Interview

Strategies

Tanya Maldonado

Career Specialist (HEP, PSESS & transfer)

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For Appts:

https://calendar.app.google/YyVwmryLsVDhHKKS7

connect2@pcc.edu or 971-722-5600

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Tanya’s Career Resource Web Page

pcc.edu/staff/tmaldona

Additional Interview Support

• Interview Stream: http://pcc.interviewstream.com
• Go to conduct
• Click on created for you then select the class assignment
• Share out for feedback (tmaldona@pcc.edu)

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For additional practice

• Go to custom and create your own
• Select your questions
• Share out for feedback (tmaldona@pcc.edu)

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Interview Mindset (people,data,things,ideas)

• The interviewer thinks you can do the job or they would not have scheduled an interview. Its OK to take your time before answering.�
• Look for continuity and commonality in your experiences, make connections between you and the job. Teach the interviewer about you. If they know you they can hire you. �
• Think of it as building a bridge - you have a lot of control here.�
• There is an art to demonstrating your value to an employer, discuss your skills in their context to paint a clear picture of your gifts.

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Interview Structure

First 30% of an interview is broad and more relaxed

• Introductions
• Settling in, mood is set
• Position is described

The middle 60% of an interview starts when they ask you, “Tell me about yourself”. This focuses the scope of the conversation on your qualifications

• Education, skills, interests, experiences

The last 10% starts with, “Do you have questions for us?” The interview widens again and the dynamic shifts.

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Middle

60%

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End

10%

Beginning

30%

��Preparing for the Interview:� Self-Assessment��

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Consider your motivation in applying for the job

with this company by asking:

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• What do I have to offer this company?

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• How do I fit (skills, interests, personality)?

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• Why do I want this job (values, skills)?

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• What do I expect from this job (skill builder)?

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Preparing for the Interview:� Personal Readiness - Do a Trial Run

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Trial Run – Know where you are going, what you are wearing etc.

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Body Language – 90% of a message is conveyed nonverbally

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Handshake – Firm, but not bone-gripping. While shaking hands,

make eye contact and smile. (culturally based)

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Eye Contact – Indicates openness and honesty. Use frequently,

especially when making important points. (culturally based)

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Smile & Voice Tone – Conveys enthusiasm and friendliness. Practice in a mirror!

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Mannerisms – Become aware of nervous behaviors (playing with

jewelry, swiveling in a chair for example) and learn to control/minimize them.

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Interview Stages

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• First Impressions - Interviewer takes the lead; pleasantries exchanged; parameters of interview laid out

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• Interviewer’s Questions – Longest part of interview. Interviewer leads, asking questions and evaluating

your responses

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Interview Stages cont.

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• Your Turn to ask Questions – Be prepared! Your questions help demonstrate your interest in the position.

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• Making Your Final Pitch:
• You have only one to two minutes to market yourself.
• Be prepared to emphasize three things about you the interviewer should remember when making a decision.
• Express your desire to work for this company.
• Clarify the timing/process for making a decision.

�Interview Questions:� While in the Interview�

• Think Positively

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• Maintain a Professional Attitude

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• Listen to Questions – it is ok to ask for them to be repeated, and to pause and think before answering

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• Watch for Reaction from Interviewer

Answer Preparation:�

• Questions May Cover Many Topics – your qualifications, interests, even your personality.

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• Thinking Through Responses Creates Confidence and Control – formulate what you want the employer to learn about you before you meet. Share your skills in stories to give context.

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• Practice, but don’t Memorize – Think of the reason for the question (to understand the why) and target your answer. Memorization is limiting and may keep you from hearing the actual question.

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Answer Preparation cont.:

Cultivate Narratives about Your Experience

• Interviewers are looking for stories reflecting your successes. Demonstrate your skills by describing situations you’ve faced, what actions you’ve taken, and what the results were. They need to see “you” clearly to hire you.

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• Think back on internships, jobs, volunteer opportunities, class projects, club or student government experiences to develop these stories.

• Structure your stories using these steps:
• State your Situation
• Provide Details of who, what, where, when and why
• Give numbers, if possible, to support your story
• Describe the positive results of your action
• Show the employer how your story relates to this position

So Tell Me About Yourself…� and Other Tough Interview Questions

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• Tell me about yourself.

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• What makes you a good candidate for this position?

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• What interests you most about this job?

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• Why do you want to work for us?

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• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

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• What did you like best and least about your last job?

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• What jobs have you enjoyed most? Least? Why?

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• What is your energy level like? Describe your typical day.

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• What have you learned from jobs you have held?

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Tough Interview Questions cont.

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• Can you work under pressure? How do you handle stress?

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• How long will it take to make a contribution to our company?

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• How would your supervisor describe you?

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• What are your outstanding qualities?

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• What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?

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• Do you prefer to work individually or as part of a team?

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• Where do you see yourself in 2 -3 years?

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• What does a perfect working environment mean to you?

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• Can you describe a perfect supervisor?

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• Why should we hire you?

Behavioral Interview Questions�(How Past Experiences Determine Future Success)

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Tell me about a time when…

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• You handled a difficult situation with a co-worker

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• You were creative in solving a problem

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• Your work or idea was criticized

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• You were forced to make an unpopular decision

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• You did not fulfill a commitment to someone

Behavioral Interview Questions�(How Past Experiences Determine Future Success)

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Tell me about a time when…

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• You exceeded someone’s expectations.

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• You convinced others to use your ideas.

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• You had to speak up in order to make sure other people

knew how you thought or felt.

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• You had to be relatively quick in coming up with a decision.

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• You contributed to a team work environment (be specific).

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Questions to Ask your Interviewer

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• How will my performance be evaluated?

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• Has your organization hired other graduates from PCC? If so, could you talk about their performance and advancement?

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• How would you describe the characteristics of the most outstanding employees in this position?

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• What challenges did the previous person in this position face?

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• When will you make a hiring decision?

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Questions to Ask your Interviewer

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• How is a new employee assimilated into the organization?

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• What will be expected of me as a new employee?

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• What is the nature of training and supervision given in

the early years of employment?

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• Does your organization provide opportunities for on-going

training and education?

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• What do you find most rewarding about working for this company?

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• What are the opportunities for growth/advancement?

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After the Interview –� Review

• What did you learn about the job/company?
• Are you still interested in the job?
• What might you do differently next time?
• How well did you interview? What questions caught you off guard?

After the Interview –� Follow up - Send a Thank You

Thank you notes set you apart from the competition

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• Write and send within 24 hours of an interview

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• Typed or Handwritten – either format but keep it professional

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• Remind them of your skills and abilities and why you are a good fit for the job

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• Let them know you are still interested!

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Questions?

THANK YOU!

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