Professional Interviewing 101 Brought to you by: University Career Center UC Phone: (210) HireRoadrunners.com

Interviewing – What’s Involved  Research  Dress & Appearance  Introduction / First Impressions  Answering Questions  Asking Questions  Closing & Follow-up

Research Preparation is the most important part of interviewing. Researching the organization you’re interviewing with is a critical part of that preparation. Employers want to know why you want to work for them and they will probe your knowledge of the job and their organization. Plus, don’t you want to know as much as possible about the organizations you’re considering going to work for?

Appearance The majority of any interview is visual. That visual impression starts with the way you dress. Also, remember the competitive nature of interviewing – only 1 in 10 interviews results in a job offer. It’s not enough to dress okay – you have to do better than your competition! Now, let’s review some specifics about professional interview dress…

Appearance

EVERYONE:  Minimum of jewelry  Avoid excesses of cologne & perfume  Watch the accessories! Take nothing more than a conservative business portfolio A small, businesslike purse is okay for females

Introduction NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Handshake Eye-contact Posture Hand gestures SMILE!

Interviewing Methods & Techniques There are many different methods and settings for conducting interviews: Phone Interviews Panel Interviews Lunch Interviews One-on-one Interviews

Behavioral Interviewing Definition of Behavioral Interviewing: Interview technique in which candidates are asked to give specific examples of how they have performed in the past in certain job-related (competency) situations. Theory of Behavioral Interviewing: A person’s behavior does not fundamentally change over the course of their adult life. The way they have performed in the past in certain areas is a good indicator of how they will perform in similar areas in the future.

Behavioral Interview Questions “Tell me about a major project you recently handled.” “Describe a time when you had to work closely with others to accomplish a task.” “Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic.” “Tell me about a time you worked long hours or put in extra effort to get something accomplished.” “Provide me with an example that shows you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments.”

Behavioral Interviewing  In a Behavioral Interview, the questions you will be asked will depend upon the “core competencies” of the job you are interviewing for.  “Core competencies” are specific skills and abilities which are essential to successfully perform the functions of the job.  Core competencies will be different for every job; therefore, interview questions will vary.  Regardless of the questions, two things are key to success in answering behavioral interview questions…

Behavioral Interviewing KEYS TO SUCCCESS 1.Give specific answers. Interviewers are not looking for vague, general answers. 2.Give successful answers. Examples of failure won’t cut it! Your examples must demonstrate that you have successfully performed in the “core competency” area in the past.

Answering Behavioral Questions  A technique which will help you better answer questions is the C.A.R. method: C = Circumstance A = Action R = Result

Behavioral Interviewing  Don’t underestimate yourself! You do have experience!  In answering questions, you can give related examples from many things you have done. Especially effective are examples drawn from: Internships Student Organizations Classroom work / projects Athletics participation Don’t box yourself in – work examples are best, but examples drawn from other things you’ve done can be just as effective!

Asking Questions After the interviewer has completed their questions, they will probably ask if you have any. Your answer will be… Asking questions shows an interest in the company and the job, and is a great means of sending some positive vibes about yourself to the interviewer. YES!

Guide to Asking Questions 1.Limit to 3 or 4 questions 2.Script your questions out in advance 3.Be positive and focus on the future, your career goals, and your knowledge of the company. 4.Remember your questions will tell the interviewer things about you – send positive vibes! 5.The interview – for you – is NOT a fact-finding mission, it’s a sales presentation. Do your fact- finding during your initial research, not during the interview.

Sample Questions  What is the work schedule? Are nights and weekends involved?  With great performance where can I be with your company in 5 years?  What’s your turnover rate?  Can you tell me more about your career with _____________?

Dear Ms. Crane: I wanted to take a moment and thank you for our interview today. After speaking with you, I am even more enthusiastic about a career with XYZ Company. I look forward to the next step in the process. In the meantime, please let me know if I can answer any other questions or provide any additional information. Thank you again for the interview. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Morris Ellington

Final Tips  NEVER be late to an interview  Go out of your way to be friendly and respectful of everyone you interact with  Don’t get down or frustrated if you don’t get a job – success depends on persistence and perseverance  BE PREPARED! Interviewing is all about the preparation!

Upcoming Events!  Professional Development Workshops 13 scheduled this summer –  Professional Interviewing 101  Resume Writing  Second Life Orientation

Handouts  Handouts covering all the presentation materials are available at: HireRoadrunners.com

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THANK YOU and Good Luck! University Career Center UC Phone: (210) utsa.edu/careercenter