1. KEITH MUNSON, CAREER SPECIALIST STROMMEN CAREER AND INTERNSHIP CENTER LL OF ANDERSON HALL Interviewing Essentials

2. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Set the agenda Interview Structures-what to expect Why Behavioral Interviewing Story telling and STAR Small group practice Questions and remaining ideas Topics for additional learning Agenda

3. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu First round interviews (screening interview)  Typically 30-45 minutes; sometimes an hour  Typically with one or two people 1 st round structure  Small talk (brief)  Questions for you  Time to ask questions  The Closing On Site Interviews are a series of interviews throughout longer period of time What to expect...

4. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Questions about your background  Tell me about yourself  Walk me through your resume Questions about your education and goals  Why Augsburg?  Why your major?  What do you hope to do? Behavioral based questions  Situations that demonstrate a trait of skill. What to expect...

5. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Your Story

6. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Tell me about yourself One chance to control/focus the interview There are certain topics to include that will make your response more effective Avoid personal background; focus on topics relevant to the job 2 minutes in an interview; 30 seconds as an elevator pitch Take 5 minutes to develop your “story”

7. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Start with your undergrad degree Describe your path  What experiences have you had along the way?  How do they relate to the role for which you applied?  What transferable skills run throughout?  Explain reasons for moves/transitions.  When/how did you decide to pursue this career?  What do you hope to do going forward?  What do you have to offer? Tips for “tell me about yourself”

8. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu PAST BEHAVIOR OR EVENTS FUTURE BEHAVIOR Why behavioral interviewing?

9. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Examples:  Describe the last time you had to lead a team to solve a complex problem.  Tell me of a time when you needed to influence a group or individual.  Describe a project you managed from start to finish. Skilled Interviewers will follow-up with several probing questions as you answer. Interviewers want stories….. What does behavioral interviewing look like?

10. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Just enough details to give the listener a picture of what you were doing or how you work Concise enough to demonstrate your point  includes important details  excludes unimportant details Not too short; not too long There’s a character that the listener needs to “see” in action Leave enough for the interviewer to ask follow up questions…don’t start with the whole story Interview story telling

11. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu S.T.A.R. technique is ONE tool: S ituation-What was happening? T ask (goal)-What were you trying to accomplish? A ction-What did you specifically do? R esult-What was the outcome? How did your work affect the organization or situation? S.T.A.R. Prep

12. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Let’s Practice Using the S.T.A.R. prep sheet, develop a “story” around the question, “tell me about a time you worked on a team and the role you played within that team”. Take about 10 minutes to develop your story Take 5 minutes to pair up with a classmate and tell your story Have your partner use the S.T.A.R. evaluation form to give you feedback (5 minutes)

13. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Observations? What did your partner do well? What, if any, part did they miss? What was the most difficult part to tell?

14. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Is the story too long; too short? What are the themes you heard in their story  Any skills keep appearing?  Any characteristics stand out? Did their decisions make sense to you? Do you have a sense of what they’ve done? What are their strengths? Confidence, focus on strengths (not gaps) Observations...

15. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Commons pitfalls of new interviewers: Don’t give enough details for the interviewer to understand what was going on Don’t give enough detail about what you actually did: many spend too little time on the “A” Do not discuss the results of their work/actions; spend too little time on the “R” or forget it all together Give too many details about the situation; too much time on the “S” Any a question with a story that isn’t related

16. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Common pitfalls of new interviewers Responses sound memorized; not enough practice OUT LOUD Responses don’t seem natural/conversational

17. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Focus on your strengths Don’t be afraid to address your “gaps” Make your story relevant to that company, industry, function, role Note about Liberal Arts Two approaches Final tips

18. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Marketing the liberal arts: Employers want:  Communication Skills (written & verbal)  Honesty/Integrity  Teamwork Skills  Strong Work Ethic  Analytical Skills  Adaptability  Interpersonal Skills  Motivation/Initiative  Computer Skills  Detail-orientation  Organizational Skills  Leadership Skills  Self-Confidence Liberal Arts teaches:  SEE PREVIOUS LIST

19. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Start with writing if it helps Move to bullet points of most important points Rehearse-over, over, over Ad lib story to different speakers Adjust story to answer several questions, but make sure you answer the question! Practice out loud, not just in your head! Final Tips

20. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Use pauses to think of your response. Take a drink of water/coffee to give yourself a second to think. Use behavioral examples, even if interviewer isn’t asking for them Describe how you would handle a situation if you have not yet faced it. Others? Final Tips

21. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Evaluate your presentation (from your point-of- view) Learn from your experience Final Tips

22. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Arrive early Introduce yourself Be professional Watch your eye contact and body language May bring and use your portfolio Leave your cell phone at home! Answer questions Ask questions Do not bring up salary or benefits Get business cards Close the interview Interviewing Tips

23. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Men  Well fitting suit  Pressed shirt (white, off- white, gray)  Conservative colors (gray, black, navy)  Professional hairstyle  Little cologne, jewelry  Traditional tie  BLACK dress socks  Portfolio, NO BACK PACK Women  Well fitting suit  Conservative colors (gray, black, navy)  Professional hairstyle  Little perfume, jewelry, or make up  Knee length, If wearing skirt  Avoid high heel shoes  Sheer hosiery  Portfolio, NO BACKPACK Dressing for the interview

24. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu I’d like to thank you for your time today. I’ve really enjoyed talking with you and would like to reiterate my interest in this position. The things we have discussed today have made me more interested than ever. And with my background in training employees and managing projects, I know I can contribute right away. I hope I have the opportunity to talk with you again about this job and I hope you give me a chance to demonstrate my abilities in this internship. Thank you again. Sample closing statement

25. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu Know what to expect. Be prepared. Rehearse. Tell good stories. Learn from the experience. You have to be prepared! Sum it all up:

26. HTTP://CSWL.PBWORKS.COM/ RESUME RUBRIC

27. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu

28. Strommen Career & Internship Center munsonk@augsburg.edu 612-330-1167 http://cswl.pbworks.com/munsonk@augsburg.edu