Abstract Are you looking for a career change? Good News! Technology is back on the move and companies are again hiring. We ll cover key strategies you can use during the interviews first 10 minutes to increase chances for a new job and new adventure. 4 C s of a Successful Interview My name is Chris Skorlinski; I work for Microsoft US supporting our large enterprise customers using SQL Server. Over the course of my 18 years at MS, I ve interviewed 1,000s of candidates. I believe the first 10 minutes of an interview are key to getting hired. I created this talk to share some my key tips on how to be successful during those initial 10 minutes. 4 C s of a Successful Interview 1. Preparation will give you Confidence to know you re good to go 2. Establish Connection with the interviewer 3. Bring Credibility to your answers to back-up experiences in your résumé 4. Show how you are most Compatible candidate for the position CONFIDENCE Less than 10% candidates come prepared. With simple preparation I ll cover in this paper you ll have the Confidence to know you are good to go for this interview. Know the Company Build confidence by finding all you can about the company/organization. You ll often be asked What do you know about our company, division, organization? Your objective is to demonstrate your interest and knowledge in their company. What products do they manufacture? What services do they provide? Are they Local, National, International company? What challenges does the company, industry, trade, etc. face?
You ll often be asked What do you know about our company, division, organization? Where would you look to find out more? Wikipedia Company website press release Try a BING negative search to see problems or complaints. Do you know the interviewers name? Where would you look to find out about them? LinkedIn Facebook BING web search If you can find something out about the interviewer you may be able to use this information to help establish a CONNECTION. Know the Position Learn all you can about the position. Look back at your notes you took during the phone screen. You did take notes, right? Is it for contract for hire or a permanent position? What is the length of the contract? Is there travel involved, weekend work, 24x7 on-call schedule, or work from home? Will you be working in a Development role? Assisting in Quality Assurance or User Acceptance testing? Working on production or mission critical systems? Read similar ads to see what roles other companies describe that may be needed but are not mentioned in the ad. Knowing you have the background and skills for the job being posted helps to establish your CREDIBILITY. Know yourself (elevator pitch) How are you going to answer Tell me something about yourself? This is a 2-minte introduction into who you are, what you ve accomplished, and what you hope to accomplish. Try to customize your response to the company or the open position. Here is one of my elevator pitches :
My name is Chris Skorlinski and I love helping Microsoft s large enterprise customer solve complex business problems with SQL Server. About 2 years ago I realized Microsoft had a great wealth of product troubleshooting knowledge in SQL Data Replication. I created a MSDN blog posting called REPLTALK. I encouraged employees coding, using, and supporting Replication to provide content for REPLTALK. Today it one of the key internet sites for training and technical insights into SQL Replication. In the future I hope to share this information in workshops like SQL Saturday. If you are someone who is direct and to the point, this takes less than 2 minutes. Famous Quote from The Princess Bride: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. - meets the requirements of an elevator pitch : 1. Provides Introduction, with name 2. Explains something about past 3. Sets out a clear distinct future objective I prefer something little more open and inviting as elevator pitch. Again, my name is Chris Skorlinski. I love helping Microsoft large enterprise customer improve their business through use of SQL Server. I use my knowledge of SQL Server to take analyze, tune, and implement SQL based solutions in very tough complex business environments. I also enjoy teaching others what I ve learned after many years working in the technology industry. You ll often find me sharing knowledge on my MSDN ReplTalk blog, hosting online web conference, teaching on YouTube, or delivering a presentation at SQL Saturday. I m looking forward exploring how I can use my skills to meet your business objectives. I use this format when I run into a colleague or business acquaintance I ve not seen for a while. It lets them know what I m working on, why it is important, and that if they run into a similar problem to give me a call; this reinforces the connection.
My name is I m working on This is important because If you ever want someone to, give me a call Again my name is It was great to meet you. Opening Interview I m working on I encountered problem But found resolution As result This taught me. You pitch should be 2 minutes, and highlight 2 accomplishments or expand upon 2 previous employments. Take opportunity to show your strengths, demonstrate how you exceeded expectations, how you overcame a weakness and turned it into a positive. Show your future boss how you took initiative, was influential, learned from mistakes, was creative, innovative, overcame obstacle, improved customer relationships, saved company money, or best of all made company money. Prepare your elevator pitch or opening statement in advanced. Write it down, memorize it! Practice when it doesn t matter, like during lunch with a friend or with family. Interview yourself Review your résumé and think about what stands out, good or bad that would get noticed. Maybe something discussed during a phone interview or previous face-2-face interview. Prepare to expand about each item in your résumé. Know in detail each term, software, certification, etc. you write on your résumé, trust me, you will be asked about it. And not just I worked on project X, or I did role Y, but specific details on exactly what role you played and contributions you made. If you can t talk about it in great detail, don t include it. What job do you NOT want? Coding, Travel, direct customer contact, working holidays? Quote: You, Me, and Dupree: Owen Wilson character Dupree during job interview: What is your policy on Columbus Day?
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi271908889/ It s Show Time each morning before calls You re ready to go, you ve prepared, you re a bit nervous, but now it s Show Time and you have to go on! What do you do when you get nervous to calm your nerves? Driving car in first winter snow? When you have to make a speech or presentation? First day of class? First date? How do you shake it off? During yoga classes with my wife I learned to take a big slow breath, then let it out. I do this when I m nervous, or just before a presentation, lets me collect my thoughts. Perhaps you heard me take a deep breath just before I started this presentation. Do you have everything, your résumé, a pen, copy of the ad? Is your cellphone OFF, no vibrate is NOT off. Have you highlighted something on the résumé to ask about at the end of the interview, you know that any questions for me? question you re sure to get. You re all ready for the 1 st impression, start that CONNECTION with the interviewer. Connection How well you make a connection during the interviewer will give your future employer an idea on how you connect to colleagues, to managers, to users, to customers. Here are some tips I believe help make a positive connection. Wear a suit, yes, really. It doesn t matter what company s dress code it, go to a 2 nd had store if you have to and buy most professional outfit you can find.
Take out any piercings that can be seen. Don t worry, they ll still see the holes and know that you have piercings to express your individual personality Don t Interrupt, don t jump in with the answer, even if you know, you know the answer, allow the interviewer complete their thought, pause, then answer Speak clearly, don t mumble, watch out for like um, um, okay so, and. Show same confidence you had when you walked into the room. Don t ramble, provide concrete answers. I once asked a question and after 5 minutes going down every possible path the candidate looked at me and asked: What was the question? Be aware of your pace, your mannerisms, and your nervousness. Did your heartbeat start to rise again on a tough question? Show enthusiasm, but slow it up a bit. Need time to relax, repeat the question. Good question, how I would handle X. Last week I had a similar problem Y and did Z, for X, I ll start with Z and adjust as needs change. Reinforce Connection with eye contact Eye contact is so simple, but yet seems hard to do. We walk down the halls at work, give a brief hey, hi, hey man, how ya doing, then we look at our phone, down at our feet hoping they keep on walking. Next time maintain and keep eye contact. Practice it long enough so you can tell when they are almost uncomfortable. WEAK: Turn to the person on your left, shake hand very weakly, look everywhere, down to the side, everywhere but at them and mumble hi my name is <name>, I m glad to meet you, other person repeat same WEAK greeting. How did you feel? Did you even want to talk to this person? STRONG: Turn to the person on your right, look them straight into their eyes, smile, shake hand firmly, and clearly say Hi, my name is <name>, I m glad to meet you. How did you feel this time? Did you feel invited in the conversation? Do you want to learn more about this person? Reinforce Connection by using their name Were you ever talking to someone and you can tell they drifted away? Maybe you re speaking too long, or maybe the topic lost their interest, maybe they have a lot on more critical things on their mind. Nothing brings them back like hearing their name, especially when asked a question. <name>, how would you have handled the situation? <name>, have you had similar problems? Be aware of the interviewer s body language. Are they having a good or bad day? Are they listening to your answers, or reading your résumé. Are they excited to see you or annoyed at having to take time for the interview?
The interview should be a conversation, not just an ask a question, get an answer, ask a question, get an answer. Find way to bring interviewer back into the conversation. One of the best interviews I had was when we ended up solving a problem together. Interact don t react You will get those tough questions; this is after all a technical interview. Every day I encounter something I ve never seen before. Some problem which is different, some command a customer or colleague used to uncover a problem which I ve never seen. Know that you won t know it all. Be prepared how you ll answer the I don t know question. The key is to interact don t react. Even if you fail to connect and don t get the job, remember you didn t connect with this person, this one manager, this one team, that doesn t mean you won t connect with another manager or team in this same company. Learn from the interview and apply again. Credibility Typical company can looks through 1000 résumé for 10 phone screens. Of those 10 phone screens, maybe 2 or 3 will get a face-to-face interview. The face-to-face interview is your time to add credibility to your résumé and phone interview. The interviewer may go through anything and everything on your résumé. Let s hope they ll overlook that you forgot to SPELLCHECK your résumé. From the phone screen can you tell what on your résumé caught their attention? You did take notes during the phone screen right? Plan to expand upon (at least 2 minutes, but no more) about every job, education, skill, software, accreditation, or accomplishment you mentioned in your résumé or discussed during the phone screen. This is very difficult to do off the cuff during the interview. Write down your answers, and then rehearse. In your responses, show how you can bring a new perspective, diversity, or fresh ideas to the job. We re all different, you are different. Find what differentiates you from that pack? Your answers should embrace your differences. Watch Negatives Be careful about negatives. We ve all had dirty jobs, bad managers, horrible work environments, problem with coworkers. Never talk bad about a past or current employer. If you do, you might as well get up and walk out the door.
Really Tough Questions Did you include something on your résumé that is not your strong suit? Maybe something you just had in classroom but never used on a job? That will probably be the one they cover the most. You ll be drilled to the point where you have to respond with I don t know. How you handle the I don t know questions can be more important than the fact you don t know. Even areas in which you are strong, something you ve done for years, you ll never know it all. Even after over 30 years in technology and almost 20 years at Microsoft, every day I learn something new. I m asked a technical question for which I don t know the answer, or shown by a customer a new approach to solving business problem using SQL Server. Determine how YOU will answer the I don t know question. Remember, you made it this far for a reason; they see something they like in your background, your skills, and your potential. Now is time to highlight your talents that so show you are the best COMPATIBLE candidate for the position. Compatibility Ease their pain Pain theory of Management - Steve Pogge. Manager s job is to relieve pain. Your future employer is searching for someone to solve a problem, to heal a pain; what is that problem, what are their pains? Why are they now hiring? Are they searching for? More depth or breadth in their team Someone with industry specific knowledge Trying to automate, innovate, or expand into a new city, new product, or new service Is this a short-term pain New government regulations Part of a server migration project Need 24x7 coverage Are they having high-turnover If you don t know, ask. Tailor responses to match YOUR skills and experience with THEIR pain, showing how you are the best candidate, the most compatible for the position.
Compatibility is a 2-way street During the interview remember that compatibility is a 2-way street. While the interviewer is trying to determine if you are compatible with them, you also need to determine if you are compatibility with your future employer. What is there work environment like? Parking, grounds, building Lobby, rest rooms, cubicles, office, conference room Are people interacting or working alone Take note of their personal space. Warm, inviting, or cold barrier What are their security procedures? Were you given a freedom pat? How were you greeted? By Receptionist By Human Recourses representative For manager interview For the Technical interview Interview Them Ask questions related to the position being asked or some topic covered in the interview. This shows you ve listened, you ve connected. For example: You mentioned (travel/on call/weekends/holidays/training), can you tell me more? I see in the posting., can you tell me more? What challenges are your team/company/industry facing today? Can you describe a typical day in this position? How do you measure success in this position? What are the careers paths from this position? If you re not sure, ask. Even if you are sure, ask anyway. Remember, asking questions about the position not only reinforces the connection, but helps you determine compatibility. Practice asking exploratory type questions in your day-to-day conversation. By getting someone talking shows you re interested in them, and once in a while, they reveal some important little tidbit that may have you thinking twice about accepting an offer.
Big Questions What kind of job do you really, really, want? Believe me, interviewers can tell if you are interviewing for a position that you believe is a good match, not just a job to get you by, the closer the compatibility the more natural the interview. Does this position provide you: Autonomy Mastery Purpose Can you see yourself in this environment? Wrap up What can you do in your today that you can put on your résumé for that job interview tomorrow? Can you take an online class? Consider working for a volunteer organization helping them with technology? Attend free workshops like SQLSaturday. References Post your résumé on carrier web sites. Recruiters are always searching for someone who has Confident, has Credibility, can make a Connection, and is Compatible with their client s needs and pains. Great collection of free articles about career planning, job searching, and interviewing. http://www.careerbuilder.com/ Career Advice http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobseeker/careerbytes/articles.aspx?sc_cmp1=js_toolkit_articl es
Interview Advice http://www.careerbuilder.com/article/cb-2264-interview-tips-5-ways-to-derail-your-interview/ Post Your Résumé http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobseeker/resumes/postresumenew/postresumestart.aspx?sc _cmp2=js_quickbaruploadcv Free Courses http://monster.cyberu.com/html?pageurl=/content/freecourses.htm What's a good outfit for a female to wear to a job interview? http://answers.monster.com/a-20110219224408aabddqy.aspx Good Career Center with nice collection of articles for Job Seekers by Allegis Group and Tek Systems http://www.thingamajob.com/ Job search, and job posting site. http://www.computerjobs.com/