1. Successful Interviewing
David McMahon ‘69
Associate Director
Experiential Education
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

2. Your preparation for Interviewing
Plan to speak on:
What you know about company and/or job position
Your motivations
Your personality / teamwork
Your area(s) of interest
What you can contribute
Know:
3 reasons why they should make you an offer
Get your message out to the Interviewer
Prepare your questions for the interviewers
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

3. What Impressed Employers Fall 2009
Texas A&M Students were:
Well-prepared
Professional
Polite and poised
Prompt
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

4. “Opportunities for Improvement” - Spring 2010
1. Come to the interview and information session prepared with knowledge about the company, enthusiastic about the opportunity, and prepared questions for the interviewer. The number one suggestion for improvement from employers.
2.   Do not present a “what’s in the job for me” attitude, especially for intern opportunities. Realize that the companies are offering these positions because they have a job that needs to be accomplished.
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5. “Opportunities for Improvement” - Spring 2010
3.     If you already have a job offer with a decision deadline, be sure to share this information with your interviewer. The company wants to know if they need to alter their normal interview sequence and timing in order to be considered as a potential employer.
4. Read the job postings and follow the instructions. If the posting states you need to apply also through their company website, do so promptly. Failing to bring your resume/transcript to the interview when asked to, makes you appear uninterested in the job or lack attention to detail.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

6. “Opportunities for Improvement” – Spring 2010
Another concern was long term commitment. Many students relayed that they were just looking for a "job" or some "experience" for now. Multiple students mentioned other industries when discussing their long term career goals. One student said "the best time to look for a job is when you already have one". Our company, like most companies, is looking for associates to build a long term career with us. I was just caught off guard at the passivity of the candidates.

7. “Opportunities for Improvement” – Spring 2011
Biggest disappointment was total lack of initiative by several candidates to either match their resume to our posting and/or bother to find out something about our company. We made multiple presentations to student groups that are in our target audience. With the accessibility of the internet everywhere, it would take very little effort to review our website and get some understanding of what our company does. Several candidates openly admitting to not looking at our website, YouTube videos, or other information prior to interviewing.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

8. “Opportunities for Improvement” – Spring 2011
Use concrete language and be decisive. Try not to be wishy-washy.
Most employers would rather have a person with a 3.0 GPR that had hobbies, a life out of classroom, shows initiative, is inquisitive, is engaging to talk to, and fits the personality of the company rather than a 4.0 student that has none of these qualities.

9. How Employers “Grade” TAMU Students
common/1 Presentations/Employer Trng/Employers Grade Students Results

10. First Impressions Arrive 5-10 minutes early Dress appropriately
Watch eye contact, handshake, and body language
Don’t chew gum
Talk to Interviewer, dis-connect to connect
Turn off your cell phone
Be honest
Relax & be enthusiastic…be yourself … smile !!
You are ALWAYS being evaluated.
1. Arrive 15 minutes early
2. Speak directly to the interviewer, and look at the interviewer when he/she is speaking to you. Dry firm handshake. Don’t cross your legs and arms. Smile!
3. Pay attention to the interviewer. Be an active listener and instead of responding with prefabricated answers, gauge their inquiries and adjust your answer accordingly.
4. While you are trying to put yourself in the best light possible, it isn’t necessary to exaggerate or go overboard in trying to impress them. Dishonesty or exaggerated claims are often easily spotted and will immediately disqualify you for the position.
5. Do your research and then let the interviewer know that you did your research by asking intelligent questions. Ask about current company projects that you have read about. Ask for clarification about company policies.
6. Your level of relaxation and enthusiasm will often have to do with your level of preparedness. Having an idea of what they are looking for and what you want will make the interview seem much less intimidating.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

11. Research the Company!!!

12. Content: Types of Questions
Traditional
Knowledge of organization and position.
Your motivations and self-perceptions.
Goals and plans to accomplish them.
Situational
“What if …” questions give insight into how you go about resolving an issue and how you think on your feet.
Behavioral
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

13. Basic Premise of Behavioral Interview Questions
Past (predicts) Future Performance > Performance
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

14. What Makes a Good Employee??
Integrity
Ability to work with people
Responsibility
Judgment
Motivation to succeed
Work ethic
Intelligence
Creativity/ enthusiasm
Communications skills
10. Technical competence
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

15. General Answer Format STAR Describe the Situation you were in.
Describe the Task you performed.
What was your Approach to the problem?
What were the Results of your actions?
Be prepared for interviewer to probe for further details.
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16. Employer Comment
I apologize for being so late in responding back to you. GM is using an interview system where they want the answers in the form of:
Situation, Task, Action, Result.
We explained that is how we wanted them to answer the questions and then during their responses asked items like "And the final result was?" and overall none of the candidates did a good job articulating their answers. Granted most of them were Sophomores and probably had not done very many interviews, we were hoping they could be a little more specific in their answers. We interviewed candidates from UT-Arlington and had 3 out of 10 that were very good at answering questions in this format, not sure why the difference.

17. How to Prepare
Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors, or actions, especially involving leadership, teamwork, adaptability, initiative, planning, delegation, innovation, communications, and service.
Prepare short descriptions of each situation and be ready to give details if asked.
Be ready to describe the situation, your action, and the outcome or result succinctly.
Be sure the outcome or result reflects positively on you (even if the result itself was not favorable).
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18. How to Prepare (cont.)
Be prepared to provide examples of occasions when the results were different than expected! Your skill in handling failure as well as success will be probed.
Have 3 – 5 ideas of what you want to do with your degree and what you want to do in mid-term and long-term careers.
Know the organization’s mission, philosophy and goals as thoroughly as possible.
Tell them your goals vs. the company mission.
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19. How to Prepare (cont.)
Be specific. Don’t generalize about several events; give a detailed account of one event.
Don’t blow-off the informational session before an interview
Emphasize your mobility
Involvement implies time/priority management
Be able to speak to every point on resume

20. How to Prepare (cont.) 1 word answers are not good
Give your own answer, not “canned” response
Recruiter is there to hear your story

21. Research the Company!!!

22. Know the Company
“If you won’t take the time to review our website before the interview, why should I take the time to interview you?”
A&M Recruiter
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

23. Skills/Professional Knowledge
Describe how you’ve gone about learning a new skill.
Describe a time when you solved a problem.
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24. Teamwork/Collaboration
Interacting with others can be challenging at times. Describe a situation when you wished you had acted differently with someone.
Describe the best/worse team of which you have been a member.
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25. Adaptability/Flexibility
Tell me about a difficult situation you recently had to manage.
Jobs differ in the extent to which unexpected changes can disrupt daily responsibilities. How do you feel when this happens? Why? Tell me about a time when this happened recently.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

26. Initiative Have you found ways to make your job easier?
Give an example of doing more than is required in your current job/class.
Can you think of some projects or ideas that were sold, implemented, or carried out successfully because of your efforts?
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27. Leadership/Ethics
Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision that was unpopular with the group.
Describe a situation in which your efforts influenced the actions of others.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

28. Planning & Organizing Work Management
Walk me through yesterday (or last week) and tell me how you planned the day’s (or week’s) activities.
Tell me about a time when you had more on you plate than you could handle. How did you get everything accomplished?
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

29. Answer Tips Determine the skills necessary to do the job.
Identify your skills and experience related to the job.
Have brief scenarios about how you used those skills, each illustrating a specific activity or task required by the job. Rehearse, don’t memorize scenarios.
If possible, give the results in quantifiable terms.
Include learning outcomes when results are not favorable.
In a group interview, maintain “face time” with all Interviewers.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

30. Questions You Ask
internsover40.blogspot.com – Nov 23, 2010
Opening Questions: - What is your position with this company? - How much time would you like to allow for this interview? - What position are you considering me for? - What are the key things you'd like to learn about my background?

31. Questions You Ask
internsover40.blogspot.com – Nov 23, 2010
Middle Questions: - What business imperatives are driving the need for this position? - Describe the three top challenges that I'll face in this job? - What are the characteristics of people who are most successful in your company? - What are the key deliverables and outcomes that this position must achieve?

32. Questions You Ask
internsover40.blogspot.com – Nov 23, 2010
Closing Questions: - What additional information would you like me to provide? - What concerns do you have at this point? - When is the best time to follow up with you?

33. Research the Company!!!

34. Bad Answers “Uh, um, hm, hum.” “I have no strengths.”
“I have no weaknesses.”
“I am really smart, and people are intimidated by it. That’s my biggest weakness.”
“I work too hard.”
“I’m a people person.”
“This is the only place that interviewed me.”
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

35. Example of Interview Guideline for College Hires
A candidate can receive one of three possible scores for each question:
0 – Not fully acceptable
3 – Fully acceptable
9 – Superior
All candidates are assumed to be a 0 when the interview begins. The candidate must earn their way up to a 3 or a 9. In other words, they must demonstrate, through their responses to the interview questions, that they are a fully acceptable or superior candidate.
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36. TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE - APPLIED EXPERIENCE
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37. 3 Types of Phone Interviews Companies Initiate
First Call
Initial contact by company. May leave a message. Be sure voice mail message sounds professional.
Short Pre-Screen
Exploring availability, interest, and fit?
Scheduled Phone Interview
In-depth screen. Can last 15 minutes to 1 hour.
Schedule during your “prime time”
Avoid use of cell phones, due to poor signal.
Be prepared to demonstrate connection between your skills and the position.
Develop rapport with recruiter and show interest.
1. Arrive 15 minutes early
2. Speak directly to the interviewer, and look at the interviewer when he/she is speaking to you. Dry firm handshake. Don’t cross your legs and arms. Smile!
3. Pay attention to the interviewer. Be an active listener and instead of responding with prefabricated answers, gauge their inquiries and adjust your answer accordingly.
4. While you are trying to put yourself in the best light possible, it isn’t necessary to exaggerate or go overboard in trying to impress them. Dishonesty or exaggerated claims are often easily spotted and will immediately disqualify you for the position.
5. Do your research and then let the interviewer know that you did your research by asking intelligent questions. Ask about current company projects that you have read about. Ask for clarification about company policies.
6. Your level of relaxation and enthusiasm will often have to do with your level of preparedness. Having an idea of what they are looking for and what you want will make the interview seem much less intimidating.
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

38. Telephone Interview Preparation
Set the Stage
Dress for the interview; it increases confidence
Tape your resume on the wall in front of you
Keep employer research materials accessible
Have notepad to take notes
Keep glass of water nearby
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

39. Research the Company!!!

40. Telephone Interview Preparation
Set the Stage
Place “do not disturb” sign on door
Share importance of call with roommates
Turn off TV and other distractions
Turn off “call waiting” on phone
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41. During the Telephone Interview
Speak clearly & enunciate
Smile; it carries in your voice
Sit straight or stand; it helps voice
Don’t ramble. Recruiter will ask for more information, if wanted
Ask for a face-to-face interview
Don’t interrupt interviewer
Show enthusiasm and interest
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

42. Interview Candidate Evaluations
Enthusiasm?
Knowledge of industry & company?
Succinct & clear answers?
Get their message out?
Expression of interest?
Any follow-up from candidate?
Will this person increase company success?
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43. Did the Student Research the Company????

44. Thank You Notes Hiring Managers Survey
15% reject candidate who doesn’t send note
32% will still consider candidate who doesn’t send note, but have a lower opinion of candidate
25% prefer handwritten note
21% seek typed hard copy note
19% want s followed by snail-mail note
(Source:CareerBuilder.com - Aug 2005)
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

45. Beware of Blogs!!!!
Student contacted for Interview at off-campus hotel. Job did not exist and was a ruse to arrange a meeting with the Student. Trust your instincts, if you become uncomfortable during interview, leave!
77% Employers checking search engines as part of selection process – is yours professional??
35% eliminated students based on “findings”
I\1 Presentations\Behaviorial Interviewing\2011 Fall JDMc.ppt

46. Top ten turn-offs for employers on social networking websites
References to drug abuse
Extremist / intolerant views, including racism, sexism
Criminal activity
Evidence of excessive alcohol consumption
Inappropriate pictures, including nudity
Foul language
Links to unsuitable websites
Lewd jokes
Silly addresses
Membership of pointless / silly groups

47. Aggie Code of Honor
When you sign an employment contract with a firm it is exactly that, a contract.
Don’t accept an offer for employment unless you are serious about it and plan to work for them.
You should not be looking for other employment once you have signed that contract.
It’s OK to ask for a reasonable time extension to consider other jobs.
Reneging hurts not only you, but the reputation of all Aggies interviewing now and in the future.
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48. Top 10 Interview Rules
10. If you spill soup on your tie, don’t lick it off.
9. Send a thank you follow-up note.
8. Evaluate the culture.
7. Answer negative questions before they are asked.
6. When in doubt, mirror the interviewer.
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49. Top 10 Interview Rules (cont.)
5. Never, ever run out of intelligent, informed questions.
4. E4=Energy, Excitement, Enthusiasm, Eagerness
3. See the interviewer’s point of view.
2. Have your “war stories” ready.
1. Do your homework.
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50. So When Do I Start??? Answer: NEVER!!!!
Balding applicant excused himself, returned wearing a hairpiece.
Applicant asked for Interviewers resume to see if he was qualified to interview Applicant.
Applicant phoned therapist for advice on answering specific questions.
Applicant’s alarm went off, apologized, had to leave for another interview.
Applicant challenged Interviewer to arm-wrestle.
Readers Digest, October 2009

51. Research the Company!!!