Interviewing to Win!!! Presented by Career & Professional Development Center 110 Pullen Hall Frostburg State University

Skills Employers Look For… Interpersonal Teamwork Analytical Oral Communication Flexibility Computer Written Communication Leadership Work Experience Internship Experience “National Association of Colleges & Employers”

“On a scale of 1-5, how important are these skills in potential employees?” Ability to work in a team structure (4.55) Ability to make decisions and solve problems (4.5) Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work (4.48) Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization (4.48) Ability to obtain and process information (4.37) Ability to analyze quantitative data (4.25) Technical knowledge related to the job (4.01) Proficiency with computer software programs (3.94) Ability to create and/or edit written reports (3.62) Ability to sell or influence others (3.54) Taken from http://www.naceweb.org/s10022013/job-outlook-skills-quality.aspx

How Employers Find New Hires Referral from current employees Job/Career Fairs On-Campus Recruiting Internships Newspaper Ads Web Sites Electronic or Faxed Resumes

Your Job Search Focus Job Interest Ideal Work Environment Geographical Location Salary/Financial Security Job duties required Career Goals Strengths/ Weaknesses Values Time Career Resources: -Networking -Career & Professional Development Center -Online

6 Steps in a Proactive Job Search Identify Your Job Targets Identify & Target Potential Employers Develop Effective Marketing Tools Cast a Wide Net of Job Search Methods Interview Follow-Up

Before the interview Know Yourself: goals, skills, and abilities. Know Your Career Field: job titles, job duties, and industry trends. Know The Employer: products, services, locations, growth areas for the company.

Do You Measure Up? Applicants rated on… Appropriate dress Poise Posture, voice, eye contact Knowledge of company/ job duties Clearly stated career goals Communication-positive/assertive Closure-timing, handshake, follow-up

During the interview Arrive at least15 minutes early. Bring extra copies of resume. Greet interviewer by name, shake hands. Smile. Allow interviewer to lead. Typical Interview -small talk -discussion of your background -ask your questions to the employer -conclusion

Types of Interviews Behavioral Interviews Situational Interviews Case Interviews Technical Interviews Group/Panel Interviews Dinner Interviews

Behavioral vs. Traditional Interviews Best way to predict future behavior is past behavior How you’d behave vs. how you would behave Question/probe vs. one structured question Details vs. generalizing about events More concentrated vs. ability to tell stories

How to prepare for a behavioral interview… Recall examples that show success in coursework, work, leadership, or teamwork. Prepare short descriptions. Show a positive outcome or result that reflects positively on you. Be honest. Be specific.

Questions asked by employers… Tell me about yourself. Why did you choose your major? What are your career goals? Tell me about a time you worked in a team and how you handled conflict. Tell me about your greatest strength and weakness. Why should we hire you?

Questions to ask the employer… What do you consider the most important duties for this job? What are the major projects that I will work on? What personality traits do you consider critical to success on the job? What are the training opportunities with your company? What is the timetable for hiring a candidate?

What to do after the interview… Take notes after interview Thank-you letter (ASAP) Follow-up by phone. Accepting Offers Salary range Benefits Location