Job Hunting Skills: Interview Process · Individual interview – 1-3 interviewers Many...

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Job Hunting Skills: Interview Process

Curriculum for Career, spring 2012

Career counselor Eric Carver

16.4.2012 1Urapalvelut/ Eric Carver


Curriculum for Career

Coursework available at Moodle:https://moodle.helsinki.fi/course/view.php?id=418Course key: cfc2012s

To pass 1. course attendance

(you can miss only one session for a valid reason)

2. Information interview report (+ comment to other reports in Moodle)3. CV4. Journal on Career Planning course

is required

DEADLINE for assignment 2. isApril 11th. For 3-4. April 25.

Course journal(3 h)

Part 2OPPORTUNITY AWARENESS

3h

Part 3FROM DECISION MAKING TO

ACTION PLANNING3h

Part 4aJOB HUNTING SKILLSApplication documents

2h

Part 1SELF-ASSESSMENT SKILLS

3 h

Part 4bJOB HUNTING SKILLS

Interview process 3h

LECTURES

Total 28 hours

CV(2 h)

InformationInterview

9h

EXCERCISES


Journal on Career Planning course

3

The purpose of reflective writing is to help you learn from a particular practical experience. It will help you to make connections between what you are taught in theory and what you need to do in practice. You reflect so that you can learn.

Reflective writing is:• your response to experiences, opinions, events or new information• your response to thoughts and feelings• a way of thinking to explore your learning• an opportunity to gain self-knowledge• a way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning• a way of making meaning out of what you study

Reflective writing is not:• just conveying information, instruction or argument• pure description, though there may be descriptive elements• straightforward decision or judgment (e.g. about whether something is right or wrong, good or bad)• a summary of course notes

Deadline 25.4.

Min. 2 pages.

Job Hunting Skills: Interview Process

FROM DECISION MAKING TO ACTION

PLANNING

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

SELF-ASSESSMENT

JOB HUNTING

SKILLS

The role of interview in job hunting and

recruiting process

Interview process and different forms

of interview

Preparing for a job interview

Tips for the interview

(formed from FSU Career Services –material)


ElevatorSpeech

What would you say if you met a person who could lead you

to your dream job and you had only 2-3 minutes to state your case?

Prepare to describe briefly:

Who are you? What is your background?What has been the focus of your studies? (major, minors & key topics or themes) How close are you to completing your degree?What other experience do you have (work, volunteer work, hobbies& activities)? What do you have to offer?What are you looking for? What are your future goals?


The role of the interview in recruiting process

The first step in any recruiting process is the analysis of needs for the particular position:

Required skills and knowledge?Valued personality traits, professional style & working methods?Suitable values, motivation and attitude?

Interview is the most effective way of evaluating your skills and your personality in relation to the particular position.

The focus is to find a suitable match.

Applicants with polished job interview skills might prevail over candidates with better applications and CV´s.


Interview methods

Individual interview – 1-3 interviewersMany interviewersGroup interviewInterview serial, where the interviewees change.

Open/ structured / semi-structured interview Pressure/Stress Interview / Situational InterviewSimulations, problem solving exercises, group/team exercises

Interview method is selected to measure

suitability to the particular task!

Preparing for an interview

Why this job? Your motivation & goals?

Relevant knowledge & skills?

Substantial knowledge (academic skills)

Transferable skills (time management,

project management, presentation skills

etc.)

General labor market skills (language

skills, communication skills, computer

skills, team work and social skills etc..)

Personal traits (learning and self-

development skills, stress management

skills, social skills, etc.)

Self-assesment

Read the job ad one more time:

Skills required for the position?

What type of knowledge is appreciated?

What type of experience required?

What/Who are they looking for?

Good to know about the company:

Business idea/model or organizational purpose

Markets and clients, products and services

Business/Organizational culture

Organization size, amount of the employers

Latest news (major new projects etc.).

Career opportunity


Interview cycle

Warm up: creating trust, contact and the first impression

Update for application documentsEducation and experience

Professional/substantial knowledge, other skills

Organizational and professional topics

To the facts: towards more personal topicsExpectation, motivation and understanding of the position

Self-concept = how you see yourself, and how you would fit to the company/organization, team, position etc.

Strengths, potentials, risks

Stress management, collaboration skills, leadership skills etc.

Conclusion:Hobbies, personal life, possible starting date, salary etc.

Interview simulation

Form into groups of 3.Arrange 3 interviews.Rotate the roles:

Interviewer

Interviewed

Observer

10 minutes/ per interviewDecide what task and organization

the interview is for.

Make notes and give feedback after each interview.


Preparing for an interview: practical helpThink of the questions that you find difficult to answer and prepare yourself for those questions.

Dress code! Dress appropriately according to the position (rather too formal than informal)

Take your CV and references with you.

Be on time!

Think of your salary requirement.


Preparing for an interview: in practice

Do not interrupt. Do not judge anybody or anything.

Be honest. Do not pretend to understand the question.

Keep in mind the Finnish way of polite communication (listening, silence is ok, eye contact is good and expected…)

No grunting or lecturing. An optimum answer to a single question is from 20 seconds to two minutes.

Be active. Ask about the procedure and schedule, be prepared to say yes for the further interviews or tests

To conclude with: Express your motivation

Remember to thank the interviewer!


Level of detail

DescribedconfidenceFind the

rightbalance

In hidingPlease consider me, because I might beinterested and havesome experience.

SuperheroslogansI am simply the best candidate. A born leader.

All over the placeI am a dedicated, honest, competetiveand able candidate becauseI have developed my organizational, social and academic skills in demanding, stressful and revarding positions – in the manychallenges I have faced during…

Critical self-analysisMy strenghts can be seen to arise from my studies, that havedeveloped somewhat relevantexpertice, with certain drawbacks and limitations…...

Remember …


FIRST EXPRESSION

FIRST EXPRESSION IS A ONE TIME CHANCE!

Dress code, facial expression, eye contact, hand shake, smile, your body gesture – remember non-verbal communication.

Not the only criteria in decision making, but to change the first expression a lot of energy will be wasted from the interview.


Little nervousness is OK!

Being nervous is ok when it is not an obstacle for success

It shows that you are serious

Adrenaline can improve your concentration

Avoid nervousness that becomes an obstaclePrepare for the interview and concentrate

Relax and do imaginary exercises

Check the location before the interview


”Self-talk” and non-verbal communication

Positive vs. negative self-talk”I can and I will, it is important…, I want to”.., vs.”do I have to, I can not and will not”….

Control your self-talk at the interview: Don’t get carried away with it (”What was the question?”, ”Why did I say this?”)

Ask, if you do not understand the questionBe nice to yourself, try to forget any mistakes, calm down and concentrate.

Be positive about yourself and your past

GOOD SELF-CONFIDENCE? Like professional athletics!


Sensitive or illegal questions

Religion, race, political view, sexual orientation, family planning

Prepare to handle these situations. Reply is up to you.


The Final Round:aptitude & personality tests?

Interview is not the only way to evaluate the applicants. Sometimes employers want to measure candidates with an aptitude test or a psychological test. Usually tests are given to only the 2-3 top candidates after the first round of interviews.

They may include the following:IQ tests

Personality evaluations

Simulations

Learning ability

Post-test discussion session.

Best advice is to get a good night´s sleep before the test and answer questions honestly. Be consistent!

More information:

The Career Services website:

http://www.helsinki.fi/urapalvelut

International Student´s Guide to Working in Finland

Aarresaari:http://www.helsinki.fi/urapalvelut/materiaalit/workinginfinland.pdf

http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org

http://www.interviewstrategies.com

16.4.2012 20Osasto / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

Course feedback

THE POSITIVE

What did you learn from the course? What did you like in particular? What things were most helpful?

THE CRITICAL

What parts of the course did you find unhelpful or unnecessary? Where there some parts of the course you did not like?

THE FUTURE

How would you develop the Curriculum for Career course in the future?

Job Hunting Skills: Interview Process · Individual interview – 1-3 interviewers Many...

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