1. Mastering the Art of Interviewing Career Center

2. Qualifications and the Interview “Was I judged on my qualifications for the job or on how well I performed in the interview?” “Was I judged on my qualifications for the job or on how well I performed in the interview?” Careful preparation and effective communication could give the applicant an edge over the competition and help the applicant get that job. Careful preparation and effective communication could give the applicant an edge over the competition and help the applicant get that job.

3. Advantages to Being Prepared If you know what you want to say ahead of time, you can usually articulate it better. If you know what you want to say ahead of time, you can usually articulate it better. If you know something about the organization to which you are applying, you will have a better idea as to how to frame questions and answers. If you know something about the organization to which you are applying, you will have a better idea as to how to frame questions and answers. Being prepared will give you more confidence and boost your overall performance. Being prepared will give you more confidence and boost your overall performance.

4. How to Prepare: Write out answers to sample questions Write out answers to sample questions Videotapes Videotapes Give answers to friend, mirror, tape recorder Give answers to friend, mirror, tape recorder Attend professional events Attend professional events Practice Interview Practice Interview Mock Interview Mock Interview Research the company or organization that is interviewing you Research the company or organization that is interviewing you Ask people you know questions about the organization you are applying to Ask people you know questions about the organization you are applying to Next comes library and internet research Next comes library and internet research

5. What to look for: Age of the organization Age of the organization Products or Services it offers Products or Services it offers Past and anticipated growth Past and anticipated growth Current problems or needs Current problems or needs Location of plants, offices, and stores Location of plants, offices, and stores Does it have a parent organization or subsidiaries? Does it have a parent organization or subsidiaries? Identify information which coincides with your education, interests, or experiences. Identify information which coincides with your education, interests, or experiences.

6. What to Look For: (cont.) Key people in the organization Key people in the organization Size in terms of sales and employees Size in terms of sales and employees Organizational structure of the company Organizational structure of the company Major competitors Major competitors Reputation Reputation Assets and earnings Assets and earnings Types of customers Types of customers

7. Keep In Mind Why do you want to work for this organization? Why do you want to work for this organization? What interests you about the products or services the organization provides? What interests you about the products or services the organization provides? What do you know about the organization? What do you know about the organization? Why do you think you would like this job? Why do you think you would like this job?

8. Find Out Ahead of Time Salary information: range Salary information: range Nature of the position: duties involved, and how the position fits into the overall structure of the organization Nature of the position: duties involved, and how the position fits into the overall structure of the organization Information about your interviewer: Information about your interviewer: - name, title, pronunciation, and position * When you are finished with your research, draw up a list of questions on the organization or position

9. Review Your Résumé and Portfolio Review your résumé: Review your résumé: -find what you want to highlight in your interview -pick most relevant experiences and note these on a separate piece of paper -note personal strengths or accomplishments not mentioned in your résumé -recall any positive work habits developed at work or in school Review your portfolio: Review your portfolio: -leave only the most relevant examples of your work in it - add any pertinent information -determine how these might be presented during the interview

10. Self-Confidence Mental preparation is just as important as library/internet research. Mental preparation is just as important as library/internet research. A self-confident applicant communicates to the interviewer by demeanor as well as words. A self-confident applicant communicates to the interviewer by demeanor as well as words.

11. The Day Before the Interview Decide what you are going to wear and lay it out. Have all your materials organized and ready to go. Schedule sufficient travel time to allow you 5-10 minutes in the waiting room. * you may want to travel to the location the day before to be sure you know where you’re going.

12. Dress to Impress Men Clean, pressed business suit Clean, pressed business suit Light shirt Light shirt Conservative tie Conservative tie Matching socks Matching socks Shined shoes Shined shoes Clean, trimmed head and facial hair Clean, trimmed head and facial hair Fresh shave Fresh shave Minimal or no cologne Minimal or no cologne No food, gum, or cigarettes No food, gum, or cigarettes Clean nails Clean nails Empty pockets Empty pockets Women Clean, pressed suit or tailored dress Conservative hosiery without runs Polished pumps in good repair Carry either a purse or attache case Attractive, controlled hair style Minimal make-up and perfume Moderate jewelry Clean fingernails with no chipped polish No gum, food, or cigarettes Positive attitude

13. What to Bring: Portfolio Portfolio Extra resumes Extra resumes Transcript Transcript List of references List of references 3-5 key strengths 3-5 key strengths List of questions List of questions Interview portfolio - if you have one Interview portfolio - if you have one

14. Behavior-Based Interviewing (BBI) Behavior-based interviewing is based on the premise that an applicant’s past behavior will predict how he or she will respond in similar situations in the future. Behavior-based interviewing is based on the premise that an applicant’s past behavior will predict how he or she will respond in similar situations in the future. BBI focuses on determining how you, the interviewee, have actively applied your skills. BBI focuses on determining how you, the interviewee, have actively applied your skills. The interviewer is looking for proof that you can demonstrate the desired capabilities in the real world. The interviewer is looking for proof that you can demonstrate the desired capabilities in the real world.

15. The BBI Process The interviewer’s questions will be designed to elicit detailed descriptions from you on how you handled yourself in certain situations. The interviewer’s questions will be designed to elicit detailed descriptions from you on how you handled yourself in certain situations. BBI challenges you to recall (in detail) what you did, thought, and felt in key situations as if you were reliving them. BBI challenges you to recall (in detail) what you did, thought, and felt in key situations as if you were reliving them. This helps the interviewer better understand your thought process, decision-making skills, and emotional state- as well as the results of your actions. This helps the interviewer better understand your thought process, decision-making skills, and emotional state- as well as the results of your actions.

16. How to Respond: You will be expected to give detailed, but focused, descriptions of actual circumstances. You will be expected to give detailed, but focused, descriptions of actual circumstances. Expect to think-often in painstaking detail- under pressure. Expect to think-often in painstaking detail- under pressure. Take your time in formulating your response. Take your time in formulating your response. Be thorough, yet direct. Be thorough, yet direct.

17. Create a S.T.A.R. story Situation : describe an overview of the situation Situation : describe an overview of the situation Task : talk about the task Task : talk about the task Action : describe the action you took Action : describe the action you took Result : positive result Result : positive result

18. Commonly Asked Questions in the BBI Interview Describe a creative/innovative idea that you produced which led to a significant contribution to the success of an activity or project. Describe a creative/innovative idea that you produced which led to a significant contribution to the success of an activity or project. What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role? What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role? Tell me about a suggestion you made to improve the way job processes/operations worked. What was the result? Tell me about a suggestion you made to improve the way job processes/operations worked. What was the result? What are three effective leadership qualities you think are important? How have you demonstrated these qualities in your past/current situation? What are three effective leadership qualities you think are important? How have you demonstrated these qualities in your past/current situation? Give me a specific example of a time when you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the subsequent situation? Give me a specific example of a time when you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the subsequent situation?

19. Stages of the Interview Introductory Stage: 2-5 minutes Introductory Stage: 2-5 minutes Qualification/Background Assessment Stage: 15-20 minutes Qualification/Background Assessment Stage: 15-20 minutes Organizational Information Stage: 10-20 min. Organizational Information Stage: 10-20 min. Termination Stage: 1-2 minutes Termination Stage: 1-2 minutes

20. Introductory Stage Shake hands Shake hands Use interviewer’s name Use interviewer’s name Assure interviewer has resume Assure interviewer has resume Project positive attitude-enthusiasm Project positive attitude-enthusiasm

21. Qualification/Background Assessment Stage Questions regarding goals, objectives, education, experience, interests, activities Questions regarding goals, objectives, education, experience, interests, activities Listen actively Listen actively Watch for cues for feedback Watch for cues for feedback Pride in past performances Pride in past performances Answer complete, clear, concise, true Answer complete, clear, concise, true No “yes” or “no” answers No “yes” or “no” answers

22. Common Interview Questions Tell me a little about yourself: Tell me a little about yourself: Why are you interested in working for this organization? Why are you interested in working for this organization? Why have you chosen this particular field? Why have you chosen this particular field? Describe your best/worst boss. Describe your best/worst boss. What is your major strength/weakness? What is your major strength/weakness? Give me an example of a problem you encountered either in school or at work, explain how you solved it. Give me an example of a problem you encountered either in school or at work, explain how you solved it. Where do you see yourself in three years? Where do you see yourself in three years? Describe an experience in which you worked as a part of a team. Describe an experience in which you worked as a part of a team. If you could be an animal, which would it be and why? If you could be an animal, which would it be and why? What was the last book you read? What was the last book you read? Do you have any questions for me? Do you have any questions for me? More Questions More Questions More Questions More Questions

23. Organizational Information Stage Listen. Listen. Clarify any questions about job- organization. Clarify any questions about job- organization. *What aspects of the job would you like to see improved? * What are the key challenges and/or problems facing the person in the position? *Is there room for professional growth and upward mobility? *When, how, and by whom would I be evaluated? What are the performance criteria? *What is the department’s environment/culture like? Prepare 3 Thought-Provoking questions. Prepare 3 Thought-Provoking questions.

24. Questions to Ask How do you like working for XYZ organization/company? How do you like working for XYZ organization/company? How are new projects or jobs determined or evaluated? How are new projects or jobs determined or evaluated? Tell me about your background and how working at XYZ has helped satisfy your career desires. Tell me about your background and how working at XYZ has helped satisfy your career desires.

25. Termination Stage Briefly summarize your strongest qualifications Express enthusiasm for the job Make certain you understand the next step (follow-up interview, etc.) Thank the interviewer *Make sure you have the interview’s name and address so you can send a thank you letter.

26. Interviewing Rule of Three List three strengths List three strengths List three weakness List three weakness List three reasons why an employer should hire you List three reasons why an employer should hire you List three reasons why you want the job List three reasons why you want the job

27. Interview Checklist Research Research Practice Practice Be prompt and prepared Be prompt and prepared Act professionally Act professionally Converse Converse Be enthusiastic Be enthusiastic Thank the interviewer Thank the interviewer Follow-up Follow-up Write a thank you letter to anyone you have spoken to Write a thank you letter to anyone you have spoken to Review the interview process and your performance Review the interview process and your performance Evaluate Evaluate

28. Thank You for Coming! Career Center 201 Behmler Hall 589-6065http://www.morris.umn.edu/services/career/