Transcript
Going Live: How to Prepare for Interviews and Presentations in the Business, Government, and Nonprofit Worlds
Andrew Green, PhDUC Berkeley Career Center
• 10 years ago I had a Friday afternoon appointment with a Math PhD who had a Monday interview/with a hedge fund
• Now, negotiation appointments are my favorites
• Never had one with him
Personal Attributes Companies Seek Out
• Flexibility• Communication
Skills• Team Player• Interpersonal Skills• Can Do, Positive
Attitude
• Postdoc hired at Genentech
• Multitasking• Forest Through the
Trees• Customer’s Point of
View• Creative Problem
Solver
• From Toby Freeman
Most PhDs & Postocs• Feel comfortable thinking and talking on
their feet, but
• Have never had a job interview in their life
• An can be wholly unaware that the demands and dynamics of a job interview are very different and require serious preparation
Interviews are:• Rare and precious opportunities
• Much different now than in the past
• The final obstacle standing between you and meaningful, paid employment
• I encourage you to prepare for them as if for a qualifying exam
What does this mean?• Do your homework: The most common
complaint we hear from employers… (HR VP)
• Go back to people you have met through site visits, info interviews and other networking opportunities. They will often see themselves (and act) as your allies.
• If you meet an employer rep at a Career Fair…
I do a lot of Mock Interviews and always start with the same question
• "Tell me about yourself“
• Practice
Kinds of Questions• You and your future plans • Your resume and skills• Case Questions • Behavioral Questions• Feared Questions• Questions for them
You and your future plans• Tell me about yourself?
• Why are you interested in this position?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• Why are you leaving academia?
Your Resume• Tell me about your graduate/postdoc
research
• What level of experience do you having using X or programming in Y
• What steps did you take in solving problem Z? What were your specific contributions/responsibilities?
Case Questions• Consulting questions
• URAP (Brazil)
• How would go about organizing a 2 Day Career Conference for PhDs? What would it look like, and how would you go about finding campus partners?
Behavioral Questions
• Tell me about a time you disagreed with your boss
• Tell me about a time you took the initiative
• Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a colleague
– How do I respond if I’ve never had a problem with my boss or collaborators?
Feared/Illegal Questions• Why did you take so long to finish?
• Why didn’t your PhD yield more publications?
• Is your husband willing to relocate if you are offered this position?
• Why are you leaving academia?
Forewarned is forearmed.
• An interview is not like a qualifying exam
– There is rarely a single correct answer
– A literal interpretation and answer is not helpful to them. Rather what is their concern and how do you best address it
– The goal is to avoid the challenge of formulating your answer to a question at the same time you have to deliver it
– Use their (or common) language to describe your experience (ME)
Strategies for Preparation• Secret weapons:
• Practice and the power of 3
• Prior info interview contacts
Phone/Skype Interviews
• Be prepared (e.g., 15 sec commercial)
• Use shorter, less complex sentences
• Pause to allow them to move on, but be prepared to fill silence
• Stay focused. It’s not a casual conversation
• Test drive your skype set-up (earbuds)
Last Year served on Financial Analyst Interview panel…
• Your goal is simple clarity
• Help them project you into the role
• QUESTIONS?
Presentations• Short and concise• Tell them a story• Framing (NY Times level)• Spiral Approach• General - Specific - General• 7% Rule
Specific Guidelines• Speak Slowly• Make Eye Contact• Visual Learners• Written vs. Spoken Language• Time it Out• The 7% Rule • Don’t provide a handout of your slides in
advance
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