1. Prepare for Your Interview
Chapter 10
Prepare for Your Interview
Prepare for Your Interview

2. Prepare for Your Interview
Chapter 10 covers:
Preparing for pre-employment tests
Preparing for common interview styles
Preparing for typical interview questions
Asking questions that stand out
Prepare for Your Interview

3. Prepare for Your Interview
Job Search Journey
The goal in Phase 4, Steps 1 and 2 is to:
Gain confidence for pre-employment tests
Develop interview skills
Prepare answers to commonly asked interview questions
Learn to ask questions in interviews
Prepare for Your Interview

4. 1. Prepare for Pre-Employment Tests
Gain confidence by knowing what to expect:
Personality test: Answer all questions honestly.
Skills test: Review, practice, and improve your skills.
Technical test: Try to get sample tests and practice.
Computerized tests: Can be any of the types of tests above. Relax and don’t overthink the questions
Drug screening tests: Take them seriously; find out about employers’ drug policies and report any prescriptions ahead of time in case of false positives
Prepare for Your Interview

5. 2. Prepare for Common Interview Styles
General Types: Structured or Unstructured
General Tips
Be prepared.
Focus on why you want to work for this employer.
Be professional, courteous, and friendly.
Be factual in your answers; be brief yet thorough.
If you need time to think about a question, avoid using repetitive phrases to buy time.
As the interview wraps up, ask what about next steps.
Follow up.
Prepare for Your Interview

6. 2. Prepare for Common Interview Styles
Interview Types and Methods
Screening
Computer-based
Campus interview
Phone Interview
Video Interview
Behavioral Interview
Panel Interview
Team Interview
Prepare for Your Interview

7. 2. Prepare for Common Interview Styles
How to handle these types of interviews:
Behavioral Interviews
Ask about specific examples of when and how you used your skills
Be ready with a collection of stories about your past success and learning
Stress Interviews
Used for high-stress jobs to test behavior, logic, and emotional control under stress
Some techniques:
Silence after your answer
Rapid questions
Irritating questions
Criticism of your responses
Prepare for Your Interview

8. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Common Categories of Interview Questions
General information questions
Behavioral questions
Character questions
Difficult or “stress” questions
Inappropriate questions
Prepare for Your Interview

9. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
General Information Questions
Why do you want this job?
What type of work do you enjoy most?
What are your strongest skills?
Are you a team player?
What are your long-term career goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Do you have a geographic preference? Are you willing to relocate?
With what type of manager have you had the best relationships?
Prepare for Your Interview

10. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Behavioral questions probe your past performance and behaviors because these are the best indicators of future behavior. Be ready with your stories.
A four-step model is a good way to answer these:
Describe the situation. (What)
Explain the actions you took. (How)
Describe the outcomes. (Importance)
Summarize what you learned from the experience. (Insights from you)
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11. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Behavioral Questions: Common Examples
Tell me specifically about a time when you worked under great stress.
Describe an experience when you dealt with an angry customer or coworker.
Give me an example of your ability to adapt to change.
Explain what problems you have encountered. How did you overcome them?
Prepare for Your Interview

12. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Character Questions: Common Examples
How would you describe yourself?
What rewards do you look for in your career?
What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
Do you work well under pressure?
Prepare for Your Interview

13. Caution: Tell Me About Yourself
This question can build rapport. Answer it effectively.
Do not ramble on about your life history.
Focus on your qualifications and how the employer would benefit by hiring you.
Highlight your positive qualities—personal attributes, accomplishments, skills, training, experience, etc.
After answering, you can ask a question:
What would you like to know about my experience (or education, skills, activities, etc.)?
Is there anything you would like me to expand on or clarify?
Prepare for Your Interview

14. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Difficult or “stress” questions—asked to understand your fit with the company. Answer the way you rehearsed.
Common Stress Questions
Why should we hire you? Why are you the best candidate?
Why do you want to leave your current job?
Why have you held so many jobs?
What is your greatest weakness?
Have you ever been fired from a job?
Does your current employer know you are planning to leave?
Prepare for Your Interview

15. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Make It a Habit: Savvy Q&A Strategies
Pause to think before you reply.
Be candid and honest.
Understand the motive behind the question.
Give appropriate context.
Fill in the gaps.
Prepare for Your Interview

16. 3. Prepare for Typical Interview Questions
Inappropriate questions—about age, gender, race, marital status, children, religion
Effective Ways to Respond
Answer politely and honestly. Don’t offer detailed personal information.
Steer the conversation back to your ability to meet the employer’s expectations:
“This issue does not affect my ability to perform the job.”
“I am confident I can perform the duties of this job.”
Prepare for Your Interview

17. 4. Ask Questions That Stand Out
Treating interviews as a two-way communication displays your confidence.
Ask three to five well-chosen questions to learn more about the employer, company culture, and position.
Interject questions throughout the interview; don’t save them all up for the end unless interviewer requests this.
Avoid questions about salary, compensation, and benefits.
Prepare for Your Interview

18. Prepare for Your Interview
You, Online
Stay Relevant!
Use social media to stay up to date on news about your perspective employers and the industry.
Shortcuts to save time:
Review Twitter feeds from prospective employers.
Use news aggregators (e.g., Reddit or Digg).
Do a Google News search for your industry or a company.
Knowing the headlines is enough to get a conversation started.
Prepare for Your Interview

19. Real World Scenarios composite stories from real people
Jacob: Sample testing online
Not a good test taker
Used sample tests to prepare
Relaxed, knowing he was prepared
What tactics can help you to be calm when stressed during tests or interviews?
Sam: Library of stories
Prepared well with stories
Researched the company
Used good body language
In the interview, he tailored his stories to the questions
Result: Good interview!
What are your best stories that can be tailored to answer a variety of questions?
Prepare for Your Interview

20. Prepare for Your Interview
Think About It
“Those who prepare show the best of themselves when put to the test.”
“Write the answer to every question you think you may be asked—and every question you hope you won’t be asked.”
Prepare for Your Interview

21. YOUR Job Search Journey
I can make it happen.
Prepare for Your Interview