Get Hired! Ace That Job Interview

Get Hired!Get Hired!Ace that Job InterviewAce that Job Interview

By Catherine Adenlehttp://catherinescareercorner.com

Why Interview?

Types of Interview

Interview Preparation

Interview Success

What Next?

Outline


Can (s)he do the job?

Is (s)he better than the others?

IS

Will (s)he fit in?

WILL

Does (s)he really want the job?

DOES

Why Interview?CAN


PanelFormal/In

formal

Tel

epho

ne/

Vid

eo L

inkC

ompetency

Assessment Centre

Telephone and VideoTelephone and VideoEmployers use both as a way of identifying and recruit candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews. Both are also used to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.

Formal/InformalFormal/InformalUsually 1:1 or 1:2. They both allow a candidate to familiarize themselves with the position. Prepared questions and job information are aimed at the candidate.

PanelPanelPanel interviews involve having a group of hiring stakeholders (3 to 6 is a typical number) conduct the interview jointly and lob both prepared and off-the-cuff questions at a candidate.

Competency Competency In a Competency Based Interview, the questions will all be Behavioral Based and for this reason these interviews are referred to as Behavioral Interviews. Indeed they are sometime referred to as Structured Interviews and this is because each candidate is asked the same questions in the same order with no deviation.

Assessment CentreAssessment CentreThese are an extended period of interviews, assessed tasks and assessment exercises, organized and held by recruiters for small groups of graduate level candidates (usually between 6 and 20 people). Recruiters use assessment centre to find out how candidates perform in various situations,.


Types of Interview

PresentationPsychometric

Gro

up R

ole Play

Aptitude Tests

GroupGroupThis is a group interview where tasks and exercises are held by recruiters for groups. Recruiters use this to find out how candidates perform in various situations, in particular group situations, which are often modeled on real life work-based scenarios.

Psychometric testsPsychometric testsThese tests aim to measure attributes like intelligence, aptitude and personality, providing a potential employer with an insight into how well you work with other people, how well you handle stress, and whether you will be able to cope with the intellectual demands of the job.

PresentationPresentationCandidates are asked to prepare and present on a topic chosen by the recruiter. In the average interview presentation, a candidate will only have around ten minutes to get the message across. Role PlayRole Play

Role plays may be conducted 1:1. A member of the recruitment team may play the role of an awkward customer and the candidate is asked to deal with their complaint. A role play interview will test candidate’s problem solving, decision making, verbal communication, analytical reasoning skills, and your ability to put forward a persuasive case .

Aptitude TestsAptitude TestsThese tests are designed to assess logical reasoning or thinking performance. They consist of multiple choice questions and are administered under exam conditions. They are strictly timed and a typical test might allow 30 minutes for 30 or so questions.


Types of interview contd...


Interview

Visual 55%

Vocal 38%

Verbal 7%

Body languageVoice

Interview Presentationnumerical value to how people receive communication

Content

Visual: What the listener seesWhat the listener seesBody language, stance, enthusiasm, dress, eye contact, handshake, smile, warmth, friendly greeting and confident approach. Vocal: How you say itHow you say itTone of voice, hitting the right spot, flow and confidence.Verbal: What you say What you say The content of the message.


30 seconds3 seconds 3 minutes

GreetingsHandshakeEye contact

Smile

Small talkQuick

acknowledgement

Calming downGetting comfortable

Interview Presentation““You never get a second chance to create a first impression”You never get a second chance to create a first impression”

PreparationPreparationThe more thorough your preparation, the most likely your chance of being hired.

PreparationPreparationThe more thorough your preparation, the most likely your chance of being hired.

PracticePracticePractice answering a list of anticipated questions. Turn the answers to illustrate your skills.

PracticePracticePractice answering a list of anticipated questions. Turn the answers to illustrate your skills.

PresentationPresentationLook to create a lasting impression that will get you noticed and remembered

Don’t forgetthe 3 P’sthe 3 P’s

Interview Interview SuccessSuccess


RESEARCHRESEARCH the company: This includes the company’s products and services, details of how the company was formed or developed, the markets, turnover, plans for the future, number of branches, people employed, the company’s values etc. Take steps to obtain as much information as possible.

RESEARCHLook to SHOWCASESHOWCASE your Skills or Prime Selling Points: Look at a copy of your CV, consider your skills that are linked to their requirements. Go through the evidences that will showcase the skills. Remember that the skills won you the interview, now is your opportunity to use them as part of the main agenda in your interview.

SHOWCASE

REVIEWREVIEW the job application: Read the job specification carefully again. See if there are any new points that were not apparent in the advertisement or were not covered in your original application. Go through each point and tick off the requirements that you meet, and note potential areas of weakness, do not be discouraged about these areas. Think of how to improve the areas of weakness just in case they ask.

REVIEW

PREPAREPREPARE questions and practice answers: It is a brilliant idea to prepare a list of anticipated questions and suitable answers. Look at ways of turning the answers to further illustrate your skills. Share your questions and answers with your mentor, friend or family and know how to answer all the question. Practice in front of a mirror.

PREPARE

Before the interview


Research and get prepared•When – Day, date and time•What – The position, job description and required skills•Where - Location, office, room. Journey details•Who – Who is interviewing?•What to wear – Smart business wear •Know all the company’s information – products, news updates and developments•Re-read the application and CV•Print and take along extra copies of your CV and any other necessary documents.


Interview preparation


Top 10 qualities of a successful candidate1. Presence2. Connect the Dots3. Confident Enthusiasm4. Strong Vision5. Ethics6. Evolution verses Revolution7. Power of Sharing8. Be in the Moment9. Sense of Urgency10.Consistency

1. Ability to Take Direction 2. Positive, Proactive Attitude3. Productivity 4. Flexibility 5. Integrity and Honesty 6. Communication and Interpersonal Skills 7. Teamwork Style 8. Loyalty 9. Willingness to Learn 10. Initiative

1. Ability to Take Direction 2. Positive, Proactive Attitude3. Productivity 4. Flexibility 5. Integrity and Honesty 6. Communication and Interpersonal Skills 7. Teamwork Style 8. Loyalty 9. Willingness to Learn 10. Initiative

11. Willingness to Help 12. Time Management Skills 13. Problem Solving Skills 14. Planning and Organizational Skills 15. Decision Making 16. Goal Setting 17. Motivation Level and Energy 18. Stress Management 19. Creativity 20. Leadership Abilities and Style

11. Willingness to Help 12. Time Management Skills 13. Problem Solving Skills 14. Planning and Organizational Skills 15. Decision Making 16. Goal Setting 17. Motivation Level and Energy 18. Stress Management 19. Creativity 20. Leadership Abilities and Style


20 Qualities that will be examined


Inte

rvie

w D

o’s • Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be

encountering. Prepare and practice for the interview• Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview — or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.

• Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism. If you’re not sure, you should consider dressing conservatively.

• Do plan to arrive about 15 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. • Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression. • Do bring extra CVs and your skills Portfolio to the interview.

• Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you’re not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.• Do shake hands firmly. Don’t have a limp or sweaty handshake!

• Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times.

• Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s). • Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company. • Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as “like,” “uh,” and “um”).

• Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don’t be overly aggressive.• Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a

factual, sincere manner, remember evidences to support your skills claim


Inte

rvie

w D

on’ts • Don’t just rely on your application, cover letter or CV to do the selling for you. No

matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself/skills

to the interviewer. • Don’t excuse yourself to go for a cigarette and don’t ask for tea or coffee unless

you are offered.• Don’t tell jokes during the interview and don’t do any impressions.

• Don’t smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth,

use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview.

• Don’t be too soft-spoken. A mildly forceful voice projects confidence.

• Don’t act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.

• Don’t say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers.

• Don’t ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.

• Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no.” Explain. Describe those

things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give

examples. • Don’t bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.

• Don’t respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying

something like, “boy, that’s a tough/good question.”

• Don’t answer mobile/cell phone calls during the interview, and do turn it off (or if

you must, set to silent). • Don’t inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until

after you’ve received an offer. Be prepared for a question about your salary

requirements, but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer.


1. Do your homework1. Do your homework : : Research the company on the internet and get as much information as possible. Use various specialist sites such as ft.com/marketsdata to familiarize yourself with the company or organization. Remember the 3Ps – Prepare, Plan, and be Positive.

2. Prepare:2. Prepare: Before hand, get a paper and a pen, prepare a list of interview questions that you expect to be asked and decide how to answer them. Read through several times to understand how to answer the questions. Do not learn the answers by heart as this will increase your stress level.

3. Plan3. Plan: : Plan properly as this will allow you to find the best path to achieve your objectives. You have to set out planning for the predictable and the unpredictable. What if your car should break down or the train is late? Have you got the telephone number of the company and the name of the person to call just in case?

4. Sleep 4. Sleep For two consecutive days before the interview, ensure you get good amount of sleep. Being tired the day of your interview can make you irritable and less prepared. It is easy to get stressed due to lack of sleep.

5. Arrive early5. Arrive early Arrive to your interview at least 30 minutes before your interview is supposed to begin. Stay inside your car to review any notes that you may want to go through again as well as mentally prepare yourself for your upcoming interview. This will let you compose yourself and freshen up. Enter the building where your interview is taking place 10 – 15 minutes before the interview.

10 ways to manage interview stress

http://markets.ft.com/ft/markets/companyResearch.asp


6. Stay cool : 6. Stay cool : Irrespective of how annoyed you get with the interviewer, try hard to control your anger and your body language. Always keep yourself calm and composed throughout any stressful interviews. Pause, take a few deep breaths, smile while you think of an appropriate answer or response.7. If in doubt, clarify: 7. If in doubt, clarify: If in a panic because you don’t understand the question, be sure to clarify the question and the kind of answer desired. This will buy you some extra time to think about the answer to give. Never be afraid to ask questions, it is important that you ask if you are not sure. 8. Give concise answers8. Give concise answers : : Maintain your focus on the questions and not how irrelevant or biased they sound. Avoid making an issue of the questions. Make your answers concise, sharp and straight to the point.9. Be prepared for a Conversation9. Be prepared for a Conversation : : Don’t just answer questions, be prepared for a conversation because if you focus on the conversation you are having, you will forget about stress. Be careful not to get carried away. Focus is the answer to stress.10. Put things in perspective: 10. Put things in perspective: The fear of failure or disappointing others is the cause of the stress that most people feel. That fear is then compounded by the fact that many job seekers are at a point where they have very low self-confidence, whether because they have been unemployed for sometime, or because they are unhappy about where they are.

Be positive – look at it this way, it is only a job interview, not a life or death situation, so chill out and relax! If you don’t get the job, you will have another chance somewhere else.

10 Ways to manage stress continued…


Interview QuestionsThe ones to prepare for Tell me about yourself What do you know about our organisation? Why are you the right person for the job? Strengths? Weaknesses or areas of improvement? Ambition? What values can you add? Your past achievements and examples? Technical details? A difficult work problem that you solved? Your own questions to the hiring managers? Leaving statement?


Demonstrate Your SkillsUse the STARSTAR method

SituationSituation: give an example of a situation you were involved in that resulted in a positive outcomeTaskTask: describe the tasks involved in that situationActionAction: talk about the various actions involved in the situation’s taskResultsResults: what results directly followed because of your actions


What are your strengths?

‘What are your strengths?’ This is another popular, almost an inevitable question. It may come in a variety of other guises, but they all mean the same thing. Using the information you have prepared regarding your skills, the answer should be obvious. Give your answers without any hesitation, list your skills in order of list your skills in order of importance for the job you are after importance for the job you are after one after the other and provide each with evidence using the STAR method.

Answers to most asked questions: Part 1Part 1‘Tell me something about yourself’

The invitation question often comes within seconds of your arrival in the interview room. Do not be caught unawares so that you do not provide a waffling or muffled response. This is a wonderful opportunity to set the a wonderful opportunity to set the scene and fully outline your capabilities and scene and fully outline your capabilities and attributesattributes. So, write a two-minute sales pitch that embodies each of your skills. Keep your message to the point and do not include unnecessary information. Practice aloud until it rolls off your tongue!


Your own questions for the hiring manager(s):

Interviewers will always ask if you have questions for them. Create the right impression by preparing at least one question for them. Waste no further opportunities to promote your keenness at securing the job. Get a question from your research Get a question from your research into the company and its activities, and into the company and its activities, and strongly connect it to your skills. strongly connect it to your skills. Your question can concern future training, technical matters, new products or anything to demonstrate your ability and illustrate your skills.

Answers to most asked questions:Part 2Part 2Possible ‘weaknesses’ or areas of improvements:

There are both positive and negative aspects to any interview’s tactic. As expected, the first will explore your strengths to see why you are the right person for the job while the second will probe your weakness or areas of improvements to see if you are not a suitable candidate. The strategy here is to quickly satisfy the quickly satisfy the recruiter’s doubts, but also to immediately recruiter’s doubts, but also to immediately direct the interviewer to a relevant Prime direct the interviewer to a relevant Prime Selling Point that should diffuse the Selling Point that should diffuse the perceived weaknessperceived weakness.


What kind of salary do you need?

A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if

you ask or answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,

“That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?”

In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a widerange.

Answers to most asked questions:What do co-workers say about you?Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specificstatement or a paraphrase will work.

‘Jill Clark, a co-worker at SmithCompany, always said I was the hardest

workers she had ever known.’ It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.

Why do you want to work for this organization?This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on theresearch you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Part 3Part 3


Leaving statement after the interview:

It is important to prepare the scene for getting off the interview chair. Visualize gathering your belongings, rising with a smile, a firm handshake with a friendly but business like parting statement: ‘Thank you for your time. I have enjoyed the interview and feel that it is been very useful. It has increased my interest in the

job and confirmed my ability to be of value to your company.’

Remember that you are still creating a lasting impression that will get you

noticed and remembered.

Answers to most asked questions:Part 4Part 4Explain how you would be an asset to this organization

You should not be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position beingdiscussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

What motivates you to do your best on the job?

This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:Challenge, Achievement, Recognition


Never say these 10 things1. How much does the job pay?2. What does your company make (or do)?3. Do not use SLANG words or phrases in

your job interview. 4. What can you do for me; what are the

benefits like vacations, promotions and bonuses?

5. No profanity or cursing of any kind.6. No stereotypical language7. Do not criticize any former employer.8. If you are asked if you have any questions

don’t say “No.”9. I don’t have any weaknesses10.Don’t tell them your life story.


Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good.

How soon will I be able to be productive? What type of projects will I be able to assist on? What are my key objectives for this role in the first 6 months? What opportunities are there for me to utilize and develop my skills further What are the challenges of this role? Do you have any reservation about my ability to do the job? What is expected of me in the first 3 months? What is the next step after this interview?

Your own question““Do you have any questions for us/me?”Do you have any questions for us/me?”


Steps to SuccessPlan, prepare, prepare and prepare

Dress the part

Get your message across perfectly – practice, practice, practice

Be enthusiastic

Be positive

Be ready to impress

Review, learn and improve


After the interviewReview and LearnReview and Learn

What went well, list them and congratulate yourself

What were the questions you weren’t prepared for and how could you have answered them?

Are there any improvements you can make?

How can you work on these areas of improvements?

Document all of the findings and while you wait to hear back, get prepared for the next interview.


Ace the interview

If you think you can, or think you If you think you can, or think you cannot, you are absolutely right!cannot, you are absolutely right!


Questions

Contact: Catherine Adenle

http://catherinescareercorner.comhttp://twitter.com/catherineadenle

http://catherinescareercorner.com/

Career

Get Hired! Ace That Job Interview