THE JOB INTERVIEW FINDING VOLUNTEER WORK 3 LEARNER S ACTIVITY BOOKLET ENGLISH, LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION PRESECONDARY STEPPING OUT (ENG P105-4)

Transcription

1 ENGLISH, LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION PRESECONDARY STEPPING OUT (ENG P105-4) THE JOB INTERVIEW FINDING VOLUNTEER WORK 3 LEARNER S ACTIVITY BOOKLET ENGLISH MONTREAL SCHOOL BOARD

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3 LEARNER S NAME: DATE: ADULT CENTRE: This LAB was created by Denise Morel and Marisa Campanella on behalf of Cosmo Della Rocca, Director of Adult Education and Vocational Services, EMSB

4 DESCRIPTION 1 Activity 1: Preparing for a Job Interview 2 Looking Back 23 Activity 2: The Job Interview: A Role-Play 24 Looking Back 28 Activity 3: The Post-Interview Thank-You Note 29 Looking Back 32 Appendix 33 (Image credits are listed at the end of this LAB.)

5 THE JOB INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION Finding Volunteer Work, Parts 1, 2, and 3, will help you to develop the skills you need to search and apply for volunteer work, which involves the same skills and steps needed to find any job: ascertaining your personality traits, identifying your skills and experience, defining your interests and goals, conducting a job search in line with your personality, skills and goals, writing a résumé and cover letter, and having an interview. Indeed, the only difference between a volunteer job and any other job is that volunteer work is not paid. However, the steps in the process of looking for work whether paid or unpaid are the same, and hence looking for volunteer work is a good opportunity to practice and refine your job search skills. In addition, if you are unemployed anyway, volunteering is an excellent way to gain valuable work experience, enhance your résumé, and improve your English, so it might be worthwhile to consider the possibility of doing some volunteer work in real life. In Part 1 of Finding Volunteer Work (entitled Who Am I? Finding the Right Fit), you focused on the work you need to do before you actually start applying for a job: identifying your strong personality traits, your skills and your interests, which together make up your personal employment profile. You explored some Volunteers Wanted ads and identified opportunities that matched your unique profile. In Part 2, Applying for Work, you focused on the job application process: once you identified a suitable volunteer opportunity to apply for, you worked on producing a résumé and cover letter to submit to the employer in the hope of gaining an interview. The present LAB, entitled The Job Interview (Part 3 of Finding Volunteer Work) takes you through the process of preparing and practicing for an interview, with respect specifically to the volunteer job you applied for in Part 2. 1 LAB 3: The Job Interview

6 ACTIVITY 1 PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW The interview is the last stage of the job search process. Obtaining an interview promotes you from the status of an applicant to that of a real candidate. As an applicant, you are simply one among many other people who have shown an interest in the job and are applying for it. As a candidate, you have been selected from among all those other people because your résumé and cover letter were interesting to the employer. To be invited to an interview is a good sign: it means that you are being seriously considered for the job. But it doesn t mean that the job is in the bag*; you have to perform well in the interview if you want to be offered the job. So it s very important to be well prepared! *in the bag: Prepositional phrase; idiomatic expression: certain, guaranteed (usually said in the context of a competition or an election to indicate that a successful outcome is almost definitely assured). Step 1: Anticipate the questions you will be asked You may be asking yourself, How is it possible to prepare for an interview when I don t know what questions I will be asked? However, while it is true that you can t predict all the questions you will be asked, you can certainly predict many of them. That s because many job interview questions are generic, that is, they are typically used in any interview, no matter what the job is. If you have any previous experience being interviewed for a job, you are probably familiar with some of the more typical questions. Get together in a small group with two or three of your classmates and brainstorm a list of generic questions that a candidate would likely be asked during an interview. (It would be a good idea if at least one member of your group has had some experience with job interviews.) Try to come up with about 6-10 questions. Write them down on the worksheet provided on the next page. When all the groups have finished brainstorming, share your questions with the whole class. Listen carefully to the questions suggested by other groups. If there are some that you didn t think of, you can add them to your list (additional lines are provided on the worksheet). 2 LAB 3: The Job Interview

7 WORKSHEET 1: JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS LAB 3: The Job Interview

8 Now, watch the video entitled Top 10 Interview Questions (< and write down the questions that the speaker mentions. Compare your own list of questions with the questions mentioned in the video. Are they the same, or are there some questions that you didn t think of? Add any important questions to your list. Note that the same refers to questions that have the same meaning, not necessarily questions that have the same wording. In the exercise below, match each question in Column A with the question in Column B that means the same thing. EXERCISE Column A 1. Why are you interested in this position? Column B a. Where do you see yourself in five years? 2. Describe your work history. b. What makes you a good fit for this organization? 3. What is your greatest strength? c. How do you relate with your supervisors and co-workers? 4. What is your main weakness? d. Do you work well under pressure? 5. Describe a challenge that you faced at work and how you handled it. e. Why do you want this job? 6. Why should we hire you? f. Walk us through your résumé. 7. How do you get along with your colleagues? g. What aspect of your character or skills needs improvement the most? 8. What are your career goals? h. Tell us about jobs you have held. 9. How do you handle stress? i. What do you excel in? 10. Tell us about yourself. j. Tell us how you dealt with a difficult work situation. Of course, there are other interview questions that may be asked. In the appendix at the end of this LAB, you will find a longer list of 20 possible questions. The questions have been grouped into 4 categories. You won t likely be asked 20 questions during an interview, but it is a good idea to be prepared by reflecting on how to respond to them. This is what you will do in the next step. 4 LAB 3: The Job Interview

9 Step 2: Prepare answers to the questions In order to prepare for the interview, you will need to refer to some of the work you completed in the two previous LABs (Finding Volunteer Work, Parts 1 and 2). In particular, you should have the following documents onhand: Your employment profile (at the end of Finding Volunteer Work 1) The description of the job you applied for (Finding Volunteer Work 2, Activity 1, Step 2) Worksheet 1: Matching Qualifications (Finding Volunteer Work 2, Activity 1, Step 2) Your résumé and cover letter (Finding Volunteer Work 2) These documents listed above are useful in preparing answers to interview questions because you have already spent time reflecting on your traits, skills and interests, analyzing the job description, determining how your qualifications match the requirements of the job, and highlighting your pertinent qualifications in your cover letter and résumé. You simply need to select, reorganize and adapt this information to develop appropriate responses to the interview questions. Preparing answers to interview questions does not mean you should write out a detailed answer to every question and then memorize it! It simply means that you should: Reflect on the question: It is important to interpret the question from the point of view of the employer. What kind of information is the employer looking for, in relation to the job you are applying for? Reflect on how you can best answer the question, in relation to the interviewer s expectations. Think of concrete examples from your experience to illustrate your answer. Write down a few notes on your answer. You can make the notes as detailed as you wish; they can be in point form, or in complete sentences. You will need these notes when you begin to practice for the interview, and you can also review them right before the interview. (Of course, you must not refer to your notes during the interview!) On the next few pages, you will find guidelines on how to answer some of these interview questions. Of course, they won t tell you exactly what to say, since your experience, skills and personality traits are unique to you, and so is the position you are applying for. But the guidelines will indicate what kind of information you should highlight and also what kind of information you should avoid talking about (unless you are asked directly). Space is provided after each question for you to write a few notes. 5 LAB 3: The Job Interview

10 GUIDELINES FOR RESPONDING TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS The numbers of the questions below correspond to the numbers of the 20 generic interview questions in the appendix. Some of the questions have been grouped together because they require similar responses. Questions about your background 1. What responsibilities did you have in your previous job(s)? 2. Do you have any relevant volunteer experience? 3. Have you had any specialized training for this type of work? When an employer asks about your past experience (whether volunteer or paid work) or training, it is not just out of curiosity. He or she wants to know if you are able to handle the responsibilities of the new position. So, when you answer, make sure to focus on aspects (responsibilities, tasks, skills developed) of your previous experience that are related to the requirements of the new job and will help you perform more effectively. For example, if you are applying for clerical work, you don t need to mention that you took a hazardous driving course; but if you are being interviewed for a job as a delivery truck driver, then that training would be very pertinent. Notes: 6 LAB 3: The Job Interview

11 4. What is your greatest accomplishment? 5. What challenges did you face in your previous job(s) and how did you handle them? These two questions are similar. Let s begin with the question on accomplishments. What is an accomplishment? It is not a strength or a skill (although of course any accomplishment depends on certain skills and strengths). An accomplishment is something that you have achieved successfully, something notable or difficult that you have succeeded in doing. It is something you have done that you are proud of (e.g. graduating from college, winning a competition, organizing a large celebration, getting a promotion at work, increasing sales for your company, completing an important project at work, etc.). What is your greatest accomplishment? is a difficult question to answer if you are not prepared for it. Either your mind goes blank or else a million ideas spin around in your head but nothing in particular stands out. It is difficult to identify a single event in your life that could be considered your greatest accomplishment. On the other hand, you have accomplished many things in your life that you are proud of everybody has so it s really a matter of choosing which accomplishment to focus on. The main principle that you need to observe is to choose an accomplishment that is related to the position you are applying for. In other words, you have to tailor your answer. It is best to choose an accomplishment that you achieved in your working life rather than in your personal life. However, if you do not have much work experience, you can talk about a personal accomplishment, as long as you relate it in some way to the new position. What is a challenge? A challenge is a difficult task or problem, something that is hard to do or to resolve. An accomplishment always involves a challenge; otherwise it wouldn t be called an accomplishment. When you have handled a complex or difficult challenge, you have accomplished something significant. As with accomplishments, try to choose an example of a challenge that you faced at work, and (of course) one that had a successful outcome as a result of your actions. Otherwise, choose an example from your personal life, but one that is relevant to the new position. You could also talk about what you learned from the experience. Try to demonstrate that you enjoy challenges because they are a good opportunity to learn and to grow. Both of these questions are asking for a story (a narrative), about a particular, concrete event in your work history (or personal life) and what you did to improve the situation. Therefore, you may need to refresh your memory! Whether you are talking about an accomplishment or describing how you handled a challenge, you need to describe: (a) the situation (the context, the circumstnaces); (b) the obstacles or difficulties (i.e. the challenges ) you faced in that situation; (c) the steps (actions) you took to resolve the problem or overcome the obstacles; (d) the results of your actions. (Were you successful? Did you improve the situation?) 7 LAB 3: The Job Interview

12 Notes: 6. Why did you leave your last job? / Why do you want to leave your present job? First of all, notice that the verb here is leave, which is a neutral term: it is neither positive nor negative. It doesn t say why you left. There are three possible reasons why you might leave a job: (a) you quit: this means that it was your decision to leave; (b) you were fired: this means that it was the company s decision that you should leave (because they were not satisfied with your performance); (c) you were laid off: this simply means that there were cutbacks, a budget deficit, or a reorganization of the company; your job was eliminated and your tasks were redistributed to other employees. 8 LAB 3: The Job Interview

13 How you answer this question depends on your situation. (a) If you quit (or are thinking of quitting): Make sure that you put things in a positive light. NEVER, NEVER say anything negative or critical about a former job, former supervisor or former colleague (e.g. the salary wasn t good enough, or my boss was too demanding, or I didn t like the people I had to work with, etc.). Such answers (even though they may be true) could indicate that you have a negative attitude, and furthermore that such an attitude could carry over to the new position. Better answers would be: - There was no opportunity for me to grow and learn new skills; - There was no possibility for advancement; - I am looking for a job with more challenges/responsibilities; - I would like an opportunity to apply my skills and experience in a new area; (b) If you were fired: If the interviewer asks you directly Why were you fired from your last job? you can still give a positive twist to your response, such as: - My skills were not a good match for my employer s needs. (c) If you were laid off: Notes: You can simply be honest and say: - My job was eliminated because of cutbacks. Questions about you: your traits and skills 7. Tell us about yourself. 8. How would a colleague/friend describe you? 9. What is your greatest strength? The first question appears to be very open. However, as with the previous questions, the interviewer is looking for a response that explains how your traits, skills and/or previous experience will help you perform the tasks in the new job. You are not expected to give your life history! Rather, you need to focus on some of your main strengths, especially the ones that would be useful in the new position. 9 LAB 3: The Job Interview

14 You might want to review and expand on the profile section of your résumé, since this question is asking for basically the same type of information. The second question is basically the same, except that it focuses on your traits and skills and asks you to describe yourself as others see you. Be careful not to appear too arrogant or self-assured. You could begin your response with phrases such as, Well, they would probably say that, or I would like to think that they would say. Choose some of your strong traits or skills, particularly those that would be useful in the new position. (You can choose from among the ones you identified in Part 1 of Finding Volunteer Work), The third question (What is your greatest strength?) is similar to the previous two questions, except that you are expected to talk about a single attribute or characteristic that qualifies you for the job, rather than several. Notes: 10 LAB 3: The Job Interview

15 10. What is your greatest weakness? This is a very difficult question, since nobody really wants to highlight his/her weaknesses during an interview, and employers are probably not interested in hearing about them! What the employer really wants to know is: - Do you know yourself? Are you self-aware? - Are you able to admit your weaknesses? - Are you doing something to improve? After some reflection, you can probably identify a few of your weaknesses, but most people would have difficulty identifying their greatest weakness. So, how do you choose which weakness to talk about? Here are some tips: Do not choose a weakness that would demonstrate you cannot do the job For example, if you are applying for a job as a secretary, it would not be a good idea to say that you are bad at spelling; if you are applying for a customer service job, don t say that you have difficulty getting along with people. Choose a weakness that would not seriously interfere with your performance in the new position. Choose a weakness that you can transform into an advantage for the employer Every weakness has a corresponding strength. For example, disorganized people are often highly creative; people who lack flexibility are usually very efficient and wellorganized; people who are introverted tend to be reflective, good thinkers; etc. So you could choose a weakness that is not particularly significant for the new position and then emphasize its corresponding strength. Another way to go about it is to mention weaknesses that are not really weaknesses. For example, When it comes to my own work, I tend to be too much of a perfectionist, or I am a workaholic, and sometimes I even take work home, or I am obsessed with neatness and organization. Of course, trying to be perfect, working hard, and being well organized are strengths, not weaknesses! The problem with these kinds of answers is that they have become overused, and most employers can see right through them. They know you are trying to avoid the hard question. Talk about the strategies you have taken to improve Never leave the impression that your weaknesses are fixed forever and there is nothing you can do about them. That indicates a lack of self-confidence and perseverance. Employers always appreciate workers who demonstrate a willingness to learn and to improve. So talk about what you have done to remedy the weakness. For example: - I have some difficulty managing my time, but I have started to keep a To-Do list and a detailed schedule of deadlines, which I keep on my desk and check on a regular basis. Since then, my time management skills have improved considerably. 11 LAB 3: The Job Interview

16 - My writing skills are weak, so I recently enrolled in a remedial writing course. Now I proofread everything I write very carefully, and also regularly consult a dictionary and a grammar guide. Notes: 11. Do you work well with other people? Even if the job you are applying for involves mostly independent work and doesn t require a lot of communication, it is still important to give a positive answer. Everyone has to interact with colleagues, supervisors or clients from time to time, and employers don t want to hire someone who is difficult to get along with and who might cause conflicts in the workplace. It is not sufficient to simply say, Yes, I enjoy working with others. You must explain and expand on your response. For example: - During group discussions, I always try to listen to everyone s point of view, and try to see if we can reach a common ground. - I enjoy teamwork because different members contribute different perspectives, and the final product is of a higher quality than what each member could produce individually. - I learn a lot from trying out different ways of doing things. - I like to work in teams because I have an opportunity to give and receive immediate feedback. Try to support what you say by giving some examples of how you worked with other people in the past. Think about the different situations in which you worked with others: who did you work with (managers, co-workers, classmates, customers/clients), under what circumstances (e.g. a school project, a sports team, a community group) and what did you accomplish? 12 LAB 3: The Job Interview

17 Notes: 12. Do you work well under pressure? This question probably indicates that the job you are applying for involves working under pressure. Again, you need to give examples of situations (work-related or personal) where you had to accomplish a lot in a short period of time (for example, you could mention how you were able to hold a part-time job, take care of your family and go to school all at the same time). You should also mention that stress does not bother you, or that you have strategies for dealing with stress. You need to demonstrate a positive attitude. For example: - I go to the gym three times a weak and that helps me to deal with the effects of stress. - I find that I work more efficiently and more creatively when I am under pressure. - Being under pressure helps me to focus. - I enjoy working in a stimulating, dynamic environment. - I try to set priorities in my responsibilities. 13 LAB 3: The Job Interview

18 Notes: Questions about the new job and the company 13. Why are you interested in this position? 14. Why are you a good fit for this job? These questions are basically asking for the same type of information. The employer wants to find out what you know about the position you are applying for and whether there is a good match between you (your interests, traits, skills and experience) and the requirements of the job. You have already worked on answering this kind of question in Parts 1 and 2 of Finding Volunteer Work (your employment profile, your analysis of the job description, the worksheet on matching qualifications, and your résumé and cover letter). You can demonstrate that you know something about the job and have taken the time to reflect on the suitability of your qualifications. Take some time to review these documents before preparing an answer. You should choose your best qualifications to talk about, that is, the ones that are the best fit for the job. Be specific and give concrete examples to support your statements. Try to convey your enthusiasm for the job and your confidence that you can handle the responsibilities effectively. 14 LAB 3: The Job Interview

19 Notes: 15. What do you have to offer this organization? / How can you contribute to this organization? 16. Why do you want to work for this company? With these questions, the interviewer is trying to find out if you have done your research. What do you know about the company or organization you are applying to? It is important for you to demonstrate your interest, not only in the specific position you are seeking, but also in the company or organization itself. The best way to go about this is to research the company online. Most organizations these days have a website, and there is usually a section called About us that you can review. Some companies also have a page on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google+ that you can visit. Take notes of the relevant information so that you can review them before the interview. It 15 LAB 3: The Job Interview

20 will create a good impression during the interview if you can show that you know something about the company/organization. The website for the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal is < >. Click on the section entitled Who we are : it will take you to links on their mission, services, history, social media sites, publications, and so on. Think about how your own special skills can contribute to the mission and goals of the organization. Notes: 17. Do you have any questions about the job/company? This question gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the position and the company. If you say no, it will be interpreted as a lack of interest; so it is important to say yes. But don t ask the wrong questions! Your questions should focus your employer s needs, not yours! DO NOT ask questions about the salary or the benefits (e.g. sick days, vacation, overtime pay, lunch and break times, pension plan, etc.). You can ask those questions once you are offered the job, but now is not the time. Ask specific questions that are related to the company and the position you are applying for. 16 LAB 3: The Job Interview

21 The examples below are quite general; you will have to adapt them to your own situation: - What are some of the projects I will be working on initially? - Do you offer any training or professional development opportunities? - What are my opportunities for advancement? - Who will I be working with on a daily basis? - Tell me about a typical day in this job. Notes: Questions about your future plans 18. What are your career goals? 19. Where do you see yourself in five years? 20. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? With these questions, the interviewer is trying to find out if you are ambitious and motivated, if you are capable of planning ahead by setting goals for yourself and developing a career plan, and how this new position fits in with your goals and plans. While it is important to show that you are future-oriented and have a career path that is consistent with the new position, you don t want to leave the impression that you are in a hurry to move on to a better or higher position. The employer is, after all, looking for someone who will be happy in the new position and will continue to fulfill his/her responsibilities for a year or so at least. Therefore, it is important to connect your longterm goals to the position you are applying for by showing how the new position will help you to develop and refine the skills you need to achieve your future goals. 17 LAB 3: The Job Interview

22 Notes: Step 3: Rehearse your answers Once you have decided how you will answer questions in a job interview, it is a good idea to rehearse your answers before the interview. As mentioned earlier, this does not mean that you need to memorize answers to every possible question you might be asked; that would make you sound very unnatural during the interview! But if you review your notes and practice answering some of the questions, you will feel more relaxed and self-confident when it comes time for the actual interview. 18 LAB 3: The Job Interview

23 REHEARSAL TIPS & SUGGESTIONS 1. Rehearse several times. You can refer to your notes during the first couple of rehearsals, but try to do without them as you gain confidence. 2. You can rehearse your answers at home, in front of a mirror. 3. Make a video or audio recording of your rehearsal. Play it back and evaluate your own performance. You can use the evaluation checklist in Activity 2, Step 4 of this LAB. 4. Ask a friend or a member of your family to play the role of interviewer. Give him/her a copy of the interview questions (see the Appendix) and ask him/her to choose a few questions to ask you. After the rehearsal, ask for feedback. Feedback should refer not only to your verbal skills but also to aspects of your behaviour and body language that need improvement. You can give the interviewer a copy of the evaluation checklist (Activity 2, Step 4) if you wish. 5. Practice in class with a partner. This rehearsal with a partner is not the same as the roleplay you will be doing in Activity 2. The role-play will correspond as much as possible to a real-life formal interview, where you may have more than one person interviewing you, you won t know precisely what questions will be asked, you will not be able to refer to your notes, and there will be no interruptions or pauses between questions to allow you to reflect. In other words, the role-play activity will be like a dress rehearsal in the theatre. A dress rehearsal is the final, uninterrupted rehearsal for a live performance, using all the costumes, scenery, music and lighting that will be used in the real performance. In the present rehearsal activity, unlike in the role-play, you may refer to your notes, but you shouldn t read them out loud, word-for-word! After you answer a question, ask for immediate feedback from your partner. When your rehearsal is finished, you can switch roles so that you will be the interviewer and give feedback to your partner. 19 LAB 3: The Job Interview

24 Step 4: Find out about job interview etiquette Preparing answers to possible questions is not the only thing you need to pay attention to before a job interview. You also need to know about job interview etiquette. Job interview etiquette is about how you should behave at a job interview; it is a kind of code of behaviour, with do s and don ts. There are a number of social conventions associated with job interviews. Some of them are very important, and failing to observe them could cost you the job! Can you think of any? Watch the video entitled Job Interviews: Good & Bad (< >). The first half is an example of a bad interview, and the second half is an example of a good one. Can you identify some of the things the first candidate does wrong? Write them down on the list provided below. TIP: You can replay the first half of the video a second time; you can also compare the behaviour of the two candidates to determine the differences between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in a job interview. THINGS THE FIRST CANDIDATE DOES WRONG Can you think of any other kinds of behaviour that are important (either to do or to avoid doing) at an interview? Now, compare and discuss your own ideas with the 9 rules of interview etiquette on the next two pages. 20 LAB 3: The Job Interview

25 JOB INTERVIEW ETIQUETTE 1. DRESS APPROPRIATELY! The interview is where your employer will meet you in-person for the first time, so it is important to create a good first impression. Part of this first impression will be based on how you look and dress, so it is important to dress appropriately. If you are being interviewed for a professional position, dress in business attire (e.g. a suit, shirt and tie; skirt/pants and jacket); if you are applying for a job in a more casual environment (e.g. a fast-food restaurant), you can wear more casual clothes, but it is still important to look neat and well-groomed; never wear jeans and a t-shirt, for example. 2. DON T BE LATE! It is unacceptable to show up for an interview late. Make sure you know the location of the interview and how long it will take you to get there. Give yourself an extra minutes in case something unexpected occurs. 3. BRING YOUR LIST OF REFERENCES AND EXTRA COPIES OF YOUR RÉSUMÉ! Remember, you created a list of references in Part 2 of Finding Volunteer Work (see the section on references in the Guidelines for Writing Your Résumé ). And although the employer has an electronic version of your résumé, it is important to bring a few hard copies with you in case the interviewers ask for them. 4. DON T BRING ANY FOOD OR BEVERAGES TO THE INTERVIEW! You can accept water if you are offered, but don t come into the room with a cup of coffee in your hand. And, never, never chew gum! 5. GREET AND ADDRESS YOUR INTERVIEWERS POLITELY! When you first enter the interview room, shake hands with the interviewer(s) and introduce yourself (using your full name). Remember their names (especially their surnames) when you exchange introductions. If you address them by name during the interview, use formal titles of respect (Mr./Ms. + surname), never their first names. 21 LAB 3: The Job Interview

26 6. TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE! If your cell phone rings during the interview, it is considered an interruption and shows a lack of respect for the interviewer (even if you don t answer it). Turn it off! 7. WATCH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE! - Use a firm handshake when greeting the interviewer(s). - Wait to be invited to sit down before you take a chair. - If you are already seated when the interviewer walks into the room, stand up. - Make eye contact with the interviewers during the interview. - Sit up straight in your chair; don t slouch or lean back with your legs outstretched. - Remember to smile from time to time; smiling makes you appear confident and conveys that you are someone who gets along well with others. - Don t sit with your arms folded across your chest; it makes you appear closed and unfriendly. - Avoid fidgeting (e.g., drumming your fingers on the table, rubbing your neck, playing with your hair, crossing your legs and swinging your foot, etc.). Such gestures suggest that you are nervous. 8. THANK THE INTERVIEWERS AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW! At the end of the interview, shake hands with the interviewers and thank them for their time and for giving you the opportunity to meet them. You may also ask them about follow-up procedures: when they expect to make their decision and how they will notify you. 9. SEND A THANK-YOU NOTE AFTER THE INTERVIEW! This leaves a strong and positive impression. (See Activity 3 in this LAB.) 22 LAB 3: The Job Interview

27 LOOKING BACK Think back about what you have learned from doing the first activity in this LAB. For each of the following statements, indicate whether it is true for you (T) or whether you need to review the material (R). My Learning T R I understand the importance of being prepared for a job interview. I can anticipate some of the questions I will be asked at a job interview. I can identify questions that share the same meaning even though they are expressed in different words. I can prepare answers to interview questions by following a set of guidelines. I understand the difference between quitting, being fired and being laid off. I know which topics are inappropriate to mention during a job interview. I can use several methods to rehearse for a job interview. I can identify some important conventions (do s and don ts) of job interview etiquette. I can give feedback to a partner during or after his/her rehearsal. For areas that need to be reviewed, you can re-read the material, ask a classmate for help or speak to the teacher if there is something you don t understand. 23 LAB 3: The Job Interview

28 Introduction ACTIVITY 2 THE JOB INTERVIEW: A ROLE-PLAY In this activity, you will work in small groups (3-4 members) to role-play your interviews. One person will play the candidate and the others will be the interviewers. When one interview is finished, another person will be the candidate and the others will be the interviewers. You will repeat this process until all the members of your group have been interviewed. Review the steps of this activity before you begin. Remember, you will be playing the role of both candidate and interviewer at different times of the activity, so you need to be clear about both roles. Step 1: Assemble the necessary documentation Make enough copies (2 or 3) of the following documents and distribute them to each of your interviewers: - Copies of the job description for the position you are applying for - Copies of your résumé and cover letter Step 2: Select the interview questions Interviewers Candidate Before each interview, the interviewers should get together to review the job description and the candidate s résumé and cover letter. Analyze the job description to determine the important qualifications required. Read the candidate s cover letter and résumé and compare them with the job description. Does the candidate appear to have the necessary qualifications? On the basis of the information in the job description, résumé and cover letter, choose the questions you will ask the candidate. (You can choose from the list of generic questions in the Appendix.) You should also add a couple of questions that are related specifically to the job and the candidate s qualifications. While the interviewers are reading over your documents and preparing questions to ask you at your interview, you can use the time to: review your notes one last time; review the evaluation checklist (Step 4) to see the criteria that will be used to evaluate your performance; review their documents and think of questions you will ask them when you change roles and become an interviewer. 24 LAB 3: The Job Interview

29 Step 3: Conduct the interviews Each interview should take about 20 minutes. Interviewers Greet the candidate, introduce yourselves, shake his/her hand, and invite him/her to sit down. Ask the questions you have chosen. However, you don t need to stick rigidly to just those questions; you also need to act spontaneously. Perhaps the candidate will say something that makes you want to pursue a different line or ask a different question. You should feel free to do so. Take notes during the interview. You will need to refer to them when it comes time to give feedback to the candidate. Candidates As this role-play is like a dress rehearsal, you should behave exactly as you would at a real interview. Come to class dressed for the interview. Introduce yourself to the interviewers, address them appropriately (using Mr. or Ms. plus their last names), shake their hands, and wait to be invited to sit down. Answer the questions as they are asked. If you are not sure what is being asked, ask the interviewer politely to repeat the question. Pay attention to your body language during the interview. Thank the interviewers at the end. Step 4: Evaluate the candidate s performance After each interview, the interviewers should get together to discuss and evaluate the candidate s performance, using the checklist provided on the next page. Step 5: Give feedback to the candidate Share and discuss your written evaluations with the candidates you have interviewed. Try to give some concrete examples of strengths and weaknesses. What areas need improvement? Do you have any suggestions on how the candidate could improve his/her interview skills? 25 LAB 3: The Job Interview

30 JOB INTERVIEW EVALUATION CHECKLIST Use the following checklist to evaluate your own or a classmate s performance during an interview. Give examples to support your evaluation. Criteria Very well Adequately Needs improvement (explain) 1. Clarity Did the candidate speak clearly (loudly enough, good pronunciation, not too rapidly), so that the interviewer(s) could easily understand what was being said? 2. Comprehensiveness Were the candidate s answers complete, that is, did he/she answer all parts of a question? 3. Presence of examples Did the candidate provide concrete examples of skills, accomplishments and experience to support his/her answers? 4. Pertinence Were the candidate s answers pertinent to the question? That is, did the candidate stick to the subject or did he/she tend to wander off-topic? 26 LAB 3: The Job Interview

31 Criteria Very well Adequately Needs improvement (explain) 5. Organization Were the answers well organized, that is, did they start at the beginning and end at the end (e.g. when describing past experience)? 6. Appropriateness Was the choice of questions that the candidate asked the employer appropriate, i.e. did they demonstrate the candidate s interest in the position/company? 7. Level of formality Was the language polite, at an appropriate level of formality, free of jargon or slang? 8. Non-verbal communication Did the candidate s body language (eye contact, posture, facial expression, gestures) convey interest, engagement, confidence and respect (as opposed to appearing nervous, distracted, insecure or uninterested)? 27 LAB 3: The Job Interview

32 LOOKING BACK Think back about what you have learned from doing the second activity in this LAB. For each of the following statements, indicate whether it is true for you (T) or whether you need to review the material (R). My Learning T R I can greet my interviewer(s) politely, introduce myself, and use appropriate forms of address during the interview. When responding to questions during an interview, I can tailor my answers to the job I am applying for. I can give concrete examples of my skills, experience, and accomplishments to support my answers. When asked about my weaknesses or challenges that I have faced, I can present them in a positive light. When asked if I have any questions, I can respond in a way that shows my interest in the position and the organization rather than in the salary and benefits I might gain. I can talk about my future plans and career goals by relating them to the position I am applying for. I can use appropriate body language to convey interest, selfconfidence and respect. In the role of interviewer, I can choose appropriate questions to ask the candidate, based on information in a job description, résumé and cover letter. I can assess my own performance after an interview and give feedback to others on their performance, using an evaluation checklist. For areas that need to be reviewed, you can re-read the material, ask a classmate for help or speak to the teacher if there is something you don t understand. 28 LAB 3: The Job Interview

33 ACTIVITY 3 THE POST-INTERVIEW THANK-YOU NOTE As soon as possible after your interview (i.e. the same day), you should send a brief thank-you note to the interviewer(s) (or the interview committee) to thank them for their time and consideration. A handwritten note inside a small thank you card, sent by regular post, is considered the best approach, unless the employer will be making the final decision in the next 24 hours. In that case, you should send an thank you message (i.e. not as an attachment, but as the body of your ). Your message should express the following: a. your gratitude for the interview b. your conviction that you are an ideal match for the position c. your hope to receive a positive response in the near future Remember, you are writing a formal thank-you note, so you will need to use formal language to express those three points. On the next page, there are a few examples of formal thank-you notes that you can use as models and adapt to your own situation. Pay attention to the different ways the writers use to express each of the three points above. Expressions of Examples a. Gratitude Thank you for Thank you so much for My sincere thanks for I truly appreciate b. Conviction I strongly believe that I am further convinced that I am confident that I firmly believe that c. Hope/Anticipation I look forward to hearing from you soon / in the near future. I hope to hear from you soon / in the near future. 29 LAB 3: The Job Interview

34 SAMPLE FORMAL THANK-YOU NOTES Example 1 Example 2 Dear Mr./Ms., Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my potential role as [title of position] in your company. I strongly believe that my skills in and would make a significant contribution to your team/department. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] Dear Mr./Ms., Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me this afternoon regarding the opportunity as a [title of position] with your organization. After our discussion, I am further convinced that my skills and experience would be a valuable asset to your team/department. I am extremely interested in this opportunity and hope to hear from you soon. Best regards, [Your Full Name] Example 3 Example 4 Dear Mr./Ms., My sincere thanks for meeting with me this afternoon to discuss the position of [title of position] that you are seeking to fill. I am confident that my skills and experience make me a good match for this position and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the success of your company. I hope to hear from you in the near future. Yours truly, [Your Full Name] Dear Mr./Ms., I truly appreciate the time you took from your busy schedule to interview me and talk about the [title of position] position in your company/organization. After learning more about this opportunity, I firmly believe that I have the relevant skills to succeed in the position and make a positive contribution to the organization. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Very truly yours, [Your Full Name] 30 LAB 3: The Job Interview

35 Use the examples on the previous page as models to create your own, personalized thank-you note. Write a draft of your thank you note in the space provided below. Then share it with the two classmates who interviewed you (Activity 2) and ask them for their feedback. My Sample Thank-You Note Review your note and correct any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. (Remember, this is a formal business document. It must be error-free!) Then share it with the two classmates who interviewed you (Activity 2) and ask them for their feedback. 31 LAB 3: The Job Interview

36 LOOKING BACK Think back about what you have learned from doing the third activity in this LAB. For each of the following statements, indicate whether it is true for you (T) or whether you need to review the material (R). My Learning T R I know what content should be included in a post-interview thank-you note. I can use formal expressions when composing a short thank-you note. I can choose different ways to express gratitude, conviction and hope in a formal context. I can adapt models of thank-you notes to suit my own situation. I can use resources (e.g. classmates, dictionaries, grammar books, etc.) to revise my note and to give feedback to others on their notes. For areas that need to be reviewed, you can re-read the material, ask a classmate for help or speak to the teacher if there is something you don t understand. 32 LAB 3: The Job Interview

37 APPENDIX 20 GENERIC INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Questions about your background (experience and training/education) 1. What responsibilities did you have at your previous job(s)? 2. Do you have any relevant volunteer experience? 3. Have you had any specialized training for this type of work? 4. What is your greatest accomplishment? 5. What challenges did you face in your previous job(s) and how did you handle them? 6. Why did you leave your last job? / Why do you want to leave your present job? 7. Tell us about yourself. Questions about you: your traits and skills 8. How would a colleague/friend describe you? 9. What is your greatest strength? 10. What is your greatest weakness? 11. Do you work well with other people? 12. Do you work well under pressure? Questions related to the job you are applying for 13. Why are you interested in this position? 14. Why are you a good fit for this job? 15. What do you have to offer this organization? / How can you contribute to this organization? 16. Why do you want to work for this company? 17. Do you have any questions about the job/company? 18. What are your career goals? Questions related to your future plans 19. Where do you see yourself in five years? 20. What do you hope to gain from your volunteer experience? 33 LAB 3: The Job Interview

38 IMAGE CREDITS All the images used in this LAB respect copyright laws be it though a Creative Commons attribution license or according to the terms and conditions specified by their respective sources. PAGE IMAGE SOURCE Cover Circled date on calendar Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / iqoncept 1 You re Hired Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / chrisdorney 2 Prepare Note 4, 20 Video icon Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / faysal 6 Job interview questions & answers card Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / Gorang 18 Candidate practicing in mirror Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / Ostil 19 Interview practice methods Clikr: Webcam by Art; microphone: by OCAL Interview group: Credit / Attribution - Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / Juliesl 21 Dress appropriately Don t be late Extra documents No food or beverages Friendly greeting Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / youichi Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / Imabase Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / Shakzu Credit / Attribution - Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / grgroup Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / photography33 22 No cell phone Don t slouch Say thank you Send Thank-you note Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / ekostsov Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / yurolaitsalbert Credit / Attribution Print Can Stock Photo Inc. / julydfg 25 Practice interview 34 LAB 3: The Job Interview