job hunting skills: interview process · individual interview – 1-3 interviewers many...
TRANSCRIPT
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Job Hunting Skills: Interview Process
Curriculum for Career, spring 2012
Career counselor Eric Carver
16.4.2012 1Urapalvelut/ Eric Carver
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Curriculum for Career
Coursework available at Moodle:https://moodle.helsinki.fi/course/view.php?id=418Course key: cfc2012s
To pass 1. course attendance
(you can miss only one session for a valid reason)
2. Information interview report (+ comment to other reports in Moodle)3. CV4. Journal on Career Planning course
is required
DEADLINE for assignment 2. isApril 11th. For 3-4. April 25.
Course journal(3 h)
Part 2OPPORTUNITY AWARENESS
3h
Part 3FROM DECISION MAKING TO
ACTION PLANNING3h
Part 4aJOB HUNTING SKILLSApplication documents
2h
Part 1SELF-ASSESSMENT SKILLS
3 h
Part 4bJOB HUNTING SKILLS
Interview process 3h
LECTURES
Total 28 hours
CV(2 h)
InformationInterview
9h
EXCERCISES
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Journal on Career Planning course
3
The purpose of reflective writing is to help you learn from a particular practical experience. It will help you to make connections between what you are taught in theory and what you need to do in practice. You reflect so that you can learn.
Reflective writing is:• your response to experiences, opinions, events or new information• your response to thoughts and feelings• a way of thinking to explore your learning• an opportunity to gain self-knowledge• a way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning• a way of making meaning out of what you study
Reflective writing is not:• just conveying information, instruction or argument• pure description, though there may be descriptive elements• straightforward decision or judgment (e.g. about whether something is right or wrong, good or bad)• a summary of course notes
Deadline 25.4.
Min. 2 pages.
Job Hunting Skills: Interview Process
FROM DECISION MAKING TO ACTION
PLANNING
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
SELF-ASSESSMENT
JOB HUNTING
SKILLS
The role of interview in job hunting and
recruiting process
Interview process and different forms
of interview
Preparing for a job interview
Tips for the interview
(formed from FSU Career Services –material)
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
ElevatorSpeech
What would you say if you met a person who could lead you
to your dream job and you had only 2-3 minutes to state your case?
Prepare to describe briefly:
Who are you? What is your background?What has been the focus of your studies? (major, minors & key topics or themes) How close are you to completing your degree?What other experience do you have (work, volunteer work, hobbies& activities)? What do you have to offer?What are you looking for? What are your future goals?
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
The role of the interview in recruiting process
The first step in any recruiting process is the analysis of needs for the particular position:
Required skills and knowledge?Valued personality traits, professional style & working methods?Suitable values, motivation and attitude?
Interview is the most effective way of evaluating your skills and your personality in relation to the particular position.
The focus is to find a suitable match.
Applicants with polished job interview skills might prevail over candidates with better applications and CV´s.
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Interview methods
Individual interview – 1-3 interviewersMany interviewersGroup interviewInterview serial, where the interviewees change.
Open/ structured / semi-structured interview Pressure/Stress Interview / Situational InterviewSimulations, problem solving exercises, group/team exercises
Interview method is selected to measure
suitability to the particular task!
Preparing for an interview
Why this job? Your motivation & goals?
Relevant knowledge & skills?
Substantial knowledge (academic skills)
Transferable skills (time management,
project management, presentation skills
etc.)
General labor market skills (language
skills, communication skills, computer
skills, team work and social skills etc..)
Personal traits (learning and self-
development skills, stress management
skills, social skills, etc.)
Self-assesment
Read the job ad one more time:
Skills required for the position?
What type of knowledge is appreciated?
What type of experience required?
What/Who are they looking for?
Good to know about the company:
Business idea/model or organizational purpose
Markets and clients, products and services
Business/Organizational culture
Organization size, amount of the employers
Latest news (major new projects etc.).
Career opportunity
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Interview cycle
Warm up: creating trust, contact and the first impression
Update for application documentsEducation and experience
Professional/substantial knowledge, other skills
Organizational and professional topics
To the facts: towards more personal topicsExpectation, motivation and understanding of the position
Self-concept = how you see yourself, and how you would fit to the company/organization, team, position etc.
Strengths, potentials, risks
Stress management, collaboration skills, leadership skills etc.
Conclusion:Hobbies, personal life, possible starting date, salary etc.
Interview simulation
Form into groups of 3.Arrange 3 interviews.Rotate the roles:
Interviewer
Interviewed
Observer
10 minutes/ per interviewDecide what task and organization
the interview is for.
Make notes and give feedback after each interview.
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Preparing for an interview: practical helpThink of the questions that you find difficult to answer and prepare yourself for those questions.
Dress code! Dress appropriately according to the position (rather too formal than informal)
Take your CV and references with you.
Be on time!
Think of your salary requirement.
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Preparing for an interview: in practice
Do not interrupt. Do not judge anybody or anything.
Be honest. Do not pretend to understand the question.
Keep in mind the Finnish way of polite communication (listening, silence is ok, eye contact is good and expected…)
No grunting or lecturing. An optimum answer to a single question is from 20 seconds to two minutes.
Be active. Ask about the procedure and schedule, be prepared to say yes for the further interviews or tests
To conclude with: Express your motivation
Remember to thank the interviewer!
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Level of detail
DescribedconfidenceFind the
rightbalance
In hidingPlease consider me, because I might beinterested and havesome experience.
SuperheroslogansI am simply the best candidate. A born leader.
All over the placeI am a dedicated, honest, competetiveand able candidate becauseI have developed my organizational, social and academic skills in demanding, stressful and revarding positions – in the manychallenges I have faced during…
Critical self-analysisMy strenghts can be seen to arise from my studies, that havedeveloped somewhat relevantexpertice, with certain drawbacks and limitations…...
Remember …
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
FIRST EXPRESSION
FIRST EXPRESSION IS A ONE TIME CHANCE!
Dress code, facial expression, eye contact, hand shake, smile, your body gesture – remember non-verbal communication.
Not the only criteria in decision making, but to change the first expression a lot of energy will be wasted from the interview.
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Little nervousness is OK!
Being nervous is ok when it is not an obstacle for success
It shows that you are serious
Adrenaline can improve your concentration
Avoid nervousness that becomes an obstaclePrepare for the interview and concentrate
Relax and do imaginary exercises
Check the location before the interview
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
”Self-talk” and non-verbal communication
Positive vs. negative self-talk”I can and I will, it is important…, I want to”.., vs.”do I have to, I can not and will not”….
Control your self-talk at the interview: Don’t get carried away with it (”What was the question?”, ”Why did I say this?”)
Ask, if you do not understand the questionBe nice to yourself, try to forget any mistakes, calm down and concentrate.
Be positive about yourself and your past
GOOD SELF-CONFIDENCE? Like professional athletics!
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Sensitive or illegal questions
Religion, race, political view, sexual orientation, family planning
Prepare to handle these situations. Reply is up to you.
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
The Final Round:aptitude & personality tests?
Interview is not the only way to evaluate the applicants. Sometimes employers want to measure candidates with an aptitude test or a psychological test. Usually tests are given to only the 2-3 top candidates after the first round of interviews.
They may include the following:IQ tests
Personality evaluations
Simulations
Learning ability
Post-test discussion session.
Best advice is to get a good night´s sleep before the test and answer questions honestly. Be consistent!
More information:
The Career Services website:
http://www.helsinki.fi/urapalvelut
International Student´s Guide to Working in Finland
Aarresaari:http://www.helsinki.fi/urapalvelut/materiaalit/workinginfinland.pdf
http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org
http://www.interviewstrategies.com
16.4.2012 20Osasto / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi
Course feedback
THE POSITIVE
What did you learn from the course? What did you like in particular? What things were most helpful?
THE CRITICAL
What parts of the course did you find unhelpful or unnecessary? Where there some parts of the course you did not like?
THE FUTURE
How would you develop the Curriculum for Career course in the future?