Acing Your Interview

1. Acing Your Interview How to get the job offer

2. Interview Overview • Preparing for the Interview • Doing a Self-Assessment • Understanding Types of Questions • Understanding Types of Interviews • Conducting the Interview • Following up after the Interview

3. Interview Overview • Preparing for the Interview • Doing a Self-Assessment • Understanding Types of Questions • Understanding Types of Interviews • Conducting the Interview • Following up after the Interview

4. Preparing for the Interview • Know the Company • Gather Your Materials • Time the Interview Optimally

5. Preparing for the Interview – Know the Company • Research company, position and your interviewer • Check out company web site • Read company’s financial and annual reports • Ask people you networked with about company and interviewer • Call company directly and request sales brochure and any company information they give out • Confirm interview • Call 1-2 days in advance and confirm time and location • Know how to get there and how long it takes!

6. Preparing for the Interview – Gather Your Materials • Several copies of your resume on professional grade paper to hand to interviewers • Portfolio in print and digital format • Paper and pen • Business cards • Reference list • List of questions you want to ask

7. Preparing for the Interview – Time the Interview Optimally • Try not to schedule on Monday. Work has piled up over the weekend and people are busy • Try for a late morning interview. People are more alert in the morning • Try to be the last person interviewed. Statistics show the last person interviewed is offered the job more often than the first • Plan for a day when your schedule is relaxed and flexible

8. Interview Overview • Preparing for the Interview • Doing a Self-Assessment • Understanding Types of Questions • Understanding Types of Interviews • Conducting the Interview • Following up after the Interview

9. Doing a Self-Assessment • Purpose • Showcasing Skills and Achievements • Managing Weaknesses • Anticipating Common Questions • Navigating Tricky Questions

10. Doing a Self Assessment – Purpose • A self assessment gives you a solid inventory of all your accomplishments, skills, talents, and abilities to prepare you for the interview • Allot about two hours of focused time a day or two before your interview to: • Reflect on your experience and skills • Brainstorm on paper highlights from your past • Record effective responses to common questions

11. Doing a Self Assessment – Purpose • Make sure to capture all thoughts in an organized fashion on computer • Choose examples most fitting for the desired job and company • This exercise will bring your most relevant experience to your mind in an articulate, cogent way • If possible, conduct a mock interview to be at ease presenting yourself

12. Doing a Self Assessment – Purpose • Create an elevator pitch: 1 – 2 minute summary of your skills and accomplishments and how your are the perfect candidate for the job • Review printed self assessment just prior to your interview. Seeing your answers in print will jog your memory • The objective is not to memorize your self-assessment, but rather to reflect on and provide a linguistic flow for your most relevant experiences • Sit down and describe your 5 most important accomplishments and the specific skills used to achieve them. Tailor to desired job

13. Doing a Self Assessment – Showcasing Skills and Achievements • Summarize your achievements and make them concrete with past experiences • Situation or task • Describe an experience you felt proud to have achieved or a problem that needed to be dealt with • Describe your response to the situation • Describe the challenges and issues you faced • Actions • Describe what you did about the situation • Describe the actions you took • Result or outcome • Describe the outcome • Describe why this experience is important to you

14. Doing a Self Assessment – Showcasing Skills and Achievements • Examples illustrating how an accomplishment can be related to specific skills and abilities: • Increased sales by x %: • Developed excellent personal customer relations and trust • Worked closely with logistics to optimize delivery • Organized and held training seminars with internal customer support to increase customer satisfaction • Successful project manager: • 3 promotions in 2 years • Increased productivity of team by x% and reduced lead time by x days • Only manager to finish every project on time/budget • Worked very successfully work with difficult employees and clients

15. Doing a Self Assessment – Showcasing Skills and Achievements • Look for examples that showcase your top selling points • Choose some examples that are totally positive and some that started out negatively but either ended positively or you made the best of the outcome • Vary your examples; don't take them all from just one area of your life, include various jobs (even private life if relevant) • Use fairly recent examples. Start with examples within last year • Try to describe examples in story form, describe the situation, your actions and the outcome

16. Doing a Self Assessment – Managing Weaknesses • Describe a few weaknesses or failures and explain briefly what went wrong and why • List what you learned from each problem • Don’t go for catastrophic failures but weaknesses most employees have or that demonstrate a correlating strength • Show that you dealt successfully with problems and how you worked to resolve them as positively as possible

17. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “Tell me about yourself …” • Keep it to 1 to 2 minutes maximum • Have a prepared answer ready but don’t make it sound memorized • Focus on professional information • Short summary of most recent entries to resume • Relate past accomplishments to what is required in the new position • Mention a personal detail or two • Where you grew up/lived/went to school • Unique hobbies, experiences, or volunteer work • Close with a statement like “I am looking forward to further my career in ___ and believe I can contribute greatly to the success of ___”

18. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “Why did you leave your last position …” • Prepare a short statement that summarizes the reasons for your departure • Keep it short and positive, don’t ramble • State briefly events that affected the company and led to your departure • Point it out if a group of employees was affected • Examples: “Due to a merger between __ and __ I was one of 300 people who were released…”“Due to a restructuring at __ I have decided to resign my position as __ and search for a position that more closely matches my career goals ..”

19. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “What are your strengths/weaknesses …” • Strength • List strengths that are relevant to the job • Give examples from past jobs to illustrate • E.g. creative: patents/publications/campaigns • E.g. leadership qualities: promoted quickly • Weakness • Talk about only one if possible • Mention only weaknesses not related to your core competency • Make sure they are minor • Give explanations how you overcame them

20. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “What did you like most/least about your last job…” • Things you liked most • List what is most relevant to the desired job • Talk about things that you were good at • Don’t mention salary, holidays and short work hours • Things you liked least • Try to keep this as short as possible • Phrase carefully as not to sound negative or overly critical • Think of some innocuous answers • Long commute (unless the new commute would be longer) • Lack of communal feeling in the group etc.

21. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “Why do you want to work for us …” • Don’t give too many selfish reasons • Flatter the company you want to work for • Love the work • Reputation of the company/product • Opportunity to meet new challenges • “Why do you believe you are a good fit for this position …” • State you relevant skills, experience and education • Give examples that relate to the job you interview for

22. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “Why should we hire you …” • Deliver arguments in your favor to the hiring manager and take your chance to stand out • Make life easier for hiring manager: Supply him with all the right reasons why you are the one • Use your prepared summary why you are ideal for the job: deliver your elevator pitch and show what makes you the perfect fit

23. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • “Do you have any questions …” • Have about two or three questions ready to show you are prepared, engaged, and considering actively • Don’t ask about holidays or benefits until you are close to a job offer • Ask questions relating to company and job • Reason for job opening • Reporting relationships • Group size • Equipment • Performance expectations for 3/6/12 months

24. Doing a Self Assessment –Anticipating Common Questions • The answers to these often asked questions may seem self-evident, but write them out with examples and practice • When have you demonstrated initiative • How do you deal with pressure • What would your previous supervisor say about you • What do you know about our company • Are you ambitious • Are you willing to work overtime • What do you see yourself doing in five years

25. Doing a Self Assessment –Navigating Tricky Questions • “You seem over/under qualified …” • Overqualified (too expensive / you may not fit in and quit soon / you could be a threat to a supervisor’s job) • Never address money; rather stress how you always helped your previous supervisors to meet/exceed their goals • Show by examples that you work well with younger team members/supervisors • Your experience will help you do the job faster and better • Underqualified • Exploit transferable skills from other jobs or volunteer work • Show your flexibility, willingness, and ability to learn or gain additional training

26. Doing a Self Assessment –Navigating Tricky Questions • “What are your salary expectations …” • Don’t give a fixed number • Say you’d like more info on the job’s duties and responsibilities before you can answer • Try to mention a range if pressed and ask about the company’s salary range for the job • To get an idea of the salary range for the job, check “salary.com” or “salary.monster.com”

27. Doing a Self Assessment –Navigating Tricky Questions • “Why have you changed jobs so frequently…” • Make a negative a positive – change as promotion, development, and growth • Make clear that you now want a career commitment to apply all you learned • Stress that all changes were voluntary (if true) and your performance was always excellent

28. Doing a Self Assessment –Navigating Tricky Questions • “Are you interviewing with other companies…” • Keep your answer short • Be pleasant but non-specific if possible • If pressed, tell them you are looking, but stress that this position you are interviewing for is your first choice • “I have a few leads, but this job is the one I’m most excited about …” • “I am considering a few opportunities, but …” • “I have just begun looking and exploring my options …” • Avoid giving information on specific companies you’re interviewing with if possible

29. Interview Overview • Preparing for the Interview • Doing a Self-Assessment • Understanding Types of Questions • Understanding Types of Interviews • Conducting the Interview • Following up after the Interview

30. Understanding Types of Questions – Explanation • Interviewer needs information not sufficiently explained in resume or has doubts to be clarified • Interviewer may want to find out about older qualifications and experiences you just touched upon in your resume • At this point usually the tricky questions get posed and you have the chance to explain problems in your resume • Typical questions • “Why have you changed jobs so frequently…” • “You seem over/under qualified …”

31. Understanding Types of Questions – Expectation • Interviewer wants to clarify your expectations about the job • Interviewer attempts to find out whether you would actually stay at the company because it is a good fit with your expectations • Examples • “What are your salary expectations …” • “Do you have any questions …” • “Why do you want to work at our company …” • “Why do you believe you are a good fit for this position …”

32. Understanding Types of Questions - Scenario • Interviewer may describe a job scenario and ask how you would handle it in exact steps • A scenario may cover a single complex problem or a situation where you have to deal with several problems • Scenario based interviews tend to reflect a situation that can arise in the job you want • You need to cover three main areas: • Define the situation exactly and understand what the problem is • Describe exactly what steps, in which order, you would take to deal with the situation and who would be involved • Describe the outcome you intend your actions to have. If necessary, describe how you would deal with a negative result if there is nothing you could do to remedy the situation

33. Understanding Types of Questions - Behavioral • Interviewing technique based on the idea that past behavior predicts future behavior • You may be asked to give an example of a specific, tricky workplace situation and how you dealt with it • Questions often deal with workplace situations that are critical, difficult or could shed a negative light on the applicant • Questions are often very specific and cannot be prepared for individually

34. Understanding Types of Questions – Examples of Behavioral Questions • How have you demonstrated initiative • How did you successfully interact with a difficult boss, co-worker or other person • Tell me about the riskiest decision you have made • Describe when you or your group were in danger of missing a deadline. What did you do? • Tell me about a challenge you met successfully • Give an example of when your persistence had the biggest payoff • Summarize a situation where you successfully persuaded others to do something or to see your point of view

35. Interview Overview • Preparing for the Interview • Doing a Self-Assessment • Understanding Types of Questions • Understanding Types of Interviews • Conducting the Interview • Following up after the Interview

36. Understanding Types of Interview • Phone Interview • One-on-one with HR and/or Supervisor • Interview by One or Several Co-Workers • Group or Panel Interview • Stress Interview

37. Understanding Types of Interview – Phone Interview • Show enthusiasm with your voice but don’t overdo it • Hold receiver mouthpiece about 2 inches from lips. Speak a little slower than normally • Do not use slang and try to minimize an accent • Turn off background music, mobile phone, computer speaker, and front bell (if possible) • Keep children and pets away • Prepare like for any interview and keep your resume, your list with achievements and summary at hand • Practice a phone interview with a friend • Don’t smoke, chew gum or drink tea during the interview • Avoid salary discussions in a phone interview • Ask when it is convenient to meet for a face to face interview

38. Understanding Types of Interview–One-on-One with HR and/or Supervisor • Interviewer evaluates applicants’ overall potential and fit within company • Interviewer tries to see if applicant has experience and qualifications for job • Interviewer asks general questions to test applicants problem solving abilities and ability to socialize with rest of team • HR tends to focus more on general skills and fit, supervisor more on technical skills specific to job • Applicant should use previous achievements to back any facts mentioned • Applicant has to prove both knowledgeable and able to fit into a team • Applicant has likely to go through several more interviews, cannot assume that the next interviewer knows what was told to the one before

39. Understanding Types of Interview – Interview by One or Several Co-Workers • Assesses applicants’ fit into the department and group • Allows in-depth interview about specific skills and accomplishment necessary for job • Gives applicant a chance to show they understand the nuts and bolts of the job • Lets applicant show willingness and ability to be team member

40. Understanding Types of Interview – Group or Panel Interview • Panel often consists of supervisor and one or several team members. Depending on job, can also include higher-ranking managers • Panel interview tests various skill at the same time • Dealing with stress • Communication with possible team mates • Facing the public, customers, and colleagues • Having the skills and knowing the job • Using knowledge in a discussion • All panel members may ask questions • Applicant needs to stay calm. Asking questions can buy some time to consider answers • Panel interviews can shorten the interviewing process considerably because less follow-up interviews are necessary

41. Understanding Types of Interview –Stress Interview • Is less common than normal interviews • High-stress positions like dealing with customer complaints • High-stress environment where quick and cool reactions are absolutely necessary like working as international oil prospector • Exposes applicant to unexpected circumstances to evaluate their ability to deal with stress • Tries to disorient and put the applicant on the defensive and elicit genuine and spontaneous reactions • Requires applicants to be calm, polite, and think on their feet • Tests an applicant’s ability to be articulate, graceful, and polite under pressure

42. Understanding Types of Interview –Stress Interview • Real-life work-simulation • Applicant is asked to perform a work task in a real work environment • Ringing phones, conversations outside the cubicle, and other distractions evaluate the applicants concentration, ability and composure • Adversarial interview • Applicant may be surrounded by interviewers and be asked several questions simultaneously • Interviewer stares intently or ignores applicant and remains silent for long periods • Interviewer asks questions rapidly without letting applicant answer properly or keeps asking the same question without listening to the answer • Interviewer may be aggressive and hostile or ask strange and unrelated questions

43. Understanding Types of Interview –How to React to a Stress Interview • Remember this is a test, nothing personal • Stay calm and in control whatever happens • Answer questions collectedly, force yourself to slow down and speak softly • Focus only on the question and not on the interviewer • Focus your answer at the interviewer who asks, not on the whole group to relieve some of the stress • Clarify the question and the nature of the answer desired – this can buy you some time to think • If you feel the interview is utterly out of hand, remember an interview is two-sided! Politely speak your mind, take control, or even end the interview.

44. Interview Overview • Preparing for the Interview • Doing a Self-Assessment • Understanding Types of Questions • Understanding Types of Interviews • Conducting the Interview • Following up after the Interview

45. Conducting the Interview • Dressing for Success • Arriving at the Interview • Opening the interview • Using body language • Interacting with the Interviewer • Closing the Interview

46. Conducting the Interview – Dressing for Success • Conservative, professional outfit • Dark or neutral colors • Clean, polished shoes in good repair • Clean, trimmed fingernails. Women may wear conservative nail-polish • Beards or moustaches must be neatly trimmed • No noticeable fragrances or distracting jewelry • Avoid visible piercings or tattoos • Better to be overdressed than underdressed

47. Conducting the Interview – Arriving at the Interview • Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before appointment • Inform the receptionist with whom you have an appointment • Try to engage receptionist, be scrupulously polite and friendly • Formally or informally, receptionists may be asked about their opinion • Turn off cell phone. Having your phone ring during an interview is rude

48. Conducting the Interview – Opening the Interview • Introduce yourself • Smile and offer firm, dry handshake at introduction • Make sure to remember the name(s) of your interviewer(s) and use them • Be prepared to answer the dreaded question “So tell me a little bit about yourself …”

49. Conducting the Interview – Opening the Interview • Set a positive tone • Make short pleasant small talk if appropriate • Thank them for their time • Compliment the office/location • Impress the interviewer. Likability and good fit for position is often more important in hiring decisions than perfect qualifications

50. Conducting the Interview – Using Body Language • Make eye contact • Sit down in a relaxed and confident position • Affirm that you are listening by nodding, etc. • Don’t fold arms or legs • Accentuate your words with gestures but don’t overdo it • Vary voice tone, volume and inflection, don’t talk in a monotone