job interviews MGT 3213 – org. communication Mississippi State University College of Business

Real-Life Interview Mistakes Candidate answered cell phone and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a “private” conversation. The candidate asked the interviewer for a ride home after the interview. An applicant said she was a “people person” and not a “numbers person” in her interview for an accounting position. During a phone interview the candidate flushed the toilet.

First Impressions Within 10 minutes, executives have formed a positive or negative opinion about the job candidate. Project enthusiasm and confidence from the start The opening minutes set the tone for the discussion Be prepared! Why are you here? What can you do for us? Will you fit in? What makes you different from everyone else we’ve talked to? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEr6ptZ4JQU

More Tips The handshake: No gum, no cell phones Look the part Should last no more than three seconds and three up- and-down motions Crisp, controlled movement Fully grasp the other person’s hand Pulling away too early was perceived as weak Holding on longer makes the other person uncomfortable No gum, no cell phones Look the part

Preparing for an Interview Research the company and position Study yourself to identify how your qualifications match the job Be ready to provide clear, specific evidence of your qualifications Plan your time and materials Plan a professional appearance Practice

Dressing for Success When polling college recruiters, 40% cited image as the reason they reject qualified candidates.

Tips for Women Conservative suit in navy blue, dark brown or dark gray are best. Skirt length should be at or slightly above the knee. Blouse in white or ivory, long sleeve with modest neckline. Shoes match your suit. Clean and polished; heels no higher than 2 1/2 inches. No open-toed, open-heeled shoes. Wear natural looking make-up. No perfume/cologne. Clean bathed appearance. Subtle color nail polish. One pair of earrings, one ring on each hand, one necklace, professional-looking watch, one bracelet (Nothing dangling or distracting).

Tips for Men Suits - best colors are dark blue or navy solid, solid gray, blue/gray shadow plaid. White shirts are best. They give the impression the wearer is intelligent, honest, and successful. NEVER wear short sleeves. 100% silk ties are the best in solid or small conservative patterns. No facial hair and a conservative haircut is preferable. No cologne. Clean bathed appearance. Limit rings one to each hand, professional-looking watch.

http://washin gtonprogram. ucdavis.edu/ BusinessCasu alMen.htm http://washin gtonprogram. ucdavis.edu/ BusinessCasu alWomen.htm

What sources would you use to research a company for a potential job interview? Company website Company annual report Trade publications Current employees

Researching a Company and a Position Company Info Position Info Name, status in industry, latest stock quotes Recent news or developments Scope and corporate officers Products and services Job title/ requirements Probable salary range Career path

Types of Interviews Structured interviews Unstructured interviews One-on-one interview Panel interview Stress interview Group interview Virtual interview

Advance Preparation Answer standard and behavioral interview questions List five or six key points you want to emphasize Answer standard and behavioral interview questions Identify specific examples to prove your points

Introducing Yourself The most frequent interview opener: “So tell me about yourself” Use for networking events as well (AKA your personal elevator pitch)

Introducing Yourself Step #1: Research. Answer these questions: Which of your previous jobs, even if they were part-time or volunteer positions, provided you with experience relevant to what you hope to do now? If none, what about internships or academic experiences? What about courses you may have taken that gave you an understanding of the industry you're pursuing? What are your strongest skills? What can you say about yourself that will set you apart from other young people or entry-level job candidates? In other words, what makes you memorable and special?

Introducing Yourself Now, craft your introduction using this formula: Tell them who you are Tell them what you’re good at Tell them why you’re passionate about your field Give them a call to action PRACTICE

Standard Interview Questions What are your career plans (short and long range)? What led you to select your college major? What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses? What interests you most about this job? What determines a person’s progress in an organization? Why do you want to work for us? Why should we hire you?

Behavioral Interview Questions Describe a time when you worked well under pressure. worked well with others. organized a major project. solved a major problem. Describe something you have done that shows initiative and creativity. How have your extra-curricular activities and/or work experience prepared you for work in our company? Tell me about a time when you faced frustration. How did you deal with it?

Unusual Questions Using a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how weird you are. If you could be any superhero, which one would you be? If you had 5,623 participants in a tournament, then how many games would need to be played to determine the winner?

An Alternative Approach: Tell Me About Yourself The best way to have people connect with what you say about yourself, and remember what you say, is to tell a story. We instinctively list when describing ourselves.

The hiring manager asked me how I got involved in user interface design. I could have said, “I thought it looked interesting so I gave it a try and I was good at it.” So instead, I told this story: An old boyfriend was a programmer, and he worked from home, while I was in school. He plastered designs all over our bedroom wall and our living room floor so that he could think them through. Finally, I told him if he was going to mess up the apartment then he had to be the one to clean it, and I handed him the toilet scrubber. We argued about who had extra time for cleaning and who didn’t and finally he said, “Fine. I’ll clean, but you do the UI design." And to his surprise, I did. --Penelope Trunk

What plot describes you? The challenge plot. You overcame an obstacle to get to where you are. "I'm really good at customer-focused service." "I learned customer service working at an ice cream stand. In the summer the line was twenty people deep and it was a challenge to keep the customers happy." Now the listener has an image in their mind of you being good at customer service.

What plot describes you? The creativity plot. In this plot, the turning point in the story is a eureka moment – when an idea comes to you and changes everything. You could say, "My business is about selling textbooks." "I had an idea to sell textbooks, but I couldn't figure out how to market them as interesting to the consumer. Then it hit me that no one has a favorite text book, but everyone has a favorite professor. So I needed to use the professors to hook in the customers."

What plot describes you? The connection plot. This plot comes in when you are telling a story about bringing a team together. For example, "our toy company merged with another toy company and people were duplicating each others' efforts to create a new doll line. I convinced the teams to combine designs and work together. We created a doll that dominated the collectible doll market that Christmas."

Phone Interviews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dogbx_BJWk &feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKgQnvgAaXQ &feature=related

Your Turn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPHhDnk_0XA

Sample Interviewee Questions What is a typical day like in this job? What type of people would I be working with? Why do you need someone for this job? Is this a new position? How many people have held this job in the past five years? What advice do you wish you had been given when you were starting out? When do you expect to make your decision about the position?

Ask at the Beginning of the Interview What would the first three goals be for the person who takes this job? What are the biggest hurdles to overcome in this position? What type of person do you think will be most successful in this position?

Illegal Interview Questions National origin Religion Age Disabilities, health conditions, physical abilities not related to job Marital status, children

How to Respond Refuse, stating that the question is improper Answer, even though it is illegal Ask, “How does this question relate to the job?” Answer the underlying concern “I plan to pursue a career regardless of whether I decide to raise a family.”

Asking about money … Let them bring it up first. NEVER say a number first … make them give you their range. The right answer to the question, "What's your salary range?" is almost always some version of "I'm not telling you." What salary range are you looking for? "Let's talk about the job requirements and expectations first, so I can get a sense of what you need.”

What did you make at your last job What did you make at your last job? "This position is not exactly the same as my last job. So let's discuss what my responsibilities would be here and then determine a fair salary for this job." What are you expecting to make in terms of salary? "I am interested in finding a job that is a good fit for me. I'm sure whatever salary you're paying is consistent with the rest of the market." I need to know what salary you want in order to make you an offer. Can you tell me a range? "I'd appreciate it if you could make me an offer based on whatever you have budgeted for this position and we can go from there." Why don't you want to give your salary requirements? "I think you have a good idea of what this position is worth to your company, and that's important information for me to know."

Thank-you Message: Why It Works Analysis Thank-you Message: Why It Works States main idea: appreciation for interview and information Thank you for the opportunity to visit Viking Range for a plant interview yesterday. I enjoyed meeting you and appreciate the plant tour and the opportunity to learn about the exciting research efforts underway at Viking. Viking’s success in developing higher quality products than its competitors after such a short time in the refrigeration market is impressive. Additionally, I was impressed with the many friendly, enthusiastic employees who were willing to share with me their knowledge and commitment to Viking. After visiting your plant on Thursday, I am confident that my interest and previous experience in research and development at the DIAL labs in Starkville would allow me to contribute to Viking’s important research efforts in the refrigeration area while gaining valuable real-world experience. Mr. Fann, I am eager to receive an offer from Viking for the co-op position. If you need additional information in the meantime, please call me. Includes specific points discussed during interview Assures employer of continued interest Politely reminds employer that applicant is awaiting reply

Follow-Up Message: Why It Works Analysis Follow-Up Message: Why It Works Formats as formal business letter, but could have been sent electronically to mirror previous messages Dear Mr. Franklin: Recently I applied for an audit staff position at Foster & Daniel and now have additional qualifications to report. The enclosed, updated résumé shows that I have passed the Auditing and Practice and Law sections of the CPA exam; I will take the final section at the next sitting. In addition, the internship I’ve just completed with Smith & Lewis, CPAs has enhanced my formal education and confirmed my interest in working as an auditor. Mr. Franklin, I would welcome the opportunity to visit your office and talk more about the contributions I could make as an auditor for Foster & Daniel. Please write or call me at (512) 555-9823. States main idea clearly and identifies position being sought Refers to enclosed résumé; summarizes further qualifications Assures employer applicant is still interested in job