How to Win the Job Interview

Lecture 5

Career Management

November 2008

Lecturer: R. MilyankovaGOOD LUCK!

WHAT IS AN INTERVIEW?

A two party conversation in which (at least) one person has serious, specific purpose (goal)

OBJECTIVES FOR INTERVIEWING:

Information gathering Selection procedures Performance appraisal etc.

Which results in different types of interviews

SELECTION PROCESS

• Telephone Interview • Psychometric Testing• Panel Interviews• One To One Interviews• Simulation procedures

• Assessment Centres = all kinds of methods

INTERVIEW’S CHARACTERISTICS: Always purposeful Always structured (in different degrees) Has several distinct phases and involves

question-and-answer format Has an element of control Is bipolar – 2 parties participate Amount of speech - Pareto principle

PLANNING THE INTERVIEW(the interviewer)

Define a goal Identify and analyze the other party Prepare a list of topics: long/short

term career goals, knowledge about the company/products

Choose the best interview structure Consider the possible questions

THE STRUCTURE OF THE INTERVIEW

Highly scheduled (structured conversation) – standardized list of questions

Nonscheduled – free conversation

Moderately scheduled – directed by interviewer

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Open vs closed qs Factual vs opinion qs Primary and secondary qs Direct vs indirect qs Hypothetical qs Leading and loaded qs

PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW

• Yourself

• The Organisation

• The Job

• The Interview

INTERVIEW STRUCTURE

• Rapport• Structure/length of interview• Preamble about organisation/job• General discussion about you• Finding out about your character• Detailed discussion about job• Terms and Conditions• Summing Up• Next Steps

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

OPENING - DO NOT FORGET THAT: 50 % of decisions are made during

the first 30-60 seconds Next 25 % - in the first 15 min The rest 25 % are very difficult

decisions

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

OPENING Greetings and self introduction Orientation to:• Explain the reason• Explain what information is needed and how

it will be used• Mention the length of the interview• Motivation

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

BODY: exchange questions and answers Interviewer:- Controls and focuses the conversation- Listens actively- Uses different types of questions

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

BODY: exchange questions and answers

Interviewee:- Reviews and clarifies the results- Corrects any misunderstanding- Covers his/her own agenda

CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW

CLOSING- Review and clarify the results- Establish future answers- Conclude with pleasantries

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 1: Get acquainted with the companyA) Formal way: corporate sites:bigbook.com Businessweek.com/search.htmBusinesswire.com Companiesonline.comFortune.com Hoovers.comJoboptions.com Jobsafari.comMorningstar.com

B) Non-formal way: call the company itselfYou can even receive instructions from the person at the

phone

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 2: Dress appropriately – conservative style of dress

MEN: Dark suit, white shirt (long sleeves), dark stripped tie, black shoes (clean and shining)

WOMEN: Dark suit, trousers permitted, pale long-sleeve blouse (shemise), dark shoes (not very high heels)

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 3: Go alone, no boy-friends or girl-friends (this is not professional)

Step 4: Arrive on time

a/ coming earlier – drink coffee

b/ coming late – the interviewers never shout, they just filter out

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 5: The four magic greetings:

1. Smile

2. Direct eye contact

3. Hi, I am (first name) (last name). It is a pleasure meeting you.

4. Firm handshaking

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 6: Do not accept the role of a subordinate or a superior

Ask the interviewer for an interesting object in his room – a picture, photograph, vase, flower. The more he/she speaks, the more you understand for him/her.

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 7: Like the interviewer – we like people who are just like us

a/Learn business and official words like acceptance, affirmative action, available labor pool, contact information, downsizing, exit interview, fired, involuntary termination, job comparability, job congruence, job description, job rotation, labour grade, new hire, job offer, personal references, professional references, occupation, rate range, resume, requisition, span of control

The 12 steps of the irresistible interviewStep 7: Like the interviewer – we like people who are just

like usb/ Develop your own dictionary (72 words recommended): aggressive, active, analyze, proficiency, careful, lead,

establish, affect, generate, pride, dynamic, diplomatic, direct, discipline, eliminate, energetic, effective, strengthen, vital, common sense, peform, initiate, control, focus, motivate, monitor, reliable, guide, train, provide, simplify, responsible, evaluate, win, improve, potential, innovate, recommend, conceive, efficiency, professional, develop, solve, streamline, results, conduct, attitude, systematic, tactful, accurate, accelerate, persuade, expand, skill, ability, participate

The 12 steps of the irresistible interview

Step 7: Like the interviewer – we like people who are just like us

c/ observe the body language of the interviewer, in order to attract him when necessary

d/ present your C.V. only in case of their requeste/ start leading to the offer for the second

interview, using phrases like: we have a good match here, my background is very suitable for this position, I am exited about this position, this looks like a long-term situation

The 12 steps of the irresistible interviewStep 8: Speak positive things about

your present / previous employer

It is not easy!

Winners focus on passed successes and forget the passed failures

The thing that matters is the constant success, not the failures

The 12 steps of the irresistible interviewStep 9: Admire the achievements of the

employer, especially if he really deserves it. Ask questions about the production results, try to be impressed

Step 10: Be very observant!80 % of the decision is taken by now The good humor is very useful at this point

The 12 steps of the irresistible interviewStep 11: Radiate powerShow personal traits like enthusiasm,

confidence, energy, reliabilityUnderline your loyalty, honesty, pride of

your work, of your professionTalk about your last strong characteristics:

effectiveness and efficiency, following procedures, cheapness, thrift, profit

The 12 steps of the irresistible interviewStep 12: The four magic elements of taking

farewell

1. Smile2. Direct eye contact3. It sounds like a great opportunity. I look

forward to hearing from you4. Firm but polite handshaking

Possible questions to be asked:

Why are you leaving your present position? How far do you think you can go in this company? Why? What are you looking for in a job? What are your career objectives? Why should we hire you? What can you do for us that someone else cannot do? Do you like to work? Why? What kind of salary are you worth? What are the last five biggest accomplishments in your

last job /your career? Can you work under pressure / deadlines / stress? What kind of people do you like?

Possible questions to be asked:

What kind of people do you dislike? Why didn’t you do better at school? Why did you change jobs so frequently? What is your biggest strength? What is your biggest weakness? What makes you angry? How long will it take you to make contribution to our

company? How long will you stay with our company? Are you willing to travel? Are you willing to relocate? What positions do expect to have in years?

Possible questions to be asked: Don’t you feel you might be better off in a different type

of company? Why aren’t you earning more money? How is your family life? What do your subordinates think about you? Tell us all about yourself. How is your health? May we contact your present/previous employer? Do you prefer to work with a team or would you wok

rather alone? Do you like to work with people? Are you aggressive? How do you cope with stress? Are you innovative?

Possible questions to be asked by you: What are your company’s plans for expansion? Is the department a profit center? How important are the department’s functions to the

senior management? Are you ready to hire now? How long has the position been open? How many employees have held the position in the last

five years? Why are the former employees no longer in the position? How many employees have been promoted from this

position during the past five years? What do you expect the person you hire to accomplish?

IMAGE/BEHAVIOUR

• First impressions count! • Appropriate clothes are essential• On greeting give eye contact, smile,

shake hands• Remain Alert• Act professionally

13 WAYS TO SHINE AT INTERVIEW

1. Make sure you keep a copy of your CV and/or application form

2. Research your potential employers3. Know the industry you are interested in entering4. Refer again to the job description that first inspired you

to apply for that job5. Consider your appearance6. Take with you the letter of confirmation from the

organization you are visiting7. Check how you are going to get there8. Be equipped – money, handkerchief, comb, lipstick

13 WAYS TO SHINE AT INTERVIEW

9. Learn the art of firm handshake

10. Remember that an interview is a two-way process

11. Think about your body language

12. Never be afraid of a pause

13. Give yourself time to relax and prepare

EMPLOYERS PERSPECTIVE

• Employers find Graduates one of the most difficult roles to recruit

• Employers feel students with Work Experience:Manage their time betterAre more realisticMore mature

EMPLOYERS PERSPECTIVE

Your goal– Stand out from all the other candidates

They look for:– Ability & Suitability– Willingness– Manageability & Teamwork– Professional Behaviour

FOLLOW UP

Self Reflection

Feedback

Follow up Letter

REJECTIONS

Reason for Rejection– They did not feel you could do the job– They feel you lack a successful profile– They did not feel your personality would

contribute to the department/organisation

– You can not be the right person for every job!!!!

CAREER MANAGEMENT

DO:– Audit where you are now– Audit where you want to be in the future– Evaluate how you can fill in the gaps– Ask for feedback– Think about the changes necessary– Talk to others, develop your network

DO NOT:- Depend on others recognising your potential- Devolve responsibility for your career on to your

organisation- Take silly risks – you should be making informed

choices

UPDATE YOUR CAREER PLAN REGULARLY!!!

CAREER MANAGEMENT

FINAL COMMENT– It is important to manage your career!

– The people who get the best jobs are those who are most skilled at managing their careers and finding opportunities.

– Getting the perfect job is a job in itself!

Bulgarian sites for job-seeking:

Jobs.bg JobTiger.bg Rabota.bg Jobs.gbg.bg Zaplata.bg Jobs.neogen.bg Rabota.dir.bg