Preparing For Your Interviews

1. Preparing For Your Interviews December 13, 2002 Dan Smith

2. Are You Ready? • Practice interviewing • Ask your self the core questions • Answer them aloud • Tape record your answer • Playback and critique • Have you talked with people at company xyz other than those at the information night? • Have a two-minute “walk story” prepared

3. Start with the Predictable Questions • Why Kelley? • Why Marketing? • Tell me about a time when you displayed leadership • Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone • Walk me through your resume • What are some of your weaknesses? • Why do you want to work for us? • Other?

4. Key Takeaways From Mock Interview Session • THE BIG ISSUE • What makes you special? How will you add value if we were to bring you into our company? • Come to the interview with a clear sense of the two or three things you want the interviewer to know about you • Get to the point of your answer • Think for a moment … organize your thoughts • Provide 10 second summary at the close of a story • Have three to five “stories” about how you have displayed leadership traits … • This is the time when the word “I” can be used frequently • Recognize the value of being on a team with good colleagues … but focus on YOUR ROLE

5. Key Takeaways From Mock Interview Session . Be passionate and excited about the opportunity Have a pleasant facial expression Use hand gestures … but sparingly

6. Case Interviewing: Key Skills • Listen to what is being asked … and answer the question asked • Take notes … but don’t let the writing distract you • Write/create pictures and frameworks on the spot • Remember, the issue is the PROCESS you would follow, not THE answer

7. Case Type Questions – The Basics • Evaluate this ad (or FSI .. i.e., free-standing insert) … Tell me about a good ad and a bad one • Tell me about a good marketing strategy/bad strategy • Change of business position • “Our profits have been flat for the last two years. Wall Street is asking for significantly higher returns. What do you suggest we do?”

8. Case Type Questions – The General Categories • New Product Idea/Introduction -- Price • “We have a great new product. It’s better than anything on the market. How would you determine what price to charge?” • New Product Idea/Introduction • “R&D just came to you with what they claim is a hot new product concept. They got the idea from a salesperson who said customers have been asking for such a product. What do you do?” • Channel Strategy -- • “We currently do not use the Web for transactions but are now thinking of doing so. What do you think?” • Price Changes -- • “A competitor is getting very price competitive. We hate to play a price-based game, but we are losing share. What would you suggest we do?”

9. A Few Thoughts About Closing • Address any unique aspects of your resume/experience that may be working against • Summarize the top two or three benefits you bring to the company – show how they fit with where the company is going/what they are doing • Tell the interviewer EXACTLY why you want to work with their firm • Is there anything that I have not covered? Have your questions been addressed?