Chapter 8 Interviewing for a Job and Writing a Resume

Preparing for an Interview Preparing for an interview begins with networking. #1B- When you network, you develop a variety of personal contacts you can tap for information and tips on job hunting. #2B- A job search provides job opportunities; you’ve still got to get the job. #3B- More than 80 percent of American companies use newspaper ads to recruit employees. #1IC- School resources available to students who are looking for a job are counselors, teachers, career centers, and bulletin boards.

Preparing for an Interview The interview process is a kind of sale. #4B- In the interviewing process, you are both the product and the salesperson. To interview effectively, you must know yourself, so you must build a dossier. #5B- The dossier will help you organize important information promoting concise and convincing answers that will set you apart from the crowd by identifying your strengths and weaknesses. #2IC- The three parts of the dossier are your personal work history, your education, and your self-assessment. Once you’re finished your dossier, you are ready to write your resume.

Writing a Resume A resume is a formal, business version of your personal inventory. #16T/F- A resume is not a complete autobiography. #3IC- The six parts of your resume are the identification, job goal, education/training, work history, personal data, and references. #17T/F- On a resume, you put the most impressive credentials first in the “Education and Training” section. #18T/F- A list of computer applications you know how to use belongs in the “Education and Training” section of your resume. Be sure to list any foreign language or sign language that you know in this section as well. #19T/F- Jobs you’ve held are listed in reverse chronological order (starting with your current job and ending with your first job ) in the “Work History” section of your resume.

Writing a Resume #20T/F- The “Personal Data” section of your resume is the appropriate place to list clubs and organizations. Also list any volunteer services, hobbies, sports teams, and outside interests. On your “Reference” section of your resume, state that references will be provided upon request. #21T/F- You should contact people whose names and phone numbers you list as references on your resume for permission to include that information. #4IC- Some tips to remember about the tone of your resume are be brief, be positive, be clear, be goal-oriented, and get to the point. Be selective and choose only the most important and interesting details about your work and education.

Practicing for and Interview Before you go to an interview, your should find out what you can about the business or organization. Going online is one way to do this. Try to talk to people who have work there to find out about the job. A mock interview or pretend interview with a friend or relative is a good way to practice for the actual event.

Answering Interview Questions #6B- Good planning for a job interview means that you try to guess the questions you may be asked and think about how you will answer them. Most interviews boil down to why you are applying, what kind of person you are, and what you can do. #5IC- Interview questions usually fall into four categories which are general, educational, job-related, and personal. General questions could be “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” or “Why do you want to work for us?” Educational questions could be “What was your grade point average?” or “What were your favorite classes in school?” Job-related questions could be “Why should I hire you?” or “How long can you commit to us?” Personal questions could be “Tell me something about yourself.” or What accomplishment are you proudest of?”

Answering Interview Questions Be careful that your responses don’t sound canned or too planned as if you were a robot. #6IC- Some techniques to use in an interview to get positive points across are puff-balls, bridges, and pauses. Puff ball questions like “Tell me about yourself” allow you to put your best foot forward. Pauses allow you to jump in and talk about skills and abilities that you want to stress. Bridges allow you to transition from one point to another. #7B- When the opportunity for making a positive point presents itself, state a key point and then back it up with words. #8B- Types of sparklers to use to make your interview come alive include analogies, personal stories or quotes.

Answering Interview Questions Try to keep your answers like a television sound bite. #9B- Sound bites, as a rule, last no longer than 30 seconds. #10B- Be sure that any story you tell about yourself is true. #22T/F- It’s not OK to include some job skill that you think you might have, but that you can’t back up with facts in an interview. Be sure to practice for tough questions. #7IC- If you need to “buy time” while you’re thinking of an answer, you can say the interviewer’s name, repeat the question, and give a general answer. It won’t hurt to ask the interview for a moment to think. Once in a while, it is okay to say “I don’t know.” Be sure to be positive and not to condemn past employers.

Answering Illegal or Unethical Questions Interviews are not allowed to ask certain questions. Illegal questions include What political party do you support? What religion are you? Do you go to church regularly? Are you married or have you ever been married? What is your sexual orientation? Do you drink alcohol? Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? Do you have a physical disability? What is your IQ? How much do you weigh? Were you dishonorably discharged from the military? Are you Irish?

Answering Illegal or Unethical Questions #8IC- If you are asked an illegal or unethical question, you should respond only briefly and go on, ignore it, or address the issue behind it. #11B- A physical problem that is not job-related is none of the employer’s business, by law.

Making the Most of an Interview At the end, it is a good idea to ask the interviewer questions. You might ask about specific duties of the position or who your supervisor would be. Don’t ever ask about days off, vacations, holidays, sick leave, personal days, money, and so on. It will appear that you’re only interested in getting out of the office and are money-oriented.

Making the Most of an Interview #23T/F- A prospective employer does not hope to trip you up or embarrass you during the interview. #24T/F- When an employer calls you in for a personal interview, they mainly want to hear you talk and see how well you communicate. #25T/F- The person who interviews you will probably be 20 years older and is looking for looking for information along with poise and maturity. #9IC- You can effectively communicate your skills and experience in an interview by being alert, having eye contact, using gestures, and sitting on the edge of your chair. Pay attention to the interviewer’s name and use it occasionally in the interview. This shows that you notice and care about people.

Making the Most of an Interview Remember to be an active listener and show respect to the interviewer. #26T/F- Extending your hand at the end of an interview demonstrates your level of confidence and business awareness. Interviews are sometimes one-on-one with you and your employer, and sometimes you must go in front of a panel of a group of employees at the same time. #27T/F- In a team or panel interview, you should treat every member of the team with the same respect.

Dressing for an Interview In general, dress for the interview in the clothes you would probably wear on the job, or even one step above job attire. #12B- Judith Waters advises that “People take what you wear as information.” #10IC- Some guidelines for dressing for an interview include conservative clothes (not flashy or revealing), polished shoes, proper grooming (controlled hair and makeup with clean fingernails), and matching and proper fitted clothing. Cover tattoos. Don’t wear any loud jewelry. You don’t want anything to take away from your words or skills.

Before and After the Interview #13B- Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early for your interview. Be sure you plan the route you will take to the interview so that you won’t have any avoidable traffic problems. #14B- Going to the interview by yourself shows confidence. Once at the interview, remember to be positive even while you’re waiting. Don’t complain about the traffic or anything thing else. When leaving an interview, thank the interviewer for his/her time and shake hands. #15B- Always follow an interview with a thank you letter. Begin the letter by thanking the interviewer again for meeting with you and restate your interest in the position.

Interview Checklist 1. Do I have copies of my resume? 2. Do I have a list of three references with addresses and phone #’s. 3. Have I made sure I will be on time? 4. Have I dressed neatly and appropriately? 5. Even if I feel tired, can I remember to sit up and look alert? 6. Can I remember not to criticize others, especially past employers? 7. Can I make good eye contact with the interviewer? 8. Can I remember the interviewer’s name and use it in the interview? 9. Can I remember to thank the interview at the end? 10. Have I turned off all electronic devices like beepers and cell phones?

Top Reasons Why People Aren’t Hired 1. Poor personal appearance 2. Overbearing, overaggressive know-it-all 3. Inability to express yourself clearly with proper grammar & voice 4. Lack of planning for career 5. Lack of interest and enthusiasm 6. Lack of confidence and poise—extremely nervous 7. Failure to participate in activities 8. Overemphasis on money 9. Poor scholastic record 10. Unwilling to start at the bottom 11. Makes excuses for poor record 12. Lack of tact 13. Lack of maturity 14. Lack of courtesy 15. Condemnation of past employers 16. Lack of social understanding 17. Marked dislike for school work Survey was completed by 153 companies for Northwestern University.