WELCOME ! Preparing for the Interview Career Services Workshop - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WELCOME ! Preparing for the Interview Career Services Workshop Series

Workshop Objectives • The purpose of an interview • Before the Interview: Preparation • Know Yourself: STARs & Elevator Pitches • Different types (formats) of interviews • During the Interview: Presentation • Sample interview questions • After the Interview: Follow-up

Employers Advertise for Technical Skills and Interview for Behavioral Fit Technical Employer’s Skills Your Skills MATCH Job Description Resume Job Posting Job Application Interview Behavioral FIT

Purpose of an Interview Does the COMPANY Do YOU want to want to hire you? accept the position? • CAN you do the job? • Does it meet your NEEDS ? • WILL you do the job? • Is it in line with your VALUES ? • Do you FIT in? • Does it feel like a good FIT ?

Before the Interview: Know the Company • Research the Company • Identify Key Leaders in the Organization • Search for current News and Events • Be familiar with the Industry • Know the Job Description • Know the Exact Location

Before the Interview: Know Yourself • Know Your Values – What are the deal breakers? • Review your Resume • Identify your Key Skills and Behaviors – Match job requirements to your KSAs

Before the Interview: Preparation for Behavioral Questions • Can be asked in any interview format (panel, traditional, group, etc.) • Are are a “fit” for the position and company? • Prepare several examples to illustrate • key traits, characteristics and behaviors • Highlight/quantify a few accomplishments to answer multiple questions

Before the Interview: Know Yourself Prepare Your Accomplishment STARs What’s “Wow” about you? Situation : Open with a brief description of the Situation you were in • Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, How? Task : Explain the Task you had to complete, highlighting any specific challenges or constraints • Deadlines, costs, other complicating factors or issues Action : Describe the specific Actions you took to complete the task; illustrate desirable traits • Initiative, intelligence, dedication, leadership, understanding, and so on Result : Close with the positive Result of your efforts • Include figures to quantify your results when possible

Sample Accomplishment STAR s Q Give an example of a time when you had to use problem-solving to handle a tough situation.  When I started as branch manager, annual employee turnover was 25% (S/T) . I implemented an employee satisfaction survey and suggestion program, established coaching plans for supervisors, and instituted a weekly staff meeting (A) . As a result of these efforts, the employee turnover rate is now 10% (R) . Q Tell me about a goal you achieved and how you achieved it.  I was recruited to revitalize an under-performing sales territory characterized by significant account attrition and needed to reacquire accounts that had left the company within the last six months (S/T) . I developed a contact list for lapsed accounts and initiated contact with decision-makers at each company (A) , of which I reacquired 22% of former customers, resulting in $872,000 in revenue (R) . Sources: Syntax Training & Sterling Career Concepts

Before the Interview: Know How to Know Yourself Communicate Your Message… Your “Elevator Pitch” Create a 30-second commercial, or Template - A “Elevator Pitch” for yourself to use: Your Name _______________________________________________________________________ • During a job interview Your most recent position __________________________________________________________ • During networking event, or What were your major responsibilities? _____________________________________________ a chance meeting with a State an accomplishment that you are proud of from your last job. new contact ____________________________________________________________________________________ You can also use it to: What do you want to do next? • ____________________________________________________________________________________ Clarify your career direction and goals for yourself • Develop your personal Template - B branding concept Remember to: “I am a ____________________________________________________________________ with the (occupation i.e. “sales manager”)  Quantify (%, #) your past bulk of my career involved in ______________________________________________________. accomplishments when (industry/type of work i.e. “medical equipment sales” possible Most recently, I worked at ______________________ as a _______________________________ (Company name) (Job title/role)  Identify a Call to Action – where I ___________________________________________________________________________. (briefly describe duties and responsibilities) How can this person help I find that wherever I have worked, I bring three key strengths to the table: you? _________________________, __________________________, and _________________________. (name and define three strengths used in your work experience) At this time, my future plans are to _________________________________________________. ” (state your future career objective)

During the Interview: Responding to Questions Do’s Don’ts Don’t speak too quickly Listen carefully • • Don’t argue or defend Ask for clarification • • Don’t appear desperate Speak with confidence • • Don’t talk too much Be thorough & concise • • Don’t exaggerate Use your STAR stories • • Don’t be negative Remain positive • • Don’t show up unprepared Show Interest – Ask Q’s • •

During the Interview: Confidence and Lasting Impressions • Smile • Eye Contact • Confident Handshake • Body Language • Attitude is Everything

During the Interview: Dress for Success • Clean • Pressed • Polished • Professional

During the Interview: Types of Interview Formats • Telephone – Cell Phone • Video/Web Conference • Group • Panel • Stress • Traditional

During the Interview: Types of Interview Questions • Getting to know you • Qualifications • Behavioral “I’d rather discuss salary after an offer is made.” • Salary “Are you making me an offer?” “I’m willing to entertain your best offer.” • Illegal • Q’s you should ask EFM - LMI O*NET Florida Choices

During the Interview: Closing with Confidence • Ask the next step in the process • Recap your “ Elevator Pitch ” • Ask for the interviewer’s business card • Smile • Offer a confident handshake • Say “ Thank You ”

After the Interview: Follow-up • Immediately critique the interview • Send a thank-you letter within 24-48 hours • Call to check the status of the process • Continue your job search campaign • Respond positively, even when not offered the job

Review & Wrap-up • The purpose of an interview • Before the Interview: Preparation • Different types of interviews • Sample interview questions • During the Interview: Presentation • Practice : Elevator Pitch • After the Interview: Follow-up

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