Interviewing skills

INTE

RVIEW

ING S

KILLS

AGENDA

1. Types of Interviews

2. Pre-interview preparation

3. During an Interview

4. After Interview

5. Suggestions and Final Tips

Types of Interviews

• Phone: for initial screening to narrow down the number of candidates

• One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you with the potential employer

• Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once

What do you have to do?

Before Interview

During Interview

After Interview

Before Interview

DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARE LINING UP FOR THE SAME POSITION

WHICH MEANS…

YOU NEED TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

IT STARTS WITH YOUR MENTAL MINDSET

YOU HAVE A CHOICE…


½ empty


½ empty

½ full


½ empty

½ full

This is a Loser’s mentality


½ empty

½ full

This is a Loser’s mentality

This is a winner’s outlook

IT IS LIKE A FIGHT

Remember! Interviewing is a skill.Practice makes perfect!

BEFORE THE FIGHT

Know Yourself

Articulate your skills, strengths, accomplishments, and career

goals

WHEN you are invited to an interview, the interviewer

believes you may be a good match for the job so wants to

know for sure

Know your CV

BEFORE THE FIGHT

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice; don’t rehearse or try to memorize

Mock Interviews with friends/family on job interview questions

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm

BEFORE THE FIGHT

Arrive Early

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

solid color

Polished leather shoesConservative tie

Belt

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Dark socks

Neatly

groomed hair,

beard, and

mustache Avoid strong colognes

Neatly trimmed nails

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Solid colors

Professional hairstyle

less colored scarf

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Neatly manicured clean nails

Light makeup

Light or No jewelry

During Interview

There is ONLY one chance to make a good

first impression

CREATE A GOOD IMPRESSION

GREETING AND INTRODUCTION

• Extend your hand to shake hands with

the interviewer Good, firm handshake

• Wait until you are offered a chair before

you sit down

• Relax

• Repeat names

• Strong eye contact


• Wear a confident smile

• Keep your jacket on

• Most interviewers decide whether or

not they are going to hire you within

the first three minutes of the

interview, so you see the importance

of good greeting!


• Greeting: “Hello” or “Good Morning”

• Your name: “I'm….."

• The reason you are here: “ I have got

an interview"

• Time of the interview: “at 2:00”

REMEMBER!!

You never get a second chance to make a good

impression.

SO,

Be different, be impressive.. It’s like an advertisement!

Positive Signals

BODY LANGUAGEWHAT SIGNALS ARE YOU SENDING?

Leaning forward = interest

Smiling = friendly

Nodding = attentive and alert

Eye contact = curious and focused

Positive Signals


Looking around and

at the other person

Arms and Legs open


Negative Signals

Looking down or away = Fear and nervousness

Crossed arms = defensive


Fidgeting hands or tapping feet = nervous or bored

Negative Signals

Leaning back= discomfort

Types of Questions

Standard or Traditional

targeting your education, abilities, work experience, and career goals

Sample QuestionsTell me about yourself

What is your greatest strength/weakness?

Why did you choose to interview with us?

What did you like most/least about your last job?

What are your short and long-term career goals?

TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

Your key accomplishments at previous jobs or college

The strengths demonstrated by those accomplishments

How these relate to the job for which you're applying

ANSWER: STRENGTHS

Hardworking As I am a hardworking person it is helping

me in completing tough tasks

Team Person As a team person I could understand every

one’s feeling and have an opportunity to understand others’ mentality

Openness to change This helps me to adapt to the given situation

BE READY FOR…

“Your greatest Weakness”

The best way to answer this question is to pick out a

negative that you might really possess but that could also be

seen as a positive .

ANSWER: WEAKNESS Perfectionism Where ever I am going and

what ever doing I would prefer perfection in my work.

Ambitious As an ambitious person I am

looking for knowledge in everything. If the organization is not up to my expectation I cant do full `fledged work

Intolerant to Dishonesty I do not support any one who is dishonest

So this gives me an opportunity to give my full effort to the company reputation

Behavioral Questions

- These focus on your actions and/or behaviors in a previous setting.

- Past behavior provides clues to future behavior

Sample Questions

Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision?

Tell me about a time you worked under a deadline?

What do you do when a team member is not pulling his/her weight?

Think about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?

TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

ANSWER: BEHAVIOURAL

The Situation in which it occurred

The Action you took

The Result S T

A R

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 Questions

What type of assignments can I expect within the first year?

What do you like most about this company?

What skills are you looking for in this position?

What is the next course of action?

QUESTIONS

“How to Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview”

After Interview

“DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?”

• Thank the interviewer

• Request a business card

• Inquire about next steps in the process

• Ask some question related to the organization

environment and/or job description

FOLLOW-UP

Send a thank you note within 24 hours

Letter may be handwritten or typed; e-mail is also

acceptable

“THANK YOU” LETTER

Your Name Your Address Your Email

Date

Title Organization Address

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me about the XXX position with XXX Company. I appreciate your time and consideration in interviewing me for this position.

After speaking with you and the group, I believe that I would be a perfect candidate for this position, offering the quick learning and adaptability that is needed for a diversified position.

I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you once the final decisions are made regarding this position. Please feel free to contact me at anytime if further information is needed. My cell phone number is XXX.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Video Time

See what to do and what not to do!

GENERAL INTERVIEW STRATEGIES

• Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences

• Storytelling

• Concrete examples

• Remain positivity, enthusiasm, and confidence


• Avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know”

• Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” or “probably”

• Think before speaking

• Avoid long answers

• If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat or clarify it for you


• Remain calm, relaxed, and be

yourself

• Try to focus on the message

you are trying to convey, NOT

how well you are doing!

• Don't swear or use slang

words.

• Don't slouch in your seat.

• Don't smoke.

• Don’t lie.


• Don't be arrogant and assume you have got the job.

• Don't discuss religion, politics and gender relations or personal ones.

• Don't read from CV.

• Don't criticize former employers or colleagues.

• Don't argue with the interviewer, no matter what.

QUESTIONS

Interviewing skills

Career

Transcript of Interviewing skills