The Job Interview

Jeff Steele, ABOC, CPOT, LDO

Objective

Understand the nature of the job interview Know commonly ask questions and how to

answer them Land your dream job!

Purpose

The field of vision care is highly professional- you will be in constant contact with patients representing not only the doctor, but the entire office. You will also be working with very expensive equipment. Expect your interview to very tough and very thorough

You will be rewarded with an outstanding career in an outstanding field!

Steps to Success

Your excellent cover letter and resume has served its purpose; landed you a job interview

Gives your potential employer a chance to learn more about you

Gives you a chance to learn more about the employer/company and the job

Follow these simple steps to success!

Before the Interview

There are numerous ways you can prepare yourself for the interview process

The more prepared you are, the less nervous you will be!

Key People

Find out who the key people involved in the organization is, including the partners of the doctor and what their specialties might be

Even if the interviewer decides you are not right for the particular job you have been applying for, you may be referred on to one of the partners!

Products and Services

Know the nature of the doctor’s practice, including the type of products sold (contacts, frames, etc.)

Understanding the products and services will help you better understand the types of patients likely to frequent that office

Before the Interview

Prepare in advance. The better prepared you are, the less anxious you will be and the greater your chances for success.

Role play. Find someone to role play the interview with you. This person should be someone with whom you feel comfortable and with whom you can discuss your weaknesses freely. The person should be objective and knowledgeable

Use a mirror or video camera when you role play to see what kind of image you project.

Assess your interviewing skills. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Work on correcting your weaknesses, such as speaking rapidly, talking too loudly or softly and nervous habits such as shaking hands or inappropriate facial expressions.

Preparation

Learn the questions that are commonly asked and prepare answers to them. Practice giving answers which are brief but thorough.

Decide what questions you would like to ask and practice politely interjecting them at different points in the interview.

Evaluate your strengths. Evaluate your skills, abilities, and education as they relate to the type of job you are seeking

Preparation, cont.

Assess your over-all appearance. Your clothes should be clean and pressed,

and your shoes polished. Make sure your hair is neat, your nails clean,

and you are generally well groomed

The Resume

Have extra copies of your résumé available to take on the interview. The interviewer may ask you for extra copies.

Make sure you bring along the same version of your résumé that you originally sent the company. You can also refer to your résumé to complete applications that ask for job history information (e.g., dates of employment, names of former employers and their telephone numbers, job responsibilities, and accomplishments).

Arrive On Time

If you have to, drive to the place of your interview the day before, so you can approximate how long it will take you to get there

Arrive at least 15 minutes early and announce your arrival with the receptionist/front desk

The Introduction

Introduce yourself in a courteous manner! Stand, state your full name and offer your

hand for a firm handshake SMILE!

In The Waiting Room

Read company materials while you wait This can give you a better understanding of

what the doctor/office is all about and also give you a chance to ask questions or provide knowledge concerning products/services used at the office

Listen!

Be sure to listen carefully: Names of interviewers Questions

A common mistake is to go over your interview answers in your head at the expense of missing important information such as the name of your interviewer and even the questions!

Body Language

Your body language can say as much as your words!

Listen with your entire body: Direct eye contact Give an occasional nod of the head and

other non-verbal feedback to the interviewer

Closing Phase

During the closing phase of an interview, you will be asked whether you have any other questions.

Ask any relevant question that has not yet been answered.

Highlight any of your strengths that have not been discussed.

Interview’s End

Upon completion of formal questioning, ask about the next step in the interview process

Second interview? Time frame until decision is made? THANK THE INTERVIEWER! Send a follow-up thank you card

Handling Illegal Questions

There are certain questions that are not lawful for an employer to ask, such as age, children, marital status, disabilities, etc.

If asked an illegal question, you have three options:1. Answer the question- you’re free to do so, but understand that

your answer could hurt you2. Refuse to answer, but phrase your refusal carefully, without

seeming uncooperative or confrontational3. Examine the question for context and answer in a way

pertaining to the nature of the job. Example: “Do you have someone to care for children if asked to travel” Answer: “I can meet the work and travel schedule that this job requires”

Illegal Questions

The following are samples of illegal questions, and their legal counterparts (Illegal vs. Legal)

Do you have any disabilities? Vs. Are you able to perform the essential functions of the job?

Are you able to sit? Vs. Can you sit for four hours at a time? (Assuming this is an essential function of the job.)

Can you carry objects? Vs. Can you carry three-pound boxes to the copier? (Assuming this is an essential function of the job)

Are you color blind? Vs. Can you distinguish between color bands? (Assuming this is an essential function of the job.)

What is your corrected vision? Vs. Do you have 20/20 vision? (If this is a job requirement.)

Do you see a psychiatrist for stress? Vs. How well can you handle stress?

Common Questions

There are literally thousands of questions that may be asked of you at an interview.

Some questions may be geared to see the extent of your knowledge, while others may be intentionally designed to agitate or stress you, to see how you handle pressure

We will explore some of the common questions you may be asked, including strategies for successfully fielding these questions!

"Tell me about yourself."

Briefly describe your experience and background. If you are unsure what information the interviewer is seeking, say, "Are there any areas in particular you'd like to know about?"

"What is your weakest point?" (A stress question)

Mention something that is actually a strength. Some examples are:

"I'm something of a perfectionist." "I'm a stickler for punctuality." "I'm tenacious." NEVER give an actual weakness! This is a trick

questions! Give a specific situation from your previous job to

illustrate your point, if possible

"What is your strongest point?"

Here is your chance to impress! "I work well under pressure." "I am organized and manage my time well." If you have just graduated from college you might

say, "I am eager to learn, and I don't have to unlearn old

techniques." Give a specific example to illustrate your point

"What do you hope to be doing five years from now?"

This question has two purposes:

1. What are your goals/ambitions

2. Do those goals/ambitions meet the needs of the office you are applying for?

"I hope I will still be working here and have increased my level of responsibility based on my performance and abilities."

"Why have you been out of work for so long?" (A stress question)

"I spent some time re-evaluating my past experience and the current job market to see what direction I wanted to take".

"I had some offers but I'm not just looking for another job; I'm looking for a career, that’s why I enrolled in the Vision Care Technology program at SCC”

"What is your greatest accomplishment?"

If you have just graduated from college, try to find some accomplishment from your school work, part-time jobs, or extra-curricular activities. (For example, your Spectrum Club experience and how it “showed you how rewarding caring for patients can be…”

"Why should we hire you?" (A stress question)

Highlight your background based on the company's current needs. Recap your qualifications keeping the interviewer's job description in mind. If you don't have much experience, talk about how your education and training prepared you for this job.

"Tell me about a problem you had in your last job and how you resolved it."

The employer wants to assess your analytical skills and see if you are a team player. Select a problem from your last job and explain how you solved it.

Some Questions You Should Ask

"What are the company's current challenges?"

"Could you give me a more detailed job description?"

"Why is this position open?" "Are there opportunities for advancement?" "To whom would I report?"

Do…

Be sincere and direct Be attentive and polite Ask relevant questions Answer questions concisely Use specific examples to illustrate points

Don’t…

Try to control the entire interview Bring up salary, benefits or working hours Be too serious Let your depression or discouragement show Make negative comments about anyone or

anything, including former employers Look at your watch Take extensive notes

Phone follow-up

If you were not told during the interview when a hiring decision will be made, call after one week. At that time, if you learn that the decision has not been made, find out whether you are still under consideration for the job.

Ask if there are any other questions the interviewer might have about your qualifications and offer to come in for another interview if necessary. Reiterate that you are very interested in the job.

If you learn that you did not get the job, try to find out why. You might also inquire whether the interviewer can think of anyone else who might be able to use someone with your abilities