INTERVIEWS: 101

What is Interviewing? An interaction between yourself and an

employer to determine whether or not a match exists.

Remember…the interview is a mutual exchange of information. You are interviewing a possible employer as much as they are interviewing you.

Four Stages of an Interview1. Icebreaker2. Information Exchange3. Interview Close4. Follow-up

Icebreaker The interview begins BEFORE you are

asked the first question. upon arrival, be courteous to everyone

you meet there may be a warm-up person in the

waiting area or someone to walk you to the interview Talk about the company or weather Avoid conversations about politics & religion

Information Exchange The heart of the interview

can last about 20-45 minutes May be asked how you heard of the job

for marketing purposes Your opportunity to sell yourself!

Interview Close Ask questions that you have prepared

that have NOT been answered. Thank each interviewer saying his/her

name and shake hands. Collect business cards.

Follow up Send a thank you within 2 days

typed hand-written email

You will have the correct spelling and address/email of the recruiters from the business cards that you collected. If you don’t, call the receptionist.

Be professional!

Want to “ace” your next interview?

Then make sure you are

PREPARED.

Five Steps for a Successful Interview

1. Research the employer and the salary range

2. Know yourself3. Wardrobe ready4. Know what to bring5. Be aware of your speech mannerisms

& non-verbal behavior

Step 1: Research Employer/Salary Can be conducted via:

the company website, company literature, job descriptions, current employees, customers, internet sources such as www.salary.com

& the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov.oco)

Information to note Press Releases

Major events Mergers

Mission statement Leaders Products/services Locations Industry standing

Is Your GPS Working?

You can’t be late for the interview. In fact, plan on arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

Getting There

Get good directions to the company. Travel to the site before the interview to

determine the amount of travel time you will need to allow. Remember to travel at the same time

of day that the actual interview is scheduled.

Step 2: Know Yourself Prepare answers to questions that you

can anticipate Know if you are a morning or night

person & prepare accordingly Know your resume and relevant

coursework inside out

An interview is a sales situation so: Identify your top three skills or

experiences (related to the job) – something you can offer the employer and other applicants can’t

Backup your claims - anyone can rattle off a list of qualities that are needed for the job but few can “back them up!”

You should . . .

Provide actual stories from your previous experiences that support your statements.

Develop a “Career Portfolio” that can be used during the interview.

“Career Portfolio” Can contain:

Your resume Cover letter Class project that is an example of your

work List of references Certifications, publications, etc. Anything that will set you apart from the

other candidates

Career Portfolio Can be developed on-line through

Optimal Resume Create an account on

https://montclair.optimalresume.com

Types & Settings of Interviews

Types Traditional Behavioral

Settings One-on-one Group Lunch/dinner

meeting Telephone

Traditional Interview – Some Questions

• Tell me about yourself. Outline your education & experience List strengths that tie into the job

description Keep it recent Stay professional – no social stories please!

• Why should I hire you? Draw parallels between the job description

& your background Illustrate specific examples from your

resume

Additional Questions What kind of experience have you had? Include any professional experience that is

related including: full-time/part-time jobs, internships, class work, research, and volunteer work

Tell me about your goals for the next 5 years

Show that you’ve researched career paths Discuss your interest in professional development

so you can grow with the company

Traditional Interview – More QuestionsWhat are your strengths?What are your weaknesses?Why do you want to work for

this company?

What are your strengths? List a few strengths – think of skills

pulled from experiences that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Examples:

Juggling multiple priorities Excellent communication skills Teamwork Organization Leadership

What are your weaknesses? Remember: this is not a time to confess

your “sins.” Always provide a weakness that can be

turned into a positive. For example: “Computer work was never my strong point but I’m taking a class to strengthen this skill.”

Why do you want to work for this company? An opportunity for you to relate your

skills to the company.

Also, you can show that you are interested in growing with the company.

This is where your research comes into play.

Behavioral Interviews Employers look at past behavior to

predict your future success in the position. The past is the most accurate prediction

of the future. Many questions examine leadership,

teamwork, problem solving, and initiative. If you don’t have relevant work

experience, you can refer to classes you have taken.

Behavioral Questions Tell me how you handled a time when a

team member didn’t carry his/her weight.

Describe a major problem you faced and how you handled it.

Tell me about a time when you failed at something and how you handled the situation.

Preparing for Behavioral Interviews Recall a recent situation that showed

action & be ready to talk in detail about it.

Be certain that your story has a beginning, middle, and end.

Be ready to describe the outcome. Be specific – provide details. Be ready to answer questions about the

story.

“STAR” Technique S ituation

What took place? T ask

What is the goal/objective? A ction

What did you do? R esult

What happened?

STAR - illustrated SITUATION: Elected VP of fundraising

for campus club TASK: Raise money for end-of-the year

awards program ACTION: Developed a game show

where all undergraduates could participate

RESULT: Raised $1500.00 and increased membership by 15 students.

The Interview Close (part 1): Do you have any questions? This can make or break the interview.

Asking questions demonstrates your level of interest in the job. SO . . . Develop intelligent questions from the

research that you did on the company. Prepare a few standard questions that can

be used for all interviews such as: “Why is the position available?”

DON’T ASK ABOUT SALARY OR BENEFITS!

Questions you can ask . . . Whom would I report to? Can you tell me more about …(something you

have learned in your research)? What upcoming projects do you anticipate? What happened to the previous incumbent? Is there anything that we covered that would

hinder my chances of getting this job?

Develop Your “Close” (part 2) Remember this is a “sales” situation.

Successful salespeople know how to effectively close the meeting to win the sale. Ask what the next step is Find out when the decision will be made Restate your interest and qualifications –

be brief

Step 3:Wardrobe

The interview is today and you have nothing to wear! Check your wardrobe out before the big day. Dress professionally – business attire

only! Make certain that your clothes are neat,

clean, & pressed.

What to Wear Men:

Conservatively colored suit, basic tie, polished shoes

Little to no cologne Take out any body piercings Wear a watch Cover all tattoos No white socks!

What to Wear Women:

Conservatively colored suit either pants suit or skirt (Skirt should come to the knee)

Pantyhose and closed toe shoes Minimal jewelry and make-up Little to no perfume Cover all tattoos May want to pull back hair

Step 4:WHAT TO BRING/NOT TO BRING

Bring . . . Resume Pens ID Unofficial Transcript List of References Work examples (i.e.

writing samples) Reference Letter A pad

Do NOT bring . . .

Family members or friends!

Step 5:Speech Mannerisms & Nonverbal Behavior

Firm handshake Moderate speech rate Minimize “ums” and “likes” Enunciate Avoid nervous habits (i.e. Nail biting) Keep hands on table or lap Maintain eye contact Mirror body image of interviewer Do not slouch

Practice Makes Perfect Rehearsal is a key element of the

preparation. Get a sense of what an interview is like by: Participating in a mock interview through

InterviewPrep which is available on OptimalSuite. Create an account on

https://montclair.optimalresume.com Record your “interview” using video

(webcam), audio or both.

Some final tips . . . The day before, confirm the time, location, &

name of the recruiter Tell the truth Be yourself Speak well of others Maintain good eye contact Ask appropriate questions Turn off your cell phone! Don’t act bored Find out what the next step in the process is Close with a smile, a handshake, & a thank-you!

Viewing Verification• To earn the point for viewing this Power Point, please

email your response to the following questions:

• List three examples of “traditional” interview questions.• What is the “STAR” technique and what is it used for?

• Email your response to freedmand@mail.montclair.edu and indicate “BUGN – Interviews 101” in the subject line.

• Due: December 4, 2013• Questions: Please call: 973-655-6965