Interviewing Overview Mrs. Sitzmann 21st Century Skills, Jr Day 6

Before, During, & After Why & How should you prepare for an interview? What should you do and what should you avoid doing in an interview? How do you follow up after an interview?

Mock Interviews – May 5th An interview with a professional, recommended by your instructor, working in the same area you are currently studying. May lead to future opportunities, and create connections in your career field Great practice for future interviews Significant portion of employability grade for the quarter

What Do Seniors Say Was Difficult? Forgot to introduce self Dressed inappropriately Provided information that was too personal or irrelevant Didn’t come across as positive or interested Forgot to make eye contact Became too nervous after making a mistake

What Advice Do Seniors Have For You? Make eye contact, but be natural Be on time, know when and where you’re going Relax and view it as a practice session Introduce yourself and shake the interviewer’s hand RESEARCH the company! Dress as well as possible, being underdressed is embarrassing Don’t forget hygiene – teeth, hair , aroma Know your skills & strengths It’s normal to be nervous; if you make a mistake, keep going

Sample Questions from Seniors: What do you here, in your lab? What makes you qualified for this job? Are you planning to attend college? What sets you apart from other students? What do you want to do in the future? What would you do if faced with a conflict? What are your strengths/weakness? Do you like your academic classes? Why are you interested in this company?

Mrs. Sitzmann’s Three Keys to Success Focus on what you can offer the employer, not what the employer can give you Know your skills and strengths – have 3 words in mind that describe you as a student/employee, and think back to them if you get stuck on a question. Have some examples of times you have excelled. Keep it positive!!! ‘No experience’ is no problem if you have the right attitude. Even negative questions (weaknesses/dislikes) can have positive answers!

Wrap Up - Keep the Purpose in Mind You want to show the employer you have skills they need You want to highlight what makes you different from other candidates The employer wants to hear what you have to say, but needs you to stay focused on the key points. Employers understand you might be nervous, and will focus more on your overall impression, rather than any small mistake you might make.

Before the Interview… Research the company – know what they do, and what type of skills they might require Prepare questions to ask the interviewer – don’t ask about money/benefits; instead focus on duties, skills, what they value in employees, hiring timeline Practice common questions What type of experience do you have? What are you strengths/weakness Describe yourself using only 3 words Why do you want this job?

During the Interview – Introduction Introduce yourself while shaking the interviewer’s hand “Hello, I’m Jill. It’s nice to meet you.” Medium strength handshake – not to tough, not too gentle, into the web of the hand. Employer will most likely tell you to have a seat Bring a copy of your résumé. Offer it to the employer if you don’t see one in front of them. Ensure your phone is completely silent – not on vibrate mode!

During the Interview – Body Language You will likely be nervous, but still need to: Maintain natural eye contact Avoid fidgeting Sit up with good posture, and head up Limit gestures that could be distracting (talking too much with your hands)

During the Interview - Speaking Don’t use words you don’t normally use (‘big’ words), as it is easy to make mistakes Don’t use slang or foul language Speak slowly and clearly, facing your interviewer Try to avoid “uh” and “um,” as these can be distracting Practice leaving a brief moment of silence instead, while you gather your thoughts

During the Interview – Hygiene/Grooming Remember the basics – shower, deodorant, brushed teeth, limited cologne/perfume Wear a conservative hairstyle, appropriate to your career field Basic make up, if you wear make-up May want to bring (but leave in the car!): Breath mints Floss Deodorant Touch-up make-up

During the Interview - Dress Accessories Only item with you should be a portfolio, that includes extra copies of résumé, certificates, paper for notes If you must bring a bag, it should be small and basic Leave phone in car, if possible May need to have ID with you if job offer is possible (Driver’s License, Social Security Card)

During the Interview - Dress In General…. Clothing shouldn’t distract from what you have to say and offer Clothing and accessories should be subtle colors and in excellent condition It’s safer to slightly overdress, rather than underdress You should always dress at least a step above how you would dress for a day on the job For mock interviews, all students have a business-attire dress code

During the Interview - Dress Male Dress Female Dress Dress pants Button-up dress shirt (not polo) Matching Tie (conservative) Dress shoes Matching dress socks Suit jacket for more formal jobs Pant/skirt suit or dress-blouse with slacks No “t-shirt” material Dresses/skirts should be knee- length No distracting jewelry or accessories No low/high cut items, no ‘cling’ Minimal heel No daily-wear ‘fashion’ boots All clothing should be ironed and in excellent condition!

After the Interview A Thank-You Note is your chance to make a “last impression,” to boost your first impression (interview) Using the interviewer’s business card, write a personal thank-you note Keep it short, but include something you like about the company, a brief reminder of the skills you can offer, and close by expressing your enthusiasm for the position. If the decision may be made quickly, e-mail is best If there is time to mail a handwritten note, it will be more memorable