Successful Interviewing

Techniques

Nancy Hutter, MA, LMHC

Executive Career Strategies

Insightful Choices
 The 4 ―C‘s‖
• Competency
– Do you have needed competencies?

• Communications
– Do you communicate your thoughts clearly?
– Do you communicate in a business like manner?
– Can you communicate your competencies and confidence in both what you say
and how you act?

• Confidence
– Are you motivated to do the job?
– Do you make me feel that you will do the job?

• Compatibility/Chemistry
– Do you look/act like someone who fits in?
– Would they want to work with you?
– How do you relate to them?
 Preparing for the Interview
• Research the organization (if you have the name)
• Plan the trip
• Review the job description
• Review your background/resume
• 7-8 stories PARs
• Decide what you will bring
• Prepare yourself
– Image
– Goals
– Know how you will answer typical interview questions
– Have list of questions for them
– Be prepared to handle questions relating to your
―liabilities‖/objections they may have
 Knockouts
Poor personal appearance
• Not prepared
• Inability to express yourself
• Poor attitude, nervous, ill at ease
• Evasive, making excuses
• Lack of tact
• Poor eye contact
• Limp, fishy handshake
• Lack of courtesy, ill mannered, impatient
• Inability to connect
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Not able to give reasons why they should hire you
 Model
• Build personal chemistry
• Find our what they want---first if possible
• Let them know you have it
• Find out if it‘s what you want
• Close and conclude meeting
 Beginning: Build Chemistry
• Make ―them‖ comfortable
• Small talk to start the meeting
• Mentioning something about how good the
directions were, or something about the
building or office
• make a connection and establish common
ground.
 Middle
• Goal: Move from a question-answer format into
discussion—Interviewer asks question, you respond, and
ask the interviewer a follow-up question.

• Sell yourself--what you bring to the table/why they

should hire you in a professional way.
• Ask appropriate questions about the company and the
job (not about benefits or salary)
• Listen carefully before you answer a question and make
sure you understand it.
• Pay attention to the ―interviewer‘s‖ body language
• Don‘t be defensive-attitude as important as what you say
• Answer questions directly and then if you want to, clarify.
 DON‘T
• Don‘t answer with a simple yes or no. Explain.
• If you don‘t understand a question or need a moment to
think about it, say so. Never pretend to know something
or someone when you don‘t.
• Don‘t make negative remarks about present or former
employers. Be rationale, logical and professional
• Do not fidget. Concentrate on listening and responding
appropriately. Have a pad of paper and pen out and
available in case you need to write something.
• Don‘t over answer questions.
• Don‘t inquire about salary, vacations, benefits, bonuses
on the initial interview unless you are sure the employer
is interested in hiring you.
 $$ Questions
• What salary are you looking for?
– What is the range for this position?
– If pressed, give a range but indicate that you‘re more interested
in the opportunity for continued learning and professional
development than in a specific salary.
– consider any salary that is fair based on the responsibilities of
the position.
– Money is an important, but not the most important consideration.
Job content and opportunities for growth are my priorities. If it‘s
agreeable with you, I‘d prefer to deter discussing compensation
until we‘ve established that there is a good match here.
– I‘m glad you asked, and based on your expertise about this
industry, I was hoping to get your perspective on the potential
earnings for such a position.
 General Questions
• Tell me about yourself?
• Why are you interested in working here?
• What are your strengths
• What are your weaknesses
• Greatest achievement
• Greatest disappointment
• Biggest problems and how you handled them
• Did you ever fail at something or biggest mistake
• What would your prior ―bosses‖ say about you
• What do you really want to do in life
• Interests?
• What is most important to you in a position
• How do you solve conflicts
• What was the most useful criticism you ever received
• Tell me about a difficult decision you‘ve made
• Why each change was made…job by job
• Most important accomplishments in each position
• What you liked and didn‘t like about each position
 Predictive Questions
• Based on type of job for which you are
applying…..
• What would you do if…..
– Management skills
– IT skills
– Engineering skills and knowledge
– Project management skills
 Handling Objections
• ACKNOWLEDGE THE OBJECTION:
• ―I appreciate your concern.‖
• ―I understand why you would say that.‖
• REDIRECT THE OBJECTION TO RESPOND IN A
POSITIVE MANNER:
• ―You want to be sure that the individual that you
select has the ability to . . ―
• TEST TO VERIFY THAT REDIRECT IS
APPROPRIATE:
• ‗If I can demonstrate to you that I have what you are
looking for (X), would that alleviate your concern?‖
 Your Questions
Macro to Micro

About the industry

– Competition, challenges
About the organization
– Culture, Mission/Company key objectives
– What makes this company a great place to work
– Organization structure
About the department
– Structure, your place in the department
About the job
– Responsibilities, objectives, expectations
– Most important to you in filling this position
– Top 3 objectives of position for first 6 months‘
– Key personality traits necessary for success
– How long position open, what happened
– Who are people I would work most closely with
– Immediate supervisor, describe management style
 Close
• Give the interviewer a positive summary of
the meeting and express interest
• Ask the interviewer for feedback. For
example: ―In your opinion, are my
strengths or experience on target for this
position?‖
• Find out the next step.
• Discuss any concerns that were raised.
 After
• The ―thank you‖ note that is more than a
thank you note
• Don‘t be afraid to call and follow up