Real World Application: Nailing an Interview

Amy Cuddy Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc

What do “THEY” want to know? They want to know your history, your experience, your personality, your background… But what do they really want to know?

“Will this person be an asset to my organization?” You need to show them you will be.

Step One: Dress to Impress (… not like this).

More like this!

Step One: What to wear “The rule of thumb is that you never want to dress below the dress code when interviewing, but dressing too far above it can also be bad — it can signal that the person doesn’t fit into the culture of the organization — and fit is a big issue. My best advice is that you need to fit the part. Find out more about the dress code of the organization, and dress one step up.

Step Two: The first impression Smile, shake hands confidently, introduce yourself.

Be professional, and articulate. “Hi! I’m ________. I appreciate you meeting with me today.” And smile! Remember: you want to show them that you’d be great to work with.

Step Three: the documents When going into an interview, you should have at least three things: Your resume Your references A thank you note to write in afterwards. Best to bring them in a folder or briefcase.

Step Four: The interview “Tell me about yourself.” Provide the stats first: Name, school, activities. THEN: tell the interviewer what would make you an asset to his/her organization. “I’m a great communicator, I’m responsible, and I’m a very hard worker. Would you like to hear more about any of these strengths?”

Step Four: the interview Discussing your strengths It’s okay to talk yourself up! Just like writing an essay, it’s all about the supporting details and examples. “What are your top strengths?” Have ideas ready, and have examples to prove that you are these things! Make sure you tailor the description of your strengths to what the job is.

Like… Interviewing at Anthropologie: “What are your top strengths?” “I’m passionate about helping people. As a nanny, I’ve had to become comfortable with recognizing the needs of the kids and even their parents, almost before they even express them. [Brief example of when you did this.] I feel I could easily translate this ability to read people and meet them where they’re at to retail.”

Or… Interviewing for a Business Internship: “What are your top strengths?” “I pride myself on my ability to problem solve. I’ve always enjoyed recognizing an area that could use improvement and then figuring out the most efficient way to solve it. For example, when I worked on ASB in high-school, we had to…. [brief example.] I also feel my experience playing sports has taught me to value being a team player.”

The interview: discussing your weaknesses Remember: your goal is to show them that you will be an asset to their organization. Be honest about your weaknesses… … but identify weaknesses that won’t prevent you from being an asset to their organization.

Consider these ahead of time! Identify a weakness that’s either irrelevant to what you’ll be doing OR, identify a weakness that you’ve mostly overcome, and learned from.

If you’re applying for a job with Portland Parks and Rec… Your “weakness” might be that you have a hard time working in a stationary environment; you can explain that you prefer to be up and moving. Or, your “weakness” might be that you used to struggle with confidence. However, your experience re-modeling your uncle’s house has taught you that you can trust your abilities and instincts.

Conflict resolution questions: Your interviewer will ask you some version of a conflict resolution question: Tell me about a time you encountered a problem and how you solved it. What would you do if you found out a co-worker was stealing? Describe a time you had to work with a difficult customer and how you handled it.

Conflict resolution questions: Bring it back to the examples. Come prepared with several examples you can share of instances when you had to resolve a conflict. Times that you “failed” and learned. Difficult people you’ve had to learn to work with. Times when you’ve been under pressure and rose to the occasion. In your interview, take the most applicable example and tweak it as is necessary it to best answer the question.

The interview, cont. You should try to anticipate other questions they might ask, and prepare for them! http://glassdoor.com Research the organization… And come with examples in mind of how you can PROVE you have the skills you describe!

Step Five: Sealing the deal When the interview ends, they’ll probably ask if you have any questions for them. YES! You DO have questions for them! Research the organization beforehand, and come with two or three questions that show you’ve done your research. This shows them you are already invested in their organization, committed to their interests, interested in what they’re doing, and proactive.

Step Five: end with a good handshake Ta daaah!

And ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS leave a thank you note!

One last thing… Turn your cell phone off No swearing Speak in complete sentences Be polite and respectful Show up alone

Be prepared to see… Panel Interviewers Group interviewees Activity-based interviews Writing prompts or tests