St. Andrew’s Career Ministry Mock Interview Session November 8, 2012

1. St. Andrew’s Career Ministry Mock Interview Session November 8, 2012 1

2. St. Andrew’s Career Ministry Mock Interview Session November 10, 2011 TOPICPRESENTERTIME ALLOTMENT 7 Steps To Job Interview Preparation Cindy Gier 20 Minutes Interview Formats & Mike Sweeney 15 Minutes Questions **Open Up - Questions & Answers** 20 Minutes Practice Interview Volunteers (Facilitate) & Process As A Group Job Seekers (Participate) 35 Minutes 2

3. Step 1: Know Your Goals For The Interview! • What Do You Want To Accomplish? • Differentiate Yourself From The Crowd • Communicate Your Value • Communicate Past Accomplishments (As an example of what • you will contribute in the future – CAN DOthe job) • Communicate Important Qualities (e.g. Problem-Solving, Creativity – • WILL DOthe job) • Establish Rapport and Fit (Know the style and culture of the • environment – FIT for the job) • Gather Information About The Job, The Company, Organizational • Priorities, etc. 3

4. Step 2: Assess & Know Your Skills! • What Are Your Skills (Value Proposition)? • Professional Expertise: • Certifications/Awards • Training • Accomplishments Due To Applying Your Profession • Technology (Windows XP Operating System, XML, Java Script, HTML, etc.) • Communication Skills: • Presenting • Writing • Listening • Interviewing • Interpersonal Skills: • Listening • Negotiating • Resolving Conflict • Problem Solving • Motivating • Collaborating 4

5. Step 3: Find The Flip Side of Your Challenge Areas! • What Are The Upside of Your Challenge Areas? • Demonstrate your awareness, learning & growth . . . • Challenge AreaAwareness, Learning, Growth . . . • Detail Oriented I have focused on the details in the past; however, I • have learned that when I am getting too steeped in the • details, to step back and apply the 80/20 rule and obtain • feedback from fellow co-workers. I applied this approach • to a recent health care project and found I moved quicker • through detail oriented work with the support of my leader • and team members. • Individual Contributor Many of my past jobs were in an “individual contributor” • role; however, in my most recent job as a Systems • Analyst, I collaborated with my colleagues on recent • techniques I applied to my customer’s issues that • they benefited from and I learned from their solutions. 5

6. Step 4: Do Your Research and Improve Your Confidence To Anticipate Questions! • Research The Company: • Know the company’s products & services • Know what the company stands for and cares about • Find out if the company has been in the news and why • Talk to someone who works there and inquire about the culture • Check out the industry’s best practices and be ready to discuss • Research the company’s history, challenges, flagship products & • achievements • Research the competition! Be prepared to answer why you would like to • work at this company versus their competitor • Check out the interviewers on LinkedIn 6

7. Step 4 (cont’d): Do Your Research and Improve Your Confidence To Anticipate Questions! • Research The Job: • Obtain a job description • Ensure you know as much as possible about the job • Compare the job to similar jobs you are familiar with • Brush up on job skills, terminology, recent developments, or • other key information • Understand the typical reporting relationships, accountability, • responsibility in this type of job • Talk to a friend, neighbor or family member that has been in a • similar role 7

8. Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice! • Practice Your Interviewing: • Practice in front of a mirror, video camera, with a friend, family member • Have polished answers to questions you know will be asked • Prepare for responses to “off-the-wall” questions • Practice being brief • When responding to questions, mention actual Situations or Tasks you • performed, Actions taken and Results (STAR) rather than just “telling” • the interviewer you have a skill • Prior to commencing the interview, consider asking the interviewer: • “What are the short-term deliverables for this position? Or, • “What skills, experience, competencies in my resume’ peaked • your interest as a match for this position?” 8

9. Step 5 (cont’d): Practice, Practice, Practice! • Remember . . . . • Be Confident! • Don’t just talk – Listen! • Every question is an opportunity • Body language counts (gestures, facial expressions) • Choose words well (diction) • Stay on topic • If you don’t understand, ask (hint: repeating question gives you time • to focus) • Be prepared to ask questions you have concerning the job/company • Conclude the interview with a “thoughtful” question • Remember your goals! • Take notes after the interview to capture key learning points 9

10. Step 6: Interview Dress & Logistics • Interview Dress & Logistics: • Know who you are seeing, their job title, your potential working • relationship with that person • Time, date, parking, directions and other logistics • Time you are expected to begin interview (plan to arrive at least • 15 minutes prior to interview time) • Dress neat and conservatively • Allow interviewer to show you where to sit and relax and be yourself • BECAUSE YOU ARE PREPARED! 10

11. Step 7: Interview Closing • Interview Closing: • Thank the interviewer and ask whether there is any additional • information they would like you to provide or any next steps for • you to take. • DO NOT ask how you did or if you are being seriously considered • for the job • Know the interviewer’s time to select and decide and follow-up • if you have not heard from them • Send a thank you note within 24 hours (first a short e-mail, followed • with a more detailed hand-written note) 11

12. INTERVIEW FORMATS & QUESTIONS Mike Sweeney 12

13. Interview Formats • Informational Interview • Two way non-directed information flow • Typically both parties are exploring potential organizational fit • or interest • Phone Interview • Typically more structured interview process • Allow interviewer to take control of conversation • Typically used when there are multiple openings for a position • One-On-One Interview • Most common format (interviewer/interviewee) • Team Interview • Allows position’s peer, superior, customer, etc. to participate • in the interview 13

14. How To Take Control of an Interview • Questions To Ask When Invited For An Interview: • How much time should I plan on for the interview? • What type of interview will I have? • With whom will I interview? • Ask for a detailed job description, if available • Get specific directions and a call back person/number • If appropriate, ask what the deliverables are for the position in • the short-term, 6 months, 12 months or longer 14

15. Interview Question Types - Traditional Tell Me About Yourself? • Tip: Be Concise and Respond Within 60 seconds! • Start by stating your professional title • Share your most recent position and highlight your responsibilities and a couple • of your accomplishments • Share your education and any relevant training history • Highlight any prior company experience and/or positions • Then come back to your most current position . . . • Take a breath and turn it back over to the interviewer . . . 15

16. Interview Question Types - Traditional Why Did You Leave Your Former Job? • Tip: Be honest and succinct . . . • Refer to the state of the Industry • Impact to your Company • Impact to your Department, and finally • Impact to You 16

17. Interview Questions - Traditional Why Should We Hire You? • Tip: Rehearse and be prepared! • State Your Strengths Followed by STAR Examples • State Your Key Career Accomplishment Stories (Differentiators!) • State How Your Work Experience/Accomplishments Align • With The Job Requirements 17

18. Interview Question Types - Behavioral • Tell Me About A Time When . . . • “You didn’t meet a deadline, what did you do? • “You made the largest sale, how did you do it? • “Had a conflict with a colleague, how did you handle it? Tip: Be prepared and have responses rehearsed Situation Task Action Result STAR 18

19. Interview Day – Come Prepared! • REMEMBER . . . • Overdress and be well groomed • Arrive early (at least 15 minutes prior to interview appointment) • Take a portfolio, calendar, extra copies of your resume’, references, • sample work and questions you plan to ask the interviewer • When greeted, make eye contact, smile and give a firm handshake • At the close of the interview ask “what are next steps?” • DO NOT mention salary or benefits until you receive an offer • Prepare your list of “must haves” in preparation for an offer: • Salary Range • Benefits • Amount of Travel • Relocation • Shift, Overtime, etc. 19

20. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 20

21. INTERVIEW PRACTICE SESSION 22

22. Interview Practice Session - Instructions • Break-out into groups of 3 (triad) and identify an Interviewer, Interviewee and Observer Interviewer Interviewee Observer Note: Find a group in your same industry • Everyone will have a turn as an “Interviewee”; therefore, you will be provided 5 • minutes initially to prepare your responses to the 4 interview questions • Observers are to watch, listen and provide Interviewee feedback on: • Body language • Shortness & conciseness of responses • STAR responses to behavioral questions • Confidence & preparedness • Each triad will be provided 5 minutes to ask/respond to 5 questions (total 15 minutes) • Experienced volunteers are available to assist each table • After all three 5 minute exercises are concluded, we will process the exercises as a • group 23

23. Interview Practice Session - Questions • Tell me about yourself . . . • Why did you leave your previous job? • What are your strengths? • Tell me about a time you missed a deadline, what did you do? • Remember Observers to watch, listen and provide • Interviewee feedback on: • Body language • Shortness & conciseness of responses • STAR responses to behavioral questions • Confidence & preparedness 24

24. Interview Practice Session – Group Processing • What worked well? • What are areas you identified you need to work on? • Share some of your take-away learnings from today’s • session . . . . GOOD LUCK! 25