Get Hired! How to Ace the Interview Discussion Session #30 For X420, Kelley School of Business This session is designed to provide a map or plan for those who are beginning to search for a new job.

Preparation is Key Planning Practice Planning – build a personalized strategy Practice – helps you put what you want to say right on the tip of your tongue; makes your answers more credible; helps you give complete, clear, concise answers Give answers that showcase how your skills can benefit the employer Planning & Practice improves the odds of getting the job you want. Read Chapter 17 – “Preparing for Your Interviews” in your textbook.

Create Your Own Profile Personal Characteristics: Impressions Personality Traits Values Working Habits: Technical Skills Performance Skills Create your own profile – write some of these down for later use. Personal Characteristics: Impressions you generate to others, Personality Traits, your Personal Values Working Habits: Technical/Job Skills – specific knowledge & experience using specific machinery, computers, software, etc. Performance Skills: tasks & responsibilities assigned to the position you are seeking, examples: Managing other employees Making & being responsible for decisions Following established guidelines Dealing with other departments Dealing with the public Who you are & what you can do Develop your own interview plan Gives a complete picture of what you have to offer Textbook p. 36 - List personal characteristics & habits. Give students 5 min.

Skill/Benefit Statements Describe skill, benefit to employer “I can . . . , so that . . .” Give a basic description of a skill you have. Give a summary of the benefits your skill will have to the organization. Explain how your skills make the employer’s job easier. Example: I can _____ so that you will be able to _____. Select a skill you have & make a skill benefit statement from it. My skill is: _____. Skill benefit statement: I can _____ so I will be able to _____. Textbook p. 41, Figure 2.9 – list of skills. Example: tape count 4.37 – 4.55 or use handout. Students write 2-3 skill/benefit statements. Give ~10 min.

Sprinkle Benefits List your skills Sprinkle Skill/Benefit statements throughout interview Use your skill benefit statements throughout the interview whenever possible. Bring your skills to the front of your mind, list a full range of skills, especially if you don’t know what the employer is looking for. Raises the chances of mentioning at least one skill that interests the employer. List various things you can do & how it can benefit the company Example: tape count 5.37 – 5.54 or use handout.

SHARE Model S - Situation H - Hindrance A - Action R - Result E - Evaluation SHARE Model: A guide for preparing examples & showcasing your skills. Correctly explains how you perform skills on the job. Gives candid comprehensive examples of times you used specific skills. Develop answers to questions that really drives home what you can do. Situation – describe a challenging work situation Hindrance – any constraints on your actions Action – talk about your actions; exactly what you did Result – describe the results directly attributed to your actions Evaluation – summarize with a positive evaluation of the skills demonstrated Example: tape count 6.50 – 7.53 or use handout. Students write 2 statements using the SHARE model. Give ~10 min. “Sharing your experiences with anecdotes lets the interviewer put stock in your qualifications.”

Advocate Network People in Key positions People who support you Friends, acquaintances Different people in Key positions; a person on the selection team who can sway the decision in favor of hiring you. Anyone who would support you in a credible way; a person who knows your skills & character. Person who can describe what you can do for the organization.

The Interview Positive first impression Positioning statement Skill/Benefit statement Sprinkle benefits SHARE model Begin the interview effectively: Positive 1st impression: non-verbal messages: dress appropriately, stand tall, hands away from your face, positive gestures, smile. Positioning statement: interviewer’s name, appreciation for interview, indication that you’re ready to engage in productive interview. Shows that you appreciate the interview opportunity while reinforcing the fact that you are confident & prepared. Tape count 10.57 – 11.13 or use handout. Skill/Benefit statement Sprinkle benefits throughout the interview Use Share model: tape count 13.45 – 14.35 or use handout. Interview: tape count 24.29 – 26.41 or use handout. Role-playing: Divide students into pairs, give out interview questions handout from textbook, students role-play interview situation, then switch places. Give ~20 min.

Strange Questions? Be honest Use Skill/Benefit statements Use SHARE Model Killer questions like: Why is the sky blue? Answer: I don’t know why the sky is blue, but I can. . . , so that . . . (Skill/Benefit statement) Adopt a general strategy: Use specific skills benefits statements and prepare SHARE model answers for general questions and for each answer. Use SHARE model whenever possible to give examples of problem solving skills Use every question to provide information about yourself & what you can do for the organization If question insults your dignity, do you really want to work there? Example: tape count 14.65 – 15.47 or use handout. “Klaatoo, barada niktoe”

Follow-Up Thank you letter Check with Advocate Network Keep looking for opportunities Thank you letter that reinforces that you are the best candidate for the position. Keep checking with your Advocate Network & add people. Even if everything looks good, keep search active

Review Profile Skills Skill/Benefit Statements SHARE Model Advocate Network Positioning Statement Follow-Up Keep search active

Sources: Career Planning Today. C. Randall Powell. P. 41, and Chapter 17. Get Hired! How to ACE the Interview videotape. Dr. Paul Greene.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS Get Hired! How to Ace the Interview USE: a. Strongly Agree b. Agree c. Disagree d. Strongly Disagree e. Don’t Know EVALUATION QUESTIONS Get Hired! How to Ace the Interview I found the presentation material easy to understand. 2. This Advantage session increased my knowledge on the subject presented. 3. I will be able to use some of the information from this Advantage session in the future. 4. The presenter was well prepared for this session. 5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.