INTERVIEWING SKILLS K B L Srivastava

STEP 1: Analyze Yourself What are my personality strengths and weaknesses? What are my intellectual strengths and weaknesses? What are my communicative strengths and weaknesses? What are my accomplishments and failures? What are my professional strengths and weaknesses?

STEP 1 (cont’d) What are my professional interests and disinterests? What are my most valued needs as a human being? What do I want in a position or appointment?

STEP 2: Do Your Homework Know your field or fields. Know the organization. Know the position. Know related current events. Know what “typically” happens in interviews. Know the questions you want to ask.

STEP 3: Arrive Alive Be there a little ahead of time. Be neat. Be appropriately dressed for a formal professional meeting. Be courteous to everyone you meet. Be self-confident to avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy.

STEP 4: The First Crucial Minutes Give a firm but not crushing handshake. Maintain good eye contact. Use a confident, pleasant voice. Exhibit a friendly manner. Smile. Have an appropriate attitude. Participate actively.

STEP 5: Act, Answer, Act Be alive and dynamic. Be interested and show it. Listen! Think! Be honest! Appear in manner, answers, and questions to be a DOER.

STEP 5 (cont’d) Answering questions: Answer to the point. Answer thoroughly with evidence. Use good grammar and choice of language. Avoid phony, canned answers. Give reasons for past actions, not excuses. Take full responsibility for past actions. Never bad mouth a department, school, supervisor or employer – past or present.

STEP 5 (cont’d) Asking questions: Avoid common question pitfalls. Avoid the “me…me” complex. Ask questions in their order of importance to you. Never begin by asking about salary. Never ask a question merely to ask a question.

Expect some tough questions: Critical Incident Questions: “We’re struggling with this problem… What would you recommend we do?” Historical Critical Incident Questions: “Two years ago we were faced with…If you had been a member of our team, what would you have recommended?” Hypothetical Questions: “Suppose you were supervising (designing, contacting, dealing with)…What would you do?”

Expect some tough questions: Past Performance Questions: “How did you deal with…in your last position (in class group projects, in a team effort, during your internship)?” Task-Oriented Questions: “Sell me this ball point pen.” Problem-Solving Questions: academic, technical, interpersonal.

Expect some tough questions: Question Exercises: simulations, role-playing, case studies, presentations, performance: selling, teaching, designing, managing, writing

Answer tough questions carefully: Think through an answer before opening your mouth. Ask for repetition of strategic portions of the question. Ask for clarification if warranted. Ask for additional details if needed for your answer. Ask about relevant organizational policies. Structure your answer like a mini-speech with an opening, body and closing.

“It’s not over ‘til it’s over.” STEP 6: The Closing “It’s not over ‘til it’s over.” Be careful of everything you do and say. Take an active part. Discover what will happen next and when and who you should contact and how if you need to get in touch. If appropriate, express your interest in this position with this organization.

STEP 7: The Follow Up Debrief yourself immediately Write a professional thank you note. Do not expect an immediate decision. Do not make a pest of yourself.

25 ways to slip up during the interview (from 188 college recruiters) 1. Lack of awareness about company or position. 2. No interest or enthusiasm. 3. Lying or telling the recruiter what you think he/she wants to hear. 4. Poor communication skills. 5. Too money oriented. 6. Arrogant or cocky. 7. Unclear or unrealistic goals or objectives. 8. No relevant experience.

25 ways to slip up during the interview (cont’d) Not team oriented. Poor eye contact. Poor appearance. No campus involvement. No motivation. Disrespecting the recruiter. Performing poorly in school. Not having any questions to ask. Not smiling. Cursing or being rude.

25 ways to slip up during the interview (cont’d) Negativity or bad attitude. No support for answers. Inflexible. Arriving late for the interview. Poor listening skills. Stereotyping. Indicating job is just a stepping stone.