You’re Hired!!Interviewing Tips for Job SeekersPRESENTED BY: BRENT WHITE

What We Will Cover Today!Key Questions

• What are the most common questions in an interview?

• What should you not do on an interview?

• What should you do on an interview?

• What are most employers looking for in an interview?

Expected Outcomes

• How to successfully complete a job interview.

Meet Elyse Haines

ASSUME YOU ARE INTERVIEWING FOR A POSITION AS A CHEF ‘S ASSISTANT.

Elyse’sInterview PreparationChecklist

Before You Meet the Interviewer

Research the Company in advance of the interview

Reread the job posting so you know what skills are important

Review answers to possible questions - the day before

Confirm Time and Location – day before the interview

Arrive Early (15 minutes) – ZOOM MEETING NOW

TURN OFF CELL PHONE!!

Introduce yourself to the front office person (Important!)

Bring Clean and Updated Resume & Notepad to take notes.

Bring your portfolio if you have prepared one.

Appearance! Appearance! Appearance!

Making a Great Impression During the Interview!

Shake Interviewer’s Hand (firm handshake) and have good eye contact. Smile! ZOOM MEETING with Covid 19

Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to speak with them.

Listen carefully to the questions. Take a moment to form your answer and then speak.

Be enthusiastic! The interviewer wants to see that you are excited about the job!!

Have a few questions for them about the position/company.

Ask them what would be the next steps in the hiring process there. Ask them when would be the best time to follow up with them.

Obtain business card for Thank You. Send email but also HIGHLY recommend a HANDWRITTEN thank you note on quality note card

What types of questions can Elyse expect to be asked?

Answering Questions –What are most interviewers looking for when they interview you?

1. Do you have the skills needed and the willingness to learn?2. Are you excited about their company and about the job? 3. Will you be a great addition to the team?

Typical Interview QuestionsIf you have never interviewed for a job, you need some practice. Find someone (teacher, counselor, etc.) who can give you a practice interview by asking you some questions that often come up.

Have them pick 6 or 7 of these questions.

• Tell me about yourself? (See example answer)

• Why did you decide to pursue culinary arts?

• What do you know about our company?

• Why do you want to work here? (See example answer)

• Why are you interested in this position? (See example answer)

Additional Interview Questions• What are your greatest strengths /

weaknesses? (See example answer)

• Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you handled it?

• This job requires you to learn new information quickly. Give me an example of a time when you did this. (See example on next slide)

• How would your friends/teachers describe you?

• What makes you a good team member?

• How much are you hoping to make as a starting wage? (See example answer)

Answering Interview Questions:EXAMPLE S

ASSUME ELYSE IS INTERVIEWING FOR A POSITION AS A CHEF ‘S ASSISTANT.

Answering “Tell Me About Yourself ”

• Tell me about yourself: (You want to have 3 – 5 sentences ready if they ask this)

Elyse (the person with our example resume) might answer:

As you know, I will be graduating in May and I am seeking a (insert type of culinary position). I was very excited about this position at your company. I am highly motivated, love cooking, enjoy working with people, have great communication skills, learn very quickly and am a team player. These skills would be a great fit for the position, and I am sure that I can help the company continue to do a great job serving the needs of your customers.

Answering “Why did you decide to study culinary arts?”

How would you answer this? (The

interviewer wants to understand if you

are truly interested and excited about

what it is that you do!)

TIP: Think about telling the interviewer a

story.

• How did you first become interested in this?

• What were some of the first courses you

took?

• What have you gotten good at doing?

• Why do you love doing this?

Answering “Why do You Want to Work Here?”

Possible answer:

I want to work for a company that is

growing, that provides great training and

is all about having satisfied customers.

This describes your company. Given my

culinary skills, my attention to detail and

my ability to be a team player, it would

be a great fit and I know I can help provide your customers with great

service. (NOTICE HOW THIS TIES TO THE

SKILLS IN THE PICTURE).

The interviewer is really asking: Why

should we hire you? How can you help

our company perform better?

Answering “What are your strengths?

• What are your strengths? Think about 3 things that your do exceptionally well that would be important to succeeding in this position AND what the qualifications the employer is seeking? (Refer to the picture)

Possible answers:

• Great listener – able to follow directions

• Team player – able to work well with others to get the tasks completed successfully and on time.

• Quick learner – tell me once and I understand

• Responsible employee – I show up on time and take my job seriously

• Love creating great dishes

• ??

Answering “What are your weaknesses?

• What are your weaknesses? First, think about a something that you didn’t do very well or know lots about BUT found a way to get better at it?

Possible answers:

• I wanted to be the very best at following directions so to rather than simply listen, I take notes to make sure things are completed correctly.

• When I first started food preparation, I wasn’t completely knowledgeable about food safety. However, after taking courses, I realize how important it is and I take I very seriously whenever I am in the kitchen.

• ??

Tip: Anytime you are asked for an example, tell the interviewer a story!

Here is the format for

your story!

1. What were you

asked to do?

2. What did you do?

3. What was the result?

How well did you do?

Answering “Give me an example of your ability to learn quickly”

• To Answer: Tell a story about a time

when you must learn something

quickly.

Possible answer: As part of my culinary

class cooking exam, our teacher gave us

5 minutes of detailed instruction on how

to prepare and cook a new fish entrée.

We were not allowed to take notes. We

then had 45 minutes to complete the

task that we had never done before. My

entrée and presentation was rated #1 in

the class of 20 students!

Answering “Give me an example of your ability to work as part of a team?”

• To Answer: Tell a story about a time

when you worked with others to

successfully complete a project or

assignment?

Possible answer: (Tell a story answering

these questions.)

1. What were you asked to do?

2. What did you do as part of the

team?

3. What was the team with your help

able to accomplish?

Answering “How much do you expect to make? What are your expectations?”

• NOTE: This is a tricky question. The wage may already be

specified in the job posting. If it is not, then you could say,

“Well, I am sure you have a budget for this position. What is

the pay range for this position? Then let the interviewer

answer. (You can decide it that wage works for you.

• Remember, if you are just starting your career, you will have to

work hard over time to eventually make the $$’s you expect.

• Wages aren’t everything starting out. It’s important to work for

great organizations and train under great people.

TIPS FOR INTERVIEWING

UseUse the checklist

ReadRead and carefully

study the job posting to determine what

skills and experience they are seeking

PreparePrepare and write out answers to questions

•Tell Me About Yourself

•Why do you want to work here?

•What are your strengths?

PracticePRACTICE, PRACTICE

with someone

TELL STORIESIf asked to give an

example, TELL A STORY

Questions??

About Peoplefocus

Brent White, founder of Peoplefocus, spent over 35 years in the world of sales and sales management and held senior leadership positions at Taylor, Nelson, Sofres, one of the world’s leading market research firms. Over the years he has been a mentor to many young talented professionals by providing career advice. “I realized early on that people are responsible for the success of a business. I have spent my career focusing on hiring, developing and retaining the most talented people. “I enjoy sharing what I have learned about identifying career paths and conducting successful job searches with those seeking exciting and fulfilling career opportunities.”

Brent is based in Chicago.

He can be reached at brent.white@peoplefocus.net