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Job InterviewsLecture 9.4University of Alberta ALES 204Nancy Bray
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Housekeeping iClicker funny business and clarification
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iClickers You can miss 3 lectures without penalty. You can be late once without penalty. After that if you are
late and missed the question, you must come to me after class to explain your lateness. Be prepared to show me the notes you took during class.
The number of questions that you answer will count towards the grade.
Giving your iClicker to someone else to answer for you is academic fraud. You and the person who takes your iClicker face an investigation.
If you think your iClicker is not working, please come to sign in after class. Be prepared to show me the notes you took during class.
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Lecture Outline1.Before the job interview
2.At the job interview
3.After the job interview
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1. Before the interview
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Know yourself
Your strengths Their needs
EducationExperienceQualifications“Fit”
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Example: conservation officer
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Example: conservation officer
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Know yourself Record your “accomplishment statements”
What + How + Result
Write down three things that you did well
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P.A.R. questions Practice for P.A.R.
interview questions, i.e., tell me of a time you faced a difficult situation at work.
Problem
Action
Result
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Practice Write a P.A.R. script from one of your accomplishment
statements
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Know the organization Research the organization
Print material
Internet
Friends
Organization statements
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Researching the organization Organization structure Type of product/service offered Customer base and target market Competition Interview process and notification Recruiting team and selection process Dress code Organizational culture / values Training and development mandate Promotional opportunities Future goals Trends in the industry
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Dress the part You need the right costume
Find out about the organization’s dress code and match it
Conservative
Business casual
Casual
Creative fashion
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Before the interview1.Know yourself
2.Know the employer
3.Dress the part
4.Practice!
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2. At the Interview
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Types of interviews
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Screening and selection
Structured interview
Unstructured interview
Panel interview
Serial interview
Telephone/video conference interview
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Phases of an interview Introduction
Exchange of information
Your questions
Closing
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The Introduction Enter smiling, with
confidence
Wait for the interviewer to offer to shake hands
Wait for interviewer to offer you a seat
Sit straight up, lean forward, open body language
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The Interviewer’s Questions Maintain eye contact
Watch your body language
Watch the tone and pitch of your voice
Keep your answers focused
Give examples to support your answers
Ask if your answer was clear
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Interview Questions and Answers
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Typical themes in questions Can you do the job?
Will you do the job?
Will you fit in?
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5 Types of Questions1.Directives, i.e, How has your education prepared you for this
job?
2.Non-directive, i.e., Tell me about yourself
3.Hypothetical, i.e., What would you do if...
4.Behaviour Descriptive, i.e., Tell me about a time when you...
5.Stress, i.e., Have you ever missed work due to stress?
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Top 10 Interview Questions1.What is your greatest strength? 2.What is your greatest weakness? 3.How do you handle stress and pressure? 4.Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you
overcame it. 5.How do you evaluate success? 6.Why are you leaving or have left your job? 7.Why do you want this job? 8.Why should we hire you? 9.What are your goals for the future? 10.Tell me about yourself.
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1. What is your greatest strength? Keep a list of your strengths and examples to support your
claims
For every interview, choose a strength that matches the need of the organization
Sample answer: When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule.
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2. What is your greatest weakness? Briefly state a weakness that is really a strength
Follow up with how you deal with this weakness
Sample answer: Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills.
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3. How do you handle stress? Use the P.A.R. formula
Sample answer: If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.
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4. Describe a difficult work situation Use the P.A.R. formula
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5. How do you evaluate success? Use your accomplishment statements
Sample answer: I evaluate success in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my supervisors and my fellow workers. It is my understanding, from talking to other employees, that the GGR company is recognized for not only rewarding success, but giving employees opportunity to grow as well. After work, I enjoy playing softball, so success on the field is catching the winning pop-up.
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6. Why are your leaving or have left a job? Employers use this question to determine if you are a job
hopper
Avoid criticizing your former employers or managers
Sample answer: I found myself bored with the work and looking for more challenges. I am an excellent employee and I didn't want my unhappiness to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer.
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7. What do you want this job? Choose reasons that will align with the organization’s
priorities
Sample answer: I want this job because it seems tailored to my competencies, which include sales and marketing. As I said earlier, in a previous position I created an annual growth rate of 22 percent in a flat industry. Additionally, the team I would work with looks terrific.
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8. Why should we hire you? Give concrete examples of your accomplishments and how
they fit with the organization’s needs
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9. What are your goals for the future? Have a 2-year and 5-year plan of where you see yourself in
that particular organization
Don’t discuss personal, non-job-related goals
Sample answer: I see myself as a top performing employee in a well-established organization, like this one. I plan on enhancing my skills and continuing my involvement in (related) professional associations.
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10. Tell me about yourself Focus on experience, skills, personal strengths and values
that relate to the position
Be specific and provide specific examples
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Your Questions Should demonstrate your commitment, your long term
goals, your willingness to learn, your flexibility and self-worth
Prepare a number of key questions before the interview
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Sample questions for you to ask What skills are considered the most important for success in
the position I’m applying for? What is the most urgent or difficult part of the job? Tell me more about how this job fits into the big picture. Describe the type of person who does best in the
organization. What style of management does this organization prefer? What are the next steps in the job application process? When would you like the ideal applicant to start?
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Closing Ask the interviewer if there is any more info required Restate your qualifications and how they would benefit the
organization Reaffirm your interest in working for the organization and in
the job State when you would be available to start Ask when the decision will be made Thank the interviewer for their time Send thank you letter to interviewer within 48 hours. (Not to
government jobs)
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Negotiating pay Always research pay levels before your interview
Public sector pay levels are usually available online and there is little negotiating room
Look at job ads for similar positions to find representative pay scales
Decide before the interview what salary range you are expecting and why
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Negotiating Pay - During the Interview Interviewee should not bring up pay during an interview. Wait
until you are offered the job.
Interviewer may ask however:
What do you think you are worth to us?
We offer X for this position. Does that fit with your expectations?
We have had other candidates who will accept $X. Will you?
Back up your expected salary range with research from other organizations and tie it to your qualifications
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Negotiating Pay - After the Interview Don’t raise the question of pay during the interview, wait
until you have been offered the job
Base your expected salary on your research of the industry and your qualifications and state your reasoning
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Reasons that you didn’t get the job Your image doesn’t match the role you want to play
Your references are not stellar
Your expectations don’t match reality
One of the interviewers didn’t like you
They had someone else in mind
Another candidate was better than you!
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Take away Prepare, prepare, prepare!
Practice, practice, practice!
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