W w w. h a m k. f i Boost your job seeking skills: prepare for interview 11.2.2014 Salla Niittymäki Pajatso Project / HAMK.

w w w . h a m k . f i

Boost your job seeking skills: prepare for interview

11.2.2014

Salla Niittymäki

Pajatso Project / HAMK


JOB HUNTING SKILLS

Documents and interview skills

DECISION MAKING AND ACTION PLANNING

SELF-ASSESSMENTSkills and knowledge,

areas of interests, goals, values, personality

OPPORTUNITY AWARENESSCareer life expectations and requirements, trends, employment and employability

Career planning themes


Self-assessment

• Self-assessment helps you identify and recognize the abilities, skills and special expertise that you have to offer for the right employers

• Skills can be divided into categories: 1) work-specific/technical skills (such as knowing how to use specific

computer program or repair a broken engine)

2) employability/transferable skills (fundamental, personal and teamwork skills you need to succeed in every work situations)

• Remember to use all your skills gained in various situations!


Self-assessment in connection with career planning:

• Things that are importantValues

• Things I like to doInterests

• Things that suit mePersonality

• Things I can doSkills


Skill

s - A

ptitu

de

Personality - AttitudeValues and Interests - A

ttitude

Company requirements

Will you fit in the industry/company culture?

Will you do the job?Can you do the job?


Interview process

• Interview is about evaluating your skills and your personality in relation to the particular position.

• The focus of the interview is to find a suitable match.

• Your skills and accomplishments are key aspects that will be focused on during an interview. However, how you present yourself – your appearance, attitude, body language and so on – is also vitally important. You won’t get a second chance to create a good first impression.


Interview process

• Interview is the most effective way of evaluating your skills and your personality in relation to the particular position.

• The focus of the interview is to find a suitable match. • Applicants with polished job interview skills might prevail

over candidates with better applications and CV´s.• Your skills and accomplishments are key aspects that

will be focused on during an interview. However, how you present yourself – your appearance, attitude, body language and so on – is also vitally important. You won’t get a second chance to create a good first impression.


Preparing for an interview in practice

• Be yourself, be positive• Be prepared and rehearse interview situations

– Be prepared to ask questions from the interviewers

• Listen carefully and make sure you understand the question• It is ok to take notes• Body language and appearance: be calm and confident, look professional• Be active. Ask about the procedure and schedule, be prepared to say yes

for the further interviews or tests• Express your motivation and plan what you want to say. Only you can

decide what kind of image the employer gets.• Focus on your strengths.• Religion, race, political view, sexual orientation, family planning are illegal

questions, but prepare to handle these situations


Example questions for interviews• How would you describe yourself?• What are your strengths? What is your greatest weakness?• Describe how you work under pressure, deadlines etc.• What two or three things are most important to you in the job?• Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?• What motivates you?• What kind of career plans do you have in short-term and in long-term? • What are your goals in life and work? How have you achieved and are going to

achieve these goals? • Why are you applying for this particular job? • Why have you chosen this profession/field?• What have you learnt in your previous jobs? • Are you able to lead? How creative a problem solver are you?• What is your greatest accomplishment?• What kinds of problems have you faced and how have you solved them? • Give me an example of when you’ve demonstrated your customer service


Example questions for you to ask in an interview

• How would you describe the responsibilities of the position? • How would you describe a typical week/day in this position? • Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do? • What is the company's management style? • Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet

him/her? • How much travel is expected? • What are the prospects for growth and advancement? • How does one advance in the company? • What do you like about working here? • What don't you like about working here and what would you change? • If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start? • When can I expect to hear from you?


Exercise: Elevator SpeechWhat would you say if you met a person who could lead you to your dream job and you had only 2-3 minutes to state your case?

• Prepare to describe briefly:– Who are you? What is your

background?– What has been the focus of your

studies? (major, minors, key topics)– What other experience do you have

(work, volunteer work, hobbies& activities)?

– What do you have to offer?– What are you looking for? What are

your future goals?

http://www.prepary.com/how-to-create-an-elevator-pitch/


Exercise

• What kind of interview experiences do you have?

• What captures your attention when meeting a new person?

• Rehearse in pairs: practise the job interview by playing the roles of the interviewer and the interviewee. Use example questions and course material.

w w w . h a m k . f iSource: University of Helsinki


Practical tips for preparing for an interview

• Prepare to tell about yourself and answer to questions• Prepare to ask questions • Be prepared to be asked about salary expectation • Forget all clichés • Sleep well beforehand • Not too much coffee before the interview… • Take your certificates with you (degree diplomas, testimonials, letters of reference) • Be on time!! • Dress appropriately (smart casual) • Close your mobile phone • Be positive and relax • Remember that the interviewers are nervous too… • Don’t be too modest or too arrogant • Be yourself and trust yourself!


Remember also…• Speak positively of former employers and co-workers no matter why you left

even if you were fired.

• When discussing salary, be flexible – avoid naming a specific salary if not asked. If you're too high, you risk not getting the job. If you're too low, you undersell yourself. Answer questions on salary requirements with responses such as "I'm interested in the job as a career opportunity so I'm negotiable on the starting salary". Negotiate, but don't sell yourself short. Check salary recommendation and salary level data (unions, interest groups, graduate surveys etc.)

• Let the employer lead into conversations about benefits. Your focus on these items can be a "turn off." But, don't be afraid to ask questions about things that you really need to know.


There can be different kind of job interview methods…


Interview cycle / content• Warm up: creating trust, contact and the first impression• Introductions (organization, interviewers)• Applicant’s background (and update for application documents)

– Education and experience– Professional/substantial knowledge, other skills– Organizational and professional topics

• To the facts: towards more personal topics– Expectation, motivation and understanding of the position– Self-concept = how you see yourself, and how you would fit to the company/organization,– Team, position etc.– Strengths, potentials, risks– Stress management, collaboration skills, leadership skills etc.– Hobbies, personal life

• Applicant’s questions• Conclusion:

– Possible starting date, salary, proceeding of the recruiting process etc.



Little nervousness is ok!

• Being nervous is ok when it is not an obstacle for success– It shows that you are serious– Adrenaline can improve your

concentration

• Avoid nervousness that becomes an obstacle– Prepare for the interview and

concentrate– Relax and do imaginary exercises– Check the location before the interview


Example questions for interviews• How would you describe yourself?• What are your strengths? What is your greatest weakness?• Describe how you work under pressure, deadlines etc.• What two or three things are most important to you in the job?• Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?• What motivates you?• What kind of career plans do you have in short-term and in long-term? • What are your goals in life and work? How have you achieved and are going to

achieve these goals? • Why are you applying for this particular job? • Why have you chosen this profession/field?• What have you learnt in your previous jobs? • Are you able to lead? How creative a problem solver are you?• What is your greatest accomplishment?• What kinds of problems have you faced and how have you solved them? • Give me an example of when you’ve demonstrated your customer service


Example questions for you to ask in an interview

• How would you describe the responsibilities of the position? • How would you describe a typical week/day in this position? • Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do? • What is the company's management style? • Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet

him/her? • How much travel is expected? • What are the prospects for growth and advancement? • How does one advance in the company? • What do you like about working here? • What don't you like about working here and what would you change? • If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start? • When can I expect to hear from you?

w w w . h a m k . f ihttp://www.prsjobs.com/preparing-for-a-job-interview


Exercise: application and job interview

• Prepare questions that you would ask as an interviewer • Prepare to be interviewed for the position (use e.g. your

elevator speech)• In groups of 3 students: one is interviewing, one is to be

interviewed and one is recording the interview• Finally, watch the videos of students in your group (3

videos)• Analyse the process – what was good and what are the

things, that need improvement

W w w. h a m k. f i Boost your job seeking skills: prepare for interview 11.2.2014 Salla Niittymäki Pajatso Project / HAMK.

Documents

teamwork skills

polished job interview

interview situations

f i exa

workspecifictechnical

right employers skills

personality things

interests things