interview skills clinic

Interview Skills Clinic

A self-help clinic for:

1. People who want a dream job2. People who need to learn how to communicate their job related knowledge and experience3. People who need to learn how to identify job requirements for knowledge, skills and education 4. People who need to learn how to sell themselves when being interviewed5. People who need to have a career plan

This six-hour self-help clinic is designed to enhance your interview skills by exploring your personal values and work ethic, job interests, job strengths, and long-term career objectives.

Ten worksheets are provided to document your current thinking on your journey from My Dream Job to My Forty Year Plan.

The desired outcome is to enhance your job interview competence and confidence and your career journey.

Objectives: Interview Skills Clinic

1. My Dream Job

2. My Plan to Meet the Employer’s Needs

3. My Job Search Strategy

4. My Self Assessment

5. My Interview Tips Checklist

6. My Power Greeting

7. My Power Answers

8. My Power Close

9. My Follow-up Plan

10. My 40 Year Plan.

Worksheets: Interview Skills Clinic

Career Services - Pitt Community College

http://www.pittcc.edu/experience-pcc/student-services/career-services/

Career Success Guide - East Carolina University

http://www.ecu.edu/e3careers/img/CareerSuccessGuide.pdf

Discover Your Perfect Career

http://resources.monster.com/tools/quizzes/perfectcareer/

The number of sites providing job and career advice can be

overwhelming. These three provide links to many of the best

resources. Start your search locally and go global only if needed.

On-Line Resources: Interview Skills Clinic





















Worksheet 1:

My Dream Job1. What is my dream job?2. Why is it my dream job?3. How do I find and get my dream job?4. Where do I find my dream job?5. When do I work at my dream job?6. Who can help me with my dream job?

Instruction: Create a worksheet todocument your dream job thinking.

You can view and download the Work Bookfor the Interview Skills Clinic at:

http://www.slideshare.net/FastFix/interview-skills-clinic-work-book-for-slide-share

Self discovery is the path to finding your dream job. A career of 40 plus years begins with the first career decision.

If your dream job requires solving issues every day for 8 to 10 hours a day, which would you prefer to work with:

Plans

People

Things

Data

This is the first of several self assessments. Your preference narrows the field for your dream job. Document your preference under why this is my dream job.

Worksheet 1: slide 2 of 5

My Dream Job


My Dream Job

Learn to Be Interviewed

The best interviewee plans and prepares for the job interview by:

1. Identifying personal needs and wants from the workplace.

2. Documenting and defining needs and wants in a worksheet.

3. Researching jobs and employers that meet these needs and wants.

4. Networking, Contacting, Applying, and Interviewing with targeted employers.

5. Communicating and Confirming competence and confidence in the job interview.

6. Seeking new training and development opportunities to grow in the new job.


My Dream Job

Self Assessment ResourcesCareer Services - Pitt Community College


























Worksheet 1: 5 of 5

My Dream Job

Instructions 1. Review the on-line resources to find your dream job.

2. Collect information on jobs and employers.

3. Review the employer websites for background information.

4. Brainstorm ways to contact the employers.

5. Brainstorm your strengths for your dream job.

6. Document your competence and confidence to do your dream job.

Worksheet 2:

My Plan to Meet the Employer’s Needs1. Communication Skills

2. Honesty and Integrity3. Teamwork Skills4. Interpersonal Skills5. Motivation and Initiative6. Strong Work Ethic7. Analytical Skills8. Flexibility and Adaptability9. Computer Skills10. Self Confidence

“Top 10 Needs from New Hires”


My Plan to Meet the Employer’s Needs

Instructions

Select 3 to 5 skills

Write your work related experience/examples for each

10 minutes


My Plan to Meet the Employer’s Needs

Employer Research ResourcesCareer Services - Pitt Community College






Instructions: Review some advertised jobs to see what employer’s are saying they need. Compare to the “top 10 needs of new hires.”





















Worksheet 3:

My Job Search StrategyAdvertised Jobs:1.2.3.4.

Not Advertised Jobs:1.2.3.4.

Eighty-five percent of open jobs are never advertised. The odds for finding an ad for your dream job are less than 2 in 10.


My Job Search Strategy

.

Instructions

List your job search methods

List current and planned strategies

10 minutes







Instructions: Visit the ECU Career Success Guide to read about Job Search Strategies. Document things you feel comfortable doing on your Job Search Strategy Work Sheet.

Work Sheet 3: 3 of 4






















Worksheet 3: 4 of 4


Instructions 1. Review the on-line resources for job search strategy.

2. Collect instructions and examples you feel comfortable doing.

3. Write/document your job search strategy.

4. Work your job search plan.

5. Develop competence and confidence in job searching.

Worksheet 4:

My Self AssessmentCircle the number that most nearly describes you.

1. Someone who tries to change, fix, and control things.

2. Someone who tries to persuade, promote, or influence others.

3. Someone who tries to be cooperative, supportive, and agreeable while keeping things stable.

4. Someone who tries to work within established rules, guidelines

and procedures to ensure accuracy and quality

Instructions: Document your preference under ‘Why’ on your ‘My Dream Job Work Sheet.

List needs for each type description on Worksheet 4

1.

2.

3.

4.


My Self Assessment

List stressors for each type description on Worksheet 4.

1.

2.

3.

4.


My Self Assessment

Be responsive to the needs of the interviewer.

1. Body language.

2. Pace

3. Emphasis

4. Speaking voice


My Self Assessment







Work Sheet 4: 5 of 6

My Self Assessment





















Worksheet 4: 6 of 6

My Self Assessment

Instructions 1. Review the on-line resources for self assessments.

2. Choose self assessments you feel comfortable doing.

3. Give priority to the free on-line assessments.

4. Save assessment feedback for future reference.

Worksheet 5:

My Interview Tips Checklist Prepare focused interview tips for each job interview in the following five areas. 1. Punctuality - What is my plan to be on time for the interview?

2. Appearance - What is my plan to ensure a positive appearance at the interview?

3. Greeting - What is my plan to ensure a positive greeting to start the

interview? 4. Exchange - What is my plan to ensure a positive exchange during the

interview? 5. Close - What is my plan to ensure a positive close to the interview?


My Interview Tips Checklist



























Worksheet 5: 3 of 3

My Interview Tips Checklist

Instructions 1. Review the on-line resources for Interview Tips.

2. Collect examples of tips you feel comfortable doing.

3. Personalize and practice what works for you.

4. Develop competence and confidence in interviewing.

Worksheet 6:

My Power Greeting

The First 8 Seconds - Dress the part - The minimum for a job interview is business casual. It

is important to be consistent, or just slightly above the workplace dress code.

Act the part - The minimum is well rested, well groomed, confident and

appreciative. Look your interviewer in the eye when greeted and offer a firm handshake.

Worksheet 6: 2 of 4

My Power Greeting

The Next 30 Seconds - Communicate Clearly and Concisely - The minimum is "Nice to meetyou." Share the why - the maximum is to tell what you think is special about the job and the employer and how your interests and experience match the job.

Worksheet 6: 3 of 4

My Power Greeting

The Power Greeting needs to be personalized and designed to fit the situation.One type Power Greeting is composed of three distinct parts and a follow-up question: 1. Your education and credentials (what you have studied).

2. Your experience in the field (employment, internship/ co-op, volunteer positions).

3. Your strengths (what you do best).

4. An open-ended probing question about their needs, problems, and challenges.

Worksheet 6: 4 of 4

My Power Greeting

Instructions 1. Decide if this format is suitable for your dream job interview.

2. Decide where, when and why you might use this power greeting.

3. Write your power greeting to the interviewer for your dream job.

4. Take 10 minutes.

Worksheet 7:

My Power Answers

Closed Questions - I will answer either yes or no as appropriate. Open Questions - I will answer The Question clearly, concisely, and

correctly. Behavioral Questions - I will answer The Question in a structured

manner with my best/favorite job related example. Case Questions - I will answer The Question in a structured manner to

demonstrate my thought process.

Worksheet 7: 2 of 4

My Power Answers

Instructions 1. Turn to worksheet 2, My Plan to Meet the Employer’s Needs.

2. Write power answers for each need in a structured manner with your best/favorite job related example. The ‘behavioral’ interview question is “Give me an example of your….” You have a chance to tell the:

Situation – involving youObservation – your feelings and thinkingDecision – what you decided to doAction – what you didResult - the outcome of your action.

Worksheet 7: 3 of 4

My Power Answers














Worksheet 7: 4 of 4

My Power Answers

Instructions 1. Take 30 minutes to explore the on-line resources for interview

questions.

2. Select the questions you anticipate being asked in the interview for your dream job.

3. Write your power answers.

4. Practice your power answers with your best interview voice.

Worksheet 8:

My Power Close

Questions - These are the questions I plan to ask. Key Points - These are the key points I want to make in closing. Next Steps - These are the next steps I want to establish in closing

Worksheet 8: 2 of 3

My Power Close







Worksheet 8: 3 of 3

My Power Close

Instructions 1. Review the on-line resources for interview close guidelines.

2. Select and document things you feel comfortable doing.

3. Write your power close for your dream job interview.

4. Practice your power close in your best interview voice.

Worksheet 9:

My Power Follow-up

Letters - These are the letters I will write. eMails - These are the emails I will send. Phone Calls - These are the calls I will make. Documentation - This is my documentation plan for the interview file. Next Steps - These are my planned next steps following the interview

Worksheet 9: 2 of 3

My Power Follow-up







Worksheet 9: 3 of 3

My Power Follow-up

Instructions 1. Review the on-line resources for things you want to do.

2. Collect examples of text and formats for follow-up.

3. Write your Power Follow-up(s) for your dream job.

4. Practice your Power Follow-up(s).

Worksheet 10:

My 40 Year Plan

First Decade - This is what I plan to accomplish in the first 10 years of my career.

Second Decade - This is what I plan to accomplish in the second decade

of my career. Third Decade - This is what I plan to accomplish in the third decade of

my career. Fourth Decade - This is what I plan to accomplish in the fourth decade

of my career. And Then - This is what I plan to do with the years that the first 40

years earned for me.

Worksheet 10: 2 of 3

My 40 Year Plan







Worksheet 10: 3 of 3

My 40 Year Plan

Instructions 1. Think of your 40 Year Plan as your Job and Career Diary.

2. Review and update your 40 Year Plan annually.

3. Review and update your Interview Skills Workbook for each job interview.

4. Develop your competence and confidence in interviewing.

5. Learn from your experiences.

6. Enjoy your job and career journey, and then some.

Mitch Manning has extensive experience as an interviewee and interviewer. He has been interviewed during his career for jobs from day laborer to membership on executive boards. He has interviewed applicants from entry level to executive positions in industry, education, government, healthcare, and not-for-profit organizations. For more than twenty years he has shared his passion for mastering the job interview as an interviewee and interviewer with thousands of people.

Mitch is a high-energy, business driven and customer focused professional with broad experience in quality systems improvement, assessment, analysis, and strategic planning in business, government, education, healthcare, and professional association environments. He delights in achieving organizational improvement through people by enhancing their development, involvement, and contributions to team success.

Links: Mitchell W. Manning Sr. on LinkedIn

Mitchell W. Manning Sr. at MindRead.net

Interview Skills Clinic Work Book

Author and Instructor Biography: Interview Skills Clinic