Interview Skills Workshop Facilitator Check List

CHECK IN Introductions of group members Individual and group goals for the workshop Ice Breaker Facilitator Notes: Introductions can include name, job positions the individuals are interested in Goals: Each member identifies what they want to learn/accomplish in the workshop and shares with the group. Facilitator writes this down in the “Parking Lot” on the board or flip chart. Definition of Parking Lot: Ideas and topics are written either on a flip chart or white board by the facilitator and are addressed during the presentation. This allows the group to stay focused and discuss the goals they have set as a group or on a one to one basis. At the end of the presentation return to the “parking Lot” and review and discuss as a group if the presentation was successful and if there goals where met.

Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources ICE BREAKER!!! Ice Breaker Definition: An icebreaker is a short, effective exercise to engage a group. It may be chosen for its message or so members can learn something new about each other. It also can help to nudge "immovable" participants and improve the atmosphere of the group. For example, during introductions, the facilitator might ask each member to share their name, something they like to do in there spare time or what job there are interested in. Facilitate icebreaker: Get Organized Divide participants randomly into groups of 4 or 5. Give the simple instruction of “ organize yourselves in 1 minute.” Do not provide any clarification or instructions, even if asked. At the end of 60 seconds, ask each group to explain how they organized themselves ( by height, shoes size, zip code etc.) Get the groups to organize themselves again a different way for another minute and then have them come back to the class and report how they decided to organize themselves again. Bingo Word Search Training Games Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources

Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources OBJECTIVE To provide the skills and tools for an effective interview Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources

Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources AGENDA What is a interview? Types of interviews Preparing for the interview During the interview Questions to expect and ask Follow up Facilitator Notes: Focus on how participants will successfully be prepared for their interviews by the end of the session. Highlight that they will leave with enough concrete information and interviewing tools to have s successful interview. Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources

People FORGET how fast you did a job… People FORGET how fast you did a job…. But they REMEMBER how well you did it! Facilitator Notes: Read out loud and ask the participants to respond to the quote DISCUSSION: Ask the participants how they feel about the quote Ask them what comes to mind when they read it Do they believe in it, why or why not 6

WHAT IS A INTERVIEW? Facilitator Notes: Ask participants what they think an interview is and write their answers on the board.

An interview is a conversation between two or more people (the interviewer and the interviewee) where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Facilitator Notes:

What is the purpose of the interview? Facilitator Notes: Ask the participants what they think the purpose of the interview is. Write their answers on the board. Discussion: Why do we you interview? What do you expect when you go to an interview?

The purpose of an interview is two-fold An employer needs to find out if you are the best candidate for the job. You need to find out if this is a good opportunity for you. Key Concept: Employers want to know: Can you do the job? Will you do the job? How will you fit into the organization culture? You need to know: What does this position offer me? How does it fit in with my career plans? Optional Activities: Brainstorm as a group or in pairs “What does an employer want to find out about you in an interview?” and “What do you want to know about the employer?”

When does the interview start? Facilitator Notes: Ask the participants when do they think the interview starts.

The interview starts when the employer calls to set up the interview!

Tips to remember! Speak clearly Write everything down Agree to a time that you can meet with the potential employer listen carefully

What do you ask the employer when they call? The time and date of the interview The name of the person you are meeting with The address of the place where the interview is taking place The phone number of the office in case you need to call them. Facilitator Notes: Ask the participants to make a list of potential questions they think are important when the employer calls. Have them write them down. Activity: Put participants into small groups and have them make a list of potential questions they would ask. Have each group present their lists to the group.

What % of employers hire potential employees based on the following? Appearance and impression Reliable and punctual Work experience ( depends on the job) Education/training Facilitators Notes: Ask participants what % they think employers base their hiring decision on. Write participants answers on the board.

45 % on appearance and impression 35% being reliable and punctual 10% on your work experience 10% on your education and training Do YOU make a good first impression? Facilitators Notes: Give a prize the person who has come the closest to the answer or answers.

The 5 senses to a successful interview! Facilitators Notes: Click on the link in the right hand corner to see the list for dressing for success in an interview. Print and include in participants packages. Discussion: Ask the participants what they think would be the 5 senses to a successful interview. Activity: Break participants into small groups and have them make a poster or list describing what they feel are the 5 senses to a successful interview. Have the participants present to the group.

SIGHT Dress appropriately for your interview Your clothes should be clean and ironed Facial hair should be clean shaven or trimmed Make sure your hair is cut and styled neatly Never chew gum during an interview Facilitator Notes: Click on the right hand corner to link to YouTube for the tide commercial. Discussion: What was the interviewer doing? Was the interviewer listening to the interviewee? What was the purpose of this video? Link to YouTube for the tide commercial Dress/Do’s and Don’ts Link to Youtube

HEARING Speak with a professional tone You do not want to be too loud or too quiet Do not use slang when speaking with your interviewer, and definitely do not swear Try not to say umm, ahh, you know or like Facilitate notes: Talk about the importance when speaking in an interview. Activity: Give examples of how and how not to speak in a interview. Scream, speak loudly, speak in a low voice, Speak clearly, fumble your works etc.

SMELL Hygiene is of the upmost importance Brush your teeth and do not smoke prior to your interview Shower before your interview Do not to use perfume or cologne Wear deodorant or anti-perspirant Facilitator Notes: Discuss the importance of hygiene and how it can make a big difference when it comes to your presentation in a interview. Ask participants what they do to prepare for an interview when it comes to hygiene Do you bath, brush your teeth, shave etc.

TOUCH Always greet your interviewer with a firm hand shake, web to web If you have sweaty hands be sure discretely wipe them before shaking hands It is not appropriate to touch or hug your interviewer Facilitators notes: Click on the link in the right hand corner and read over the types of handshakes. Discussion: Ask participants if they have ever experienced these types of handshakes and ask how was the experience. Activity: test the participants handshakes and have them guess what type it is. Top 10 Handshake Types

Never leave a bad taste in your potential employers mouth! Facilitators notes: Review the 5 senses and stress the importance of each step. Activity: Read out parts of the 5 senses and have participants match them to the correct sense. Example: Brush your teeth = Smell

Preparing for the interview Research the Company Visit the site before hand Practice for the interview Review your resume and the job description for the position Prepare your interview questions Facilitators Notes: Click on the link on the left hand side for a list of interview hints. Include in participants packages. Click on the link on the right hand side for a list of practice questions for the participants. Include in packages. Discussion: What types of things come to mind when you hear preparing for the interview? Ask participants and write on the board or brainstorm in small groups. Interview Hints Questions An Interviewer

Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources ACTIVITY BREAK Optional activities: As an introduction to the types of interviews divide the participants into small groups and give them lego or building blocks. Ask the group to build something. As the groups are working watch the participants for who stands out as a leader, if the group is working as a team, and who isn’t participating. Give the group around 5 mins. Then ask the group what they thought about this process and why we did it. Answer: The group has just experienced a group interview. Set up the class room like a board room or set the tables up for a panel interview. Divide the participants into groups and role play what it would be like to experience a panel interview, one to one interview or behavioural interview. Give the interviewers a selection of questions and have the other participants leave the room. Role play by asking interviewing questions and then switch once each person has had a turn. Reflect as a class on how the experience was and what they learned. Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources

Types of job interviews One on one Interviews Behavioral Based Interviews Second Interviews Group Interviews Telephone Interviews Panel interviews Facilitators notes: Ask the group what types of interviews they have experienced. Click on the link on the left hand side for the list of traditional interview questions. Include in participant packages. Discussion notes: One on one - Used in the early stages of the interviewing process. Behavioral Interviews - Applicant is asked to demonstrate his or her knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position they are applying for. Second Interviews - The applicant is one step closer to getting the job. you will be meeting people who are more involved in the decision making process. Group Interviews – the company's chance to initially screen candidates, by observing how individuals behave and stand out among their peers. observe attire, manners, body language, communication skills, group interaction and participation. Telephone Interviews – Phone interviews are a common technique used to determine which candidates will move forward in the interview process. Can also be used for long distance interviewing. Panel interviews - involves 3-5 people. Make sure you address the person who is asking the question but making eye contact with all interviewers. Other types of interviews: Stress interviews – Ask a participant a question and every time they go to answer you interrupt them. At the end ask them how that felt. Tell them they just experienced a stress interview. Tradition Interview Questions

THE INTERVIEW! Facilitators Notes: Click on the link on the left hand side for “Why People don’t get jobs” list. Click on the link on the right hand side for the interviewers question sheet. This is for the participants to use when practicing or preparing for an interview. Discussion/Activity: Ask participants why someone might not get a job. Write or put participants into small groups and review and discuss their answers. Why People

The Arrival Arrive to the interview no more then 10 minutes ahead of time Arrive alone Take a few minutes to relax and check your appearance Introduce yourself to the receptionist, and mention your appointment Review your notes while waiting quietly. Facilitators notes: Ask participants what they think is part of the arrival.

Arrival continue.... Greet the interviewer and introduce yourself Shake the interviewers hand with a firm handshake Wait until you have been asked to be seated or ask the interviewer to be seated Offer and provide copies of your resume to the interviewer Facilitator Notes: Ask for a participant to come to the front and practice the steps from the previous and present slide. Give examples or share any experiences you have had. Allow for discussion with the group.

Tools for interviewing S – Face the person SQUARELY O – Adopt an OPEN posture L – LEAN toward the sender E – Maintain good EYE contact R – Try to be RELAXED Facilitators notes: Stress the importance of body language and how you should present yourself in the interview. Using SOLER is an easy way to remember how you should sit and present in the interview. Have a participant sit up front and show the participants how it looks. Have the participants try it themselves.

Common interview questions Tell me about yourself What are your strengths? What are you weaknesses? Facilitators notes: Click on the link to the left and review some of the other types of interview questions your participants may experience. Include in participants packages Interview Questions

Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources ACTIVITY BREAK Optional activities: UMM and AHH game As an introduction to the types of interview questions have the participants brain storm about the types of words they shouldn't use in an interview. Write the answers on the board. Write each participants names on the board and everyone will have a chance to pick an item with out seeing what it is and they have to talk about that item with out using the words they have written on the board. The person with the longest time wins a prize. Give 2 participants each a bell so when they hear the words that are not to be used they ring it and the time is logged on the board. Copyright 2008 – Pacific Community Resources

Tell me about yourself? Facilitators notes: Ask the participants how they answer this question Ask participants if they find it hard to answer

Tools for interviewing W – 80% Work Related A – 10% Attributes P – 10% Personal Facilitators notes: Talk to them about how to answer this question using WAP. Have the participants answer this question by writing their own personal commercial about themselves.

What are your strengths? Facilitator Notes: The interviewer is trying to assess your confidence level as well as your suitability for the position Discussion/activity Ask participants why they think employers ask this question. Have participants make a list of answers to how they would answer this question. Discuss as a group or in partners.

What are your weaknesses? Facilitators Notes: Ask participants why they think employers ask this question. Have participants make a list of answers to how they would answer this question. Discuss as a group or in partners. Explain to participants, when they answer this question its not a weakness its actually a strength in disguise. Example: One weakness I have identified is that I have always tried to do too many things at once. I have started to develop better time management techniques and priority management. When I have multiple priorities, I focus on one task at a time and ask for help when needed.

Behavioural questions Facilitator Notes: Ask the participants if they know what is a behavioural question and if they have experienced one. B. Interview Questions

Give me an example of a time when you have motivated others Facilitator notes: Click on the link in the right hand corner for more examples of behavioural questions. Discussion: Ask participants how they would answer this question. Brainstorm and write on board.

Tools for interviewing S - situation T - task A - action R - result Facilitator Notes: Situation – Introduce what happened and what you are about to describe Task – address your responsibilities and what were you supposed to do? Action – What did you do to full fill your responsibilities Result – What happened after you did it and what was the out come Activity: Click on the link to the right for a list of behavioral questions for the participants to answer using S.T.A.R. Sample B. Interview Questions

Sample Questions to Ask Questions you can ask Please describe a typical day on the job? What training programs do you have available for your employees? What are the plans for the company in the future? What level of responsibility could I expect in this position? Facilitator Notes: Click on the link to the left for a list of questions to ask during your interview Click on the link in the center for a list of questions not to ask during your interview Click on the link to the right for a checklist of questions to take to your interview Discussion: Talk to participants about the importance of why they should have questions to ask during the interview. Brainstorm as a group the types of questions they feel are important and why. Talk to participants about the questions not to ask and explain why. Questions to Ask Questions Not To Ask Sample Questions to Ask

What are Illegal questions? Facilitator Notes: Ask the participants what type of questions they think are illegal to ask at an interview Knowing Your Rights BC Human Rights

Illegal questions Race Colour Ancestry Place of Origin Political Belief Religion Marital Status Physical or mental disability Age Gender, sexual orientation, or pregnancy Conviction for criminal offence unrelated to the employment Facilitator Notes: Click on the link to the left for the sheet on knowing your RIGHTS Click on the link to the right for the BC Human Rights Tribunal website as a resource for any questions and answers to illegal questions. Discussion: Ask participants if they have ever experienced any of the following: Race Colour Ancestry Place of Origin Political Belief Religion Marital Status Physical or mental disability Age Gender, sexual orientation, or pregnancy Conviction for criminal offence unrelated to the employment It is discriminatory and contrary to the human rights act for a person or an employer to refuse to employ or dismiss a person, or to discriminate against a person with respect to any term or condition of employment because of the following:

How to answer an illegal question Could you tell me how my age, marital status, race might have a bearing on the position I am applying for? OR “That’s an interesting question, I’d be happy to answer it if you could tell me the reason for asking”. Facilitator Notes: Stress to the participants that they do not have to answer the questions. If participants decide they want to answer make sure they know to mention there skills and attributes and that there personal issues will not affect their work or abilities to do the job.

Closing the interview Facilitator Notes: Click on the link to the right for the article about Flubbing the Interview. Discussion: Read the article to the participants and discuss what they thought about the article. Ask them if they have heard or acted this way in an interview. Print the article for their packages Early to Bed Employers Reveal

Tools for interviewing T- THANK the interviewer H - give a firm HANDSHAKE I- Reinstate your INTEREST in the job N- Use the NAME of the interviewer C – Get and confirm the CONTACT information of the interviewer Facilitators notes: Address the importance about making a good impression to the end. Talk about getting a business card and setting up a time to follow up

FOLLOW UP Ask the interviewer when they think a decision will be made. Follow up with a phone call after the date that was given, if you have not heard Send a Thank you card or letter to the employer within 24 hrs of the interview Facilitator Notes: Click on the link to the right and show the participants an example of a Thank you letter. Discussion: Make sure to talk about the importance of sending a letter and making the follow up call if needed. Ask participants if they have ever done one of these steps and if so, ask if they would like to share their experience. Thank You Note

FINAL THOUGHTS Know and understand what the employer is looking for in their applicants Check your appearance and review your interview questions Practice, practice, practice. Interview Checklist

Any Questions???

CHECK OUT Closing Activity Feedback Forms Resource Packages THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! Facilitator Notes: Facilitator is to address the personal goals in the parking lot Did the participants succeed? Are there any questions left unanswered? Provide participants with feedback forms to fill out Pass out packages Check out activities: Review Feud( based on the Family Feud game) Have the participants put into 2 groups Ask each group a question and who ever rings the bell first and answers the question correctly gets a point. When the team has reached 15 points they are the winners. Facilitators can design their own questions for this activity.