Interviewing Workshop McCormick Office of Career Development

Objectives To better understand the interview process: the before, during, and after To be aware of the appropriate interviewing behaviors To learn about behavioral interviewing To practice interviewing skills

Goals of the Interview Goals of the Candidate (you): To obtain information about the job/organization. To communicate important information about yourself. To make a positive impression upon the employer. Goals of the Interviewer: To promote the organization and attract the best candidate. To assess if qualifications match the job requirements. To determine candidate fit with the organization and staff.

Skills/Qualities Sought by Employers  Ability to learn  Technical Skills  Communication skills  Critical thinking  Personal management  Teamwork  Leadership  Adaptability NOTE: Know the specific technical skills for your areas of interest!  Organization Skills  Motivation  Problem Solving  Maturity  Professional Judgment

Before the Interview

Research the industry/company Identify reasons for wanting to work or having interest in that industry/company Recall situations that show favorable behaviors/actions Analyze the skills the employer is seeking Practice answering common interview questions Prepare questions to ask the employer

Company/Industry Research  Learn more about the industry  Wetfeet.com  Vault.com  Factiva.com  Informational Interviews & Networking  Learn about the company  Crain’s Business  Glassdoor.com  Student Evaluations  Company Website

Dress for the Interview Business professional dress, unless notified otherwise Carry a binder/portfolio to contain resumes, personal calendar, pen Don’t chew gum or bring beverages or food

Dress to Impress- Women  Navy, gray, and black suits  Skirts length should be below the knee  Keep accessories to a minimum  Make-up should look natural  Choose one; handbag or briefcase

Dress to Impress- Men  Invest in a conservative color  Check for proper fit  Wear socks that match your trousers  Clean your shoes  The tie knot should be small

During the Interview

Interview Structure  Pre-Interview  Greeting, Introduction, “Small Talk”  Information Exchange  Interview questions/responses  Information sharing about employer  Interviewee’s questions  Closing  Next steps  Business card?

Pre-Interview & Greeting Pre-Interview You're being judged as soon as you arrive Arrive minutes early to compose yourself Greeting Know the interviewer’s name and pronunciation Extend a warm greeting and firm handshake Wait to be asked to have a seat

Information Exchange DIRECT: confirms information Are you able to... OPEN-ENDED: generates performance data Tell me about a time when you… How did you… Describe a situation where you… Give me an example of… WHY QUESTIONS: reveal preferences, motives

Tell me about yourself… A dreaded, but very common question. Importance:  First Impression still malleable  Tone of interview  Provide depth to resume  Insight into who you are Share information the employer may not already know and present it in a way that connects to the position you are seeking.

Direct Questions Direct questions often require only a short answer with minimal elaboration Examples:  Are you able to …  Are you willing to relocate?  Are you willing to travel?

Behavioral interviewing “The best predictor of future performance is past performance in similar situations.” Provide specific examples/situations based on actual past behaviors, instead of based on responses to hypothetical questions.

Your Response Strategy: The STAR Technique S ituation T ask A ction R esult Be a STAR

Tell me about a time when you took initiative? Situation Task Action Result During my internship last summer, I was responsible for managing various events. I noticed that attendance at these events had dropped by 30% over the past 3 years and wanted to do something to improve these numbers. I designed a new promotional packet to go out to the local community businesses. I also included a rating sheet to collect feedback on our events and organized internal round table discussions to raise awareness of the issue with our employees I was able to incorporate many of the ideas from the community, as well as make the internal systems more efficient and visible. I am proud to report that attendance increased by 18%.

About Your Body Language Be sure to smile Don’t hurry gestures/movements Use good posture Lean forward while listening and answering questions Make eye contact Use mirroring

Do and Don’t DO Convey enthusiasm, confidence, friendliness Convey maturity and professionalism Know your nervous body language tendencies and avoid them Be articulate Take time to reflect, if necessary, before answering Be aware of your eye contact DON’T Be negative Use ums/likes Exaggerate or lie Have your cell phone turned on Interrupt the interviewer Engage in a debate Use acronyms

Asking Good Questions  Prepare questions before the interview  They should be thoughtful and relevant  Address the position, skills, qualifications, etc…  Avoid salary benefits and/or personal topics

After the Interview Write a thank you note to the interviewer within 48 hours Recall pieces of your interview conversation Remind them of your applicable skills and experience Reiterate your interest in the position Reflect/Process your experience What did you do well? What didn’t go so well? How can you change that in a future interview? Process your interaction to assess your fit

Good Luck! Questions?

Pitfalls Inability to express information clearly Untidy personal appearance Lack of genuine interest or enthusiasm Unwillingness to start at the bottom Negative attitude Lack of eye contact Being late for the interview