© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 1

Interviewing Interviewing for Employment and for Employment and

Following UpFollowing Up

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 2

Employment MessagesEmployment Messages

• Application letters

• Inquiry letters

• Application forms

• Follow-up notes

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 3

Tips for Application Tips for Application LettersLetters

• Specify the kind of opportunity

• Know the company and the job

• Withhold salary information

• Keep it short

• Show some personality

• Check grammar, spelling, punctuation

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 4

Types of Application Types of Application LettersLetters

• Solicited

• Unsolicited

– Getting attention

– Building interest

– Increasing desire

–Motivating action

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 5

• Exhibit interest

• Show persistence

• Update application

Application Follow-UpsApplication Follow-Ups

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 6

Employment InterviewsEmployment Interviews

• Organization’s objective–Match applicants with the organization

• Applicant’s objective–Match goals and abilities with the job

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 7

Typical Interview Typical Interview SequenceSequence

• Screening stage

• Selection stage

• Final stage

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 8

Types of InterviewsTypes of Interviews

• Structured

• Open-ended

• Group

• Stress

• Situational• Behavioral• Working

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 9

Interview MediaInterview Media

• E-mail

• Telephone

• Instant messaging

• Virtual online systems

• Videoconferencing

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 10

What Employers Look What Employers Look ForFor

• Fit with the organization– Personality– Background– Style

• Qualifications for the job– Knowledge– Skills– Abilities

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 11

Preemployment TestingPreemployment Testing

• Integrity tests

• Personality tests

• Job-skills tests

• Substance tests

• Background checks

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 12

Preparing for the Preparing for the InterviewInterview

• Learn about the organization

• Think ahead about questions

• Build your confidence

• Polish your interview style

• Plan to look good

• Arrive prepared

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 13

Learn About the Learn About the OrganizationOrganization

The Organization The Opportunity

•Full name

•Location

•Age

•Products

•Industry position

•Earnings and growth

•Overall structure

•Job title

•Job functions

•Job qualifications

•Career path

•Salary range

•Travel

•Relocation

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 14

Planning for QuestionsPlanning for Questions

• Skills

• Goals

• Achievements

• Interests

• Attitudes

• Relationships

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 15

Prepare Some QuestionsPrepare Some Questions

• Are these my kind of people?

• Can I do this work?

• Will I enjoy the work?

• Do I want this job?

• Does the job pay what I’m worth?

• Who will be my supervisor?

• What kind of future can I expect?

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 16

Bolster Your ConfidenceBolster Your Confidence

• Manage your apprehension

• Emphasize positive traits

• Focus on your strengths

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 17

Polish Your Interview Polish Your Interview

StyleStyle• Confidence

• Poise

• Good manners

• Good judgment

– Mock interviews

– Nonverbal skills

– Voice training

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 18

Plan to Look GoodPlan to Look Good

• Conservative clothing

• Appropriate accessories

• Good grooming

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 19

Be Ready When You Be Ready When You

ArriveArrive• Paperwork

• Travel time

• Waiting time

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 20

The Interview ProcessThe Interview Process

• Screening interview

– Differentiate yourself

• Initial selection interview

– Cover your strong points

• Final interview

– Emphasize your personality

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 21

Three Interview StagesThree Interview Stages

• The warm-up

• Questions-and-answers

• The close

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 22

The Warm-Up StageThe Warm-Up Stage

• First impressions

• Nonverbal cues

• Business etiquette

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 23

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

• Asking and responding

• Listening to the interviewer

• Handling personal questions

• Handling discrimination

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 24

Close of the InterviewClose of the Interview

• Concluding gracefully

• Discussing salary

• Reviewing notes

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 25

Following Up Following Up After the InterviewAfter the Interview

• Thank-you messages

• Inquiry messages

© Prentice Hall, 2008 Excellence in Business Communication, 8e Chapter 16- 26

More Follow-up More Follow-up MessagesMessages

• Requesting a time extension

• Accepting a job offer

• Declining a job offer

• Resigning from a job