1. Chapter 8 The Employment Interview

2. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter Summary Choosing a Career Path Analyzing Yourself Doing Your Homework Conducting the Search Preparing Credentials Creating a Favorable First Impression Answering Questions Asking Questions The Closing Evaluation and Follow-Up Summary

3. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Choosing a Career Path Current market trends: Retail at every level Hospitality management Health care in every form Education/training Technology Engineering Preparation is the key to successful employment interviews.

4. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Analyzing Yourself Questions to Guide Your Self-Analysis What are your personality strengths and weaknesses? What are your intellectual strengths and weaknesses? What are your communicative strengths and weaknesses? What have been your accomplishments and failures? Continued...

5. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Analyzing Yourself Questions to Guide Your Self-Analysis What are your professional strengths and weaknesses? What do you want in a position and organization? What are your most valued needs? What are your professional interests? What is your tolerance of risk?

6. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Doing Your Homework Research your field Research organizations Research the recruiter Research the position Research current events Research the interview process

7. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Doing Your Homework

8. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conducting the Search Networking The Obvious Places The Placement Agency or Service Publications The Internet Career Fairs

9. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Doing Your Homework

10. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials Resumes No single resume is suitable for all positions. Content of Resumes Impressive career objectives; phrase them with great care. Your educational record is most important for your first position. Relevant experiences can set you apart from the crowd.

11. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials Resumes Types of Resumes Chronological resume; use action verbs to show that you are a doer. Functional resume; place your experiences under headings that highlight your qualifications.

12. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials

13. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials

14. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials Resumes Mechanics of Resumes Make your resume easy to review. Proofread your resume with great care. Terms and labels are critical in scannable resumes. There is no simple formula for creating resumes.

15. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials

16. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials The Portfolio Your portfolio shows you in action The Cover Letter Design and target letters to specific positions and organization

17. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials

18. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials

19. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparing Credentials Personal Web Sites, Pages, and Blogs Can be useful in professional impression formation Can provide negative information to interviewers Studies show recruiters are influenced by cyber- information about applicants

20. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Creating a Favorable First Impression Relationship of the Interviewing Parties Know how and when to share control of the interview. Understand and adapt to the relationship with the recruiter.

21. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Creating a Favorable First Impression Dress and Appearance Dress for a formal business occasion. Neatness costs nothing and pays dividends.

22. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Creating a Favorable First Impression Dress and Appearance: Advice for Men Be on the conservative side in dress and appearance. Coordinate colors carefully. When in doubt, ask for help.

23. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Creating a Favorable First Impression Dress and Appearance: Advice for Women Appearance should not call attention to itself. Provocative clothing can end your candidacy.

24. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Creating a Favorable First Impression Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is critical in first impressions. Be alive and dynamic. Good communication skills are important in all positions.

25. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Creating a Favorable First Impression Arrival and Opening Be on time and ready to interact. How you handle yourself during the first few minutes with a stranger tells them a great deal about your interpersonal communication and people skills.

26. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Answering Questions Preparing to Respond Be ready to handle traditional questions. Welcome on-the-job questions to show what you can do.

27. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Answering Questions Responding: Successful Applicants Listen, think, and then answer. Effective answers are long on substance and short on puffery. Do not play act; act yourself. Good recruiters detect phoniness. Be informed before replying.

28. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Answering Questions Responding: Unsuccessful Applicants Unsuccessful applicants are passive and cautious. Know what not to do during interviews, and then do not do it.

29. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Answering Questions Unlawful Questions Do not be surprised by unlawful questions. Identifying Unlawful Questions The pressure is on the applicant. Review EEO laws and your rights. Beware of recruiter tricks to get unlawful information.

30. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Asking Questions Guidelines for asking questions Question pitfalls Sample applicant questions

31. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Closing Be aware of everything you say and do. Take and active part in the closing. It’s not over ‘til it’s over. The employer is likely to note everything you do and say.

32. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Evaluation and Follow-Up Remember: the interview is more art than science. Be thorough in your debriefing. Quality applicants write thank you notes.

33. © 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Summary We are undergoing a second industrial revolution that’s moving from a manufacturing to a service and information-oriented society. The best positions in the future will go to those who understand and are prepared for the selection process. You must know yourself, the position, and the organization to be selected for a job. The job search must be extensive. Interviewing skills are increasingly important.