1. The Employment Interview
Chapter 8
The Employment Interview
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

2. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Chapter 8 Objectives
Identify the basic methods for successful job hunting
Summarize suggestions for interviewees when preparing for an interview
Identify the phases of a successful interview
Summarize important suggestions for interviewers when conducting an interview
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

3. Investigating the Employment Market
Various job hunting methods show the following rates of success:
Networking – 86%
Cold-calling potential employers – 47%
Asking relatives/friends/acquaintances or college career centers for job leads – 33%
Answering newspaper ads – 5-24%
Using job agencies – 5-28%
Answering an ad posted on an Internet job board – 4-10%
Posting a resume on the Internet – 4-67%
Posting a resume on a social networking site – 3.9%
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

4. Investigating the Employment Market
Aggressive job hunters use multiple methods
You will want to use networking
A network is a web of contacts and relationships designed to benefit the participants by providing leads and referrals
You have to work at getting people to know you
You should be looking for people, not jobs
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

5. Investigating the Employment Market
Before going on any job interview, begin networking by conducting information-seeking interviews
Interview successful people
One way to find contacts is through blogs
For leads, ask your friends, schoolmates, etc.
Serious networking reduces length of a job search
Rule of Three
Three informational interviews or three actual interviews, three , and three letters each workday
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

6. Investigating the Employment Market
Information-seeking interviews should provide you with the following information:
Specific information about the career, job, or company
Feedback on your career goals, resume, interviewing skills, appearance
Names of other people you can contact for further information
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

7. Locate Specific Jobs of Interest
Large number of employers post openings on free sites, their own websites, or on employment websites
Employers search for resumes and applications on employment websites
Job sites can be used for more than just posting your resume or looking for job openings
They are an excellent source of information
Keep in mind that not all jobs are posted
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

8. Resume: Conventional, Scannable, E-mail or Web
The resume is a way of communicating with prospective employer
If properly done, can give you advantage over others applying for the same position
For a resume to work, it has to be really good
Four basic types of resumes
You will want to prepare more than one
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

9. Conventional Paper Resume
Formatted to look attractive and designed to be mailed or handed to reviewer
Cannot be effectively scanned by computers or stored electronically
Decide whether to use a short, one-page resume or a longer, more detailed, two-page resume
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

10. Conventional Paper Resume
Most resumes organized in one of three ways:
Chronological resume
Emphasizes applicant’s work experience in chronological order beginning with most recent
Functional resume
Emphasizes skills and accomplishments
Combination/hybrid resume
Includes both chronological and functional aspects
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

11. Conventional Paper Resume
Include the following information:
Name, address, phone numbers
Objective or position desired
Education
Knowledge
Job experience
Other information
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

12. Conventional Paper Resume
“References available upon request” often include in resume, although list is not included
You should take a list of references with you to interview
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

13. Conventional Paper Resume
Information to avoid:
Hobbies, activities, or interests that do not relate to the job
Past, present, or desired salary
Personal data
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

14. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Scannable Resume
Conventional resume altered to be “computer friendly”
Provides acceptable compromise between conventional paper resume and or American standard code for information interchange
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

15. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Scannable Resume
Usually begins with keyword summary or qualifications summary
Generally include four headings:
Keyword summary
Experience
Education
Professional affiliations and awards
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

16. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Resume
Also called e-resume, plain-text resume, or an ASCII resume
Bare bones resume designed to be pasted into an message
Designed for ASCII and uses only keyboard characters
Main headings
Keyword summary
Experience
Education
Professional affiliations/awards
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

17. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Web Resume
Also called an electronic or e-portfolio
Includes resume, link to conventional resume, and links to additional information showcasing your qualifications
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

18. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Web Resume
Information on Web resume should include:
Name, address, objectives or goal
Link to your ASCII resume
Link to more professionally formatted resume
Design an attractive set of links
Keep all information job related
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

19. Check Resume Content for Accuracy and Honesty
Exaggeration is overstating or presenting facts as more important than they are
Distortion is misrepresenting or twisting facts
Before you send your resume to potential employer, check for the following:
Inflated education, grades, or honors
Enhanced job titles
Puffed-up accomplishments
Altered dates of employment
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

20. Prepare a Letter of Application or Cover Letter
Purpose of letter of application is to give enough information about you and your capabilities so employer will be interested in talking with you
Presents a good first impression
Showcases your communication skills and writing style
Should relate specifically to company and person to whom you are writing
Key to writing a good letter is to place focus on needs or problems or company and what you can do for them
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

21. Have a Positive Attitude
Know that you are a person of worth and integrity with a genuine right to be considered for the job
Adjusting your attitude does not mean you should try to alter your personality or style for the interview
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

22. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
Impression management
Efforts people make to improve how others see them
Once initial impression of interviewee formed, interviewer tends to view remainder of interview as supporting this original view
All three codes contribute to first impressions:
Verbal
Vocal
Visual
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

23. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
Successful applicants often use the following five types of comments:
Describing self in positive manner
Describing past events with positive personal stories
Expressing opinions that agree with interviewer
Claiming personal responsibility for successful past events
Making statements that compliment the company or interviewer
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

24. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
These five comments can be divided into two basic impression-management styles:
Controlling style
Comments focused on self-promotion
Submissive style
Comments focused on interviewer
Controlling style results in more job offers
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

25. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
Vocal sounds candidates make during interviews help form impressions
Researchers have found following:
Variety in pitch and tempo and moderately loud volume add to impression of power and credibility
Pleasant-sounding voice adds to image of attractiveness and likeability
Speaking fairly rapidly and forcefully adds to impression of competence and authority
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

26. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
Interviewers’ decisions more heavily influenced by unfavorable first impressions and behaviors than they are by favorable ones
Especially true of visual impression
Nonverbal behaviors also affect interviewers’ evaluations of applicants
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

27. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
Successful interviewees were most likely to do the following:
Speak rapidly and forcefully
Gesture and smile often
Look directly at interviewer
Nod their head in positive manner
Lean forward while maintaining natural, comfortable position
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

28. Communicate and Dress for the Occasion
Three things interviewers remember most after interviewee is gone:
Eye contact
Appearance
Facial expressions
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

29. Be Prepared for Any Type of Interview
The nonstructured interview
Usually expected to take most of initiative during interview
Expect to be asked open-ended questions and behavioral questions
Interviewer wants detailed, fairly long responses
Anticipate possible questions
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

30. Be Prepared for Any Type of Interview
The structured interview
Everything is planned in advance
Follows standard interview format
Asks same structured questions of all applicants
Interviewer asks many direct and closed questions and wants specific, to-the-point answers
Provide the most direct, forthright answers you can
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

31. Be Prepared for Any Type of Interview
The hostile or stress interview
Interviewer either has low self-esteem and feels threatened or is well organized, experienced interviewer trying to see how interviewee handles stress
Take your time lean back in your seat, and smile
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

32. Be Prepared for Any Type of Interview
The group interview
Becoming more common
Unless you know for sure that your interview will not be a group interview, be prepared just in case
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

33. Be Prepared for Any Type of Interview
The video or virtual interview
Many companies are now screening candidates through a video or virtual interview
Arrive early at the interview site
Familiarize yourself with equipment and camera
Will want to pay special attention to our visual image
Lower camera so it is at eye level when you are sitting
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

34. Be Prepared for Any Type of Interview
Recommended that you:
Speak clearly
Sit straight and make sure you are centered in picture frame
Concentrate on looking up and into camera
Use gestures but avoid excessive movement
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

35. Carefully Plan Answers to Probable Questions
Job applicants should do the following:
Use technical jargon that is common in their field
Use active, positive, and concrete language
Support answers with specific examples
Use humor when appropriate
Describe job weaknesses or physical disabilities in positive manner
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

36. Carefully Plan Answers to Probable Questions
Many questions interviewers ask are standard questions
Designed to determine basic skills and abilities
Another kind of question you may be asked is the behavioral question
Requires you to give examples of your skills or behaviors
SAR
Situation or problem/task
Action
Result or outcome
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

37. Be Prepared with Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Most interviewers will invite you to ask questions
Should be prepared to ask a few
You want to get enough information to decide if you really want this job
Your questions show you are interested
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

38. Be Prepared to Follow Up the Interview
Most interviews end with plan for future action
Make certain you carry out whatever responsibility you have been assigned during interview
If you do not hear from company within reasonable amount of time, , write, or call reconfirming your interest
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

39. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Send a Thank-You Card
Always send a thank-you card after interview
Could be a factor in whether you are called back for a second interview
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

40. Interviewer: Planning the Interview
Keep in mind interviewees prefer interviewers who do the following:
Show high levels of nonverbal immediacy behaviors
Listen to interviewee answers and limit number of interruptions
Ask open questions and allow sufficient time to answer them
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

41. Get to Know the Interviewee Ahead of Time
Read resume and application forms carefully
Look for any problem areas needing follow-up
Review your structured interview format
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

42. Communicating for Results, 10th edition
Plan the Environment
Privacy is essential
Setting should be planned so participants feel comfortable
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

43. Organize the Interview Carefully
Plan the opening phase
Establish rapport
Verify basic information
Motivate applicant
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

44. Organize the Interview Carefully
Plan the question-response phase
Skilled interviewer decides what general areas should be covered in this phase of interview and then plans specific questions for each area
Most employment interviewers organize questions into the funnel sequence
Must keep accurate record of each interviewee
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

45. Organize the Interview Carefully
Plan the closing phase
Will want to make sure interviewee leaves with positive feeling and accurate understanding of what will happen next
Give interviewee chance to ask questions, and thank him/her for time and cooperation
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

46. Ask Only Lawful Questions
Interviewers cannot ask certain questions of applicants during preemployment interviews
Laws based on belief all persons should be able to compete for jobs and advance in job market
Two basic EEOC guidelines to follow:
All questions must be job related
Same basic questions must be asked of all applicants for the position
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

47. Ask Only Lawful Questions
As an interviewer, you must depend on court rulings
It is illegal in the United States to unfairly discriminate in any aspect of employment
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

48. Less Effective Answers to Unlawful Questions
Silence
“That’s illegal”
“I prefer not to answer”
Ignoring the legality of the question and giving a candid answer
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

49. More Effective Answers to Unlawful Questions
“I’m not clear on how that relates to my ability to handle this job”
With sincerity, the applicant asks the same question of the interviewer
Laughter, and then, “Is having children a requirement for this job?”
Communicating for Results, 10th edition

50. Listen Carefully to the Interviewee
Some of the more common errors:
Being distracted by something in environment
Listening only for factual parts of responses
Becoming so overwhelmed by something the applicant says that you miss his or her following comments
Getting upset when applicant uses emotional words
Making snap judgments about applicant’s worth based only on one or two comments
Failing to follow up on important information
Communicating for Results, 10th edition