Effective Interviewing Techniques

Christine Brooks Hillsboro High School

Purpose of an Interview

Exchange information

Make a judgment (two-way)

Establish a positive relationship

Interviewing is a microcosm of how you might behave in the work setting

Types of Interviews

One-on-One Interviews Group Interviews Panel Interviews Behavioral-Based Interviews

Mealtime Interviews Job Fair Interviews Telephone Interviews Video Interviewing

One-on-One Interviews (Traditional)

Directed by the interviewer Interviewer speaks about 25% of

the time Interviewee controls 75% of the time Structured, with an introduction, a question

and answer period, and a close

Tone set by room layout

Group Interview

A group interview involves several applicants being interviewed at once

Applicants may be interviewed by an individual or team

Usually formal, highly structured

Panel Interview

Involves one applicant being interviewed by two or more interviewers.

Typical for grad school and teaching

Formal May be intentional stress

Behavior-Based Interviews

Questions ask for examplesBased on past performanceFocus on transferable skills

and job-related tasks

The “STAR” Approach

Give the Situation Identify the Task to be

completedAction that was takenResults achieved

STAR Applied (often to behavioral)

Behavioral Questions

Learning a new skill can sometimes be challenging, even difficult. Tell me about a challenging learning experience you have faced. What was the situation? What learning demands were placed on you? What did you do? What was the outcome of the situation?

Describe a time when you felt motivated to pursue a goal. What was the situation? What did you do to get yourself motivated? What did you do to keep yourself motivated? What was the outcome?

Behavioral Questions

Tell me about a time you worked with a team member who was not actively participating or living up to the rest of the team’s expectations. How did you personally deal with this team member in this situation, and what ultimately happened within this group?

We all have bad days, including our customers. Tell me about a difficult customer you have encountered. What was the situation? What did you do to empathize with the customer? What was the customer’s reaction to your approach?

Example of a ranking categories

Attitude, motivation Initiative Problem-solving Customer or client relations Communication Interpersonal skills Program management

Mealtime Interview

Interviewer(s) watch your social habits and interpret them for clues to your job performance.

Be careful not relax too much, this is still an interview.

Interviewer speaks about 25% of the time Interviewee speaks about 75% of

the time Unstructured Tips on alcohol/smoking

Job Fair Interviews

Impromptu, unstructured questions Prepare an introduction before the fair The goal is to get a formal interview Learn about the available positions Do not simply leave resume on the table

Telephone Interviews

Most frequently used for screening Tone, attitude, and professionalism are

important Treat just as you would an in-person

interview Take notes ahead of time AND during the

call Prepare roommates/family members

Video Interview

HireVue, Active Interview, InterviewStream

Often for pre-screening Web-based video

interviewing Why?

Reduce travel and optimize scheduling for first round candidates

Get valuable feedback from all members of the hiring team

Same rules apply; do your homework, dress the part, avoid interview no-nos

Interview Attire (Women)

Keep accessories (rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings) simple.

Do not wear a short skirt or low-cut apparel.

Wear a business suit or conservative dress

No use of perfume is recommended

Professional Attire (Men)

Keep to solid shirts- standard white or pale blue

Keep ties on the conservative side.

No earrings or extensive jewelry

Polished shoes

On The Way… Be sure to arrive early—about 10

minutes Wear a watch Drive out the day before to be sure you

know where you are going, parking, etc. Do not bring friends or family!!!

Bring a copy of your resume or application, letters of recommendation or list of references, and a notepad

Put the phone away, even while waiting Get rid of gum!

About References

Remember that there are two kinds of references—Professional and Character Character: Family friend, priest, your old babysitter

(generally you don’t use these types of references unless requested)

Professional: Teachers, coaches, employers, club sponsors (preferred)

DO NOT LIST FAMILY Let references know you are applying or being

interviewed

The Actual Interview: Introduction

Initial impressions are made in the first 3-5 seconds

Greet the interviewer by name, establish eye contact

Firm handshake Rule of 12

Rule of 12 The first 12 words you speak, the first 12 steps you take, and the first 12

inches from your head and your feet, can make a lasting impression.  Make it a memorable one!

The first 12 words should:    Include some form of thanks.    Include the other person’s name.    “Thank you for meeting me for lunch, Mr. Jones” or “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me Ms. Hall.”

The first 12 steps should be taken:    With confidence.    With a purpose.    With a lively pace.

The first 12 inches from your head:    Should be impeccably groomed.    Hair should be clean and neat.    Be selective of your tie and other accessories.    Be sure your tie and collar are neat.

The last 12 inches from the floor should also be impeccable.    Your shoes should be polished.    Your socks/stockings should blend with your outfit.

12 words

12 steps 12 inches

The Actual Interview: Presentation

“Heart” of the interview - your opportunity to sell yourself and relate your skills and background to the job.

Maintain eye contact, watch your posture and control nervous habits.

Sloppy Speech Habits

Nonwords Um, ah, you know, like Think first, pause and take breaths

Up-Talk Singsong effect; sounds non-confident

Grammatical Errors Ain’t, she don’t, me and my friend

Speed talking Weak speak

Avoid “hopefully” or “I feel” or “kind of”

NonverbalCues

Shake hands when you walk in!

Personal Space

During hand-shaking, do not get too close to the other person. Being within the other person’s arm-length ensures you are within his/her personal zone, and out of the intimate zone.

Zones: Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet Social distance - 4 to 12 feet **

Structure

Establish connection, put you at ease Background on the position shared Employer questions on your background,

abilities and interests Resume review Questions Closing comments…next step

Questions to Think About

Tell Me About Yourself Greatest Strength/Weakness

Be ready to answer other questions like:• What do you know about the company?• How do you perform under pressure?• Has anything ever irritated you about people

you've worked with? (be careful)• Let's talk about salary. What are you looking

for? (give a range)• If your previous co-workers were here, what

would they say about you?

Always elaborate!

Never answer just yes or no!!

Tell Me About Yourself Shows how the candidate views herself or himself and

what they might be like to work with as well as how they think and communicate

Be natural and tell only the parts about yourself that paint a picture of someone who fits the job you’re interviewing for

Start with a strong simple statement about yourself (again related to the job and type of person they’re looking for) and expand with a synthesized work history that shows how miraculously every thing you’ve done up to now has led you to this precise moment and prepared you perfectly for this job!

Less is more! Keep it short—90 seconds to 2 minutes

Greatest Strength

You don’t want to sound boastful – and yet you certainly don’t want to come off so humble you look like you don’t believe in yourself.

Think about what your new employer would find most interesting about you – and most important to the job you are applying for.

Identify FOR REAL what yours is: Strong leader, Initiative (willing to take on new things),

Determination (as in seeing a project through to the end or in finding a solution to a problem), Quick learner

Greatest Weakness

Helps them see how a person will react, even when confronted by the obvious

Short summary of the weakness like “I can get caught up in the details sometimes.” Have a great real life story from one of

your jobs to back up whichever weakness you choose to answer this interview question and how you are working on it!

Don’t use the predictable—I work too hard, perfectionist, etc.

The Actual Interview: Closing

Prepare questions in advance (non-salary)

Summarize your qualifications Know timeframes of next step Thank the employer

Questions You Can Ask

What are the biggest challenges in this position?

What do you like best about working here? How long did the previous person hold this

position? Why did he/she leave? What is the timeline for getting back to

candidates about the position?

Legal Issues

Illegal interview questionsMedical TestsDrug TestingPersonal/Family BackgroundCriminal Background Checks

Illegal Questions

Marital Status Inappropriate: Are you married?

Is this your maiden or married name?With whom do you live?

Appropriate: After hiring, marital status on tax and insurance forms 

Parental Status Inappropriate: How many kids do you

have?Do you plan to have children?Are you pregnant?

Appropriate: After hiring, asking for dependent information on tax and insurance forms 

In the U.S., illegal interview questions are those that discriminate against you on the basis of• Age • Color • Disability • Gender • National origin • Race • Religion or Creed

Illegal Questions

Deal with themJust AnswerMention you feel it is not appropriateSidestep tactfully

Examples:Do you have children?Do you have a disability?How much do you weigh?

10 Interview “Knock-Outs”

1. Being late2. Poor personal appearance3. Poor body language – eye contact, posture, weak handshake4. Poor voice diction or grammar5. Knowing too little or too much6. Lack of personal goals and objectives7. Lack of confidence – too nervous8. Condemnation of or complaining about previous employer9. Cynical, intolerant or strong prejudices10. Failure to express appreciation of interviewer’s time and

failure to ask questions

One BIG Thing…

An interview is a two-way street. Not only is the employer trying to decide if you would be a fit for them, but you have to figure out whether you think the job would be right for you. You can get a lot of cues about the way a place operates and how you might be treated from the interview.

It’s all about CHEMISTRY.

After…Thank You Letter

Handwrite it…it’s more personal. Or, you can e-mail if appropriate.

NOTES: If they don’t like you, the letter won’t help. Not everyone sends one—In today’s competitive market, even a tiny

edge is worth the effort. Keep it short and simple; tell them you enjoyed meeting them and

look forward to hearing from them. Maybe mention one thing you connected with them on in the interview that might help them remember you. Don’t overdo it and try to sell yourself again—just be polite.

Don’t just use one off a website. Gross.

http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2009/08/24/did-i-screw-up-my-job-interview-thank-you-letter/

Follow-up

Evaluate your impressions: You don’t have to WANT the job

Handle offers and acceptances in a timely and professional manner

Honor your acceptances and withdraw from job search process