Successful Interviewing Skills

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2 Successful Interviewing Skills Internships, co-ops, and participation in student activities of any kind are crucial to developing answers to behavioral questions. Try to get internship experience early on, since it demonstrates your desire to learn. Volunteer work/community involvement is also good.

3 How to Prepare for an Interview What is the best way to prepare for an interview? Research! There is no excuse for not visiting a website before the interview. Employers most frequent complaint is about individuals who have a vague and inaccurate idea of what the company actually does.

4 Benefits of Research Learn as much as possible about a potential employer so that you can present yourself in terms of what the company is looking for. Research will help you determine if the company is a good fit for you. Research will be apparent during the interview and will demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm to the employer.

5 How to Research Employers Things to know about a company Public or privately held? Local, regional, or international? Year founded? Basic philosophy? Growth patterns, number of locations? Size, number of employees, sales, assets, and earnings? Services, products, or projects? Career path, training, and development programs? Industry trends and competition?

6 Types of Interviews There are three types of interview questions. Traditional Behavioral Case

7 Types of Interviews Traditional interview questions often focus on strengths, weaknesses, values, and experiences. The Behavioral interview focuses on what you have done in the past. The interviewer will question and probe for specific examples of past behavior. Past behavior is seen as a predictor of future performance.

8 Types of Interviews If you are interviewing for a technical or consulting position, you may encounter a third type of interview, the Case Interview. In a case interview, the employer will describe a situation, project or issue and ask the candidate to solve the problem or to complete the task.

9 Types of Interviews Some employers will combine question types, using traditional, behavioral, and case interview techniques. In a technical interview, case and behavioral questions are common.

10 Preparing for Interviews For Traditional interviews, review common interview questions. Review your resume and be able to talk about your qualifications. Traditional interview questions typically focus on the candidate s qualifications, values, interests, and future plans.

11 Preparing for Interviews How to prepare for a Behavioral interview: Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors or actions. Focus on coursework, intern and work experience, leadership, teamwork, planning, and problem solving. Prepare short descriptions of each situation focusing on the desired competency as well as the technical skills you used.

12 Preparing for Interviews Use the STAR Acronym (Behavioral). Be ready to describe the Situation, the Task, your Action, and the Result (STAR). Be honest. Don t embellish or omit any part of the story. Be specific. Don t generalize about several events; give a detailed accounting of one event.

13 Preparing for Traditional, Behavioral, and Case Interviews How to prepare for a Case interview: Review problem-solving strategies and polish your organizational, technical, and management skills. Be prepared to apply your knowledge to a given scenario.

14 Dress Professionally Recruiters expect candidates to be dressed in standard business attire.

15 Professional Dress for Women Invest in a solid color or muted pattern suit in conservative colors such as navy, gray or black. Avoid trendy clothing during interviews, but make sure that your clothes are in style. The suit should have a skirt of a conservative length that matches the jacket. Keep in mind that pantsuits are not recommended for women when interviewing in a very formal or conservative environment.

16 Professional Dress for Women Choose conservative mid heel shoes with closed toes. Wear shoes that are well maintained. Don t overdo jewelry, makeup, and perfume. Keep rings to a minimum of one on each hand and avoid jingly bracelets. Small Jewelry is recommended. Your hair should be neat and clean and worn in a professional style.

17 Professional Dress for Men Traditional business attire means a dark two piece suit. A long sleeved white shirt is the best choice. Never wear short sleeves in a business setting. Ties should be silk and should coordinate with the suit and shirt. Make sure tie is the current width and style. Shoes should be well-polished and coordinate with the suit. Lace up dress shoes are best.

18 Professional Dress for Men Button your jacket when you stand. Be sure to wear socks that cover your calves. Socks should be either the color of your shoe or the color of your trousers. Always wear an undershirt under your dress shirt. Always wear a two-piece suit for an interview, never a sports coat and slacks.

19 Professional Dress for Everyone If you have piercings or tattoos, conceal them. Men should remove earrings prior to interviews. Women should avoid multiple earrings in each ear. Even if the company has a business casual policy, you should wear business professional attire (suits) for the interview. If you are unsure what to wear, call the recruiter to find out.

20 What to Bring to the Interview Extra copy of resume and reference list. College transcripts. A good quality writing instrument. A nice leather portfolio for your materials.

21 Some Interviewing Do s Greet the Employer with a firm handshake and a friendly demeanor. Be aware of non-verbal communication: Eye Contact Facial Expressions Posture Handshake Verbalized Pauses/Speech Patterns Lack of Enthusiasm

22 Some Interviewing Do s Practice in Advance of the Interview Be Prompt Act like a Professional Express Yourself Clearly Be Honest Be Assertive Follow Up when Appropriate

23 Some Interviewing Do s Employers like to hear direct answers to their interview questions. Know your resume. Employers begin interviews by confirming details from the candidates resume. Next, they ask students about their experiences. Be able to give specific examples.

24 Some Interviewing Do s Emphasize the positive aspects of your qualifications. Be prepared to discuss negative aspects in a positive manner. Be clear and focused. Ask questions when given the opportunity.

25 Some Interviewing Don ts Don t blame poor performance on past employers, workplaces, bosses, or coworkers. Don t show bad posture; don t slouch, tap your feet, put your feet up, or constantly look away from the interviewer. Don t fail to ask the employer questions.

26 Some Interviewing Don ts Don t ask about salary during the first interview. Don t let nervousness affect your actions. Don t go on too long with answers to questions. Be aware of how the interviewer is responding to what you are saying.

27 Some Interviewing Don ts Don t fail to answer the questions you are asked. Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question. Don t minimize yourself, your qualifications, or your experience. If you say you were just a student worker, that is how the employer will perceive you.

28 Concluding an Interview Give a brief summary of why you are interested in the position. Highlight your skills and strengths. Express direct interest in the position! Determine the employer s timetable. As you shake hands at the end of the interview: Make eye contact; Thank the person for the interview; State that you hope to have a second interview with the company.

29 Concluding an Interview Ask for a business card. Write a thank-you note within 24 hours. Typed Letter Professional Hand Written Note

30 After the Interview Assess your performance. How did it go? How could you do better, or what would you do differently? Follow up on the interview after appropriate time frame stated by the interviewer. If you need help with your interview skills, contact Career and Employment Services.