STAR Workshop 2:Interviewing For

SuccessCareer Services

After completing this workshop you will need to complete the online quiz in Blackboard to receive

credit toward STAR Certification

What We Will Cover• PRE-INTERVIEW

– Preparing for the interview– What to wear– Understand the employer’s perspective

• THE INTERVIEW– Overview– Questions to anticipate– Questions to ask

• POST INTERVIEW– Thank you note– Follow-up– How did you do?- Evaluate and improve your interview skills

Two Major Reasons For A “Bad” Interview

• Overconfident “Winging It”“I am good at talking to people, so I can get through an

interview with no problem!”

• Too NervousSo nervous they can’t focus or present themselves well

With today’s interviews, employers ask a lot of behavioral type questions that require more thought. A lot of “ums” and “ahs” are a sure sign of someone who is not prepared or hasn’t practiced.

Preparation is

the Key!!!

PRE-INTERVIEWRemember The Four “P’s” of Interviewing

• Prepare

• Personality

• Presentation

• Practice

Prepare• Know Yourself - your skills, values,

goals, and interests, and be able to discuss these in the interview.

• Know the organization and field - Research the company and obtain information to refer to in the interview.

• Be able to match yourself to the organization and field - Focus on how your goals, skills, and interests are a match to the goals of the company.

Personality

• Be Yourself - Let your personality shine through! Relax, turn nervous energy into positive energy.

Presentation• Start with a firm

handshake (even for women). It’s an important part of the interview culture

• Display confidence and enthusiasm in both your actions and answers.

• Conduct yourself with professionalism in both appearance and attitude –

• Be aware of your posture, eye contact, smile, etc. Be cautious of using excessive hand gestures when talking.

Practice• Know your resume and be

able to provide concrete examples to describe your strengths.

• Practice with a friend - Have a friend critique you on your answers. Career Services provides practice interviews

• Evaluate performance after each interview and determine areas for improvement

• Practice, practice, practice. Each time you interview your interview skills will improve!

The age old saying continues to be true…

You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

What does your attire

say about you?

First impressions are lasting impressions

This photo was taken at a job fair—imagine the impression he made with employers. Dressing professionally is a must! Be aware that there are different interview cultures: Corporate and Non-Profit/Education

Attire for MenDress For Corporate Interviews: • suits in navy blue or gray (the

power colors) • white or off-white colored

shirt with long sleeves• tie should be conservative

not flashy• minimal jewelry and avoid

strong cologne

Attire for WomenCorporate:

• suit (skirt) in navy blue or gray (power colors)

• white or cream colored blouse

• hose

• appropriate shoes

• minimal jewelry and avoid strong perfume

Attire For Men

• Non-profit/Education

Not as “dressy” or formal.

• sport coat

• Shirt and tie

• dress slacks

• minimal jewelry and avoid strong cologne

Attire for Women

Non-profit:

• dress, or blouse and skirt, or pants suit

• Blazer and slacks

• appropriate shoes

• hose, knee hi’s

• minimal jewelry and avoid strong perfume

Dress For Success GameCan You spot the candidates who are dressed for success?

Number 1 is dressed professionally. #2 Shorts and flip flops are a definite “No!.” #3 is Business casual but still not dressed correctly

1 2 3

Who’s Dressed for Success?

Too Casual Too Casual Professional Attire

1 2

3

Who’s Dressed For Success?

Business Casual Professional Attire Too Casual

12 3 4

Who’s Dressed For Success?

Professional Dress Business Casual Too Casual

12

3 4

What Skills or Qualities Do Employers Look For? They seek candidates with the following skills

• Strong Academic Skills• Excellent Communication Skills • Critical Thinking • Adaptability and flexibility• Self-discipline• Team orientation• Computer skills• Goal Oriented• Knowledgeable about organization• Work Experience

Your goal in the interview is to talk about these skills

Problem Areas to Avoid• Lack of Focus - Not knowing how you fit

into the position you are applying for ; not making the connection. Not having a reason for pursing their major.

• Lack of Preparation - Not researching the company and finding out key information.

• Attire - Not dressed appropriately. Women - Overbearing perfume, too much jewelry Men - overbearing cologne, inappropriate suit.

• Response to questions - Did not communicate clearly; gave vague examples; rambled

• Marketing - Failed to articulate your strengths and accomplishments.

Interview Checklist

• Be on time - arrive approx. 15 min. early

• Bring extra copies of your resume and references.

• Dress for success

THE INTERVIEW: Interview typically go from 30 minutes to an hour and usually follow the same breakdown”

• 5% Introduction-getting situated, getting started

• 70% You talking about your skills, experience, qualifications, etc.

• 20% Employer talks about duties, organization, training, etc,

• 5% Closing-what happens next

Be prepared for the 70% with you talking about why you are the right candidate for the job!!!

The Questions They Will Ask: You will hear some form of question from the following 5 areas in just about every

interview you will have• Questions about your education

• Questions about work experience

• Questions about abilities, aptitudes, strengths, weaknesses

• Questions about short-term, long-term goals

• Why you want this job; what do you know about their organization?

Before the interview think about each of these areas and prepare to answer any question they might have

Behavioral Based Questions

• This approach to interviewing focuses on examples of how the candidate has applied his or her skills. Behavior-based interviewing is built on the premise that past behavior predicts future behavior.

Sample of Behavioral Interview Questions• Describe a major problem you

have faced and how have you dealt with it?

• Give me an example of a time when you had to work in a team?

• Give me an example of a time in which you worked under deadline pressure?

• Follow-up Questions: What were you thinking? How did you feel? What did you say? What did you do? What was the result?

STAR Technique

This technique allows you to effectively answer a question that will provide the interviewer with an example of a past experience.

Use the STAR technique to avoid feeling pressured!

• Describe the Situation

• Discuss the Task that needed to be accomplished

• What Actions did you take to perform your task

• What were the Results of your actions

Sample of questions you should ask: When given the opportunity to ask question, you should ask questions—

here are some good ones

• What type of training or orientation will I receive?

• What are the opportunities for advancement?

• How will I be evaluated?

• I am very interested in this position, what is your timeline and when can I expect to hear from you?

You should not ask about Salary or benefits—until a job offer has been made

Illegal Questions

• There are several questions that employers may not legally ask applicants.

• Anything that is not a “bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ)” may not be covered directly.

These are the classifications that are protected by federal law and employers can not ask questions that deal with:

• Sex• Age• National Origin• Handicaps/Disability• Religion• Race or Color• Veteran Status• Marital Status

The laws are designed to protect the candidate-NOT the interviewer

Illegal Questions (cont.)• Be sure you know the law - what questions are legal and

which ones are not.

• Request clarification if you need it.

• Know how you feel about different issues and prepare for possible questions in advance.

• On the next slide are some approaches to handling these questions when asked - none is better than the others, but some may be more appropriate in a given situation:

Illegal Questions (cont.)• Answer truthfully, if the truth is

positive, but keep your answer concise.

• Refer to illegality of a question, and say you’d rather not answer.

• Address the issue rather than the facts: “If you are concerned about staff turnover, I can assure you…”

• Reverse and ask your own question in return: “Are you concerned about staff turnover?”

• Answer the question as given.

Be sure you have enough information to make a decision if they offer you the job

• Information you should know at the end of the interview:

• The organization’s general environment -Is it an environment you will be happy to work for? Will working for the company benefit your goals?

• Your responsibilities - What are the duties you will be required to do?

• Promotion possibilities - Will your position be eligible for promotion and if so, what is the time frame?

• Training - What type of training will you need to perform your job? Is it local or out-of-state?

More Information you should know at the end of the interview

• Job potential - What potential does the job bring? If commission, what is the potential one can expect to make in the first year?

• Your level of authority - Will you be supervising others? How much authority will you be given concerning the job and company?

• Job requirements - Does the job require you to produce items, lift items, sell, etc?

• Travel expectations - Will you be traveling weekly or for extended periods of time? Where will you live? How will you get there? Is it paid for?

Evaluate the Job Offer• Once offered the job, evaluate

the offer to see if it fits your goals and expectations.

• It is more than appropriate to ask for a few days to consider the offer. In the meantime review information on the company, your actual job, fringe benefits, salary, and career potential. By taking time to review this pertinent information, you will feel better prepared making a decision.

How much are you worth?

• Don’t ask about salary in the interview and don’t negotiate salary until a job offer has been made?

• If, in the interview, they ask for salary requirements what do I say?

– Before the interview, do some research and know the salary range. Tell them the range and let them know you would negotiate once the offer is made

• Benefits and any bonus or incentives would be a part of your negotiation.

How to deal with salary negotiation• Research the job market -

Know what the national range and local range of pay is for this position. Such information can be obtained through the internet and the Salary Survey, located in the Career Services Career Library.

• Do not negotiate until after an offer has been made - Wait until the employer offers you the position or discusses salary.

• Consider your options - Have

you interviewed with other employers? The pay may not be what you expected but do they provide complete tuition for you to pursue your graduate degree?

POST INTERVIEW• Always Evaluate your interviews

– how did it go?

– What can you do to improve?

– You should always strive to improve your interview skills

• Send a thank-you note– Thank them for their time– Restate your interest in the job

and highlight your qualifications– This can separate you from the

“pack” as a stand out

• Follow-up-If you don’t hear within a few weeks, call and ask them what the status of your candidacy is

Conclusion• Interviewing is a skill that is

developed through experience and evaluation. After each interview, sit down and assess your performance “under fire.” Examine both the strong and the weak points of your interview and develop strategies for improvement.

For tips on interviewing—including sample

questions, pick up a copy of The EDGE in Career

Services

Career Services

• If you would like to develop your interview skills, make an appointment with a counselor in Career Services for a practice interview.

• Practice Interviews: Call x2955 to set up an interview

Questions?

If you have questions about any aspect of interviewing, call Career Services at 904-620-2955 and ask for an appointment with a job search counselor

STAR Program Requirement

• To receive credit for completing Workshop #2: Interviewing, click on the “Online Quizzes” tab on the Blackboard Menu

• Answer the questions and then submit

• You must score at least 16 out of 20 (80%) to “pass” the workshop

• If you pass, Career Services staff will check the Workshop #2 Requirement in Career Wings