PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWAs an occupational therapist

Now you have been called for an interview!

Your resume and cover letter are excellent

Picture source: http://www.jobinterviewtechniques.net/

Tips on how to prepare for interview Review your resume and cover letter Do some more research on the

organization and department Prepare to answer interview questions Prepare your questions to take to the

interview Prepare your job interview “kit”

Tips from the professionals Decide what to wear one week before the

interview Dressing for a successful job interview

(http://youtu.be/a5F43Fp5nMQ)

Be certain that your outfit is pulled together and appropriate for the job

Ensure you are well groomed Book a hair cut if it’s overdue! Don’t forget nails!

Simple – tricky– impossible!

TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Oliver, V. (2005). 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc.

The following information is from

Your job interview kit Cell phone (which is off during the interview) Directions to your appointment including the name of

the contact, full address (room number) & phone number

A few extra copies of your resume Key excerpts from your portfolio if relevant A pen and notebook Breath mints Picture ID in case you need it to get in the building

Top 10 tips for being a brilliant interviewee

1. Be polite, organized and enthusiastic2. Plan interviews around their schedule

not yours3. Do your homework4. Ask contacts for the inside scoop5. Smile at the interviewer and shake

hands, thank them for the opportunity to be interviewed

Top 10 tips for being a brilliant interviewee

6. Avoid canned answers to questions. Practise your answers so they sound natural on the day

7. Don’t use words such as “like”, “kinda”, “sorta”, “awesome”

8. Follow the news. There might be a story about this organization.

9. Don’t leave the interview without having asked at least 3 questions

10. Follow up with a thank you email or letter within 3 business days of your interview

The four Ps of performing at interview

Be PREPARED Look PRESENTABLE Sound POLISHED Stay POSITIVE

Don’t subtract from the interview Rest well before the interview

you will look healthy and be mentally focused Make a great first impression

be early (make sure you have been there before) be polite to all staff (they will be asked for their impressions)

Be gracious Your interview may start late The interviewer’s phone may ring Someone may accidentally barge in to the meeting

Don’t subtract from the interview Give it your best

Avoid canned answers or generalizations Work with the interviewer’s style

Meld your style to theirs Embrace the middle

Dress conservatively but don’t become invisible Empathize don’t criticize

If you are asked to comment but you don’t want to sound critical, be diplomatic

Be present Concentrate on what they are saying, listen, reflect, clarify and stay

focused

Types of interview questions (basic)

1. Do you know what we are looking for?2. What are your dreams and aspirations?3. Do you know your strengths?4. Have you done your homework about

us?5. Do you know your preferred working

style?

Do you know what we are looking for?

If you were hiring someone for this position, what qualities would you look for?

What would you like me to know about you that is not on your resume?

Let’s say we offer you the job, tell me how this organization will benefit?

Why should we hire you?

What are your dreams and aspirations?

Can you tell us a little more about yourself? (Focus on your OT story, your passion for the

profession and where you see yourself heading – keep it to 3 or 4 points)

Can you describe your dream job? What are your short-range and long-range goals? What are two or three things that are most

important for you in a job? How do you set and manage goals?

Do you know your strengths? (AKA: Sell yourself)

What is the most difficult thing that you have ever accomplished? Can you tell me about a recent achievement that you’re proud of? What do you like to do on weekends (in your spare time)? What special traits do you have that make you well suited to this job? Can you describe a time when you felt under pressure to perform?

What was the outcome? Please tell me about a time when you had to work independently What would you say is your most outstanding achievement so far in

life?’ What’s your passion?

Have you done your homework?

Why have you applied for this position here? Why us, why now?

What do you like about occupational therapy? Your first degree was in _____, how did that prepare

you for this career? What have you done in addition to your degrees to

learn about occupational therapy? Tell them about other ways you have learned about the

importance of occupational therapy

Do you know your preferred working style?

Do you prefer to work alone or in teams? What motivates you to put forth your

greatest effort? Who was your greatest role model?

Trickier interview questions1. Give us one good reason not to hire you?2. You seem to have more experience than we are looking

for, don’t you think you might be bored in this position?3. In what ways is a Masters degree better than a

bachelor’s degree?4. You are young and passionate and your academic

credentials are a great, I worry that there is no substitute for life experience and you’re a little light.

Impossible interview questions

1. “Pop essay” questions2. Questions that have no correct answer3. Ethical questions with a twist4. “Pigeonhole yourself” questions5. Questions that send you to confession

Pop essay questions If you could change occupational therapy

in any way what would you change? What changes are happening in health

generally or occupational therapy specifically?

What is happening in your community that occupational therapy could get more involved with?

Questions that have no correct answer

What is the real impact of occupational therapy? Break it down into sections Show your ability to pull apart a puzzle and

analyse it Show your resourcefulness and problem-

solving ability Show that you don’t believe you are an

expert on everything but have qualifications to have an opinion

Ethical questions with a twist When have you confronted unethical

behaviour and chosen not to say anything in order not to rock the boat?

What if you were working with someone who managed to take credit for your good ideas, how would you handle it? Are you able to act cautiously and ethically?

“Pigeonhole yourself” questions

Are you better at visioning or implementing?

Have you ever been so firm that people would describe you as stubborn or inflexible?

Questions that send you to confession

Is there anything that would prevent you from giving 110% in this job right now?

What are the biggest risks you have taken in recent years? Which ones worked out best and which ones failed?

“What would you do if…” You are likely to be given a scenario

question that describes either an unethical or an unsafe situation and then asked how you would manage it

They are looking at your ability to recognize what is actually going on AND your capacity to manage it.

Personality questions Tell me about the last time you made a major

change. Why did you do it and how did it work out?

What were the least enjoyable aspects of your last job?

Tell us about a time when you experienced conflict at work, what was it and how did you manage it?

Polishing your persona Choose 5 adjectives that describe your ideal work persona

Intelligent Perceptive Hard working Empathetic Creative

Take temperament test and think about how to talk about your strengths and how you manage your weaknesses http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/instruments2.aspx?partid=0

Questions to test your Political Prowess

Please give an example of a difficult political situation you have dealt with on the job.

How aware are you of internal politics that may affect your performance?

Questions that ask you to take off your “work mask”

How would you describe your sense of humour? Do you have any commitments outside the

office that might take you away from work? Tell me about a time when you were in a

personal situation that made you feel insecure? What do you do for fun? What do you daydream about?

Questions you can’t be asked Marital or relationship status Beliefs Children Ability to deal with people who are not

the same as you Financial or lifestyle questions

Your turn to ask some questionsFive types of questions that you should ask:1. Get the conversation going2. Show you studied the employer3. Internal structure of the employer and/or job

description4. Checking if the employer is a good fit for you5. Questions that put the ball back in the

interviewer’s court

Get the conversation going What are some of the problems your

company faces right now and what are you doing to solve them?

What type of employee tends to succeed here?

How would you describe your management style and what are you looking for in an employee?

Show you studied the employer

How has the new management structure impacted the day-to-day processes here?

I saw in the news recently that the occupational therapy services here are expanding, can you tell me more about this?

Internal structure of the employer and/or job description

Who would I be reporting to? Are these people on the same team and what is the “pecking order”?

How does this team manage ongoing professional development?

Is there an annual review process? How does that work?

Checking if the employer is a good fit

If I decided to undertake further training in ______ would this advance me more quickly?

I enjoy learning with my colleagues, does the occupational therapy department run a journal club?

Questions that put the ball back in the interviewer’s court

I have my resume and portfolio here with me, do you have anything else that you would like to ask me?

Well, I think it’s pretty clear, I would love to work here, so what are the next steps?

How long do you think it will take to make a decision about the position, is there anything else I can do to help you make it?

Charm can never be underestimated Be playful without being frivolous Befriend your interviewers Answer thoroughly and keep on track Shine: be the best candidate Show some of the ‘you’ your friends know

(language and gestures) Rephrase key points to show you are listening Promise yourself a reward for a job well done

Sending thank you emails after interview

It is becoming common to send a follow-up thank you Thank you for the opportunity to be

interviewed Mention a topic that was discussed in

the interview that you enjoyed discussing with them

Reiterate what they said would happen re follow-up

Close with “sincerely” or “best regards”

If only I had said…Maybe you wish you could change what you said in the interview because: You didn’t really answer the question You said too much You were too general You have new information You messed up your answer completely

Send an email Thank them for the opportunity to be

interviewed Explain that you were unhappy with one

of your answers (and a quick reason) Give your improved answer but don’t go

overboard

You have a job offer This is the only time that you are in the driver’s

seat Use it but don’t abuse it

You don’t have to accept immediately! Thank them, tell them that you are excited and would

like to discuss the offer with your family Ask if you can have 24 hours and you will get back to

them Ask additional information you need at this point

After you accept they will ask “When can you start?”

Tomorrow: if you are presently not working Two weeks from tomorrow: if you are presently

working and somewhat junior I can give notice tomorrow and start in 3 weeks:

if you are currently employed and somewhat senior

Four (to 12) weeks from tomorrow: if you are relocating to a new area to take the job

More resources Nine essential job inte

rviewing tips(http://youtu.be/M5ZiuPsb5Zs)