Interviewing Excellence Managing Your Performance Master of Ceremony Monica S. Powell, PhD – University of Texas at Dallas

Don’t Feel This Way If the sample for the survey was a good sample --- 70% of you have been in your position more than 3 years…..

What NOT to SAY!!!

OBJECTIVES To recognize a successful interview To evaluate your interview capabilities To understand how to answer the toughest questions To create strategies to improve your interview performance

What Defines a Successful Interview? Arriving on Time Being Prepared Dressing Appropriately Having an Accurate and Factual Resume

Resume Lies Are Never Little

What Defines a Successful Interview? Having Extra Copies of Your Resume Having a List of Personal/Professional References Understanding How to Use Small Talk Having Good Radar Knowing When to Stop Talking Knowing How to Appropriately Follow-up

Most Important Success Factor KNOWING THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS If the sample for the survey was a good sample --- 70% of you have been in your position more than 3 years…..

Tell a story about your life that describes why you are a hard-worker, or why you work well with others, or why you welcome criticism. Use the story as an opportunity to provide attributes that define you – I’m a hard-worker, I never give up, I can handle stressful situations. TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR COMPANY? Be prepared to talk about what you have researched on their website and through the news. Talk specifics and be able to include important data points – total company worth, number of employees, who the key company leaders are….also be able to speak to the company mission statement and perhaps a little bit of company history. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR COMPANY?

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH? They are really asking you – What will make you a great employee. So, say things like……you thrive under pressure, you are great at motivating others, you welcome criticism, you have extra-ordinary attention to detail. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH?

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS? Focus specifically on a work-related weakness. For example, I tend to have tremendous focus and have occasionally missed the big picture. But knowing this weakness, I diagram out the task, stating the objective at the top and making sure that every task helps move toward the overall objective. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO A GOOD JOB? Don’t say – MONEY. Talk about how you are motivated by being successful, by helping others, by working on purposeful tasks, by becoming a leader. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO A GOOD JOB?

WOULD YOU RATHER BE LIKED OR FEARED? Never choose between two polar opposites – respond with a different option. For example, say that you would choose neither – that you would rather be respected. WOULD YOU RATHER BE LIKED OR FEARED?

WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR THIS POSITION? Talk about how your goals line up with the goals of the company – be prepared to share your knowledge of the company’s goals. Talk about how you want to work at a successful and growing company and refer specifically to how their company has grown or what good accolade was showcased in the news recently. WHY DID YOU APPLY FOR THIS POSITION?

Say confidently … “because I’m the best person for the position Say confidently … “because I’m the best person for the position. I know there are other candidates being considered but I bring characteristics that really matter. I bring a passion for excellence and that pays dividends for both me and for this company.” WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOU?

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AT THIS JOB? Say confidently……”I have been successful in every position, organization or association I have ever been involved with and my resume reflects that success. I don’t settle for anything less than my best.” WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AT THIS JOB?

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS? You want to succeed in this position and then grow perhaps into a couple more positions in the next 10 years. Each position will have more responsibility and will be worthy of greater respect. I expect promotions but I also expect to enjoy doing the work and to care about what I do. Most importantly in ten years I hope to be healthy, happy and excelling in my career. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE YOUR INTERVIEWING SKILLS?

Strategies for YOU Practice, practice, practice Develop your own answers to questions Research the company and practice the answers Ask for criticism from others during practice Learn the art of selling yourself

BE YOURSELF!