking
Speak Clearly• Watch language: um, like, ya know
Firm Handshake Confidence
• All of the above become easier with confidence
Let’s practice your first impression
Prep
It’s the big day. Knowing what to expect is key.
The Interview
Interview TypesInterview
Screening InterviewsAssess for basic qualifications and understanding
Traditional One-on-OneAssess skills, knowledge,
abilities and fit with company
Group or Panel 2-5 or more people interviewing candidate at once
Open-Ended Questions
Allow you to expand on your experiences
Give specific descriptionsExamples:
• Tell me about yourself.• What do you consider to be
your greatest strengths?• What are your goals?• What motivates you to put
forth your greatest effort?
Interview
What is your greatest weakness?
• Give honest answer of what you struggle with
• Avoid canned answers“I’m a perfectionist”or “I work too hard”
• Important to follow up with what you are doing to overcome, manage, or improve
As someone who enjoys variety in my day, I find it hard to focus for a long period of time on an
involved project. To help me manage this, I create a segmented to-do
list so that a long project becomes several shorter projects.
This helps me be much more energized and efficient.
Interview
Direct Questions
Require a specific answer, sometimes just one or two words
Often used in the “stress” interview Examples: • Are you willing to
travel?• Why did you leave
your last job?• What other
companies are you interested in working for?
Interview
Why should we hire you?• Try and answer what they REALLY want to
know• Reiterate your strengths and how they relate• Tell them what you can do for them
This job is centered around providing excellent customer service and having pride in the company
mission. I’ve worked very hard to gain experience directly
relating to these principles by seeking opportunities to help others and getting involved
in activities that aligned with my passions. I feel like I can positively contribute and add value to this company with my background, enthusiasm,
and willingness to learn each day.
Interview
Behavioral Questions
Designed to elicit patterns of achievement
Challenge you to think on your feetExamples:• Tell me about a time you worked
with a team effectively.• Describe a significant or creative
project you have had to complete.
• By providing examples, convince me you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations, and environments.
Interview
Be a STARBehavioral questions should be
answered by addressing:
SituationTaskActionResults
Interview
Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership
Explain in detail your role in STAR formatSituation: My communications capstone course required a large
group project and I was selected to be the leader of our team.
Task: We had to develop a full marketing plan for a local business.
Action: I coordinated group meetings and stayed in constant communication with members, the local business, and our professor. I monitored the progress of each member on a variety of tasks, from creating ads to designing a website. I edited the design and text contributions from the team into a final portfolio and developed the presentation we made to the class and the business.
Result: The business was so pleased with our plan that they used two of our print ads and our website design, and our group received an “A” on the project.
Interview
Illegal Questions
Address characteristics that are protected by law – age, race, religion, marital status, etc.
Asked out of ignorance, innocence, or arrogance
You can answer, not answer, or deflectExamples
• Are you married? Do you plan to have children?
• That’s an unusual name. What is your heritage?
Interview
Your Turn to Ask
Bring 3-6 questions to ask the employer Avoid questions to which you can
easily find the answersExamples:
• What has been your own experience with this company/organization?
• Can you describe what the training program entails?
• What do you like most about working here?• Tell me what a day in the life would be like for me
here?
Interview
Practice Time!
Interviewer/Interviewee: Pick one Tell me about yourself. What is your greatest strength and
weakness? Describe a time when you contributed to a
team project. What role did you play and what was the outcome?
By providing examples, convince me you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations, and environments.
Interview
Whew! You’re done with the interview. Great job, but there’s more to do…
After the Interview
Interview Follow Up
Ask about next steps Write down impressions
• Your fit with the environment, co-workers, job duties
• Areas of strength/improvement for next interview
SEND A THANK YOU NOTE! Give a heads up to your references Begin salary research and determine your
range Call/email to check on status of the position
After
Did You Show Them…
Leadership Communication Creativity Flexibility Well-
Roundedness Professionalism
Enthusiasm Positivity Maturity Intelligence Personality Confidence
Skills: Attributes:
After
Wrap It Up
Research and practice! Know yourself
Read your resume, write down examples to use, reflect on your strengths, values, and interests
Be confident Know how to get there Put an outfit together and go get
‘em!
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