March to Employment Success … … Time to Grab your Horn and make some noise! Topic: Interviewing The information and presentation that follows was originally given at the 2005 NIRSA Region II Lead-on and is an overview of the interviewing process. The full presentation will be found on the March to Employment Success site.

Part Two: The Dance Brooke Turner Melanie Freeman Preparing for the National Conference and Beyond

Interviews

Types of Interviews Individual Individual Group Group School Socials School Socials Meals Meals

Interviewing 101 Networking gets you the interview, you get the job. Networking gets you the interview, you get the job. Arrive Early (15 Minutes) Arrive Early (15 Minutes) –Early is on time, on time is late, late is unacceptable. –Review Your Research –RELAX Attire Attire –Suit (Jacket, Pressed Shirt, etc) –Shoes (Be Prepared to Walk) –Bag (Snacks, Water, Pens, Supplies)

Portfolio Extra Resume Copies Extra Resume Copies Notebook Paper Notebook Paper Job Description Job Description Research Research Prepared Questions Prepared Questions

Meeting the Interviewer Face Where Interviewer Will Come From Face Where Interviewer Will Come From Sit Where You Are Ready To Go Sit Where You Are Ready To Go Be Ready To Go Be Ready To Go SMILE SMILE Firm Handshake Firm Handshake Walk With Energy Walk With Energy

Interview Tips Sit on the Edge of Your Seat Sit on the Edge of Your Seat Write Down the Names of the Interviewers Write Down the Names of the Interviewers Make Good Eye Contact Make Good Eye Contact Never Lie Never Lie Listen as Well as Talk Listen as Well as Talk Use Specific Examples from Your Life Use Specific Examples from Your Life Be Proud of Your Accomplishments. Be Open About Your Background or Experience Be Proud of Your Accomplishments. Be Open About Your Background or Experience Dont Give One Word Answers. They Want to Know What You Think Dont Give One Word Answers. They Want to Know What You Think

Interview Tips Emphasize Your Desire to Work, Learn, Help, Achieve, and be a Team Player Emphasize Your Desire to Work, Learn, Help, Achieve, and be a Team Player Dont Chew Your Fingernails, Smoke, Drink, or Eat During the Interview Dont Chew Your Fingernails, Smoke, Drink, or Eat During the Interview Do Not use Profanity or Slang Do Not use Profanity or Slang Bring Extra Copies of Your Resume, References, Transcripts or Any Other Pertinent Information Bring Extra Copies of Your Resume, References, Transcripts or Any Other Pertinent Information Ask Appropriate Questions Ask Appropriate Questions ALWAYS Thank the Interviewer ALWAYS Thank the Interviewer

Life After the Interview Write a Thank You Note Write a Thank You Note Talk to Professionals from Your School Talk to Professionals from Your School –Let Them Know Which Jobs You are Really Interested In Go Out of Your Way to Say Hello Go Out of Your Way to Say Hello

Follow up Phone Calls, Letters and s Phone Calls, Letters and s Subsequent Interviews Subsequent Interviews Follow Application Procedures Follow Application Procedures Handling Multiple Opportunities Handling Multiple Opportunities Sleep on Job Offers Sleep on Job Offers Accept with Enthusiasm Accept with Enthusiasm If You Decline Keep the Door Open for Later If You Decline Keep the Door Open for Later

The Key to Interviewing

Whats With All the Questions?

What are Interviewers Looking For? Energy Level Energy Level Professionalism and Presence Professionalism and Presence Ability and Motivation Ability and Motivation Thinking on Your Feet Thinking on Your Feet Judgment and Common Sense Judgment and Common Sense Creativity and Problem Solving Skills Creativity and Problem Solving Skills Attitude and Potential Attitude and Potential Adding to the Program Adding to the Program Response to Stress and Pressure Response to Stress and Pressure Loyalty, Integrity, Honesty, Accountability, Responsibility Loyalty, Integrity, Honesty, Accountability, Responsibility

Beyond the Question Your use of examples when answering questions helps your past experience to come alive and to demonstrate that you take pride in your work and will take the responsibility to increase quality levels, ensure customer satisfaction, or meet deadlines Your use of examples when answering questions helps your past experience to come alive and to demonstrate that you take pride in your work and will take the responsibility to increase quality levels, ensure customer satisfaction, or meet deadlines Employers will take a chance on a less qualified candidate (can you do the job) IF the person demonstrates enthusiasm for learning (will you do the job) and IF the person appears to fit in Employers will take a chance on a less qualified candidate (can you do the job) IF the person demonstrates enthusiasm for learning (will you do the job) and IF the person appears to fit in

Answering Questions Answer the Question – Then Justify Your Answer Answer the Question – Then Justify Your Answer STAR Technique STAR Technique –What was the Situation or Task & what were the Achievements & Results Continually Sell Yourself Continually Sell Yourself Focus on Positives Focus on Positives Dont Try to Justify Negatives – Turn Them into Positives Dont Try to Justify Negatives – Turn Them into Positives Prepare Several Success Stories Prepare Several Success Stories Prepare for the Liability Questions Prepare for the Liability Questions

Tricky Questions - John LaFerve What is Your Greatest Weakness? What is Your Greatest Weakness? Where Do You Want to be in 10 Years? Where Do You Want to be in 10 Years? How Would You Evaluate Your Last Boss? How Would You Evaluate Your Last Boss? What is Your Greatest Strength? What is Your Greatest Strength? Why Do You Want This Job? Why Do You Want This Job? Tell Me About Yourself… Tell Me About Yourself…

Common Questions Why did you choose your school and major? Why did you choose your school and major? What will this job do for you? What will this job do for you? Give an example of a time when you took initiative. Give an example of a time when you took initiative. What qualities do you look for in a boss? What qualities do you look for in a boss? Tell about a situation that didnt work out well. Tell about a situation that didnt work out well. Why do you want to work for this school? Why do you want to work for this school? Tell me what your boss will say about you. Tell me what your boss will say about you. What classes did you like? What were the hardest? What classes did you like? What were the hardest? Do you consider yourself a creative person? Do you consider yourself a creative person? What is your greatest accomplishment? What is your greatest accomplishment? What book are you reading currently? What book are you reading currently? Who is your favorite superhero and why? Who is your favorite superhero and why? Why should I hire you for this job? Why should I hire you for this job?

Turning the Tables

Questions to Ask Structure, History, Department Structure Structure, History, Department Structure Pros and Cons of working here? Pros and Cons of working here? Whom would I report to? Whom would I report to? What are you looking for in ideal candidate? What are you looking for in ideal candidate? What concerns if any do you have about hiring me? What concerns if any do you have about hiring me? Whats the next step from here? Whats the next step from here? What is the turnover ratio? What is the turnover ratio?