Interviewing Skills 1
-
Upload
gaurikajoshi -
Category
Documents
-
view
222 -
download
0
Transcript of Interviewing Skills 1
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
1/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
The Ins and Outs ofInterviewing
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
2/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Interviewing-What is it?
- A structured
meeting between
you and an
employer
- Interviewing is a
skill- like ridingyour bike
- PRACTICE makes
PERFECT
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
3/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Interviewing is a two-way street
- Employers are
attempting to
determine if you
are an
appropriate fit
for the job andtheir culture
- You decide if the
environment is
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
4/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Types of Interviews
Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or tonarrow the pool of applicants
One-on-One: most common interview style andincorporates you with the potential employer
Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interviewyou at once
Meal: used to see how you interact or function in asocial setting
Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to geta tour of the facility, meet the staff, and
additional questioning from different employees
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
5/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Pre-Interview Preparation
Research position, company, & industry
Know yourself and be able to articulate
skills, strengths, accomplishments, and
career goals
Prepare necessary materials (Copies of
resume, references, portfolio/pen, palm
pilot or organizer, breath mints)
Ask for directions and where to park
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
6/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Arriving
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of
time to arrive at your destination(you may want to conduct a dry run
prior to your interview day)
Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early atthe site to allow you to park, walk to
the interview, use the restroom, or
just gather yourself
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
7/24Saint Louis University Career Services
Greeting & Introduction
Only 1 chance to make a
good 1st impression
Dress appropriatelySmile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshakeRemain poised and
confident
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
8/24Saint Louis University Career Services
Body Language:
What signals are you sending? Positive Signals
Leaning forward =
interest
Smiling = friendly
Nodding = attentive
and alertEye contact = curious
and focused
Negative Signals
Crossed arms =
defensive
Fidgeting hands or
tapping feet = nervous
or boredLack of eye contact =
untrustworthy
Leaning back=
discomfort
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
9/24Saint Louis University Career Services
Types of Interview Questions
Standard or
traditional- targeting your
education, work
experiences, andcareer goals
Sample Questions
Tell me about yourself?
What is your greateststrength? Weakness?
Why did you choose to
interview with us?
What did you like mostabout your last job? Least?
What are your short and
long term career goals?
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
10/24
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
11/24Saint Louis University Career Services
Types of Interview Questions
Inappropriate or
unethical questions
- Questions which probeinto your private life or
personal background- Questions about your
ethnicity, religion,
sexual orientation,
disabilities, marital
status
Sample Questions
How old are you?
Do you have
children?
Do you have adisability?
What religion do
you practice?
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
12/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Types of Interview Questions
Questions asked by
the interviewee
To determine if you
are an appropriate
fit for the company
and position,prepare a list of
questions for the
interviewer
Sample QuestionsWhat type of assignmentscan I expect within thefirst year?
What do you like most aboutthis company?
What is the biggest
challenge facing thisdepartment right now?
What skills are you lookingfor in this position?
What is the next course of
action?
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
13/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
General Interview Strategies
-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your
experiences-Master the art of storytelling-Provide specific and concrete examples of
your results/accomplishments
-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and
confident throughout the interview process
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
14/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
General Interview Strategies
Remember an interview is a formalconversation--avoid filler words like Um,
Ah, & You knowAvoid indecisive phrases like: I think, Iguess, probably, or pretty good
Think before speakingAvoid long verbose answers--limit yourresponse to 1-2 minutes
If you do not hear or understand a question,ask them to re eat or clari it or ou
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
15/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
General Interview Strategies
Remain calm,
relaxed, and be
yourself
Try to focus on the
message you are
trying to convey--NOT how well you
are doing!
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
16/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Dressing for Success-Men
Suit-Single or double
breasted
Polished shoesSolid white shirt
Conservative tie
Neatly groomed hair,beard, and mustache
Avoid strong colognes,
earrings, and body
piercing
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
17/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Dressing for Success-Women
Pant or skirt suit
Pumps with small to
medium heels
Light makeup,
perfume, and
jewelry
Wear neutral color
hosiery
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
18/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
FOLLOW-UP
Ask good questions
Thank the interviewer
Request a business card
Inquire about next steps in the process
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
19/24
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
20/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Final Thoughts
Remember that only 15% of thesuccess of an interview is out of yourcontrol
Take some time to reflect
- Overall, how well did I do? - What went well? - What steps can I take next time to
improve?
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
21/24
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
22/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Need additional help?
Call (314) 977-2828 oremail [email protected] to
schedule a mockinterview
Stop by during our walk-inhours to meet with a
peer advisor if you have aquick question
Schedule an appointmentwith a career counselor if
you have a concern aboutyour career or ob search
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
23/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
.Why did you join the hotel and tourism sector?
There are two things that you can touch upon as an answer to this question. Thefirst relates to the statistics regarding the sector. Tell your interviewers that it
is a dynamic sector that is growing at a rapid pace and you want to be in the
middle of the boom, the excitement and the energy.
However, before saying so, make sure that you have the required data to support your claims. What is
the growth rate of the industry? What is the size of the industry? When did the boom start? Who
says there is a boom? Basically, doing your homework well is advised in case you want to wax eloquent
on the hotel and tourism industryThe other aspect that you should always touch upon as an answer to this question is how you and your
personality are well suited to this sector. Convince the interviewers that you are made for the industry and the industry is made for
you. Talking about basic traits like people skills, patience, ability to work under pressure
etcetera, which are prerequisites to succeeding in the hospitality and tourism sector and
how you excel at all these, should constitute a good answer.
What are the various sectors in the hotel industry? Why are they important?Knowing your text books well always helps, especially when you are faced with questions like
-
8/6/2019 Interviewing Skills 1
24/24
Saint Louis University Career Services
Talk about the different sectors like house keeping, accounting, maintenance, public relations, security,
sales, food and beverages, front office and accounting and give brief descriptions if asked. Say
something about how each one is important for the proper functioning of a hotel.
We get a lot of irate and angry customers. How do plan to deal with them?
Any hotel or tourism institute worth its salt spends a lot of time teaching its students about dealing with
tough customers. Checking your textbooks for answers is a good idea, but please manage to do so before
the interview takes place. If you know somebody in the industry, then it would be a good idea to speak
to him or her and ask about how such situations are handled real time, in the real world. If you can base
your answer on these inputs, then nothing to beat it. If you have time, then give an example or two
about how you dealt with an angry or bad customer in the past with tact, politeness and firmness.
Suppose you have to plan a business meeting or a party for some clients. How will you go about
the task?
This seems like a simple enough question, but it is more like a trick question. Many interviewees,
either due to anxiety, or because of the overconfidence that comes from being asked such a
simple question, mess this up by missing out an important step of the process. Think this out
carefully, remember everything that you have been taught or have done and then answer this
question slowly and methodically, convincing your interviewers that you can handle a situation
under pressure well.