THE JOB INTERVIEW Content based on UNM Career Ser vices Inter viewing Guide http://www.career.unm.edu/forms/inter viewing_skills_handout_2011.pdf
THE JOB INTERVIEW Very soon, you will all be looking for a job. Whether it be while you are still in high school or after you graduate, you will soon find yourself faced with trying to get someone to hire you. This can be an intimidating process but today we are going to talk about one of the main components of this process to help you be prepared.
THE JOB INTERVIEW BROKEN DOWN Today we will look at some tips for you to consider Before the Interview The Day of the Interview and After the Interview
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
BEFORE STEPPING INTO AN INTERVIEW, YOU NEED TO PRACTICE. A CANDIDATE GOING TO AN INTERVIEW WITHOUT PREPARING IS LIKE AN ACTOR PERFORMING ON OPENING NIGHT WITHOUT REHEARSING.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW You need to know what job you are applying for and what makes you the best applicant for the job they are considering you for This requires you to do some research ahead of time Looking at job description Researching the company
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW 1. Review the job posting and description and think about how you meet all the requirements If you don t already have the job description, find it online If there isn t one online, look through the information on the companies website and try to learn as much as you can about the company. Knowing what they value and what their mission and goals are will help you answer the questions they ask
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW 2. Review your resume and application The next thing you need to do is look at your resume and application and find the connections between your experience and what the employer is looking for in an employee (skills and knowledge) Even if you are applying for your first job, you have skills that can be beneficial to an employer Skills learned by doing group projects or participating in a club/organization can be used to show teamwork, leadership, project management Elective classes (ex: DECA) can provide you with knowledge and skills as well
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW Pull up a list of common interview questions and write out your answers. Practice answering these questions by doing a mock interview and getting feedback for improvement See this site for a list of common questions: http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/interview-questions/100-potentialinterview-questions/article.aspx There are three main types of interview questions: Resume Based Questions Company Based Questions Behavioral Based Questions The following three slides will give examples of each
RESUME BASED QUESTIONS Tell me a little bit about yourself. How has your education prepared you for this position? Tell me how your work/internship/experience prepared you for this position? What was your motivation for applying for this position? What are your top three strengths? What is one of your weaknesses? Please explain.
COMPANY AND POSITION QUESTIONS What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work for our company? What qualifications do you have that will make you successful with this company?
BEHAVIORAL BASED QUESTIONS Behavioral Based Interviewing focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are job related. It is based on the belief that past behavior and performance predicts future behavior and performance.
BEHAVIORAL BASED QUESTIONS Here are some examples: Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a co - worker or supervisor and how you handled it? Can you tell me about a time when you had to overcome a disappointment? Tell me about a time when you made a mistake and how you turned it into a learning experience. Tell me about a time when you were on a team and one of the members was not carrying his/her weight. Give me an example of how you were particularly effective on prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule. For more examples on common inter viewing questions and answers refer to Tips For Answering Common Inter viewing Questions at: http://www.career.unm.edu/forms/qahandout
BEHAVIORAL BASED QUESTIONS Make sure you use your answers to express your strengths, how you handled problems and overcame any obstacles.
THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW
WHAT TO WEAR According to recent surveys of recruiters seeking to hire UNM students, the following are some great tips for all candidates: Always dress one level above the typical work attire for the position Conservative neckline/necktie in terms of color and pattern Avoid ill-fitting clothes (short, tight, clingy, or high slits in skirts) No visible undergarments (camisole/bra straps or boxers) Business-style shoes. No sandals, flip-flops or sneakers. High-fitting dark socks with slacks Match shoe and belt color
WHAT TO WEAR According to recent surveys of recruiters seeking to hire UNM students, the following are some great tips for all candidates (continued): Well-groomed hair style Understated makeup. Simple classic accessories. Minimal or no cologne or perfume No visible body art Breath mints. Use one before greeting recruiter.
INTERVIEW DAY Make sure you have good directions to the interview site and information on where to park. Do not forget to bring parking money if necessary. Take a folder/binder with you that includes: At least one copy of your resume and cover letter You can reference this during your interview and provide a copy if they do not have one in front of them The sheet of paper with the five things you want to make sure to tell the interview committee (you may be able to reference this if you get nervous) Paper to take notes
INTERVIEW DAY Leave early to avoid traffic or have sufficient time in case you get lost Plan to arrive at least 15-30 minutes early to the interview Be polite to everyone you meet and be friendly First impressions are extremely important and you never know who may have a say in the hiring Real Life Example: An employer was driving into work one day when she was confronted by a driver who was experiencing road rage. The car pulled up beside her and began yelling. Later that day she was holding inter views and the other driver walked in as one of the inter viewees. The employer knew right then she would never hire her.
DURING THE INTERVIEW When the interviewer calls for you to enter the interview room make sure you smile, make eye contact and shake hands Write down the names of the interviewer(s) if you don t already know them Answer questions clearly and confidently Answer questions by using examples from your previous experiences. Tell little stories to give the interviewer an understanding of your experiences and how you can relate your past experiences to the new job. Remember to address the five things you wanted to make sure to tell the interview committee Accentuate the positive. Avoid saying No or I don t know.
DURING THE INTERVIEW (continued) Do not ramble Give enough detail to sufficiently answer the question and then stop talking. You want your answers to be short, focused and to the point. If you re not sure you ve given enough information, simply ask, Did I answer that sufficiently for you, or would you like more details? Keep nervous habits in check Project confidence during the interview
DEPARTING THE INTERVIEW Make sure you know each interviewer s name Ask when you will be hearing from the company on a hiring decision When leaving, shake hands with people you have met and again, convey interest in the position
AFTER THE INTERVIEW Send a thank you note! Be sure to send the thank you note within 24 hours of the interview You can send it via email, regular mail or leave it with the front desk
EXAMPLE
TAKE SOME TIME Take out a piece of paper Let s take a moment to think about how you might answer these questions Write down how you would answer these questions Tell me a little bit about yourself What is one of your weaknesses? Please explain. (remember that when listing a weakness, you should always explain how you are working to improve it) Teachers: Give students about 10 minutes to answer these and then ask for volunteers to share their answers