Basic Interviewing Skills

Preparing for the half hour that can change your life

You have obtained an Interview Congratulations! NOW

CLEAN THE SLATE

No matter how qualified you are on paper, you need to present yourself to the people who have the authority to hire you.
YOU NEED TO REBUILD YOUR SLATE

WHY PREPARE?
Preparation builds confidence, improves the likelihood of success, reduces surprises and enables you to handle curveballs AND MOST OF ALL Preparation gives you the COMPETITIVE EDGE

PREPARATION

TRUTH
Approximately 75% of the interview is based upon your appearance and how well you present yourself.

DRESS Neatly and Conservatively

Do not wear heavy perfume/aftershave lotion or much jewelry. Jewelry should be limited to a single necklace or chain, a ring and small button type earrings for women

Conservative rules the day You want to wear something that makes the interviewer think professional and competent. You also want to wear something that avoids directing the focus away from you and onto your clothes. Grooming Counts An expensive suit will not compensate for dirty fingernails, messy hair, and wrinkled clothes Good grooming indicates attention to detail and respect for others

Be certain of the date, time, place, name of the organization and the interviewer.

Be a few minutes early. NEVER BE LATE! Remember to make time for unforeseen circumstances such as traffic jams or the Howe Center elevator

RESEARCH THE COMPANY

Know the following: How old the company is What its products or services are Where its plants, offices or stores are located What its growth has been How its prospects look for the future How do I find these things out? Dun and Bradstreets Million Dollar Directory, CorpTech Directories, Standard & Poors, Thomas Register, Trade Magazines, Check with your Career Development Center

RE-Review your resume

Be prepared to answer questions about your Education Work Experience Activities/Interests Major Grades Goals

Be sure what is on your resume is current and accurate and always be prepared to fill out an application upon arrival. Know your references!

Preparation Tips

1. Prepare your answers for typical questions

2. Write down your success stories

3. Select your references

4. Learn about the organization and its people

5. Prepare the questions you will ask the interviewer about the job and the company
6. Select your outfit and have it dry-cleaned or laundered if necessary

How do I craft a success story? Think of a situation (work or school).

Explain when or where this situation took place.

Explain the situation? What obstacles, challenges or problems called for your action?

State the action you took?

Share the results or outcomes? Quantify those results how many, how large, what percent?

Convey the transferable skills you used or learned that you can bring to the job.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice interviewing with a friend Schedule a Mock Interview with your Career Development office Practice in front of a mirror or on a video camera

THE INTERVIEW

THE GREETING
Greet the interviewer by name as you enter the office if you are sure of the pronunciation. Take your cues from the interviewer. Be sure to shake the interviewers hand-firmly.

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Promote positive communication
Be frank and truthful in your answers avoid being negative Be enthusiastic about what you have done and what you can do. THINK POSITIVE! Project attentiveness. LISTEN, MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT

Ask for clarification if you do not understand the question

Be careful not to criticize former employers, professors, or anything for that matter!

Relate past experiences to the skills you will need for the job Give specific examples If asked about salary requirements avoid mentioning one specific amount.
When pressed for an answer: The fair market value would be a good answer. You can refer the recruiter to the Stevens salary survey published each year

What does the recruiter seek?

1. Ability to communicate can you organize your thoughts and ideas effectively when writing or speaking? Can you present your ideas in a positive way. 2. Self-Confidence Can you demonstrate a sense of maturity and direction that enables you to deal positively and effectively with situations and people? 3. Willingness to accept responsibility are you someone who recognizes what needs to be done? Are you willing to get it done? Are you willing to do more than what is required of you? 4. Flexibility Are you capable of change and receptive to new ideas and situations?

5. Ability to handle conflict Can you successfully contend with stress situations and antagonisms?

6. Competitiveness Do you have the capacity to compete with others and a willingness to be measured by your performance in relation to that competition?
7. Goal achievement Can you identify, work toward and obtain specific goals? Can you look ahead, anticipate the future and make long-range plans? 8. Level of Initiative Can you identify purposeful work and take action? Do you always wait to be told what to do? 9. Possession of technical skills or ability to achieve them Do you possess the skills necessary for the particular job or do you have the ability to learn them

10. Direction Do you know where you want to be in two or three years? Do you know enough about your field to know the different opportunities available and what type of position will satisfy your knowledge and goals? 11. Level of energy Are you ambitious? Do you possess drive? Can you take charge of a situation? Would you be willing to put in extra time and time to accomplish a specific task 12. Interpersonal skills Can you get along with people who are different from you in any respect? Can you work with them toward a common goal in a professional manner? 13. Leadership Do you have the ability to gain peoples respect and confidence? Can you organize and direct a group of people? Can you delegate responsibilities?

VERY IMPORTANT

14. Knowledge of the company Are you familiar with the companys products and services; potential growth areas?

SOME TYPICAL QUESTIONS THE INTERVIEWER MAY ASK YOU

1. What are your future career plans? 2. In what school activities have you participated? Which did you enjoy most? 3. In what type of position are you most interested? 4. What are the reasons for which you might like to work for our company? 5. What courses did you like best? Least? 6. What kind of boss do you prefer? 7. What were the reasons for your choice in college major? 8. What interests you about our product or service? 9. Do you feel you have done the best scholastic work of which you are capable? 10. What are your major strengths? Weaknesses? 11. How would a professor, colleague or previous supervisor describe you? 12. What would be the benefit to us of your joining our organization?

Ten Rules for Interviewing

1. Keep your answers brief and concise.

2. Include concrete, quantifiable data

3. Repeat your key strengths three times 4. Prepare five or more success stories

5. Put yourself on their team

6. Image is often as important as content 7. Ask questions

8. Maintain a conversational flow

9. Research the company, product lines and competitors 10. Keep an interview journal

Types of questions to ask the interviewer

What would be a typical assignment/day? What type of training/orientation would I have? What might I expect in terms of job progression? How does this particular department fit into the entire structure of the organization?

Do you have any recent graduates working at your company?

How long have you been with the company? What are the positive factors? Negative?

CLOSING
Be alert to signs from the interviewer that the session is closing. Thank the interviewer at the close of the interview. Ask what the next step will be.

FOLLOW-UP
Send a well-written thank-you letter within 24 hours. An emailed thank-you is okay but also send a formal one. Include a reiteration of the job as you understand it, points you may have forgotten to mention, and a response to any concerns expressed. Restate that you want the job and describe how you will follow up. Keep in contact with the interviewer. Remember to Be courteous, respectful and professional. The recruiter may recommend you for something else if you do not land the current position.

The INTERVIEWING GAME

Select from What the recruiter is looking for
Ask a question that would enable the recruiter to receive the described information and/or Ask a question of the recruiter that would show one of these qualities in you

Select from Typically asked questions

Answer the question the way you would answer it in an interview extra points for a Success story and/or Explain what information the recruiter was trying to get from the question and how best you could supply it

Select from the Ten Rules of Interviewing

Explain what is meant by the rule and things you would need to do to comply and/or Give an example of what you might say or do to follow through on the rule