1. Interviewing Strategies Career Counseling and Support Services 1640 Neil Avenue, 2 nd Floor Younkin Success Center (614) 688-3898 ccss.osu.edu

2. To learn proven strategies for the different types of interviews. To have an understanding of what skills and experiences employers are looking for in candidates. To learn how to formulate answers to frequently asked questions. Career Counseling and Support Services Objectives

3. The importance of research! Find out who will be interviewing Review common interview questions Generate and rehearse stories Develop questions for them Remember your references Know where you are going Dress professionally Know your interviewers names Plan ahead for contingencies! Career Counseling and Support Services Step 1: Before the Interview

4. Show up on time and prepared EVERYONE is interviewing you Direct eye contact, warm smile, firm handshake Mental connections lead to physical connections, you will radiate a positive attitude if you believe so Remember, small talk is big talk: avoid potentially divisive topics Career Counseling and Support Services Step 2: Positive First Impression

5. Credentials (Skills and Accomplishments) Motivation (Why them and clear career goals) Fit (Potential for work environment and collegiality) Salary and Benefits Career Counseling and Support Services Step 2: What Employers are Looking For

6. Tell me, how does your past experience relate to the present job? What are your major strengths? What are your areas of professional growth? Tell me a situation when you demonstrated ____ skills? *Check handouts for sample questions Career Counseling and Support Services What SKILLS do You Have? Can You do the Job?

7. Back up skill with experience (story telling) + portfolio How do you tell your story? SAR technique (Scenario + action + result) You can expect to demonstrate the skill by performing (i.e. teaching a class) Weakness question: Answer with a similar skill and back it up with a story Answer with SAR technique and go to the future Clueless? Tell story when you learn something new in a job Tone of the interview: What can you do for the employer? Career Counseling and Support Services Demonstrating your Skills = Answer Question + Back it up with story + Connect to employer/program needs

8. What makes you think you would like to work in this company? You’ve seen our mission statement. How would you see yourself contributing to our mission? What makes you think that you would be able to grow with us? What do you know about our program? What attracted you to this company? Describe your goals and plans for professional development Career Counseling and Support Services Employers’ Expectations: Motivation Would you do this Job?

9. Do your homework: research the company (mission, products, services, annual reports) Have clear career goals, both short and long term Career Counseling and Support Services Demonstrating Motivation

10. What’s your ideal work environment? What would frustrate me the most of working with you in a team? What will be the positives of having you as a colleague What will you do if you encounter a challenging situation at work? How would your previous supervisor describe you? Career Counseling and Support Services Employer’s Expectations: Personality Would You Fit in with this Organization

11. Ideal work environment Personal strengths and weaknesses (take your strengths to the extreme) Ideal Colleagues Ideal Supervisors Conflict question Off the wall questions Career Counseling and Support Services Demonstrating Personality

12. Career Counseling and Support Services Skills Skills ~ Key words Answer + Story + Connect with Company’s needs Learning story = weakness To tell story use SAR technique (Scenario + Action + Results) (JFK ) = What you can offer Motivation Research the company Do your homework ~ Key words Goals ~ Short and Long Term Fit 5+ 5- Ideal Work Environment Colleagues Administrators Conflict Off the wall $ Salary Negotiation

13. You can answer the questions; however, you are giving information that is not related to the job. You can refuse to answer the question; but you run the risk of coming off as confrontational May re-phrase, “What’s the relationship between by ___ and the job requirements? You can examine the question for its real intent and respond with an answer as it might apply to the job Career Counseling and Support Services Interviewing Tips: Handling Illegal Questions

14. Inquiry Area: National Origin - Illegal Question: Are you a U.S. Citizen? - Legal Question: Are you authorized to work in the U.S.? Inquiry Area: Marital/Partner/Family Status - Illegal Question: Whom do you live with? How many kids do you have? - Legal Question: Would you be willing to relocate if necessary? Career Counseling and Support Services Interviewing Tips: Handling Illegal Questions

15. Preparation by researching the organization and it’s needs + Formulation and practice of your answers + Know Yourself and know what you want ___________________ CONFIDENT INTERVIEWING Career Counseling and Support Services Building Confident Interviewing Consider using these techniques The Parrot Technique Repeat back the question using your own words The Delay Technique Reflect the question back Educating the Employer Cannot have lunch because you are fasting, offer alternatives!

16. Briefly reiterate your interest and qualifications Ask about next steps (who, when, and how are they going to follow up) Ask for a business card from all interviewers Career Counseling and Support Services Step 4: Closing with Finesse

17. Take notes immediately after ALWAYS send a thank you letter Anticipate a second interview Review the job carefully and prepare to respond to an offer Call if you have not heard anything and the deadline has passed Don’t burn bridges… EVER! Career Counseling and Support Services Step 4: Interview Follow-Up

18. Career Counseling and Support Services Questions?