INTERVIEW ESSENTIALS

OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES 533 BAKER UNIVERSITY

CENTER

740-593-2909 www.ohio.edu/careers

• Office of Career Services •Purpose of an Interview• Types of Interviews• Before the Interview• During the Interview• After the Interview

Overview

Office of Career Services

Major and Career Advising

Job Search Assistance

Career Resource Center

Seminars Mock Interviews OCIS Database

Bobcat CareerLink Career Fairs and

Special Events Web site with links

and information Walk-in or

scheduled appointments with a counselor

Purpose of an Interview

Opportunity to match your background (skills, education, experience, values) to a specific employer and position

Demonstrate to the employer you are the person for the job

Evaluate whether this is the right employer and position for you

Employers will want to learn the answer to the to the question, “Why should I hire you?”

Interviewing is a two-way street be prepared to ask questions

Types of Interviews

Preliminary or Screening Behavioral or Situational Panel or Group Telephone or Video Second Interview On-Site Interview

Starting Your Search

Know Your Self

Think about your past experiences Qualifications Transferable Skills Examples of Abilities & Skills

How the position relates to your professional goals

What you are looking for in a position Location, work environment, salary, etc.

Must be able to articulate this information clearly

Networking and Informational Interviews

Networking Friends, Family, Faculty, Foundations, Fellow

Peers & Alumni Bobcat Mentor Network Informational Interviews

Learn more about a specific field or industry, a specific organization and its culture, job search strategies, and possibly be connected to other key players within the field or organization.

www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html LinkedIn

Preparing for the Interview

Do Your Research!

Things to know: Mission and structure Products, services and customer Locations – headquarters & other offices Outlook and trends for this industry and

company Key people within the organization Recent media coverage or company

publications Major competitors Major awards and recognitions

Research Sources

Career Resource Center CareerBeam® OCIS Bobcat CareerLink VAULT ® Online Career Library Professional Associations, Trade Journals

or Publications Professors and Advisors Company website or publications

Dress Appropriately

• How neatly you dress = how neatly you work

• Avoid radical accessories• Conservative is best• Dress comfortably, yet appropriately• Consider climate and season• Creative professions may be different• Appearance can work for or against you• Don’t chew gum

Hire Fashion for Women

Basic colors are best Be careful about the

length of your skirt hem Pants may be worn to

an interview Avoid low cut, too short,

too tight Always wear

hose ,closed toed, low heeled shoes

Minimal makeup, accessories and perfume

Hire Fashion for Men

Two piece solid-colored suits are best: medium to dark blue and gray or subtle pinstripes

Simple shirt and tie Polished dark dress

shoes with dark socks Hair should be well

groomed (including facial)

No earrings Minimal cologne

What to expect & How to handle yourself

During the Interview

During the Interview

Types of Interview Questions Traditional

General descriptions & Information Examples:

Tell me about yourself? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Behavioral Examples of past experience, how you have

handled situations Examples:

Describe a situation in which you have experienced a conflict with a colleague or supervisor? What was the outcome?

Give me an example of a time you had to motivate a team?

How to Answer Behavioral QuestionsSTAR MethodSituation Describe the situation that you were in or the task

that you needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event. Task What goal were you working toward?

Action Describe the actions you took to address the situation with an appropriate amount of detail and keep the focus on YOU. What specific steps did you take and what was your particular contribution? Be careful that you don’t describe what the team or group did when talking about a project, but what you actually did. Use the word “I,” not “we” when describing actions. Result Describe the outcome of your actions and don’t be shy about taking credit for your behavior.

STAR Activity

Practice Questions

Discuss how you have used knowledge of applicable federal aviation regulations in your work.

Tell me about a time you had an early flight and how you prepared for it.

Give me an example of a time you managed multiple projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize?

Tell me about yourself. Why should we choose you?

Beyond your actual answer…. Make sure to pay attention to your

verbal and nonverbal skills Eye contact, handshake, and posture

matter Project enthusiasm about the position Speak with conviction and confidence

in your voice Be courteous and attentive to

everyone you meet

Other Questions

Illegal Questions Religion Marital Status Children National Origin Sexual Orientation Age

Ask the interviewer questions Could you tell me about your supervisory style? What is the office environment? I know ____ trend is influencing the industry, how

has this company adapted? I see you have recently implemented ___ how have

customers reacted?

The interview process does not end when your interview is over…

After the Interview

After the Interview

Do NOT discuss salary or benefits until an offer is made

Write thank-you letters to each person 24-48 hours after the interview

Follow-up in 7-10 days if you have not heard from the employer—but do NOT bother the employer unnecessarily

Prepare for next step in job search process

Common Reasons for Rejection Poor communication

skills Uncertain or

unrealistic future goals

Poor personal appearance

Lack of enthusiasm or interest in position, employer, failure to ask questions

Excessive interest in salary, benefits, vacation

Lack of courtesy, maturity, tact

Lack of knowledge about the organization

Lack of confidence or overly confident

Evasive

• Prepare• Practice• Perform

Remember…