Interview Skills TrainingKathleen CampbellAPAC Regional Recruitment Manager, Microsoft

Agenda• The Recruitment Continuum• Understanding the Recruitment Transaction• Interview Roadmap

– CV Development– Getting Noticed– Interviews

• Best candidates vs. Best employees• Competency Based Recruitment

New employee

orientation

Searching for the right people to

meet business

needs

Selecting the right people for the right

jobs

Developing your team’s skills and

experience

Defining the new

business needs for your team

Succession planning for departures from your

team

Company Recruitment

Cycles

The Recruitment Continuum

Mindset Stage for Hiring Manager Mindset Stage for CandidateN

EG

OT

IAT

ION

AN

D

RE

TE

NT

ION

Succession planning for departures from your team

Networking externallyNetworking internallyPerformance ManagementCareer DevelopmentPassive Hiring ManagerNot looking to hire

Networking externallyNetworking internallyPerformance ManagementCareer DevelopmentPassive candidateNot looking for a new role

Planning for future departure from current team

Defining the new business needs for your team

Preparing to buy talentPreparing to sell your teamPreparing to sell this jobPreparing to sell MicrosoftPreparing to sell yourself as a Manager

Preparing to sell talentPreparing to buy a new teamPreparing to buy a new jobPreparing to buy a new companyPreparing to sell self as an Employee

Defining his/her new needs

Searching for the right people to meet business needs

Looking to buy talentReady to sell your teamReady to sell this jobReady to sell MicrosoftReady to sell yourself as a Manager

Looking to sell talentReady to buy a new teamReady to buy a new jobReady to buy a new companyReady to sell self as an Employee

Searching for the role, company and manager to meet needs

Selecting the right people for the right jobs

Making purchase decisionSelling to unique needs of talent

Making purchase decisionBuying the best match to need

Selecting the right role, company and manager

New employee orientation

Confirming your purchase decisionConfirming talent’s purchase decision

Confirming his/her purchase decisionConfirming your purchase decision

New employee orientation

Developing your team’s skills and experience

Developing your purchase decisionPreparing to sell/buy again

Developing skills and experiencePreparing to sell/buy again

Developing skills and experience

Resumes – Curriculum Vitae• Soft copy application unless otherwise specified in advert• No more than 3 pages – bullet points• Typed and clearly presented • No colours; fonts; graphics; clip art• Keywords (for database search)• Do include multiple contact details• Bring a copy to interview• Advance reference checking

CV Development

• Make direct applications where possible• Don’t waste money on hard copies & postage• Present well to agencies• Don’t contact all agencies – be selective• Be ready to consider all employment options• Utilise online job board agencies• Utilise Employee Referral Options

Own your own job search!

Getting Noticed...

• Master your telephone interview techniques• Be on time• Have good/smart questions prepared for your interviewer• Have a pen and paper • Read the description fully • Visit company web page – Research• Bring samples to demonstrate your skills if appropriate• Be honest and be yourself• Don’t let nerves control your interaction (they are just

people!)• Practice

Interviews

Skills

PresentationThe

Difference Factor

DesireTo

Learn

Attitude

YOU

WHAT DO I LOOK FOR IN CANDIDATES?• Friendly positive attitude• Team worker• Hunger/thirst to learn new things• Honesty and ethics• Self-confidence• Breadth of experience• Right attitude towards money• Respect for Managers & others• Creativity and original thinking• Someone who proves they can work hard• Excellent communication skills• Relevant skills/qualifications/experience• Tenacity and determination• Religious vs. Agnostic in Technical Beliefs

WHAT MAKES ME SAY “NO-HIRE”?• Poor listening skills• Over confidence (arrogance)• Poor communication skills• Bad attitude towards managing conflict• Lack of self critical• Mobile phones left on• Obsequious• “Money is #1 priority”• “I have learnt all I need to know” • Lack of creativity or ability to think outside

the box• Stronger candidates available• Dishonesty or unethical actions• Inability to say ‘I don’t know’• Poor presentation• Incomplete CV• Lack of genuine interest in the role• Religious vs. Agnostic in Technical Beliefs

Attitude

Formal LearningInformal Learning

Desire to Break & FixWillingness to try something new

Hunger to learn from othersLearn the competitionRetrospective wisdom

Ability to demonstrate

Desire to Learn

What makes you so special?Travel

Extra-curricular activitiesSports

HobbiesCommunity Service

Awards2nd LanguagesResponsibilities

Passions

The Difference Factor

Technical SkillsUniversity Qualifications

MSCE Qualifications (& equivalent)Self-taught skills

NetworkingWeb languages

Reading – online subscriptionsBetas & Testing

Competitive KnowledgeDemonstrations & Industry Events

Non-Technical SkillsPresentation Skills

Debating and NegotiationSelling Skills

Customer ServiceProject Management

Writing SkillsTeam working Skills

Planning & OrganisationCompetitive Knowledge

Understanding Business & Industry

Skills

Telephone – write down what you want to askA good clear CV with no spelling errors

Better to be over dressed than too casualCareful with: jewelry; perfume; tissues; scarves;

Accepting “coffee”Practice presenting answers at a whiteboard

Public Speaking*Good eye contact & communication skills

Business cardsGood handshake skills

Build your network – stay in touch

Presentation

Hiring the BestBest Candidates

• Good first impressions• Prepared, on-time• Seem interested• Friendly, out-going• Give complete responses• Have skills and experience• Assertive, confident• Well-groomed• Education

Best Employees

• Achieve, exceed results• Committed – don’t give up• Always prepare fully• Go out of way to help others• Initiative to improve things• Plan, organize, anticipate• Initiative to learn• Work well with others• Creative• Problem solvers• Take feedback

Company Values: Integrity and Honesty; Open and Respectful; Self-Critical; Big, Bold

Challenges; Passion; Accountable

Successful Interviewing Model

Smart Works Hard

Gets the Right

Things Done

Passion for Technology

and Business

Flexible

Job RelatedCore Comps:

Comps MustBe Present

FIRST Technical and Functional Skills

Core

competencies

Core

competencies

Core

competencies

Core

competencies

Core Talents and Company

Values =

FOUNDATION

Questions

Thank you