How to ace your job interview

1. How to ace your job interview 67

2. Get a good nights sleep. Tired people look sickly. Sick people miss a lot of work. 62

3. How to dress for a job interview Pg. 36 61

4. Avoid loud fashion and excessive jewelry. It’s a sign that you need lots of attention. 64

5. Shine your shoes. It says that you are a meticulous worker who pays attention to details. 65

6. Smile  it’s the most important thing in your wardrobe! 66

7. Be prepared to ask a few questions during your interview. Pg. 44 71

8. How will you know when the interview is over? Pg. 45 72

9. A few things to do after the interview. Pg. 46 73

10. #1 Send a thank-you note. 74

11. #3 A follow up call to inquire about the status of the position is a good way to let the hiring manager know you are interested in the position and to stay in contact with them. Do not call often, doing this may be obnoxious for an employer and could lessen your chances of getting the job. Also, give the employer time to make a decision. 76

12. A Few Tips 78

13. #1 Getting a good job takes effort. You should be applying for at least 3-5 jobs per week. If you don’t have a job, your job should be finding a job. 79

14. #2 Sell yourself. Become the solution to the hiring manager’s needs. 80

15. Interviewing Skills 15

16. INTERVIEW PREPARATION 16

17. Interview Preparation Begins days before the actual interview. Research the company, know the people. Internet Word of mouth Become a customer before your interview. 17

18. Interview Preparation • Think about… • Your strengths and weaknesses. • Your leadership ability. • Your ability to learn new things. • Your contributions to the organization. • Your creativity in solving problems. • Review sample interview questions and practice answering them in front of a mirror. • Write out answers and PRACTICE! 18

19. Interview Preparation • Think about… • What do you look like? • What’s your mood? • What type of attitude do you have? • How do you sit? • Do you make eye contact? • Do you stare? • Are you personable? 19

20. Interview Preparation The Day before the Interview: Make sure you know where the interview is and how long it will take to get there. Lay out appropriate clothes. Complete application and resume copies to take with you. Get to bed early-no late night tv watching or partying. 20

21. Interview Preparation • The Day of the Interview: • Hygiene check! • Take directions, name and number of interviewer. • Take application, resume copies, and documentation. 21

22. Interview Preparation • The Day of the Interview: • Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. • SMILE as you enter the business and meet employees! • Leave friends and dog at home and turn your phone off. • Don’t chew gum! 22

23. DURING THE INTERVIEW 23

24. During the Interview The Interview Bring paper and pen. Ask for business card or first and last names. Jot down notes for questions. 24

25. During the Interview Interviewing Tips Don’t interrupt the interviewer. Don’t smoke prior to interview. Don’t be overly familiar. Don’t wear heavy perfume or cologne. Don’t ramble. Video Answer questions as truthfully as possible.Video Avoid “yes” or “no” answers. 25

26. What you say is important.How you say it is important.What you don’t say speaks volumes… 7% Words 55% Body Language 38% Tone 26

27. During the Interview 27 • The Handshake: Firm, but not bone crushing. • Posture: Stand and sit straight. • Eye Contact: Look the interviewer in the eye, but don’t stare. • Your Hands: Use some hand gestures, but not to excess. • Don’t Fidget: It’s distracting.

28. During the Interview 28 • Anticipate tough questions • Ask questions throughout the interview. • LISTEN. This is critical to a successful interview.

29. It is important to remember that interviews can differ. Each manager or company has their own style or type of interview. 68

30. Types of Interviews • Phone interview • Traditional interview • Behavioral interview • Panel interview

31. Phone Interview 31 Used as “pre-screen”. • Questions revolve around • Your experience. • The company. • Your background.

32. Phone Interview • Have your resume out. • Take notes. • Get your interviewer’s name and number. • Smile! Your voice sounds better. • Don’t smoke, eat, or chew gum.

33. Traditional Interview • A traditional interview is typically you and the hiring manager talking face to face. It will include questions such as: • Tell me about yourself. • Why do you want to work for me? • Why should I hire you? • What is your greatest accomplishment? • What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

34. Behavior Based Interview “Enthusiasts believe that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior…that more recent behavior is a better predictor of future behavior than older behavior, and that long standing trends are better than isolated incidents.” …The Behavior Description Interview, The CPA Journal 12/1993 34

35. Behavior Based Interview Tell me about a time where a team member was unwilling or unable to pull their weight. What did you do? What was the outcome? 35

36. Behavior Based Interview • Situation • Task • Action • Result Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision in a hurry. What happened? 36

37. The Situation Answer: I was a janitor on the FVCC campus. While cleaning in the Math Department, I noticed that there was a fire next to a teacher’s desk and the teacher had fallen asleep next to the fire. Describes the scene and offers some background information. 37

38. The Task Answer: I knew I had to act fast. The teacher’s life was at risk, not to mention all the student papers that could be lost. Elaborates on the work you did to solve or address the problem. 38

39. The Action Answer: I pulled the teacher out of the room and called 911. I grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher and put out the fire, saving most of the papers. Describes what you did to fix the problem. 39

40. The Result Answer: I saved the teacher’s life and prevented the building from burning down. Through my quick thinking, I also saved all the student papers. Explains the outcome of the problem. 40

41. Your Turn: Teamwork Question: Tell me about a time when you had a problem with a co-worker. How did you handle it? 41

42. Write out answers to questions and practice Practice .. Practice .. Practice!! Prepare 2-4 real stories/situations. Make it memorable. Stand out in the crowd! Make your stories relate to the skills the employer is seeking. 42

43. AFTER THE INTERVIEW 43

44. After the Interview 44 Thank the interviewer(s) for the opportunity to interview. Make sure you have contact information, and that you have asked all the questions you need to clarify the position and responsibilities. Follow up with a Thank-you card, note, or email to all the interviewers.

45. After the Interview 45 • Review the questions you were asked and your responses. • Ask yourself, “How was my answer?” • Did I follow the STAR model? • Was I confident and I concise in my answers? • What did I do WELL? • What can I do better?

46. SUMMARY 46

47. Reasons People Don’t Get Hired 47 Poor personal appearance; long, unkempt hair, excessive piercings, tattoos, sloppy or inappropriate clothing. Overly aggressive. Inability to express information clearly. Lack of interest and enthusiasm. Lack of tact and courtesy. Lack of maturity. Negative attitude about past employers.

48. Reasons People Don’t Get Hired 48 No eye contact with employer. No genuine interest in company or job. Application form is incomplete or sloppy. Late for interview. No sense of humor. Failure to ask questions about the job. Giving vague responses to questions.

49. The Hiring Mind Set “The person who gets hired is not necessarily the one who can do that job best; but, the one who knows the most about how to get hired’ Richard Bolles 49

50. Good Luck! 82