Job Interviews

You've finally landed that interview, and you're a bundle of nerves. How can I make sure that I perform well enough to get the job? The first thing you need to do is discover what the employer is looking for. Then you should learn about the job, the company, and the work environment. Your goal is to articulate for the employer how you match their specific requirements (see "Know Yourself" below).The best way to avoid being nervous is to be prepared.

"Ask not what the company can do for you; tell what you can do for the company!"

RESEARCH THE COMPANY / ORGANIZATION and THE POSITION

• Demonstrates preparedness, initiative, and interest in the company
• Helps you anticipate interview questions to give relevant, compatible answers
• Provides topics for questions you can ask during the interview
• Prevents disappointment or problems after accepting the job

What to Research

• What are its products or service? New products or upcoming projects?

• Who are the stakeholders?
• Their mission statement, goals, challenges and strategic plan?
• Competitors? Reputation among peer organizations?
• Size? Branch or subsidiaries? Organizational chart?
• How long have they been in business? In this location?
• Their growth pattern and outlook? Profitability, annual sales, and assets?
• Examples of "character" of the organization and employees?
• Background on the interviewer(s)?
• Other information for your personal benefit but not for use in the first interview

Where to Find the Information

Company annual reports, books including the Harris Ohio Industrial Directory, Dun and Bradstreet, or Standard & Poor's (available in the library or Career Services Center) Online -- Hoovers Online, Business.com, Harris InfoSource the job ad itself personal contacts that you have with the organization

KNOW YOURSELF

Think about what you have to offer in these areas. What proof do you have that you can benefit the job position and the company in terms of:

REHEARSE ANSWERS and CREATE QUESTIONS TO ASK INTERVIEWER

• Create sample questions based on the job ad and company research.
• Practice answering questions aloud or with someone else for feedback.
• Write down questions to ask to gain more insight on the job/company (NOT about PAY!).

THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW

BRING THESE WITH YOU

copy of job ad	samples of work (when appropriate)	directions
copies of resume	reference list	paper & professional-looking pen for notes
list of questions	name of person(s) you're meeting with, phone #, address	money (just in case)

MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

Men: Wear a blue or charcoal gray suit or a neutral color sports coat and neutral slacks, white or light blue dress shirt, tie, dark socks, polished black or brown dress shoes. Women: Wear a neutral color (blue, gray, brown) skirt suit, light colored, neutral hose, low heel pumps or nice flats. Both: No cologne, minimal jewelry, freshly cut and neatly styled haircut with no unusual colors, trimmed fingernails, no smoking or gum chewing. Arrive at the interview 15 minutes early. Behave professionally and friendly with everyone you meet. Give a firm handshake; use "Mr. or Ms. [last names]" unless given permission otherwise. Use proper English (not "yeah" or "ain't").

ICE BREAKER

• It's OK to conduct safe small talk, but avoid personal topics
• Wait to be invited to sit, then sit straight, making good eye contact

TYPES OF JOB INTERVIEWS

Today, interviews take many forms including:

Meal – You are taken out to lunch or dinner, sometimes to assess your etiquette, poise, or ability to handle yourself in front of others. One-on-one – You are interviewed by only one person (you may be interviewed again later, a different way). Panel/Group – A group of people interviews you all at the same time. Performance – You are expected to demonstrate your skill or give a presentation (computer programmers, cooks, sales people, trainers, etc.). Phone – A short interview on the phone before being invited for any other kind. Series – You are interviewed by one person after another at the company.

QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT BE ASKED

Here are a few typical examples:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to work for this company? What do you know about us?

• Why did you choose your particular field? If you had it to do all over again, would you choose the same career?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What areas of this job would be the most challenging for you?
• What can you do for us that someone else can't?
• Describe your best / worst boss.
• What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Give me an example of a problem you recently solved at work or school.*
• Tell me about the most challenging person you've ever worked with.*
• Why are you leaving your current job?

* These are behavioral questions. The STAR method is useful for answering them.

HOW TO WIN THE INTERVIEWER OVER

• Make good eye contact; don't stare at the interviewer, but be sure to look him/her in the eye when answering questions.
• Smile – what do you have to lose? Show that you have a personality and a sense of humor.
• Show enthusiasm for the job. Interviewers will be interested in you if you appear to be interested in the job.
• Mimic the interviewer's demeanor. If he leans forward, you should too. If he speaks slowly, you should too.
• Speak clearly. Practice in front of a mirror so you don't say "um" and "uh" all the time.
• Control your nervous habits (adjusting your tie, facial expressions, tapping your pencil)
• Vary your tone of voice so that you are not speaking in a monotone.

TECHNIQUES FOR BETTER RESPONSES

EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ...

Make sure you have examples of all of these great qualities!

DON'T

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS for you to ask

Prepare at least 10 open-ended questions (those that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no") relating to the . . .

... Position Itself:

1. What is a typical day like for someone in this position?
2. Where does this position fit in the overall organizational structure? To whom does this position report?
3. What are the greatest challenges facing the person in this position?
4. What are some examples of the achievements of others who have been in this position?

... Employer's Expectations:

1. What characteristics or qualifications best describe people who are successful in this position?
2. What's the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment?
3. What are the three top priorities and goals you would like me to accomplish in this position? What results are expected?
4. How will my performance be evaluated? How often are performance reviews given?

... Company:

1. How would you describe the company's culture?
2. What do people seem to like most [or least] about working here?
3. What makes your organization different from its competitors?
4. What are the greatest strengths of this department and company?
5. What does the company value most? How do you think my work for you will further these values?

... Decision-Making Process (About the Job):

1. Is there anything else I can tell you about my qualifications or background?
2. Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?
3. What is the next step in your hiring process?
4. What is the time frame for making a decision on this position?

WARNING -- DON'T ask self-centered questions (questions that focus on what the company can do for you rather than on what you can do for the company). Clarify questions 1 through 4 only after you receive a job offer that you're interested in accepting.

1. What is the salary?
2. Can you tell me about your retirement plan?
3. How much vacation will I get?
4. Do you offer tuition reimbursement? Free parking?
5. The job description mentions weekend work. Would I really have to do that?
6. Can you guarantee me that I will still have a job a year from now?

DON'T ask "red flag" questions. (Questions that indicate you'll be a problem employee.)

• What does your company do? (You should know this!)
• How many sick days will I get? (Indicates that you plan to be absent often.)

ENDING THE INTERVIEW

• Offer a Reference List
• Summarize your qualifications to "close the deal."
• Express sincere and enthusiastic interest in the job.
• Ask about the next step (e.g., when hiring decision will be made, when you can call).
• Thank everyone with whom you met.

FOLLOW-UP

• Make notes on interview immediately afterwards.
• Evaluate your performance.
• Send an individual thank-you letter within 24 hours to each person with whom you interviewed.

EVALUATE YOUR INTERVIEW

To improve your interviewing for the next time, think about whether you demonstrated the following during this interview:

• Education
• Work Experience
• Accomplishments
• Career plans & goals
• Knowledge of the company
• Knowledge of the job
• Ask yourself:
• What were my best moments?
• What were my weakest moments?
• Which questions did I have difficulty answering?
• How could I have improved this interview?

WRITING YOUR REFERENCE LIST

How Familiar Are Your References With You and Your Work?

Employers want to fill jobs just as much as you want the job! One of their worst nightmares is checking your references so that they can make you an offer and finding out that your reference doesn't know who you are, is unaware of your job search, or has nothing good to say about you. Call all your references and ask them for permission to use their names, and ask them what they might say about you. It's a good idea to give all your references a copy of your current resume, samples of work, and a brief description of the jobs you are looking for as well.

Are Your References Appropriate?

Make sure that the references you list aren't a list of friends, but rather that they include supervisors, faculty, customers, or peers. After all, what would you expect your best friend to say about you except nice things? Keep in mind, too, that employers question motives of candidates who do not list any previous supervisor (were you fired?), as well as individuals who appear to "jump jobs" repeatedly within a relatively short timeframe.

Offer Some Info!

Instead of just handing a potential employer a list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers, enhance your reference list. In the sample reference list that follows, the candidate, Richard Sinclair, added some information about who the references were, what type of work he did for them, and what they might say about him. This puts him in control of the reference-checking process. Employers appreciate this type of information because it gives them a place to start when calling your references.

Sample References

Sarah Andersen
Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications
RenTan Corporation
4400 Mentor Avenue
Mentor, Ohio 44060
Phone: (440) 555-1111
E-mail address: s_anderson@rentancorp.com

Ms. Anderson was my supervisor during my internship at RenTan. During my tenure at the company, she worked as a Senior Communications Designer. We produced three catalogs for Johnson Scientific Corporation together, and she will attest to my organization skills in keeping all the details together so that the catalogs were completed on time.

John Draves, Esq.
Draves and Locke, LPC
1400 Stanford Blvd.
Mentor, Ohio 44060
Phone: (440) 555-1112
E-mail address: djd@draveslock.com

Mr. Draves is senior partner at Draves and Locke and supervised my summer internship the year I graduated from college. Under his supervision, I wrote press releases, created a four-color brochure, and updated the firm's web site to include photos and profiles of each attorney.

Abigail Henry
Graphic Design Instructor
Lakeland Community College
7700 Clocktower Drive
Kirtland, Ohio 44094
Phone: (440) 525-0000
E-mail address: ahenry@lakelandcc.edu

Ms. Henry was my instructor for five courses at Lakeland Community College. She encouraged me to enter my work in the bi-annual art contest, for which I won three awards.

Always send thank-you letters within 24 hours of your interview. You can hand-write it on note cards or type it. Notice that this one mentions specifics about what was discussed and adds a "point" the author forgot to mention during the interview. A thank-you letter is a perfect way to correct mistakes you made during an interview and/or to continue your sales pitch!

Richard Sinclair
2913 Baxter Road
Mentor, Ohio 44060
800/685-5555
rsinclair@abc.com

February 7, 2005

Dr. Foster Walker, Director
Technical Design Group
Atlantic Engineering Systems, Inc.
1220 Warwick Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607

Thank-you letters should be mailed within 24 hours of your interview!

Dear Dr. Walker:

Thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the Manager of Marketing Communications position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your research and design work. I don't think I mentioned that I am a current member of the AIGA and attend their seminars twice a year.

Did you forget to say something important in your interview? Now is your chance to fix that!

My enthusiasm for the position and my interest in working for AES were strengthened as a result of the interview. I think my education and internship experiences fit nicely with the job requirements, and I am sure that I could make a significant contribution. I was very impressed by the success AES has had in increasing market share in the Atlantic region, specifically with the Turner project we discussed.

Mentioning something specific learned during the interview is a good idea. Restate your qualifications.

I want to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you and your staff. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any additional information.

Make sure to "ask for the job" again. Show that you are very interested!

Again, thank you for the interview and your consideration.

Sincerely,
Richard Sinclair
Richard Sinclair

STAR Method: Answering Behavioral Questions

An important part of interviewing is answering questions. Your ability to clearly and concisely respond to questions in an informed manner that relates your background to the question posed will set you apart from others who stumble over questions. Behavioral questions are those that require you to describe a situation in your educational, volunteer, or working past, in which you displayed the behavior that the employer is looking for.

There are FOUR STEPS to using it:

Before you ever even think of going on a job interview, make a list of your accomplishments, especially those that relate to activities such as:

• Job-related experience (What have you done at other jobs? At school? At someplace you volunteered?).
• Technical interests (Do you have proof that you know how to do what you say you can do?).
• Leadership examples (At school, in a club, at a job).
• Teaming activities (When have you successfully worked as part of a team?).
• Communication skills (Did you teach something? Did you write a manual? Did you give a speech?).

Develop short stories that illustrate your successes in these areas, especially ones that relate to the job opening. With a little practice, you'll find the STAR method will help you organize your responses so that you can state your accomplishments well.

For example:

Situation: With only 2 days' notice, I had to plan and implement new employee training for 25 new hires.
Technique: Based on previous experience, I had filed all necessary materials in a new hire file; I looked on our booking system and found 2 available conference rooms.
Action: Put together packets of information, payroll forms, and handbooks and sent to copy center as rush job; received back within 8 hours; booked one available room for 3 hours.
Result: Was able to accommodate all 25 new employees in one session, saving over 50 hours' administrative time.

Now, tell the story:

"We hired 25 people, and instead of giving each one a new employee orientation and training separately, I decided it was much more efficient to train them as a group. But I only had 2 days' notice, so I had to rush. Based on previous new hire training, I had organized all the training materials in files ahead of time, so I hand-delivered the materials to the copy center as a rush job, and then found 2 available rooms, and booked the larger one. I recruited two secretaries to help put together the new hire packets once the copies were received the next day. On the day of the training, all the employees finished their paperwork at the same time, and it was all done in only 3 hours. We ended up saving over 50 hours of administrative time by having all the employees train at one time. As a bonus, the employees got to meet one another and network with each other so that they ended up working much better together."

SAMPLE QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT BE ASKED

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

• Tell me why you went into the ____________________ program?
• What experience from school made it clear to you that you were in the right program?

• Describe your work, hobby, or special activities that relate to _______________________ (your field). What is an experience that you've had that shows me you can do this job?

• When have you had to lead a group? Tell me about the situation and what you liked or disliked about it.

• Describe how you see your career progressing within the next five years.

TEAMWORK

• Tell me about a situation where a team member strongly disagreed with your ideas, and how you handled that.
• Who was the best boss you ever had? Describe why.
• Who was the most challenging person you ever worked with? What did you do to work with this person?

INITIATIVE

• What is your biggest achievement at ____________ (company / school) and what did you do to achieve it?

JUDGMENT

• We all make decisions that our team leader/boss disagrees with. Tell me about one time that this happened to you. Why did the leader disagree, and what did you do?

PLANNING/ORGANIZATION

• What are your procedures to control your workload? Please give me an example of how you used this technique.

FOLLOW-UP

• Give me an example of when you missed a deadline.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Tell me about the best customer service you ever gave someone in your career.
• What problem are you most proud of solving for a customer?

INTEREST IN COMPANY

• Why are you considering our company as a potential employer?

ANALYSIS

• Tell me about a time when a customer complained to get you to discover a problem that needed to be solved. How did you handle this?

TECHNICAL / PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

• Give me an example of a project that demonstrates your expertise in __________________.

ADAPTABILITY

• Give me an example of an extremely busy day at work and how you managed to keep all the details together.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Describe the last time that you had to make an impromptu presentation to a work group or class.

MOTIVATIONAL FIT

• What did you like best (or least) in your work at _____________ (company)?
• What motivates you to put forth the greatest effort?