Some Advices When Applying for a Job (Part 2)
INTERVIEWING
Preparation for the Interview
a. Self-assess interests (know what motivates you), skills and values.
b. Know your career goals and have a plan for achieving them.
c. Research your industry and the organization.
d. Assess how the organization fits within the industry.
e. Know what makes the organization unique.
f. Know products, services and competitors, the organization’s functions, departments, goals, mission, objectives, hiring policies.
g. Know where you can contribute and what you bring to the organization.
h. Develop thoughtful and insightful questions for the interviewer.
i. Be prepared with knowing your salary range, but do not discuss salary and benefits until the employer does.
j. Prepare examples of situations/experiences where you have demonstrated teamwork, leadership, work ethic, problem solving, customer service; doing more than expected of you; and decisions you have made and the results of those decisions.
k. Practice interviewing with a friend, family member or ASU Career Services advisor.
l. Buy appropriate interviewing attire that is professional and fits you well. Make sure everything is well-pressed and shoes are well-shined.
Purpose of the Interview
- For you and interviewer to obtain information from each other.
- For you and the interviewer to evaluate each other to look for fit with the position and the organization.
- For the employer to assess a match between your qualifications, interests and personality.
- For you to present relevant experiences in your responses to questions.
Interview Structure
Introduction:
-> Introductions are made; remember name and title of interviewer.
-> Generally, in the United States, custom expects a firm handshake, eye contact, a smile and words of appreciation for the interview.
-> Interviewer establishes rapport to help put you at ease and provides some basic information about organization and position.
Body:
-> Asking and answering questions is a reciprocal exercise for you and the employer to evaluate fit with the organization.
-> Listen to each question and develop a full, but brief and focused response.
-> Take appropriate time to reflect on the response. If you need a question repeated or restated, don’t be afraid to ask.
-> Convey enthusiasm and knowledge of the organization in your responses.
-> Use body language that is attentive and interested, not laid back and bored/
-> Be mindful of body language that exhibits nervous habits or mannerisms. It’s distracting and the interviewer may have a hard time focusing on your message.
-> Avoid repetitious phrases i.e. “OK,” “you know,” “like,” “yeah”
Closing:
-> What you do and say here may determine whether or not you are hired.
-> Re-emphasize your specific qualities/skills and enthusiasm for the position as well as the organization.
-> Ask questions not previously asked.
-> Obtain information about follow up procedures and time frame for making decisions.
-> Ask when you may contact the interviewer if you have not heard by a pre-determined time.
-> In the United States, custom expects that you close the meeting with a good handshake, good eye contact, a smile and words of appreciation.
-> Reflect on what you could have done better and what you did well after the interview; use this for future interviews.
-> Follow-up with a thank you letter (laser printed, not hand written)
-> May include information you want them to remember or something important that you forgot to mention.
-> Include something that will help the interviewer remember you from all the other.
Employers are looking for…
a. A professional image which includes attitude, grooming, attire, and self-confidence (how you present yourself).
b. Mature behavior and judgment which means accepting responsibility for your actions, either right or wrong.
c. A realistic knowledge of strengths, accomplishments, and weaknesses, your areas that need improvement.
d. Interaction with others – how you get along with others, including peers, teammates and supervisors.
e. Teamwork and how you contribute to teams, resolve team problems, and motivate others.
f. Demonstrated leadership in projects and organizations.
g. Good work ethic, going above and beyond the requirements of the job.
h. Problem solving coping with policies and procedures.
i. Fit with the organizational culture.
j. Academic performance – GPA does matter.
k. Internships, extracurricular activities are important.
l. Communication skills: oral presentations, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills, and writing skills.
m. Computer literacy.
n. Honesty, integrity.
Portfolios
- If you have a portfolio, you may want to use it in your interview. You have several choices as to how to use it.
- May be used in the opening to introduce yourself and/or to let the employer know you have it as a resource.
- Use it to demonstrate skills/accomplishments/results when you answer a question.
- Use it in the closing as a review and/or leave a shortened version with the employer (Never leave originals! Bring a copy if you plan to leave it for further review).
The purpose of behavioral interviewing is
> To evaluate past performance to predict future performance.
>> The more recent the experience, the more reliable it is.
>> Will require specific examples of situations and experiences.
> To ask questions about skills that relate to job functions and performance expectations.
Trait:
I am reliable
I am good with people
I am a leader
Behavioral:
I have only missed one day of work in the last two years
Last week I settled a disagreement between two team members. We were having difficulty with...
I was elected president of my fraternity for my leadership and communication skills, which I used to...
Using the STAR Response
It is imperative that you answer the questions. A behavioral interview question focuses on a time when\'85 or a specific situation where... It requires a specific response, not how you generally have done something. Use the STAR method to construct your response.
Situation, set up the situation without unrelated information to cloud the response.
Task or role that you performed.
Action, telling what you did, why was it appropriate.
Results tell how you made a difference: did you save money? Was the customer satisfied? Did you make it more efficient? What did you learn? Results are qualitative or quantitative.
Be Prepared To:
-- Describe a difficult problem you solved: How did you identify the problem? What were the pros and cons? How did you solve it? (Describes problem solving)
-- Describe a time when you had to motivate another person: What did you do? How did you do it? (Demonstrates leadership)
-- Describe a time when you decided on your own to accomplish a task: What did it require? How did you accomplish it? (Demonstrates initiative)
-- Describe a time you made a bad decision or you wished you had acted differently with a customer. (Demonstrate the results, what you learned and how you did it differently in the future)
BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
> Tell me about yourself
- Needs an opening, body and closing
- Open with appreciation and interest in being there and a brief background on your education/experience as they relate to the position
- Provide specific examples of skills and the results of using them to make a difference
> Tell me about a difficult decision you made?
- Looking for process, what you considered when making the decision
- Alternatives? Timeline/deadlines, quality, budget/monetary issues?
> Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty
- Looking for willingness to do more than the minimum, initiative and energy
- Tells the interviewer what you consider to be more than is expected
> What did you do in a team project that contributed to the teamwork environment?
- How do you make a difference? Management style, leadership
- What are your main contributions to the project? To the team?
- Tells about your interaction with others
> What did you do in your last job to be more effective with your organization and planning?
- Looking at how you organize, plan, prioritize
- Do you consider resources and timelines/deadlines, budget, work quality
- Were others considered?
> What class did you like least and why?
- Maturity is responsibility for one quote actions, the good and the bad, not blaming others
- What did you do to make the class work for your goals, expectations?
> Tell me about a time when you had to bend the rules?
- Demonstrates flexibility, continuous improvement
- Did you use good judgment?
> Tell me about a time when you missed a deadline on an important project.
- What were the causes and what did you do?
- Take responsibility for your actions.
- What did you learn from it and how would you prevent it from happening again?
> What would your references say about you?
- Talk to your references and know what they and your co-workers would say about you.
Source:
http://www.bcg.com/careers/interview_prep/interactive_case/interactive_case_qa_2.jsp?cat=implement2
Preparation for the Interview
a. Self-assess interests (know what motivates you), skills and values.
b. Know your career goals and have a plan for achieving them.
c. Research your industry and the organization.
d. Assess how the organization fits within the industry.
e. Know what makes the organization unique.
f. Know products, services and competitors, the organization’s functions, departments, goals, mission, objectives, hiring policies.
g. Know where you can contribute and what you bring to the organization.
h. Develop thoughtful and insightful questions for the interviewer.
i. Be prepared with knowing your salary range, but do not discuss salary and benefits until the employer does.
j. Prepare examples of situations/experiences where you have demonstrated teamwork, leadership, work ethic, problem solving, customer service; doing more than expected of you; and decisions you have made and the results of those decisions.
k. Practice interviewing with a friend, family member or ASU Career Services advisor.
l. Buy appropriate interviewing attire that is professional and fits you well. Make sure everything is well-pressed and shoes are well-shined.
Purpose of the Interview
- For you and interviewer to obtain information from each other.
- For you and the interviewer to evaluate each other to look for fit with the position and the organization.
- For the employer to assess a match between your qualifications, interests and personality.
- For you to present relevant experiences in your responses to questions.
Interview Structure
Introduction:
-> Introductions are made; remember name and title of interviewer.
-> Generally, in the United States, custom expects a firm handshake, eye contact, a smile and words of appreciation for the interview.
-> Interviewer establishes rapport to help put you at ease and provides some basic information about organization and position.
Body:
-> Asking and answering questions is a reciprocal exercise for you and the employer to evaluate fit with the organization.
-> Listen to each question and develop a full, but brief and focused response.
-> Take appropriate time to reflect on the response. If you need a question repeated or restated, don’t be afraid to ask.
-> Convey enthusiasm and knowledge of the organization in your responses.
-> Use body language that is attentive and interested, not laid back and bored/
-> Be mindful of body language that exhibits nervous habits or mannerisms. It’s distracting and the interviewer may have a hard time focusing on your message.
-> Avoid repetitious phrases i.e. “OK,” “you know,” “like,” “yeah”
Closing:
-> What you do and say here may determine whether or not you are hired.
-> Re-emphasize your specific qualities/skills and enthusiasm for the position as well as the organization.
-> Ask questions not previously asked.
-> Obtain information about follow up procedures and time frame for making decisions.
-> Ask when you may contact the interviewer if you have not heard by a pre-determined time.
-> In the United States, custom expects that you close the meeting with a good handshake, good eye contact, a smile and words of appreciation.
-> Reflect on what you could have done better and what you did well after the interview; use this for future interviews.
-> Follow-up with a thank you letter (laser printed, not hand written)
-> May include information you want them to remember or something important that you forgot to mention.
-> Include something that will help the interviewer remember you from all the other.
Employers are looking for…
a. A professional image which includes attitude, grooming, attire, and self-confidence (how you present yourself).
b. Mature behavior and judgment which means accepting responsibility for your actions, either right or wrong.
c. A realistic knowledge of strengths, accomplishments, and weaknesses, your areas that need improvement.
d. Interaction with others – how you get along with others, including peers, teammates and supervisors.
e. Teamwork and how you contribute to teams, resolve team problems, and motivate others.
f. Demonstrated leadership in projects and organizations.
g. Good work ethic, going above and beyond the requirements of the job.
h. Problem solving coping with policies and procedures.
i. Fit with the organizational culture.
j. Academic performance – GPA does matter.
k. Internships, extracurricular activities are important.
l. Communication skills: oral presentations, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills, and writing skills.
m. Computer literacy.
n. Honesty, integrity.
Portfolios
- If you have a portfolio, you may want to use it in your interview. You have several choices as to how to use it.
- May be used in the opening to introduce yourself and/or to let the employer know you have it as a resource.
- Use it to demonstrate skills/accomplishments/results when you answer a question.
- Use it in the closing as a review and/or leave a shortened version with the employer (Never leave originals! Bring a copy if you plan to leave it for further review).
The purpose of behavioral interviewing is
> To evaluate past performance to predict future performance.
>> The more recent the experience, the more reliable it is.
>> Will require specific examples of situations and experiences.
> To ask questions about skills that relate to job functions and performance expectations.
Trait:
I am reliable
I am good with people
I am a leader
Behavioral:
I have only missed one day of work in the last two years
Last week I settled a disagreement between two team members. We were having difficulty with...
I was elected president of my fraternity for my leadership and communication skills, which I used to...
Using the STAR Response
It is imperative that you answer the questions. A behavioral interview question focuses on a time when\'85 or a specific situation where... It requires a specific response, not how you generally have done something. Use the STAR method to construct your response.
Situation, set up the situation without unrelated information to cloud the response.
Task or role that you performed.
Action, telling what you did, why was it appropriate.
Results tell how you made a difference: did you save money? Was the customer satisfied? Did you make it more efficient? What did you learn? Results are qualitative or quantitative.
Be Prepared To:
-- Describe a difficult problem you solved: How did you identify the problem? What were the pros and cons? How did you solve it? (Describes problem solving)
-- Describe a time when you had to motivate another person: What did you do? How did you do it? (Demonstrates leadership)
-- Describe a time when you decided on your own to accomplish a task: What did it require? How did you accomplish it? (Demonstrates initiative)
-- Describe a time you made a bad decision or you wished you had acted differently with a customer. (Demonstrate the results, what you learned and how you did it differently in the future)
BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
> Tell me about yourself
- Needs an opening, body and closing
- Open with appreciation and interest in being there and a brief background on your education/experience as they relate to the position
- Provide specific examples of skills and the results of using them to make a difference
> Tell me about a difficult decision you made?
- Looking for process, what you considered when making the decision
- Alternatives? Timeline/deadlines, quality, budget/monetary issues?
> Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty
- Looking for willingness to do more than the minimum, initiative and energy
- Tells the interviewer what you consider to be more than is expected
> What did you do in a team project that contributed to the teamwork environment?
- How do you make a difference? Management style, leadership
- What are your main contributions to the project? To the team?
- Tells about your interaction with others
> What did you do in your last job to be more effective with your organization and planning?
- Looking at how you organize, plan, prioritize
- Do you consider resources and timelines/deadlines, budget, work quality
- Were others considered?
> What class did you like least and why?
- Maturity is responsibility for one quote actions, the good and the bad, not blaming others
- What did you do to make the class work for your goals, expectations?
> Tell me about a time when you had to bend the rules?
- Demonstrates flexibility, continuous improvement
- Did you use good judgment?
> Tell me about a time when you missed a deadline on an important project.
- What were the causes and what did you do?
- Take responsibility for your actions.
- What did you learn from it and how would you prevent it from happening again?
> What would your references say about you?
- Talk to your references and know what they and your co-workers would say about you.
Source:
http://www.bcg.com/careers/interview_prep/interactive_case/interactive_case_qa_2.jsp?cat=implement2
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