Polishing Your Interview Skills

Marnie WrightDirector, Human Resources

Understanding “the” job

Types of Interview Questions

Understand how to prepare

Building a Development Plan

Overview

What motivates you to be here today?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56eAUCTLok

History of the job interview:

Understand the complex or difficult aspects of the job

Main technical requirements

Skills / abilities / competencies

“The” Job

Index Card

Write 3 most important / complex skills required to do “your desired job”

Activity

Questions designed to get to know the candidate

Get insights into their motivation for applying for the job

Let the candidate settle-in

Warm-up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlg3QoqLfOc

Warming up…

Why did you apply for this position?

What do you know about our organization and why do you want to work for us?

5 minutes

Let’s Try

Typical Response It’s all about me…

Employers look for: Genuine interest in doing the work Genuine interest in the organization Past successes

Motivation

Ask for a specific example of a time when you performed a task / skill

The single best predictor of future behaviour is a person’s recent past behaviour.

Behavioural Based Questions

Tell me about a time when you had to correct a student’s behaviour in class. Describe the situation and how you handled it.

Describe a time when you had to direct the work of others during an emergency situation.

Examples

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a7C2EtErYQ&feature=related

Five, four, three…

Let’s Try Describe a time when

you assisted a student or customer, and went above and beyond normal expectations.

5 minutes

Most difficult interview questions are behavioural questions

Strength of the answer hinges on the examples

Know the job competencies and know your best examples

How do you prepare for behavioural questions?

Two Column Approach

Job Skill Example One Example TwoDealing with ConflictDelegating workTraining other employees

Refine your best examples

Practice, practice, practice

Get feedback on the level of your examples

Bring examples or samples

Know your best work

Confirm that you understand the job

Make a list of the skills you need

Organize your best examples

Strength of the interview hinges on strength of examples

Know the Job Requirements

We need to deal with all kinds of situations

Employers look for people who can handle negative and positive situations

Negatively Framed Questions

Can be stressful for the candidate

What to reveal?

Many avoid answering directly

Don’t try the old…my weaknesses are strengths…routine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W3hzJNSkqs

Negatively Framed Questions

Describe a time when you needed to resolve a conflict with a co-worker. What was the issue and how did you handle it?

6 min

Let’s Try

You have a million examples: pick one

“I can’t think of anything” is not answering the question

Avoid situations that are too complex

Be honest

Negatively Framed Questions

Does the candidate take responsibility for negative things when they happen

Does the candidate tend to blame others for things that go wrong?

Tip: Spend time talking about how you solved the problem, what you did to make a positive outcome.

Negatively Framed Questions

Two Column Approach

Job Skill Example One Example TwoDealing with ConflictDelegating workTraining other employeesNegative Examples

Often relate to the specific job

Common occurrence within that job – how would you handle it

Assess your judgement or knowledge

Scenario

Within this position you will be asked to coordinate events during a hectic and busy time. How would you respond to the following:

The phone is ringing, an angry parent is waiting to speak with the Principal and you are photocopying an exam that is needed in 15 minutes. How would you respond?

Scenario

Questions that relate specifically to the job you are applying for

Test your specific knowledge and experience

Is a right or wrong answer – often a marked part of the interview

Technical Questions

Two Column Approach

Job Skill Example One Example TwoDealing with ConflictDelegating workTraining other employeesNegative ExamplesScenario / Technical

Understand the job and the main skills required:

Ask an employee that is successfully doing the job: what is the most difficult aspect of the work

Ask the hiring manager: What do you look for when hiring someone

Building a Development Plan

Seek opportunities to build in areas where you answers are not what you would like.

Gain experience within the workplace and through volunteering and training

Take advantage of learning opportunities to build your skills

Build Your Examples…

Learn more about your strengths

Try taking a strength finder self-assessment

Build you career based on natural strengths

Be open minded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJHkwHZCCM

Know your strengths

Body Language: hands down, shoulders back

Confidence

Be on time

Smile / Use appropriate humour

Dress slightly more formal than the job requires

General Tips

Questions