Interview Presentation 2 2013

Successful InterviewsKatie Hearn Zang

UW Career Counselor

Please Sign In 134 Mary Gates Hall(206) [email protected]

Successful Interviewing

Who would like to have an interview for your dream job right now?

Good Experiences in your programGood Experience Definition:

SOMETHING: You feel you did well You enjoyed doing You feel proud of

The Silent QuestionHow are you valuable to

me/organization?

is the one question behind all questions that employers ask.

PresenterPresentation NotesWays to Show Value & Make an Impression: Know your strengths and how you can contributeBe able to write & talk about your strengthsResearch the organizationUnderstand the position and how you matchLearn to answer different types of questions Practice your interviewing skillsFollow-up with a thank you note

YOUR VALUE

YOUR VALUE = your strengths, skills, talents

Your educationYour experiences

YOUR VALUE

Clarity about YOUR value enables you to answer the silent question:

HOW ARE YOU VALUABLE TO ME/ORGANIZATION?

Employers Perspective

20% of interviewees clearly state their value

80% do not This puts employers in position of

having to guess

Do You Know Your Strengths? If not, spend some time getting clear about them

Complete the Explore Your Strengths exercise in the Career Guide (pp. 5 8)

Employers Perspective

Employers want to know:

Can you do a great job?

Are you a good fit for our organization?

Will you be a good colleague?

Preparing for the Interview

Study the job description and organization Know what specifically makes you a good fit

for the position Focus on both hard and soft skills you bring

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Preparing for the Interview

Anticipate questions Identify examples of using

skills/strengths- Use S.T.A.R. method

The STAR MethodS = Situation

The context (project, paper, research, event, position)

T = Task(s)The goals/objectives (what you were supposed to do)

A = ActionHow you went about achieving those tasks/goals (in detail!)What was most difficult and how you addressed itWhat was exciting/fun!

R = ResultsThe outcomes (tangible & intangible)If result wasnt entirely positive, say what you learned or would do differently next time

Preparing for the InterviewCONTACT YOUR REFERENCES!

And give them:

Job DescriptionResume/Cover LetterBrag sheet

Preparing for the InterviewThe all important question:

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Know the dress code and bring it up 1-2 notches

Preparing for the InterviewQuestions to ask prior to interview:

Who is interviewing you? Where is the interview? How long should you expect to be there?

Types of Interviews Initial screening Telephone On-Site Interview-most common

1:1 Interview Group Interview: multiple interviewers

On-Site Interview-less common Group Interview: multiple interviewees Presentation Simulations/Role-playing

PresenterPresentation NotesInitial Screening interview: A short session during which the employer is trying to narrow down the field of applicants who meet the job qualifications. Screening interviews may be conducted either over the telephone or in-person with one person or several. The objective is to narrow the field down to fewer candidates who become finalists for the position. Follow-up interview: Follow-up interviews are almost always conducted in person and can last from an hour to one or two days. They can involve either a single interview or a series of sequential interviews with individuals and groups. Occasionally a presentation, meals, and/ or social events are included depending on the nature of the job. There are multiple objectives to these follow-up interviews: to further evaluate candidates' match with the position, to choose among the top candidates, and to "sell" the workplace and position to the candidates. Telephone interview: An advantage to being interviewed over the phone is that you can easily refer to notes that remind you of key points to include. A disadvantage is that you will not be able to receive or convey non-verbal cues. It is important to speak clearly and more slowly than you might in person. Don't be shy about asking the interviewer to repeat something you are not sure you heard or understood. Show your level of interest by what you say, e.g. "I'm excited to be considered for this position", and by the inflection in your voice. One-on-one interview: One person interviews the candidate and makes the hiring decision. These interviews can range from being very informal and conversational to being more formal and structured. Follow the lead of the interviewer, but keep in mind, no matter how informal, that this is a conversation with an agenda. Project positive enthusiasm, maintain good eye contact and be professional. Panel interview: If you are being interviewed by a group of people, remember to make eye contact with all of your interviewers. Connect first with the person who asked you the question and then glance at the others in the room to gauge their responses and interest, finally, re-connect with the person who initially asked you the question. Try to link your answers to others that were asked and get the interviewers to talk among themselves. Make sure you get the names and roles of all of those who participated in the interview.

During the Interview:The handshake: firm, but not crushing

Demeanor: friendly, smile, eye contact Enthusiastic/interested

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During the Interview:Expect:

Nerves Surprise questions

During the Interview: Types of QuestionsCommon IntroductoryBehavior-Based Situational UnexpectedNegative

__________________________

Questions to ask the employer

Common Introductory QuestionsOpen-ended at the beginning of an interview

Tell me a little about yourself What do you know about our org. / company? Why are you interested in this position?

Behavior-Based QuestionsPast actions predict future behavior

Tell me about a time you used your problem-solving skills. Give an example of when you experienced an unexpected problem. Tell me about a time that demonstrated your ability to work well on a team. Give an example of your leadership abilities. Describe a time you when you had to work with someone you didnt like.

Use STAR method, be specific and offer details

Situational QuestionsEmployer describes a hypothetical situation you may encounter

What would you do if the priorities on a project you were working on changed suddenly? You are leading a project, a team member isnt contributing, how will you deal with this? You don't have the information you need to prioritize your projects. Your co-workers and

supervisor are unavailable for you to ask for assistance. How do you handle the situation?

Relate your answer to a real situation Use best judgment if no experience with the situation Its ok to ask for time to think

Unexpected QuestionsQuestions you didnt anticipate being asked, which often surprise you

What is the last book youve read and would you recommend it? What are your salary expectations and when can you start? If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be? How would you describe your sense of humor? How do you spend your free time; what do you do for fun?_____________________________________

Pause think respond. Okay to ask for time to think. Okay to ask for clarification. Try your best, be yourself.

Negative QuestionsAnswer the question truthfully, but emphasize something positive:

What you learned from the experience and/or How you would do it differently next time Leave them thinking about a strengths

What is a weakness that you would need to improve to become a really great [job title]? Tell me about a time you experienced an interpersonal difficulty and how you handled it. What didnt you like about your last job/employer; your education at the UW? Tell me about a mistake you made in the past. When did you fail at something? Tell me about it._________________________________

Possible Approaches: Talk about how you have addressed/overcome the weakness. Talk about behaviors that are negative in their extremes, but positive in moderation. Mention a weakness that is unrelated to the job/wouldnt impact your success at the job. End on a positive note!

Illegal QuestionsQuestions that relate to: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, status as a veteran

How many children do you have? Are you single? divorced? married? widowed? What is your religious affiliation? You look awfully young how old are you, anyway? Wont your disability be a problem?_____________________________Possible Approaches: Think of the underlying question the interviewer might have in mind and

answer it. Ask how the question relates to the job.

Questions to Ask (and not Ask) the Employer Ask specific questions about the job

Ask questions showing you researched the organization and are curious about learning more

What are the biggest challenges for this job/company in the next six months? What results do you expect to get from the person in this position? I saw where you are initiating service in Asia. Might this position contribute to that effort? What do you like about working here? What are the next steps in the job application/hiring process?

Questions NOT to ask during the interview: Dont ask about salary, raises, benefits, flex-time, leave/vacation accrual. Questions that reveal you havent done any company research prior to interview. Questions whose responses are easily found on the organizations web site.

After the Interview: Reflect How did it go? What were the most difficult questions you were asked?

write them down, think about underlying question and how you might respond differently

What did you do well and what could you have done differently?

Assess whether this position is a good fit for you or not What might you do the same/differently in future interviews?

After the Interview Follow-up Send a thank you note that day

Email or paper O.K. Be specific in your thanks

If they dont contact you, call or email a week after you expected to hear from the employer

PresenterPresentation NotesSend a thank you letter. A thank you letter expresses appreciation, demonstrates professionalism, allows you to restate how your skills and background match the position, and affirms your interest and enthusiasm about the job. It also gives you an opportunity to add anything that is relevant to the position, but which you forgot or didn't have a chance to share during the interview. If you were interviewed by a panel, send a thank you letter to each member of the panel. A thank you letter also helps you stand out from the crowd! Send a thank you note, with your contact information that dayEmail or paper O.K. Be specific in your thanks, include relevant information you wish to add or emphasize, and reiterate your interestCall or email a week after you expected to hear from them to ask how things are going and if they need any additional information

After the Interview: Possibilities You are invited to more interviews! You receive an email or call with an offer! You never hear back from the employer You learn that you did not get the position

What if You Dont Get the Job? Review your approach (You know your resume worked;

any quirks in the interview?...) Contact hiring manager and ask for feedback Be positive, professional

and appreciativekeep the door open for the future

PresenterPresentation NotesIf hiring manager willing to give feedback, ask how you could make yourself a stronger candidate.

Utilize Interviewing Resources Mock Interview program

Interview Survival Kit (Career Center or Amazon.com)

Employer Conversations/Panels on campus

Career Guide (careers.uw.edu/Career-Guide)

Various websites (Ex: glassdoor.com) Google/Bing (Ex: Company + Interview)

Final Tips Be your best self Speak clearly Stay positive Communicate your value Demonstrate interest and enthusiasm Treat everyone well, especially the receptionist Follow-up

QUESTIONS?

PresenterPresentation NotesBe yourselfSpeak clearlyStay positiveCommunicate your valueDemonstrate interest in and enthusiasm about the organization, the job, and the peopleTreat everyone, including the receptionist, wellFollow-up every 3-4 weeks.

Successful Interviews

Thank You!

134 Mary Gates Hall(206) [email protected]

Successful InterviewsKatie Hearn ZangUW Career Counselor Please Sign InSuccessful InterviewingGood Experiences in your programThe Silent QuestionYOUR VALUEYOUR VALUEEmployers PerspectiveDo You Know Your Strengths?Employers PerspectivePreparing for the InterviewPreparing for the InterviewThe STAR MethodPreparing for the InterviewPreparing for the InterviewPreparing for the Interview Types of Interviews During the Interview:During the Interview:During the Interview: Types of QuestionsCommon Introductory QuestionsBehavior-Based QuestionsSituational QuestionsUnexpected QuestionsNegative QuestionsIllegal QuestionsQuestions to Ask (and not Ask) the Employer After the Interview: Reflect After the Interview Follow-up After the Interview: PossibilitiesWhat if You Dont Get the Job?Utilize Interviewing ResourcesFinal TipsSuccessful InterviewsThank You!