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INTERVIEW SKILLS

THE JOB INTERVIEW


It is a face to face meeting Last step in job seeking process Lasts between 15 to 30 minutes

THEIR OBJECTIVES
Employer: to find the best person for the job
Employer: reviews candidates experience and abilities Can you do the job? (skills, abilities, qualifications) Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation) How will you fit into the organisation? (personality)

You: impress employer and assess position on offer


What does this position offer me? How does it fit with my career plans?

HOW TO BE SUCCESS
One important key to success is
self confidence An important key to self confidence is preparation (Authur Ashe)

PREPARATION
Focus only on the interview is not enough Cover the entire process

THREE PHASES OF PREPARATION


Pre-interview strategies During the interview strategies Post interview strategies

PRE-INTERVIEW STRATEGIES
Research the company/organization Study the job description and review resume Prepare answer for standard questions Prepare your own list of questions Get 2 or 3 professional references Visit interview location Plan your mode of transportation Decide what to wear Pack your bag Take good care of your nutrition Do something to relax and go to bed early

DURING INTERVIEW STRATEGIES


Arrive early Allow time to relax Turn off cell phone

DURING INTERVIEW STRATEGIES


First impressions very powerful Entrance, introduction & handshake Smile and make eye contact Be aware of own movements Dont sit until it is offered

BODY LANGUAGE
Body language is a form of mental and physical ability of human non-verbal communication, consisting of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements.

Research suggests that between 60 and 70 percent of human communication is nonverbal behavior in other words, body language.

BODY LANGUAGE MISTAKES THANT CAN COST YOU THE JOB Your perfect resume, flawless cover letter, brilliant responses to tough question make you strong job candidate But forget to smile, slouch in your chair etc may cost your job

Invading personal space


Be respectful of the hiring managers personal space. Dont stand too close and certainly don't hug them.

Weak handshake Before you shake hands, rise, walk up to the hiring manager with confidence, make eye contact and smile. Make sure your handshake is firm, but don't crush the hiring manager's hand The secret to a great handshake is palm-to-palm contact. Slide your hand down into the web of theirs and make palm-to-palm contact

SITTING POSTURE Leaning back suggests lack of interest

Leaning front can be just problematic


Sit up straight sends a message of selfassuredness

Bad posture Sit up straight. Asymmetrical body language can make you look confused or dishonest.

Crossing your arms That can make you look defensive or uncomfortable. Instead, gesture with your hands. That way you'll appear more enthusiastic and engaging.

Hiding your hands Dont sit on your hands or hide them in your lap, Wood says. Place them on the arms of your chair or the desk or use them to gesture. Gesturing makes you look more expressive, and the interviewer can read how open and honest you are by looking at your hands.

Not smiling You can all too easily appear nervous or unfriendly. Smile, but keep it subtle.

Be prepared to answer these standard questions


Can you tell me a little about yourself? Why do you want to work here? What do you know about the company? What are your strengths/weaknesses? Why did you leave your last job and what have you been doing since then?

Playing with your hair Its a stress comfort cue that can make you look childish. You dont want to distract the hiring manager with this body language gaffe.

Lack of eye contact Its okay for the candidate to look away when he or she is talking. Its normal to look around when youre speaking because youre accessing different parts of the brain by moving your eyes. But be attentive and make eye contact when the interviewer is speaking. Think of eye contact as a connection tool.

Looking like you're not interested Its fine if you have an expressive face. It makes you more likeable. But be aware of your facial expressions, and dont check your watch or your cell phone during the interview.

Fidgeting Dont touch your face, play with change in your pocket or bite your nails. Fidgeting is a distraction and a sign of anxiety

Your Answers
Listen carefully, seek clarification Illustrate answers with real examples and evidence Be positive constructive criticism Keep answers specific and succinct Think before respond Be alert to interviewers body language Speak clearly, smile and show enthusiasm Know what you want to say, and find the opportunity

Turn weakness into strength

ATTITUDES

The way you think The way your feel The way you behave Eg: An attitude of fear An attitude of humor

Ask for clarification if you dont understand a question; and be thorough in your responses while being concise in your wording.

Use good grammar and good diction. Say yes, not yeah. Dont fill pauses with um, uh or ah. Dont punctuate sentences with you know, like, see or okay.

Be Prepared for Behavior-based Questions


Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do? Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.

Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me about your progress in reaching that goal.
Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it. Tell me about a situation in the past year in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.

Your keys to RESPONDING well to these types of questions are:

Be specific, not general or vague!


Dont describe how you would behave. Describe how you DID behave. If you later decided you should have behaved differently, explain this. The interviewer will see that you learned something from experience.

Your Questions
Training programmes Career development opportunities Types of projects & responsibilities Reporting structure Performance appraisal Profile of staff

Questions about topics raised in interview


What happens next?

OTHER IMPORTANT STRATEGIES

What creates a bad impression


Poor personal appearance

Negative attitude evasive, using excuses


Lack of interest and enthusiasm Lack of preparation Poor knowledge of role Failure to give concrete examples of skills Over emphasis on money/rewards Lack of career plan

Thank-You Letter Example: Date: Name and address of the employer Dear Mr. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss your opening for the position in Marketing. I enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about your organization. I believe my internship with ABC Company and my educational background in Marketing, Business Administration and Science qualify me for the position. My experience in using my marketing, communication, and research skills during my internship would help me get a fast start Marketing Manager with your company. I was very impressed with ABC (name of the company) commitment to giving its customers individualized attention. I feel this is the only way to maintain customer relationships and to build future customer relationships. I look forward to hearing from you by the end of the month. In the interim, please call me if there is any additional information I can provide to help you in your decision. Sincerely,

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