SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING Allegheny Valley Exit Interview April 28 th, 2015

The Job Interview by Definition Opportunity to present yourself, skill set, and knowledge to one who can hire you or accept you into their institution

The Interview Procedure  The Interview Procedure includes:  Formally present your electronic portfolio materials (5 minutes)  Answer interview questions (20 minutes)  The Goal– Present yourself as the top candidate

Keys to the Successful Interview: Preparation BEFORE the Interview  Know yourself  Review your electronic materials  Practice, Practice, Practice  Make a good impression

Know Yourself  What do you have to offer?  Identify 5 – 10 work or school experiences that demonstrate your skills and accomplishments  half should be totally positive  half should be ones that started out negative but had either a positive result or a good learning experience either a positive result or a good learning experience  What do you want to do and where do you want to do it?  How are you perceived by others?

Practice, Practice, Practice!  To better prepare yourself for the interview, as well as assist in conquering pre-interview anxiety, practice is key  Look up interview questions and brainstorm how you would answer  Practice for the interview with family or friends  Perfect your e-portfolio (proofread) and practice your 5-minute introduction

Proper Attire  DO:  Wear conservative attire, such as dark colored business attire  Wear dress shoes of appropriate height  Have hair neatly brushed and face shaved before interview  DON’T  Wear bright colored business suits: Black and gray are most appropriate  Wear flashy accessories like watches, jewelry, or excessive amounts of cologne, perfume, or hair gel  Wear skirts that reach above the knees  Wear stiletto heels or tennis shoes  Display tattoos

YES NO

DURING the Interview  Be prompt and prepared  Be poised and aware of and body language  Answer the questions thoroughly  Be positive – Smile

Be Prompt and Prepared  Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time  Turn the cell phone OFF – vibrations make noise  Give a firm handshake, make eye contact, and smile when you are greeted  Bring 3 extra copies of your e-portfolio in case technology fails

Poise and Body Language  Many interviewers will assess you based on:  Appropriate eye contact and posture  Proper grammar and enunciation  If you seem enthusiastic and confident  When greeted, introduce yourself and shake interviewer’s hand. Don’t sit until interviewer is seated  Never chew gum during an interview  Most employers agree that the first five minutes of an interview will tell them the most about a person  First impressions are important

Answering the Questions  Speak slowly and clearly. Dont be afraid to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts  Listen and understand the interviewer’s questions before responding thoroughly yet concisely  Be honest- don’t try to cover up mistakes. Instead, focus on how you learned from them  Give positive nonverbal feedback to the interviewer  Smile, be enthusiastic, show a positive attitude  Avoid negative terms and comments when responding to questions. Stress positives

After the Interview  Thank the interviewer or panel members

Interviewing Myths & Facts Myth: The candidate with the best education, skills, and experience will get the job Reality Check: Employers hire individuals for many different reasons. Education, skills, and experience are only a few of the several hiring criteria. If employers hired only on the basis of education, skills, and experience, they would not need to interview candidates. Such static information is available on applications and resumes. Employers interview because they want to see how you look and interact with them, how you would handle various work situations, and how well you fit into the organization.

Interviewing Myths & Facts Myth: If the interviewer asks if I have any negatives or weaknesses, I should indicate I have none Reality Check: You should be honest. Everyone has negatives. If you indicate you have none, the interviewer knows you are being less than candid. But neither should you blurt out your worst negatives. Identify a weakness and talk about how you are working to overcome it.

Interviewing Myths & Facts Myth: I’ll be at a disadvantage because I’ll be nervous Reality Check: If you practice some stress reduction techniques, such as taking deep breaths and focusing attention on the questions, you should be able to project confidence in the interview. Keep in mind, many interviewers are under pressure to hire the right candidate.