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Air District “Spare the Air” “Spare the Air” Work to protect the environment Work to protect the environment Prepare future workers Prepare future workers “Committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment”

Interviewing Skills Why is it important?

Interviewing Skills Improve your interviewing skills Improve your interviewing skills Understanding work place expectations and guidelines Understanding work place expectations and guidelines

Interviewing Skills Research the company Research the company Practice answering sample interview questions (p.19) Practice answering sample interview questions (p.19) - Identify your strengths & weaknesses - Prepare several success stories Come up with 5 questions to ask them Come up with 5 questions to ask them Preparing for an interview

Interviewing Top 10 tips Arrive on time Arrive on time Conduct company research Conduct company research Pay attention to attire and grooming Pay attention to attire and grooming Bring extra resume copies Bring extra resume copies Bring references Bring references Prepare to summarize career objectives Prepare to summarize career objectives Direct eye contact Direct eye contact Express interest in opportunity Express interest in opportunity Listen then answer Listen then answer Be yourself Be yourself

Interviewing “Tell me about yourself.” Prepare a 2 minute response to this popular question. Prepare a 2 minute response to this popular question. Explain your passion, give examples of your abilities, tell why you are interested in the position, etc. Explain your passion, give examples of your abilities, tell why you are interested in the position, etc. 90% of what you say should relate back to the job and why you would do well at it!! 90% of what you say should relate back to the job and why you would do well at it!!

Interviewing Success stories should include: Demonstrating leadership Demonstrating leadership Working as part of a team Working as part of a team Meeting deadlines Meeting deadlines Solving problems Solving problems Making effective decisions Making effective decisions Handling change/criticism Handling change/criticism Triumphs and challenges Triumphs and challenges

Behavioral: Ask about a situation you experienced in the past, such as a problem, and how you solved it Behavioral: Ask about a situation you experienced in the past, such as a problem, and how you solved it Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker… How did you go about resolving the issue… Situational: Ask how you’d respond to a particular hypothetical situation Situational: Ask how you’d respond to a particular hypothetical situation Let’s say you caught a coworker stealing out of the cash register… What would you do… Interviewing Types of interview questions

Motivational: Employers try to gauge your responsibility and willingness to engage in certain activities Motivational: Employers try to gauge your responsibility and willingness to engage in certain activities How willing are you to work nights and weekends… What motivates you in a job… Informal: Questions about the company and the applicant Informal: Questions about the company and the applicant What attracts you to our company… What are your strengths and weaknesses… Tell me about yourself… Illegal Illegal Interviewing Types of interview questions

Interviewing Employers are NOT allowed to ask questions that relate to your personal life. Such as:  Religion  Marital status and number of children  Birthplace  Race or Ethnicity  Age  National origin and ancestry  Sexual orientation (only in CA) *Do not volunteer this info! Illegal questions*

Interviewing Top 10 things to avoid Negative body language Negative body language Rudeness Rudeness Give false impressions Give false impressions Distractions during interview Distractions during interview Falsify info on application Falsify info on application Ignore interview etiquette Ignore interview etiquette Forget prior employer/school info Forget prior employer/school info Forget reference list Forget reference list Forget to send thank you note Forget to send thank you note Ignore follow up call/ Ignore follow up call/

Once you get the job, how much is the job worth? How much are you worth? How much are you worth? Not apologetic Not apologetic Conversational Conversational When are you willing to walk away? When are you willing to walk away?

Benefits What are benefits?

Benefits Benefits are almost never free Benefits are almost never free Deducted directly from paycheck Deducted directly from paycheck Considered part of compensation Considered part of compensation What to Expect From Employers

Types of Benefits Medical Medical Dental Dental Vision Vision Life Insurance Life Insurance Retirement Plans Retirement Plans Cafeteria Plans Cafeteria Plans Employee Assistance Plans Employee Assistance Plans Education Reimbursement Education Reimbursement Training programs Training programs Dependent care Dependent care Day care plans Day care plans Disability insurance Disability insurance Family benefits Family benefits Benefits

Important Workplace Behaviors Positive Attitude Positive Attitude Respect for Others Respect for Others Make Practical Judgments Make Practical Judgments Cooperative & Polite Cooperative & Polite Have Integrity Have Integrity Concern for Customers Concern for Customers Attention to Detail Attention to Detail Dependability Dependability Team Member Team Member Conflict Resolution Conflict Resolution Workplace Expectations

Unacceptable Workplace Behaviors Ineptitude (can’t do the job) Ineptitude (can’t do the job) Tardiness (being late) Tardiness (being late) Sluggishness Sluggishness Dressing inappropriately Dressing inappropriately Goofing off (e.g. playing on the internet) Goofing off (e.g. playing on the internet) Sexual harassment Sexual harassment “Horseplay” (e.g. staple fight) “Horseplay” (e.g. staple fight) Workplace Expectations

Guidelines that define operations in terms of decision making & plan implementation Guidelines that define operations in terms of decision making & plan implementation Serve as a guide for dealing with specific situations Serve as a guide for dealing with specific situations The process in order to accomplish a task The process in order to accomplish a task Often in writing Often in writing –e.g. company handbook Policies and Procedures

Workplace Expectations Overtime policies Overtime policies policies policies Break policies Break policies Complaint policies Complaint policies Vacation policies Vacation policies Equal opp. policies Equal opp. policies Safe workplace policies Safe workplace policies Example Policies Leave policies Leave policies –Annual leave –Sick leave –Family Leave –Military Leave –Sabbatical Leave –Disability Leave –Parental Leave –Court Leave

Workplace Expectations Performance evaluation procedures Performance evaluation procedures Discrimination complaint procedures Discrimination complaint procedures Safety procedures Safety procedures Grievance procedures Grievance procedures Compensation procedures Compensation procedures Disciplinary procedures Disciplinary procedures Promotional procedures Promotional procedures Example Procedures

Protect Yourself Right to safe and clean environment Right to safe and clean environment Right to be respected Right to be respected Right to speak up Right to speak up