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Mastering the Interview: Essential Strategies for Success

Gain expert advice on acing job interviews with tips on researching organizations, developing career goals, answering common questions, dressing professionally, and showcasing your best self. Be well-prepared to land your dream job!

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Mastering the Interview: Essential Strategies for Success

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  1. Power Selling Your Talents in the Interview Indiana University Kelley School of Business C. Randall Powell, Ph.D.

  2. Prepare Well for the Interview

  3. Profile the Organization • Research the organization thoroughly • Where do you fit in? • Tailor your skills to organization’s needs • Information you uncover reflects your interest and enthusiasm in position • Establishes a common base of knowledge for questions

  4. Research the Organization • Know the language of the industry • Know the job duties • Know the organization • Ask questions of a similar organization

  5. What Do You Need To Know? • Age of organization • Services or products • Competitors within the industry • Growth pattern • Reputation • Divisions and subsidiaries • Locations/length of time there • Size • Number of employees • Sales/assets/earnings • New products or projects • Culture and values

  6. Where Do I Find The Information About organizations? • Career Center Website • Job Choices books published by NACE • www.Naceweb.org • Standard & Poor’s Register • Internet Search Engine • Chamber of Commerce By City • Trade Associations and Professional Organizations • Alumni in the organization

  7. Develop Career Goals • Have a focus--at least act like it, even if you don’t have a clue • Identify challenges you are looking for • Know what you want to accomplish • Have a plan or agenda

  8. Write Down Answers/Scenarios • Draft written answers to potential interview questions • Develop job appropriate scenarios based on your research • A marketing plan for a new product • A solution to one of their problems

  9. Write Down Your Strengths • Relate them to the job • Give examples of where you have demonstrated these • How were they developed • Identify your mentors and/or role models

  10. Write Down Your Areas for Improvement • Relate these to your work • Show the positive side of these • Identify the steps you have taken for improvement • Detail the results and/or time frames expected • Identify criticism you have received and its effects

  11. Write Out Questions for the Interviewer • Consider multiple areas • Corporate values • Anticipated responsibilities • Employment trends • Measures of work performance • Work environment • Quality of work • Personality factors • Demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and organization

  12. Frequently Asked Interview Questions Review Content in… Career Planning Strategies

  13. The Day of the Interview Do You Have a Planned Commercial? Plan Your Presentation Rehearse Your Presentation Deliver Your Presentation

  14. Acknowledge Your Nervousness • Train your butterflies to fly in formation • Advance preparation reduces nervousness • Practice answering the worst possible question they could ask • Ask permission to take notes or refer to questions if necessary • Relax--take a few deep breaths

  15. Appearance Matters. . .A Lot! • If you don’t dress seriously, they can’t take you seriously!! • Make a good first impression • Pride in yourself implies pride in your work • Show your creativity in your work, not your appearance • Dress conservatively • Be well groomed and clean

  16. Don’t Forget the Details • Nicely styled hair • Natural, clean looking face/makeup • Clean your fingernails • Skip the clunky jewelry • Press your clothes • Avoid strong perfumes or colognes • Avoid cigarettes

  17. Professional Image for Women • Best choices • Navy or black suit, solid blouse • Suit in solid colors, printed blouse • Straight dress with jacket, solid colors • Wear polished, low heeled shoes • Minimal accessories • Hosiery - appropriate color, no holes, no darker than your hem • Don’t wear anything too tight or revealing

  18. Professional Image for Men • Best choices • Business suit, dark colors (blues, grays, browns), white shirt • Suit with solid shirt • 2-piece suit, lighter colors, striped shirt • Button your jacket when you stand • Shine your shoes • Socks-appropriate color, no holes, long length

  19. Attitude • It separates winners from losers • Be enthusiastic and eager • Practice good eye contact • Smile • Walk with confidence • Sit up straight (listen to your mother!) • Adapt to your surroundings

  20. Employers Notice Good Manners • Be on time for the interview • Treat the receptionist with respect • Use Mr. or Ms. unless they ask you to use first names • Don’t sit until you’re invited to

  21. Practice Your “Soft Skills” • Greet people with a firm handshake • Stand up to meet people • Keep your guard up during lunch or dinner • Practice your dining etiquette • Remember “please” and “thank you” • Be good at chatting and small talk

  22. What to Bring to an Interview • Several copies of your resume • Your portfolio, if applicable • New notebook and a nice pen • Briefcase or leather folder • Names, addresses, and phone numbers of references

  23. Put Yourself inthe Interviewer’s Shoes • They have an agenda • To determine if you have the skills • Identify your personal attributes • Assess your motivation

  24. Interviewers AreLooking to Hire You • Help them by • Showing how you fit their organization • Exhibit your personality • Share your career goals

  25. Be HONEST • DO NOT lie on your resume • DO NOT lie in the interview • Either of these can get you eliminated from consideration or FIRED if discovered after hiring

  26. What Do Winners Show • They are capable of doing the job or learning it quickly • They are willing and eager to do the job • They need little motivation or supervision • They are friendly and would work well with other employees

  27. Use Proper Language • Speak clearly and distinctly • Avoid slang expressions • Don’t swear • Control your • “ums” • “you knows” • “likes” • “that kinda stuff” • “practice thoughtful silence”

  28. Tell Me About Yourself Create a 60-second sound byte Include • Geographic origins • Reason for choosing major • Educational background • 2 or 3 strengths related to position • Specific expertise and accomplishments • How you can contribute to organization • Identify your career goals • Speak clearly and honestly

  29. Behavior Based Interviewing • Previous behavior predicts future behavior • Examples show the meaning you have made of education and experience • Provides insight on how the candidate’s mind works

  30. Answer Questions with aSTAR Approach • S ituation • T ask • A ction • R esults STAR provides an outline for answers

  31. Situation • Give the situation for your answer • Choose a professional example from your job experience, course work, volunteer work, or student activities • Set the stage so the interviewer can relate to your answer

  32. Task • Tell what the task was at hand • Dwell on the positive, don’t blame or point fingers elsewhere

  33. Action • Describe the action you took to resolve the problem or bring about the success • Explain your role in the action • Identify specific skills you used

  34. Results • Explain the results • Provide details, dollar amounts, success • Apply these results to the position for which you’re applying

  35. STAR Provides an Outline • Helps you answer completely so you give enough information • Lets you know when to stop so you don’t ramble • Allows the interviewer to see you as a problem solver and decision maker

  36. Do’s and Dont’s

  37. Do’s • Research the organization • Prepare for tough questions • Greet interviewer enthusiastically • Focus on what you have to offer, not what you want • Know your rights as an interviewee • Have a good attitude, be positive • Show confidence • Be professional • Follow up with a note or phone call

  38. Dont’s • Don’t discuss salary, benefits, or vacations until an offer is made • Don’t display personal habits, i.e. smoking, chewing gum, tapping a pencil, stretching, jiggling a foot • Don’t lie • Don’t get too chatty about non-job topics • Don’t blame others or disparage employers

  39. Difficult Situations

  40. Listen Carefully • It’s important to understand the questions correctly • Ask for clarification • Don’t be afraid to ask if you can take a few seconds to think about your answer

  41. Illegal Questions • Be familiar with the legal issues • Address the underlying concern of the illegal question, if possible • Remain professional and in control

  42. Illegal Topics in USA • Topics to avoid include • Nationality/race • Marital status • Religion • Affiliations • Disability or medical history • Pregnancy, birth control, child care • Age

  43. How to Handle Illegal Questions • Answer the question • Refuse to answer the question • Examine the intent behind the question • Ask the relationship to the position • Walk out

  44. Telephone Interviews • Dress up and use a professional environment to maintain your professionalism • Have your notes organized, highlighted, and within easy access • Without non-verbal communication, be aware that it is difficult to “read” the interviewer • Make sure your voice conveys enthusiasm • If more than one person on the other end, have them identify themselves when asking their questions

  45. Panel Interviews • Get names and positions for all participants in advance if possible • Address all with good eye contact • Relate your answers to others that were similar from other participants • Shows your ability to relate to diverse groups

  46. Day Long Interviews • Keep your energy up • Continue to give complete answers to all questions even though you’ve been asked multiple times that day • Listen for consistencies and discrepancies to assess company culture

  47. After the Interview

  48. Details Needed for Follow-up • Write down the interviewer’s name, department, address, and phone in the notebook • Ask for their business card • Use interviewer’s name

  49. Follow-up the Interview • Send a short thank you note within 24 hours • Remind them of key points from the interview • Emphasize your interest • State when you expect the next contact to be

  50. Evaluate/Retrain • How did you do overall? • What were your strengths? • What needs improvement? • Develop a follow-up chart for tracking

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