I N T E R V I E W I N G W O R K S H O P. Katy Arenschield, ECS

Transcription

1 I N T E R V I E W I N G W O R K S H O P Katy Arenschield, ECS

2 Interview Objectives Your goals: Convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the job Decide if the company/position is a good fit for you Employer goals: Hire the most qualified and motivated candidate Present the company/position positively

3 Know Your Career Goals & Interests Common Pitfall: Not aligning interests with the job Why did you select engineering? More specifically, your major? What areas within your field do you want to pursue? What do you see yourself doing in five years?

4 Know Your Career Goals & Interests Be prepared to discuss every item on your resume without reading Be able to provide additional details regarding resume items Be ready to discuss the less appealing aspects as well Common Pitfall: Be ready to discuss your GPA. Employers are likely to ask about it, so be able to state why it is where it is and how you are improving if improvement is needed.

5 Know Your Value Know Your Value Demonstrating your value means elaborating on your strengths and what you can contribute to the organization. Know the strengths and abilities that you possess Back up your statements with specific examples I m a great leader. I ve developed strong leadership skills through my role as president of Kappa Theta Epsilon, the co-op/intern honorary, where I led 45 student members in academic and professional development.

6 Research the Company / Job What are their products/services? Locations? How does the company describe itself in the careers section? In the sections for customers & investors? What are the company mission, vision, and values? Thoroughly review the job description! The key to a successful interview is not just showing how much you know, but how you fit within the position and company of interest.

7 Finding Company Information CareerEngine Company descriptions and job postings Company Website: Look for headings like About, Careers and News Glassdoor: Company descriptions, employee reviews, and past interview questions

8 Types of Interviews On-campus interview over 80% occur in the Autumn semester If you no-show, CareerEngine account and all services blocked until apology issued to company Phone interview Prepare as you would for a face-face interview Active listening (with OK or Sounds good! ) On-line interview Pay attention to your environment; Eye contact is important; Appearance and attire matter; be prepared for technical difficulties On-site interview Typically more in-depth interview, where you visit company s facility for multiple interviews, meetings, meals, etc.

9 Interview Conventions Be prepared Arrive early-aim to be 15 minutes early Follow pre-interview instructions Bring extra resumes, your questions, unofficial transcript, references, work samples

10 Interview Conventions Non-verbal communication Watch your handshake, body language, posture, eye contact, attitude Try to control nervous habits Attire/grooming/hygiene Verbal communication Avoid slang & filler um like words Watch your language! Be courteous/polite to everyone you meet

11 Business Attire Business Attire is a suit for a man and a trouser or skirt suit for a woman. Business Attire is the standard for interviewing, unless the company tells you otherwise.

12 Business Casual Business Casual includes dress pants and a shirt with a collar for men, or dress pants/knee length skirt and a blouse for women. Info sessions and plant tours are examples of events where Business Casual could be acceptable attire.

13 Business Casual Business Casual includes dress pants and a shirt with a collar for men, or dress pants/knee length skirt and a blouse for women. Info sessions and plant tours are examples of events where Business Casual could be acceptable attire.

14 Interview Format Check-in Introductions Small talk/ice breaker They ask you questions (standard, behavioral, technical) You ask them questions Closing Follow-up

15 The Waiting Game Make sure someone knows you re there for an interview check your name off the interview schedule; notify front desk, receptionist, and/or greeter. Common Pitfall: Missing the greeter. Greeters are representatives of the company who typically sit in the lobby and talk with candidates about the job, company, work environment, training, etc. You should approach them, as they will likely have input on hiring and can give you information that can help you with strategic answers. Before the interview, hang up your coat, stash your book bag, turn off your cell phone, and review your materials.

16 Standard Questions These might seem so simple that you don t need to prepare, but your answer to each should be polished and sharp. Craft responses and practice them before your interview so that you convey confidence while interviewing. Take time to think through an answer before speaking. Most students are afraid of silence, and start answering poorly, but then have a hard time correcting it. Recruiter from National Instruments

17 Tell me about yourself. How to answer How NOT to answer A brief answer (1-2 minute) focusing on relevant information Emphasize professional and academic experience Name of hospital where you were born (not your life story) Negative attributes or depressing information Irrelevant information

18 What are your strengths? How to answer How NOT to answer Identify 3-5 strengths that are relevant to the job/company Provide an example of how you acquired / demonstrated these skills List out every single skill/ qualification that you can imagine Statements without evidence I m a good leader Irrelevant strengths I am in one of the top levels in Candy Crush!

19 What is your greatest weakness? How to answer How NOT to answer Identify a legitimate weakness Specify steps you are taking to improve Pinpoint any progress you have made Cheesy answers Perfectionist Damaging answers Lazy

20 Standard Question Answer Example Describe a weakness that you have. I have difficulty delegating work to others. This year, during my senior capstone project, I was forced to trust others to get the job done due to time constraints and pending deadlines. Our group decided the best way to accomplish our goals was to assign specific tasks to various members. Not only did everyone complete the tasks they were assigned, but it also gave me the positive experience of being able to rely on my team to get things done and not feel like I have to carry the entire load.

21 Behavioral Questions These questions are asked about your past behaviors to predict how you will perform in future situations should you face a similar circumstance. Clues to identifying behavioral questions Tell me about a time Can you give me an example of when Describe a situation when

22 Structure of Behavioral Questions Use the STAR model to formulate your answers s s S T A R Situation Task Action Result SPECIFIC examples are key Quantify if possible: increased membership by 25% Quote: my supervisor told me Pinpoint changes/improvements resulting from your actions

23 Example of Using STAR Describe a work or school project that challenged your technical skills. Specific Situation/Task: At my internship last summer, my database skills were put to the test when I was assigned with modifying their existing database to transform all paper data entries into computer-based input entries. Action: I had never been faced with such an assignment, so before I started, I first did some research on their current database and assessed what changes I would need to make to upgrade it. I ran this past my boss, and with her approval, I used outside resources to code samples similar to what I was trying to do. After I gained enough knowledge, I worked on integrating my changes into their database system. Results: As a result, I was able to successfully computerize all of their manual data entry sheets & document how to update the database with new sheets in the future. My supervisor thanked me for completing the task thoroughly and before the deadline. I got an outstanding performance evaluation.

24 Behavioral Questions Another STAR Example Tell me about a leadership responsibility you ve had. Specific situation/task: Last year I was program chair of my professional organization. My responsibilities as program chair were to identify speakers, invite them to campus, host them while they were here, introduce them at the meetings, and, of course, stay during their talks. I realized that this was a good opportunity to learn more about career fields and even specific companies that interested me. Action: So I came up with a list of potential speakers by talking with friends who had co-oped at companies that interested me, getting business cards of alumni recruiters at the career fair, and talking with some people in career services. When I presented my list to the other officers, they really liked it, so I went ahead with the invitations. Results: Despite a few scheduling problems, at the year s end we had completed 6 successful meetings with 30 to 50 members each, which was a big improvement over the previous year (4 meetings and attending each). The bonus for me was learning more about my career interests and making some great contacts.

25 Practice the STAR Method In your handbook (pg. 29) or on a sheet of paper, take a minute to write out your answer to the following question: Give an example of a time when you had difficulty working with another person in your team. After writing your answer, pair up with someone and practice talking through it

26 Do you have any questions for us? Information-Gathering Questions Research-Based Questions Information to help you decide on Prove to the employer that you the job What would you like to know about: The job The company Career potential have done your research Ask about recent and relevant developments in the industry or company

27 Common Questions to Ask Can you walk me through a typical day? What training is available? What types of technology will I be using? How often will I get formal performance feedback? Can you describe the company culture? Does this company support continuing education & training for its employees? How? What do you personally like about working for this company? What are your expectations for a new hire?

28 End Interviews on a Positive Note Thank you. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about Briefly recap why you re interested Ask about next steps in the hiring process Ask about timing Ask for a business card from all interviewers

29 Follow Up Why: Employers assume that candidates who care will express their appreciation for the opportunity to interview. When and How: Send a professional follow-up or card within 48 hours of the interview.

30 . Thank You Sample Dr. Hayes Thank you for your time, Dr. Hayes Dear Dr. Hayes, I want to thank you for interviewing me yesterday for the project engineering co-op position with Brutus Design Systems, Inc. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the company, especially your new research initiatives. My enthusiasm for this position only grew after meeting you and the rest of the design team. As someone experienced with AutoCAD design, I am extremely interested in everything Brutus has to offer. I have a strong interest in your industry and I am sure my skills and past experience would allow me to be a productive member of your engineering team in the project engineer co-op position. I am very excited about the possibility of joining your team and working with Brutus as a project engineer. Feel free to contact me at or msmith@yahoo.comif you have any further questions. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Pat Buckeye

31 Any Remaining Questions?