HOW TO INTERVIEW LIKE A PRO

Your job interview starts the second you walk in the door, so be ready

John WilsonCareer Services Specialist(909) 274-4644jwilsonjr@mtsac.edu

Be prepared for : Telephone Interview

First Interview

Second Interview

Panel Interview

Group Interview

Skype Interviews

The average job interview lasts about 55 minutes.

An interview for management-level position lasts 86 minutes.

Robert Half Recruitment

Telephone InterviewThe Purpose of The Telephone Interview

Employers Use Telephone Interviews to Screen Candidates

Here are five tips for doing well in a phone interview

1. Attend to your surroundings.If you have an interview scheduled, take precautions beforehand to get in a good spot physically.2. Dress for the part.Consider getting dressed up for your interview, even though no one will see you.3. Stand up, you speak clearer when your standing up4. Prepare for the most obvious questions. Also, be ready for a question about the most obvious problem on your resume—often frequent job changes or big gaps in work history.5. Don't forget to close. Your goal for a phone interview is to get an in-person interview.Penelope Trunk Brazen Careerist.

Preparing for the Interview

Do your homework. Research company websites for information about products, services, mission statements, management, organizational hierarchy, business structure. Know the company inside and out!

Know the job description inside and out!

Know your resume backward & forward

Logistics (location, parking, time frame)

Make sure you have the address and location of your interview (if you’re not sure of location make a visit before the day of your interview)

Write the manager’s name, department, address, and telephone number on notebook and take it with you

Before you head out the door

Bring several copies of your resume and carry them in a professional folder (10-20 copies)

Bring a typed list with three personal references (names, addresses, e-mail and telephone numbers) make sure you let your references know that you will be using their names as references

Bring your social security, DL, working Visas (if required)

Certificates: typing, H-6, degrees, and recent education

Bring work samples, portfolios, reference letters from supervisors, work evaluations (only if they reflect your work experience positively) bring information that will set you apart from the competition

Other things to remember

Bring money, for parking, transportation, tolls

Never bring anyone with you to a job interview

Arrive to the interview 10-15 minutes early

If something happens and you are going to be late-call the manager. Be prepared to explain why you’re late.

How to dress for a job interview

Whenever you meet someone new, you size them up in a about a minute, you can decide whether or not you like

them. Hiring managers are good at sizing people up too. They see lots of job applicants and they can tell in a flash who’ll fit in and who won’t. In a job interview, the goals is

show that you fit in--- THE JOB HUNTING HANDBOOK

More Tips:

Get a good night’s sleep

Take a shower. Shampoo your hair, brush your teeth, use deodorant, use eye drops for red eyes

Trim your nails. Hair styles (choose a simple style that makes your look good)

Avoid Strong perfumes. Makeup, in business, less is more

Shave (look your best for the job interview)

Body piercing-more than two piercings can be distracting

Avoid trendy fashions

Dress according to the job. Always dress 20% better than you would normally show for work. Show that you care enough to make a good impression

Check your clothes before the interview. Make sure they fit properly and feel comfortable. Check for holes, tears, splits, strains, missing buttons, runs, frayed hems, worn cuffs, puckers, pulls or wrinkles

Wear clean freshly-pressed clothes

• If possible, know the appropriate dress code.

• Avoid excessive jewelry

• Avoid bright colors, loud fashions and patterns that clash

• Empty your pockets, no bulges, jingling change

• Smile. Smile big.

Good handshake key to interview successthe first impression begins with handshake

By Gayle Hallgren-Rezac

Professor Greg Stewarts says, “The handshake is one of the first nonverbal clues we get about the person’s overall personality and that impression is what we remember.”

Handshakes matter more than you think

Six tips for great handshakes

1. Aim for firm, but not bone crushing.

2. Avoid the “finger tips” handshake; make web-to-web contact.

3. Shake up and down. You wouldn’t think folks would need this next bit of advice, but—news flash—the motion of a handshake is up and down. In our business we shake a lot of hands and it’s surprising the number of times we get a left-right sideways handshake.

4. Pump the hand three or four times — no more. Over shaking someone’s hand feels odd to the other person.

5. Manage the “wet fish” handshake, if applicable. This is a challenge because it telegraphs nervousness. There’s a website for this problem, www.sweatmanagement.ca but before you resort to something drastic, a worthwhile exercise to practice shaking more hands, more often, in less stressful situations. Go to a networking event and don’t worry about anything except monitoring your handshake. After shaking hands with five people is your handshake drier? And by the tenth person, is it even better? If so, practice may make a difference.

6. Make and hold eye contact with the other person. If you don’t do that, it doesn’t matter how firm and confident your handshake is. Lack of eye contact gives a powerful nonverbal clue, one that will set a negative tone for the interview. Here’s a tip: when you first shake hands try to figure out the color of the person’s eyes. That way you will make eye contact, guaranteed!

Gayle Hallgren-Rezac is chief engagement officer for the Shepa Learning Company,

Enthusiasm—the key to a great interview

Hiring managers agree—enthusiasm separates the winners from the losers. It can be more than experience. Give me someone who’s enthusiastic and motivated, “explained one manager, “someone who’s alert and alive… someone who’s interested in what we do here… someone who’s excited about coming to work for me… someone who wants to help me as much as I want to help them”

Be extra courteous. Treat everyone with courtesy and professionalism.

Say hello, smile and be friendly to everyone you meet. You can bet that the manager will ask what everybody thought of you, after you’ve left the building.

THE JOB HUNTING HANDBOOK

During the Interview“To overcome an employer’s inherent fears and doubts, you must develop enough professional rapport during the interviews to allay their fears of

making a hiring mistake”. Arlene S. Hirsch Author

According to Jay Block’s The Fine Art of Effective Interviewing

There are two components to an interview

1. Information: Your ability to produce results

2. Presentation: Ability to fit in

Jay A. Block is an internationally certified career coach and resume strategist.

How will you be able to communicate your abilities?

Deliver the Ultimate Results Message-contributions

The Core Strengths Message-your ability to do the job

The Differential Factor Message-what sets you apart

The “Show Me” - Accomplishments

Jay A. Block is an internationally certified career coach and resume strategist

Putting together a winning portfolio of your accomplishments

proof by example

What’s going to set up apart from the competition? Putting together a Professional Portfolio.

Create a folder with copies of your resumes, certificates, degree, recommendation letters, licenses, writing samples, awards, information that will speak volumes of your work performances.

Make sure to include updated information on your references (at least three professional references)

If you don’t have references start collecting names of individuals you might be able to use. Remember to always ask before you put them down as a reference. It should be someone who can speak positive about you.

List of AccomplishmentsWhen you think of your accomplishments, keep the following in mind: Be sure and include specific, measurable accomplishments in order to

differentiate yourself

Try to list accomplishments that are specific and measurable.

Quantify whenever possible. (Examples: Increased sales by 50 percent over the previous year; supervised staff of 25; served a customer base of 150, the largest on firm's customer-service team.)

Use superlatives and "firsts." Use words such as "first," "only," "best," "most," and "highest."

Consider the "so-what factor." For every accomplishment you list, ask yourself, "so what?" Does the item you've listed truly characterize your abilities and your potential for contributing to the next employer's success?

Make sure each accomplishment is relevant to the type of job you seek.

Delivering a 30-90 second opening statement

“Tell me about yourself________________________”

First-

Talk about your training, skills, and accomplishments

Second-

Give specific examples from your past to prove it

Third-

Mention how your experience relates to the job that you are interviewing

Practice makes perfectPractice your responses to the hard questions

Terminations/Terminations based on performance

Past work history- answer all time gaps

What’s your weakness?

Why did you leave your last job?

What can you do for us that no one else can?

Why should I hire you?

What do you know about our company?

What relevant experience do you have?

Why would you like to work here?

What have been doing for the last six months/year?

Convictions, be prepared to explain. Misrepresentation can mean elimination of employment offer

Salary questions-do your research based on market value and your own personal value

At first, a panel job interview might sound intimidatingBut with the right prep work and by modifying your communication during the interview, you’ll be able to increase your chances for a successful interview.

Lisa Quast, author of award-winning book, YOUR CAREER, YOUR WAY!. Join me on Twitter @careerwomaninc

Panel InterviewTo be successful in panel interviews, you’ll want to slightly modify your preparation as

well as your communication style during the actual interview.

Here are 7 tips:1. Tip #1: Find out who will be on the interview panel. Ask the recruiter (or hiring manager) for the

names and titles of everyone who will be on the panel. This will help you gain a better understanding of what will be important to each person. Are they in sales, service, marketing, operations, research and development, finance, process improvement, HR, etc.

2. Tip #2 Brainstorm the questions each person might ask. Based on their role in the company, think through the types of questions they might ask you during the interview.

3. Tip #3: Introduce yourself to each person. When you show up for the panel interview, approach each person and introduce yourself while shaking his or her hand. Ask for a business card from everyone, so you can place these in front of you in the order in which they’re sitting. If they don’t have business cards with them, write down their names on a piece of paper (in the order in which they’re sitting) and have this in front of you during the interview. That way, you’ll know whom you’re addressing as you answer questions.

4. Tip #4 Modify your communication style. Look directly at the person asking the question and begin by answering to them, making eye contact. Then, look at the other panel members as you finish the rest of your comments, so each person feels included in the conversation.

5. Tip # 5Build a rapport with your interviewers. Instead of just answering each person’s question, see if you can make connections and demonstrate your active listening skills.

6. Tip #6: Modify how you ask questions at the end of the interview. Just like you would for an individual interview, come prepared with your list of potential questions to ask at the end of the interview.

7. Tip #7: Follow-up with each person. No, the interview thank you note is not dead. In the case of a panel interview, it means you should send a personalized thank you note to each member of the interview panel.

What are your salary requirements?

Always do your research-based on skills and qualifications for the job you are interviewing

Always wait for the employer to begin the salary discussion

Do your best to wait until a job offer has been extended to talk salary

Always have a number you cannot go below – know what is the minimum you are willing to accept based on your personal needs and qualifications

Resources:

Look at the salaries posted for the job your are applying for or similar qualifications

http://www.salary.com/mysalary.asp;salaryexpert.com, http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov

Glassdoor.com

Employers usually want an answer for this question so be prepared to give a realistic salary range for the job you are interviewing for.

Keep in mind benefits into your salary package

Closing the interviewAlways be prepared with questions to ask?

Would you describe a typical work day and the things I would be doing?

What would you like to see accomplish the first 30-60 days of the job?

Why is the position vacant?

How will I be trained?

What are the department’s goals or main priorities?

Who will I be reporting to?

When do you expect to fill this position?

Do you feel my qualifications match those that you are looking for in this position?

When can I expect to hear from you regarding the next stage in the interviewing process?

Following Up

Express gratitude for the opportunity

Reinforce your interest & enthusiasm

Bring a thank you card for the interview –leave with receptionist

Many employers express a preference for hand-written thank you note card

Email may be appropriate, especially with an attached word document

Following up with employers is very important.

Don’t feel defeated if you don’t get the immediate response you hoped for. Always maintain your connections-do NOT burn any bridges. Remember: there are NO GUARANTEES that someone is going to be the “fit” the employer is looking for. Be persistent and keep following up!

THE JOB HUNTING HANDBOOK

Things to remember on your next interview

Do your research, do extra research

Practice makes perfect, always rehearse your answers to the hard questions

Put a winning portfolio together-what sets you apart from the competition

Dress for the job you want-first impression counts

Arrive 10-15 minutes early. If you can do a test run the day before, so you know where to park, what office building you will need to check in. You want to allow yourself enough time to collect your thoughts, before the interview begins.

Be extra courteous. Treat everyone with courtesy and professionalism.

Body language talks-Practice your firm handshake and eye contact

Be a good active listener

Have a positive attitude-never say anything negative during the interview process

Be prepared with questions to ask the interviewer

Be yourself

Don’t forget to follow up

Remember you just need ONE job!

John WilsonCareer Services Specialist(909) 274-4644jwilsonjr@mtsac.edu