INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING

A presentation from The Career Center, FCC, 2003 A presentation from The Career Center, FCC, 2003

Interviewing Interviewing • What is an

Interview?

• Why learn about interviewing?

• Types of interviews

• Before the Interview

• During the Interview

• Closing the Interview

• After the Interview

• What is an Interview?

• Why learn about interviewing?

• Types of interviews

• Before the Interview

• During the Interview

• Closing the Interview

• After the Interview

What is an interview?What is an interview?

• The interview is where employment information is exchanged--you learn about the job you are seeking and the employer learns about your job-related qualifications

• It is the opportunity to sell your skills and abilities, and to convince the interviewer you are the best candidate for the position

• The interview is where employment information is exchanged--you learn about the job you are seeking and the employer learns about your job-related qualifications

• It is the opportunity to sell your skills and abilities, and to convince the interviewer you are the best candidate for the position

Why learn about interviewing?

Why learn about interviewing?

• Because successful interviewees--the candidates that get the job--know how to interview well and are always prepared! They know that the interview is where lasting impressions are formed and where important career and hiring decisions are made.

• Because successful interviewees--the candidates that get the job--know how to interview well and are always prepared! They know that the interview is where lasting impressions are formed and where important career and hiring decisions are made.

Types of interviewsTypes of interviews• Preliminary “screening” interview

with human resources– focus is on employment history,

reviewing application and resume for accuracy, and determining if applicant is minimally qualified

• Hiring interview with the “hiring” manager– focus is on specific skill sets and what

you can bring to the position

• Preliminary “screening” interview with human resources– focus is on employment history,

reviewing application and resume for accuracy, and determining if applicant is minimally qualified

• Hiring interview with the “hiring” manager– focus is on specific skill sets and what

you can bring to the position

Types of interviewsTypes of interviews• Individual

interviews are conducted by one interviewer and you meet with them one-on-one

• Individual interviews are conducted by one interviewer and you meet with them one-on-one

Type of interviewsType of interviews

• Panel or team interviews are conducted by more than one interviewer

• Panel or team interviews are conducted by more than one interviewer

BE PREPAREDBE PREPARED

• NOT PANICKED

• NOT PANICKED

Before the interviewBefore the interview

• examine your career goals

• know yourself and your skills well

• memorize your resume

• research the company

• practice interviewing

• examine your career goals

• know yourself and your skills well

• memorize your resume

• research the company

• practice interviewing

Prepare by planning to “dress for success”

Prepare by planning to “dress for success”

• Dress appropriate to the workplace– Men’s options

• suit and tie, or dress pants and sport coat

– Women’s options• suit, dress, or professional-looking pants suit

• Always be clean, neat, freshly pressed• Select conservative but flattering styles• First impressions really do count!

• Dress appropriate to the workplace– Men’s options

• suit and tie, or dress pants and sport coat

– Women’s options• suit, dress, or professional-looking pants suit

• Always be clean, neat, freshly pressed• Select conservative but flattering styles• First impressions really do count!

Being prepared means….Being prepared means….

• Be on time--always!• Make a good first impression• Greet the receptionist warmly• Come to the interview alone• Do not smoke or chew gum• Turn off cell phones before the interview• Leave earphones at home

• Be on time--always!• Make a good first impression• Greet the receptionist warmly• Come to the interview alone• Do not smoke or chew gum• Turn off cell phones before the interview• Leave earphones at home

Use these interview tipsUse these interview tips

• Be aware of your body language• Be diplomatic• Be truthful• Make only positive comments regarding

former employers• Bring references and extra resumes• Use a portfolio to carry everything neatly,

and to take notes, if you wish

• Be aware of your body language• Be diplomatic• Be truthful• Make only positive comments regarding

former employers• Bring references and extra resumes• Use a portfolio to carry everything neatly,

and to take notes, if you wish

During the interviewDuring the interview

• Begin with the BIG 3– firm handshake– genuine smile– direct eye

contact

• Begin with the BIG 3– firm handshake– genuine smile– direct eye

contact

During the interviewDuring the interview• The Employer may begin with:

– “small talk” to put you at ease– provide company and job information

so you understand what the job entails

– evaluate your social skills; conversation and grammar skills; composure, attitude, enthusiasm, interest

• The Employer may begin with: – “small talk” to put you at ease– provide company and job information

so you understand what the job entails

– evaluate your social skills; conversation and grammar skills; composure, attitude, enthusiasm, interest

During the InterviewDuring the InterviewDuring the InterviewDuring the Interview• The Applicant should: The Applicant should:

– Listen and respond with concise, complete Listen and respond with concise, complete sentencessentences

– Stay on track; do not rambleStay on track; do not ramble– Remember to conduct a“dialogue, not a Remember to conduct a“dialogue, not a

monologue”monologue”– State contributions you can make rather State contributions you can make rather

than the security the company providesthan the security the company provides– Answer questions focusing on job-related Answer questions focusing on job-related

skills and abilities skills and abilities – Sell yourself!Sell yourself!

• The Applicant should: The Applicant should: – Listen and respond with concise, complete Listen and respond with concise, complete

sentencessentences– Stay on track; do not rambleStay on track; do not ramble– Remember to conduct a“dialogue, not a Remember to conduct a“dialogue, not a

monologue”monologue”– State contributions you can make rather State contributions you can make rather

than the security the company providesthan the security the company provides– Answer questions focusing on job-related Answer questions focusing on job-related

skills and abilities skills and abilities – Sell yourself!Sell yourself!

During the interviewDuring the interview

• Be prepared to answer questions about your work experience, educational history and job-related qualifications

• Be prepared to answer questions about your work experience, educational history and job-related qualifications

Sample questions Sample questions you may be askedyou may be askedSample questions Sample questions you may be askedyou may be asked

• Tell me about Tell me about yourself.yourself.

• Why are you Why are you interested in joining interested in joining our company?our company?

• What qualifications What qualifications do you have for this do you have for this position?position?

• Why are you leaving Why are you leaving your current job?your current job?

• Tell me about Tell me about yourself.yourself.

• Why are you Why are you interested in joining interested in joining our company?our company?

• What qualifications What qualifications do you have for this do you have for this position?position?

• Why are you leaving Why are you leaving your current job?your current job?

• What are your What are your strengths and strengths and weaknesses?weaknesses?

• Where do you see Where do you see yourself in 5 years?yourself in 5 years?

• Give me an example Give me an example of a decision you of a decision you had to make under had to make under pressure--how did pressure--how did you approach it?you approach it?

• What are your What are your strengths and strengths and weaknesses?weaknesses?

• Where do you see Where do you see yourself in 5 years?yourself in 5 years?

• Give me an example Give me an example of a decision you of a decision you had to make under had to make under pressure--how did pressure--how did you approach it?you approach it?

During the InterviewDuring the Interview• Be prepared to

ask questions about the company and the position

• Be prepared to ask questions about the company and the position

Appropriate questions you can ask

Appropriate questions you can ask

• How will I be trained or introduced to the job?

• What are the department’s goals for the next year?

• How does this position help to meet those goals?

• How will I be trained or introduced to the job?

• What are the department’s goals for the next year?

• How does this position help to meet those goals?

• What are the opportunities for advancement from this position?

• How are performance reviews conducted?

• What is the next step in the interview process?

• What are the opportunities for advancement from this position?

• How are performance reviews conducted?

• What is the next step in the interview process?

How to handle salary information

How to handle salary information

• Allow employer to approach subject first• Be knowledgeable about salaries for this

position in your geographical area• Be realistic about your expectations• Be tactful in how you present your salary

request• Give a salary range rather than an exact amount

if asked to state a specific salary• Consider wages and benefits as a total

compensation package

• Allow employer to approach subject first• Be knowledgeable about salaries for this

position in your geographical area• Be realistic about your expectations• Be tactful in how you present your salary

request• Give a salary range rather than an exact amount

if asked to state a specific salary• Consider wages and benefits as a total

compensation package

Closing the interviewClosing the interview• Clarify next step in the

process• Offer references• Prepare a closing

statement that shows interest

• Thank the interviewer• End with The Big 3• Thank the staff on the

way out

• Clarify next step in the process

• Offer references• Prepare a closing

statement that shows interest

• Thank the interviewer• End with The Big 3• Thank the staff on the

way out

After the interviewAfter the interview• Send an immediate thank you note• Follow up with additional information if

requested• Review your performance• Learn from the experience, stay positive,

continue active job search• Evaluate the position carefully before

accepting

• Send an immediate thank you note• Follow up with additional information if

requested• Review your performance• Learn from the experience, stay positive,

continue active job search• Evaluate the position carefully before

accepting

INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING

A presentation from The Career Center, FCC, 2003 A presentation from The Career Center, FCC, 2003