You’re Hired ! Presented by: Bruce Schnaith, VP of Workforce Development Services Easter Seals Crossroads Marjorie Mansfield, Manager of Employment Programs Easter Seals Crossroads

Research the company Your objective is to understand what the company does; how they do it; why they do it; and for whom. Then you can plan your strategy for convincing them you are the best candidate for the job! Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Ways to research the company  Check out the company web site  Talk to others who work there  Visit the company before the interview Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

What should you try to find out?  What services does the company provide?  What products do they make?  What are the goals of the company?  Do they have a mission?  Who is their target market?  Who are their customers? Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Develop a list of questions to ask  Now that you know more about the company and hopefully the job, you can develop good questions to ask during your interview  Write these down and take them to the interview  Wait for the employer to ask you if you have questions  This shows the employer that you took the time to learn about the company, that you have taken the time to prepare, and in general that you CARE about the interview and the job Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Practice, Practice, Practice  Research some common interview questions and prepare your responses  Be prepared to explain your reason for leaving previous jobs; gaps in your work history; and criminal history if you have it  Practice interviewing with someone or in front of a mirror Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Types of Interview Questions Behavioral: Requires specific examples of past experiences that demonstrate the skills the employer is looking for Example: Give me an example of a time when you had to address an angry customer. Prepare by coming up with descriptive example for certain skills and competencies. Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Types of Interview Questions Situational: Asks how you would handle a hypothetical situation. Example: How would you sell our product to a resistant customer? Prepare by drawing on similar situations you have dealt with in the past. If you can’t think of a applicable work example, try to come up with skills you have used in other situations in school, volunteer or even personal life experiences. Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Types of Interview Questions Technical: Tests your knowledge of information related to your educational or vocational background or specific skill areas. Example: Can you tell me the process for setting up a desk top computer work station? Prepare by reviewing texts books, training manuals, etc. Preparing for Your Interview

Plan Your Wardrobe  Find out what the work attire is at the company and then plan to wear an outfit that is appropriate  “Dress for the job you want, not the one you are interviewing for”  Make sure you have all of the necessary accessories such as socks, shoes or a belt  Have your outfit clean & pressed the day before your interview  Try it on if you haven’t worn it in awhile to make sure it still fits Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Resume & References  Prepare extra copies of your resume and take them to the interview  Identify 2 or 3 references and write them down on a separate document to take to the interview  Make sure you have permission to use the references and that you have the correct contact information for them Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Essential information to obtain when setting up your interview:  Exact address, floor, room number  Name & title of the person who will conduct the interview  What you need to bring  Will you need to complete an application  Will you be taking any tests Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Getting to the interview  Determine the location of the interview (make sure to ask all necessary questions when setting it up)  Confirm your transportation – planning to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early  Take a “practice run” if you are unfamiliar with the location, driving or bus route Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

Group Discussion Questions to ask in an interview Questions NOT to ask in an interview Do’s and don’ts for interviewing Preparing Ahead for Your Interview

o Put the interviewer at ease with you and your disability o Look at it as an opportunity to educate them on your disability Successfully Navigating the Interview

Disability Disclosure – Guiding Principles  Describe yourself by your job qualifications Stress Ability – not disability  Do not volunteer negative information  Avoid medical terms – use functional descriptions  Stress current, positive activity & experiences  Stress you are in charge and in control of your life Successfully Navigating the Interview

Disability Disclosure – Guiding Principles Factors in deciding when to disclose – before, during or after the interview:  Is my disability visible?  Will I require accommodations for the interview itself?  Will I require accommodations to perform the job? Successfully Navigating the Interview

Disability Disclosure Strategy  Script your disclosure before the interview  Practice your script until you are comfortable  Be positive and focus on what you can do  Emphasize these 3 points: I will be reliable I can do the job as well as anyone else I will be an asset to the company Successfully Navigating the Interview

Understand the basic tenants of the ADA as it relates to employment  Essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodation.  Equal treatment and opportunity – not preferential. Successfully Navigating the Interview

Disability Discrimination  Examples of discrimination  Questions…. Discrimination or not?  What to do now if you’ve been discriminated against? Successfully Navigating the Interview

Guidelines for explaining gaps in your work history  Be honest  Be brief  Explain why or how the situation that prevented you from working before is different now  Script your explanation and practice  Emphasize why you are fully capable of working now  Consider if / when you should initiate the conversation Successfully Navigating the Interview

Explaining criminal history  Be honest  Be brief  Be accountable – no blaming!  Tell why you are no longer that person and what you learned from the experience  Script your explanation and practice Successfully Navigating the Interview

Guidelines for recognizing and handling inappropriate questions:  Know legal verses illegal topics  Be calm and be patient.  Don’t confront or make accusations.  Rephrase what you think they are really asking Successfully Navigating the Interview

Should I use an advocate during the interview? Considerations: Am I able to clearly articulate my skills, abilities and strengths? Will I be too nervous to do so? Can I answer the tough questions on my own? Am I prepared and able to talk about and negotiate accommodations or assistive technology that I will need to do the job? Will I need a job coach for the orientation, training or for on-going support? Successfully Navigating the Interview

Closure of the interview  Always thank them for their time and consideration.  Leave with a last positive statement.  Ask about next steps in the interview process.  Ask about the timeline for a hiring decision.  Ask for a business card. Successfully Navigating the Interview

Small Group Activity: Group 1: Practice disclosure Group 2: Practice explaining a gap in work history Group 3: Practice handling an inappropriate or illegal question Successfully Navigating the Interview

Thank you letters Follow up calls or s How to handle a rejection…. Your goal is to leave the door open for future opportunities Follow-up After Your Interview

Review participant Objectives Q & A ? Session Summary