Preparing for Interviews

Preparing for Interviews This Module consists of three individual portions: • Part 1: Interviewing • Part 2: Interview Follow-up and Evaluation Interviewing

Learning Objectives • Summarize main characteristics of good and bad interviews • Identify the interviewer’s purposes in interview questions • Conduct mock interviews Interviewing

Standard Interview Questions Tell us about yourself What have you done? Is this the “right” job for you? Do you get along well with coworkers and management? Do you take initiative? What do you know about our company or the job? What are your goals? Tell us your strengths/weaknesses? Why do you want to work for us? Are you really interested in this job? Interviewing

Interview Questions: Purposes Interviewing

Interview Questions: Purposes (cont.) Interviewing

Interview Tips • Before the Interview: • Compare the job description requirements to your work/college background. • Research the company and position ahead of time. • Write down several questions and print company information to take with you. • Try to find out who will be interviewing you, and what the interview format will be. Interviewing

Interview Tips (cont.) • Before the Interview: • Dress the part. • Know how (hint: how long it will take) to get to the interview. • Formulate answers to “typical” interview questions, and practice your responses. • Put your portfolio and materials together. • Prepare outfit the night before, not right before you leave. Interviewing

Interview Tips (cont.) • The Interview: • Plan to arrive 5 – 10 minutes early, but no more than 10 minute early. • Confidently walk in, introduce yourself and offer a firm handshake to the interviewer. • Offer a copy of your resume to the interviewer and have extra copies available. • Maintain your posture at all times. • Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Interviewing

Interview Tips (cont.) • During the Interview: • Speak up and smile. • Give clear answers and examples that prove your qualifications for the position. • Be professional, AND try to be yourself. • Inquire about when they are likely to make a decision. • Re-state your interest in the position if you like what you hear during the interview. Interviewing

Interview Tips (cont.) • After the Interview: • Thank the interviewer for his or her time, ask for a business card, and write a “thank you” note within 24 hours. • Evaluate the interview. Determine what went well, and what might have gone better (eg what questions might have been answered a little differently) Interviewing

Interview Tips (cont.) • After the Interview: • In your note, reference your key strengths. • Have someone else proofread your “thank you” note. • Call within two weeks to reaffirm your interest in being hired for the position. Interviewing

What do you think of Answer 1? “I usually do anything I can to make the customer happy. The customers are always happy with my service and tell me so. Sometimes I stay late to finish their orders when there is too much to do.” Interviewing

What do you think of Answer 2? “While working for ABC Photo Lab last Christmas, we became very backed up with customer orders. We were also short staffed, so I stayed last to print customer orders because I knew that customers needed their photos for the holidays. I called a customer to let her know that her order would be late, and she said that she could not come to pick it up the next day because she was flying to Florida at 6:00 a.m. So I asked her to prepay the order over the phone, and I dropped the order off at her house on my way home that evening. She was so happy with the service that she brought the staff a bag of Florida oranges when she returned.” Interviewing

A Sequential Model – for answering questions Beginning End Middle Interviewing

Another Sequential Model Past Present Future Interviewing

Interview Response Method • What was the challenge of the situation? • What action did you take? • What was the newsworthy outcome? Interviewing

Interview Worksheet (Q1)

Interview Worksheet (Q2) Interviewing

Interview Worksheet (Q3) Interviewing

Preparing for Interviews