Job Plan Development: IIQs and SIQs

IIQs and SIQs May 20132

What we’ll cover

• IIQ and SIQ overview

• The purpose of IIQs

• Types and weightings of IIQs

• Developing good IIQs

• The purpose of SIQs

• Developing good SIQs


Job Plan: IIQs and SIQs

ProfileJob

DevelopJob Plan

IdentifyCandidates

InterviewOnline &

Document

Reviewand

Adjust

Interview& Make

Decisions

Writing a compelling job plan with relevant screening questions


Overview

Initial Interview Questions (IIQs)

• 15-20 multiple choice questions

• Scored and ranked

• Designed to identify qualified candidates

Secondary Interview Questions (SIQs)

• 2 -4 open-ended questions

• Typically behavioral based

• The equivalent of a first round interview

• Assesses key performance criteria and communication skills


Initial Interview Questions


Categories of IIQs

Type Example

Basic information

• Residency/eligibility

• Compensation history, goals

• Relocation

• Travel

Behavioral • “When an irate caller calls….”

• “When an employee fails to meet a deadline I typically….”

Experiential • “I have worked as a field engineer in the following industries…”

• “Of the following degrees or certifications, I have…”

Quiz/

Knowledge

• “I would use a pivot table to…”

• “The error in the following line of code will result in…”


Weighting IIQs

IIQs can be weighted in 3 ways:

• Total points that can be earned for question

• For each answer within a question - the percentage of total points possible for that particular question

• Type of question - “Score”, “Knockout” or “Forward” - has an impact on the entire set of IIQs

Total possible points

%tage of total

type of question


Weighting IIQs

• “Score” designation means that the question will be scored

• A “Forward” designation means that regardless of the total score, the candidate will automatically be forwarded to the SIQs

• A “Knockout” designation means that the candidate will be automatically disqualified

• A “Forward” designation overrides a “Knockout”

automaticknockout

automaticforward


Weighting IIQs (cont.)

• The default required minimum score is set to 70%

• You can adjust the score until a ideal flow is reached


Types of IIQs and Point Value

Type Description Point Value

Essential If the candidate does not possess this attribute, he/she may be out. These questions usually have an “K” designation.

15

Primary These attributes are primary functions of the position and the possession of several, not all, of them is necessary.

10

Preferences These attributes are nice to have, but are easily overlooked if the above are met.

5

Data Point The purpose of this question is to obtain specific data on the candidate, not evaluate the individual.

1

3rd section of job plan


Creating IIQs – Best Practices

• Between 15 and 20 questions

• Primary attributes should make up the bulk of the questions

• Essential attributes should be used more sparingly

• At least one “Forward” answer

• based on highly quantifiable experience

• Occasionally interject humorous questions

• Group the same subject matter questions together


Proper Scoring

(5 pts) I have given presentations to groups of:

100% S Over 100 people

100% S 51 to 100 people

95% S 11 to 50 people

90% S Up to 10 people

0% S N/A - I am new to giving presentations, but would like to learn

(5 pts) I have given presentations to groups of:

75% S Over 100 people

100% S 51 to 100 people

50% S 11 to 50 people

25% S Up to 10 people

0% S N/A - I am new to giving presentations, but would like to learn

Poor

Good

IIQs should be designed so that they reward the most qualified candidates for the position


Answers Should Not be Obvious

An effective IIQ should have several viable choices so that the candidate cannot guess the correct response

(10 pts) When I am completely lost on a project or task, I generally:

0% S Keep working until I figure it out – regardless of how long it takes

100% S Ask for help so that I get back on the right track

0% S Leave it and move on to the next task

0% S Ask for a different task that better matches my skills

0% S Throw myself down a flight of stairs to avoid the issue

(5 pts) My references will describe my organizational and prioritization skills as:

75% S Consistent. I am well organized and prioritize well and am always dependable

100% S Meticulous. I am highly organized and have excellent prioritization skills

0% S Up in the air. I thrive on being assigned multiple tasks and trying to get them completed by the end of each day

25% S Creative. I have a looser sense of organization and prioritizing because I'm always looking for more efficient ways to complete my tasks

Poor

Good


Limit Questions to One SkillBe sure to not use IIQs that involve too many variables – ask about one skill at a time.

(15 pts) A major aspect of this job will involve managing the work of software developers and architects. I would shine in this aspect of the job because:

0% S I would be new to managing the work of software developers and software architects

0% S I do not have a computer science degree nor have I been titled a SW engineer, SW developer or SW architect. I am not sure how I would do in assessing and managing the work of developers and architects

0% S I do not have a computer science degree nor have I been titled a SW engineer, SW developer or SW architect. However I am sure I still would be able to assess and manage the work of developers and architects

100% S I have solid experience as a SW engineer, SW developer or SW architect. I am confident in my ability to assess and manage the work of a development team and I am especially adept in Java

100% S I have solid experience as a SW engineer, SW developer or SW architect. I am confident in my ability to assess and manage the work of a development team and I am especially adept in .NET

Poor


Always Provide an Answer Option Be sure to always consider all answer possibilities and include them. The

candidate must have a response option.

(5pts) The highest level of education I have attained is a/an:

0% S High school diploma or some college experience, but no BA/BS degree

75% S High school diploma or some college experience AND work experience in a QA or technical support capacity

100% S Undergraduate degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

80% S Undergraduate degree NOT in computer science, engineering, or related field

75% S Graduate degree NOT in computer science, engineering, or related field

100% S Graduate degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

Good


IIQ Recommend ordering• Location

• Essential attributes

• ...

• Primary attributes

• ...

• Preferences and data-points

• ...

• W2 last 2 years

• Education

• Salary expectations

• Work eligibility

• Confirmation

15-20 questions


Common mistakes: IIQs

• Not being specific with skills experience

• Responses not making a sentence with question

• Lower case and periods

• Inappropriate question point value

• Inappropriate percentage values

• Asking more than one question

• Obviously wrong or right answers

• “You” instead of “I”

• Repetition of words in answers

• Not covering all bases/experience levels

• Using inappropriate library questions


Evaluating IIQs - #1

(5 pts) I have delivered technical training to groups of:

100% S Delivered to over 100 people.

100% S Delivered to 51 to 100 people.

95% S Delivered to 10 to 50 people.

90% S Delivered to Up to 10 people.

0% S N/A - I am new to technical training, but would like to learn.

What is the problem with this IIQ? How could you improve it?


Evaluating IIQs - #2What is the problem with this IIQ? How could you improve it?

(5 pts) When my sales cold calls end with a “no”, I

0% S keep calling back and being assertive until I get a “yes”

100% S ask my manager for assistance and coaching

0% S ask for a different cold-call client list

0% S throw myself down a flight of stairs to avoid the issue


Evaluating IIQs - #3What is the problem with this IIQ? How could you improve it?

(5pts) Regarding your MS PowerPoint skills, your level of expertise is:

0% N You don’t know PowerPoint

25% S You have basic PowerPoint skills

50% S You have used it somewhat - you have intermediate PowerPoint skills

80% S You have advanced PowerPoint skills

100% F You are an expert PowerPoint user


Secondary Interview Questions


What are SIQs?

• Secondary Interview Questions (SIQs) are the candidates opportunity to brag about their experience

• These questions should focus entirely on the essential and primary attributes

• Ask the HM to give you specific questions he or she asks during an interview or phone screen

• You should have a high correlation between the SIQ’s and the tasks and soft skills described in the 3rd paragraph


SIQ Question Topics

Topic Example

Experiences “Tell us about a time when your operational audit uncovered a serious issue. How did you fix it? What was your role?”

Situational “Auditors and operations teams often disagree over important issues. Describe a time when you have managed a similar or applicable situation. How did you resolve the disagreement?”

Related to current

company issue

“How do you think Yahoo’s release of Panama will impact the interactive marketing of the Google-centric small and mid-sized business users?”


Common mistakes: SIQs

• Not having an open-ended question

• Asking questions that can be answered in a few words

• Asking too many questions in one SIQ

• Not focusing on an essential or primary attribute

• Being too vague

• Asking hypothetical questions

• Not asking for challenges, difficulties and how they overcame them

• Not allowing candidates to brag about themselves

• Asking questions that should be in the IIQs

• Asking “What is your experience with <skill/technology>?”


Evaluating SIQs

What is the problem with each SIQ? How could you improve it?

Discuss your level of expertise and experience using Microsoft PowerPoint. How many management presentations have you developed in the last five years?

Discuss your level of expertise and experience using Microsoft PowerPoint. How many management presentations have you developed in the last five years?

In your sales career was there a time when you initially got “nos” from a particular client and eventually turned the client around?

In your sales career was there a time when you initially got “nos” from a particular client and eventually turned the client around?

What makes you the right fit for this job? What would appeal to you about this job? What do you like doing?

What makes you the right fit for this job? What would appeal to you about this job? What do you like doing?

Tell us about a time where you had to learn something new on your own without assistance?Tell us about a time where you had to learn something new on your own without assistance?

What was your most challenging management experience while you were at your last company?

What was your most challenging management experience while you were at your last company?

What is your level of experience with J2EE? How familiar are you with the Unix operating system?What is your level of experience with J2EE? How familiar are you with the Unix operating system?


Review


Review Questions

• What is the purpose an IIQ and a SIQ?

• How many IIQs and SIQs should you have in a plan?

• List the 3 ways that a IIQ can be weighted.

• Knockout and Forward – which overrides the other?

• List the 4 types of IIQ questions and associated point values.

• List two common SIQ mistakes.

Technology

Job Plan Development: IIQs and SIQs