The Ins and Outs of Interviewing

Interviewing-What is it?

- A structured meeting between you and an employer

- Interviewing is a skill- like riding your bike

- PRACTICE makes PERFECT

Interviewing is a two-way street

- Employers are attempting to determine if you are an appropriate fit for the job and their culture

- You decide if the environment is right for you.

Types of Interviews

Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to narrow the pool of applicants One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you with the potential employer Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a social setting Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of the facility, meet the staff, and additional questioning from different employees and/or administration

Pre-Interview Preparation

Research position, company, & industry

Know yourself and be able to articulate skills, strengths, accomplishments, and career goals

Prepare necessary materials (Copies of resume, references, portfolio/pen, palm pilot or organizer, breath mints)

Ask for directions and where to park

Arriving

Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination (you may want to conduct a dry run prior to your interview day)

Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to allow you to park, walk to the interview, use the restroom, or just gather yourself

Greeting & Introduction

Only 1 chance to make a good 1st impression

Dress appropriately

Smile

Maintain eye contact

Firm handshake

Remain poised and confident

Body Language: What signals are you sending?

Positive Signals Leaning forward = interest

Smiling = friendly

Nodding = attentive and alert

Eye contact = curious and focused

Negative Signals Crossed arms = defensive

Fidgeting hands or tapping feet = nervous or bored

Lack of eye contact = untrustworthy

Leaning back= discomfort

Types of Interview Questions

Standard or traditional-

targeting your education, work experiences, and

career goals

Sample Questions Tell me about yourself?

What is your greatest strength? Weakness?

Why did you choose to interview with us?

What did you like most about your last job? Least?

What are your short and long term career goals?

Types of Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions

-These focus on your actions and/or behaviors in a previous setting.

- Past behavior provides clues to future behavior

Sample Questions Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision?

Tell me about a time you worked under a deadline?

What do you do when a team member is not pulling his/her weight?

Think about a time you made a mistake. What

did you learn from it?

Types of Interview Questions

Inappropriate or unethical questions

- Questions which probe into your private life or personal background

- Questions about your ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, marital status

Sample Questions

How old are you?

Do you have children?

Do you have a disability?

What religion do you practice?

Types of Interview Questions

Questions asked by the interviewee

To determine if you are an appropriate fit for the company and position, prepare a list of questions for the interviewer

Sample Questions What type of assignments can I expect within the first year? What do you like most about this company? What is the biggest challenge facing this department right now? What skills are you looking for in this position? What is the next course of action?

General Interview Strategies

-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences

-Master the art of storytelling

-Provide specific and concrete examples of your results/accomplishments

-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident throughout the interview process

General Interview Strategies

Remember an interview is a formal conversation--avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know” Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good” Think before speaking Avoid long verbose answers--limit your response to 1-2 minutes If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat or clarify it for you

General Interview Strategies

Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself

Try to focus on the message you are trying to convey--NOT how well you are doing!

Dressing for Success-Men

Suit-Single or double breasted

Polished shoes

Solid white shirt

Conservative tie

Neatly groomed hair, beard, and mustache

Avoid strong colognes, earrings, and body piercing

Dressing for Success-Women

Pant or skirt suit

Pumps with small to medium heels

Light makeup, perfume, and jewelry

Wear neutral color hosiery

FOLLOW-UP

Ask good questions

Thank the interviewer

Request a business card

Inquire about next steps in the process

FOLLOW-UP CONT

Send a thank you note within 24 hours

Letter may be handwritten or typed; e-mail is also acceptable

Tailor each one to the individual.

Final Thoughts

Remember that only 15% of the success of an interview is out of your control Take some time to reflect

- Overall, how well did I do? - What went well? - What steps can I take next time to improve?

Suggestions

Conduct a test run the day before the interview Practice! Practice! Practice!

•Obtain a list of practice interview questions and jot down short answers

• Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers

•Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with Career Services Get a good night’s sleep-be well rested and alert for the interview Be relaxed and be yourself!