Chapter 7: Basic Information for All Types of Interviews An interview is all types of planned, face-to-face encounters in which at least one of the participants have a specific objective in mind.

Types of Interviews Counseling interview is to help the interviewee uncover and solve “career-related personal or interpersonal problems.” The employment interview is one of the most important types because in it some of the most critical organizational and personal decisions are made. Exit interviews require careful listening and reading between the lines because many people will only hint at their real reason for leaving.

Types of Interviews The grievance or confrontation interview is any type of one-to-one encounter involving conflict and its resolution. Group Interviews –The panel interview has more interviewees than interviewers; board interviews have has more interviewers than interviewees. Informational interviews give or seek information. In an information-giving, the interviewer wants to impart important information; In an information seeking the interviewer wants information from the interviewee.

Type of Interviews Interrogation interviews usually involve some type of offense involved. Performance reviews accurately and consistently evaluates the performance of employees. Persuasive interviews are persuasive in nature. As cost of transportation increases, companies are using telephone interviews.

Basic Interview Organization Opening Phase- three step process –Rapport a comfortable, I-respect-you-as-an-individual feeling that makes both participants receptive to the interview. –Orientation an overall view of the interview. –Motivation motivate the interviewee to give straightforward, complete answers

Basic Interview Organization Question-response phase –Heart of the interview; both interviewer and interviewee have the opportunity to ask and respond to questions. The closing phase –Begins with a summary of the major points covered in the interview and of any conclusions reached –thanking the other for time and consideration.

Using Questions Effectively Open-Ended questions –Broad questions that allow the interviewee maximum freedom in deciding how much and what type of information to give Hypothetical Open Questions –Maximum freedom to respond to an invented, but possible situation Direct questions –Require a short answer or simple yes or no Closed questions –Limit the interviewee’s choice of answers to one of the answers supplied in the question

Using Questions Effectively Loaded Questions –Have no correct answers but are designed to get an _________ response. Leading Questions –Implies the correct answer Third-Person Questions –Embarrassing or personal questions phrased in a less threatening way Verbal and Nonverbal probes –Urge the respondent to add more information to a previous response

Ways to Organize Questions Funnel Sequence –questions move from the general questions to the specific questions (page 195) Inverted Funnel Sequence –questions move from specific to general (page 196) Hourglass Sequence –Used when the interviewee’s answer to the question in a funnel sequence isn’t what the interviewer expected; interviewer reopens the question to clarify the missing information (page 196). Diamond Sequence –Used when the answer to your final question in an inverted funnel sequence is unexpected or unclear (page 197).

Chapter 8: The Employment Interview

Interviewee: Preparing for the Job Hunt Investigate the Employment Market –A network is a web of contacts and relationships designed to benefit the participant by providing leads and referrals. Locate Specific Jobs of Interest Prepare a resume –Chronological resume Work experience is highlighted and presented in reverse chronological order; dates are prominent. –Functional resume- Emphasizes skills rather than work experience; highlights accomplishments –Combination or hybrid resume Highlights skills, followed with a chronological list of jobs and a brief look at education.

Preparing for the Job Hunt Check resume content for accuracy and honesty –Exaggeration is overstating or presenting facts as more important than they are. –Distortion is misrepresenting or twisting facts, or stating that they are true when they are only partially true.

Prepare a Letter of Application Give enough information about yourself and your capabilities so that the employer will be interested in talking with you personally. –Example on page 212

Interviewee: Preparing for the Interview Have a Positive Attitude Impression Management –Efforts made to improve how others see you communicate and dress for the occasion –Two basic impression management styles Controlling style is where comments are focused on self- promotion. Submissive style is where comments are focused on the interviewer.

Interviewee: Preparing for the Interview Be prepared for any type of interview –The non-structured interview- interviewer expects you to take most of the initiative during the interview. –The structured interview- interviewer plans everything in advance and gives you much less opportunity to be creative in your responses. –The hostile or stress interview- interviewer delights in constantly evaluating the interviewee, often with belittling or embarrassing comments or questions and subtle nonverbal signals. –The group interview- several interviewers and one interviewee. –The video or virtual interview- screen through video interviews from remote locations.

Interviewee: Preparing for the Interview Carefully plan answers to probable questions –Standard questions are designed to determine basic skills and abilities. –Behavioral questions requires examples of the interviewee’s skills and behaviors. Be prepared with questions to ask the interviewer Be prepared to follow-up the interview Send a Thank-You note or card

Interviewer: Planning the Interview Get to know the interviewee ahead of time Plan the environment Organize the interview carefully –Plan the opening phase –Plan the question-response phase –Plan the closing phase

Interviewer: Conducting the Interview Ask only lawful questions Listen carefully to the interviewee Clarify and verify responses Avoid false inferences