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Interview Workshop Michelle Anderson, Director of Career Services
Interview Workshop
Michelle Anderson, Director of Career Services
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Sell your experience and skills Show enthusiasm and demonstrate “fit” Decide if this is a good match for you
Goals
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Personality Experience Accomplishments Knowledge Skills
Interviewers Look For
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Stages: Pre-‐Interview
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Know Yourself: What sets you apart? What is your biggest challenge? What’s the toughest quesPon you have ever had to answer
Stages: Pre-‐Interview (cont.)
Tip: Prac'ce power-‐posing (see TED talk by Amy Cuddy)
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Do Your Research How is my background relevant to the job? How is my educaPon/training relevant to this posiPon? How are my career goals related to the organizaPon? What about this job interests me?
Stages: Pre-‐interview (cont.)
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Greet interviewer by name Use a firm handshake Make eye contact Contribute to small talk
Stages: Interview Opening
SWho would you hire?
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Stages: Interview Opening (cont.)
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Self check: Appear interested and enthusiasPc Remain calm Monitor body language Speak clearly Be yourself
Stages: Interview Opening (cont.)
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SituaPonal/Behavioral Describes your behaviors, explains your acPons, paints a picture for interviewer
Examples: Tell me about a Pme when…, Tell me what you would do if…, Tell me about a problem you’ve encountered and how you resolved it.
Open-‐Ended Why do you want this job? What are your strengths? Tell me about yourself? Why should I hire you? What do you know about our organizaPon?
Types of Interview QuesFons
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STAR FORMAT SituaPon Task AcPon Result
How to Answer QuesFons
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Original: I managed the accounPng project team.
Improved: In my role as business manager, I led a six person accounPng team in the design and implementaPon of new reporPng procedures with a Pme savings of 15%.
How to Answer QuesFons
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Summarize key points Express appreciaPon Next Steps
Stages: Interview Closing
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Record Key Points and Comments Note Names of Interviewers Send a “Thank You” that day
Stages: Post-‐Interview
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First impressions are criPcal Keep the tone professional Appear confident Pay agenPon to your nervous habits Listen as well as speak Be prepared to address any negaPve issues Never be negaPve about a former employer Ask quesPons
Interview Tips
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Tell me about yourself What is your greatest weakness? Why do you want to work here? Describe a Pme when you worked with a difficult supervisor.
Do you have any quesPons for me?
Tough QuesFons
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InformaFonal Interview
Purpose Gain insight into a specific field, organizaPon, and/or individual
Process Research organizaPon/role of individual prior to meePng
Contact individual by phone or email Request approximately 30 min of their Pme Be prompt Treat it like a job interview Follow up with a thank you
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