Employment Skills EMPLOYMENT SKILLS JOB INTERVIEW By: Doris Borja (MRU Student) & Silvia Vidal (Program Manager)

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO Use the interview as a chance for you to interview the employer.  Remember you have the right to get information and to be respected DON’T Don’t let the interviewer intimidate you.  Employers wmay intimidate you by asking personal, unfair, and illegal questions.

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO  Sit straight, but comfortable  Use direct eye contact  Be as natural as you can  Speak clearly and loudly enough  Smile when introducing yourself  Be prepared for a handshake DON’T  Don’t slouch  Don’t chew your fingernails  Don’t wring your hands  Don’t smoke  Don’t drink or eat  Don’t chew gum in the interview

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO  Wear clothes that are appropriate  Be neat and tidy DON’T  Don’t feel that you have to put on all you best to impress!  Don’t wear loud colours, heavy make- up or heavy jewelry

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO  Try to bring up positive points in response to questions  Be enthusiastic about the company ad the job DON’T  Don’t complain about your previous job  Don’t discuss your personal problems

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO  Think about which questions are best to ask first  Make a list of questions you want to ask DON’T  Don’t ask about salary or benefits in the first part of the interview

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO  If you feel the need for moral support, get a friend or family member to practice to you before the interview  Always bring a two or three copies of your resume to the interview DON’T  Don’t go to the interview with friends or family members  Don’t take weekly shopping with you (a portfolio or a notebook is enough)

DOS AND DON’T’S OF JOBS INTERVIEWS DO  An interviewer may use words that are unfamiliar for you. Ask for clarification.  If possible, practice some expression before the interview DON’T  Don’t pretend to understand when you don’t

BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS The interviewer will ask you questions about how you handled situations and what you accomplished in the past. You can use the STAR method to answer!

STAR METHOD  Describe a Situation or problem in the past  Targeted Action that you took to deal with the situation  Conclude with the Result your action produced

EXAMPLES OF BEHAVOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS  Give an example of a time when you had to handle an angry customer  Describe a conflict that you had with a co-worker and how it was resolved  Give an example of a time when you made a mistake and you have to correct it

AFTER THE INTERVIEW  Talk to your friend about the interview in order to assess it, and plan your strategies for the next time  Write a short letter thanking the interviewer for the opportunity to meet with them

Thank you very much and good luck in your job search! For further Information call us at (403)