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NETA PowerPoint® Slides

to Accompany

Prepared by

Katharine Ferguson,

Seneca College

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Interviewing and �Following Up

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Chapter 16

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Interviewing and Following Up

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Purposes and types�of interviews

Before �the interview

During

the interview

Interview

questions

Closing

the interview

After

the interview

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The Purpose and Types of �Job Interviews

To convince the employer of your potential
To find out more about the job and the company
To expand on the information in your résumé

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gww2vrIhjeU

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Types of Employment Interviews

Screening interviews
One-on-one interviews
Hiring and placement interviews
Panel interviews
Group interviews
Sequential interviews
Stress interviews
Online, video, and virtual interviews

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Hiring managers want candidates who are motivated, qualified, and a good fit for the position.

One-on-one interviews: expect to sit down with a company representative and talk about the job and your qualifications.

Panel interviews: are usually conducted by people who will be your supervisors and colleagues. Interviewers take turns asking questions. They are advantageous because they save time and show you how the staff works together. Keep eye contact with the questioner and with the others. Try to take notes during the interview so that you can remember each person’s questions and what was important to that individual.

Group interviews: occur when a company interviews several candidates for the same position at the same time. Some employers use this technique to measure leadership skills and communication styles. Stay focused on the interviewer and treat the others candidates with respect.

Sequential interviews: allow a candidate to meet with two or more interviewers on a one-on-one basis over several hours or days. Don’t assume that any interviewer knows what was said in a previous interview.

Stress interviews: may be forced to wait a long time before being greeted by the interviewer. May be given a test with an impossible time limit, be treated rudely by one or more of the interviewers, or have interviewers ask questions at a rapid rate. Remain calm and give carefully considered answers.

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Types of Employment Interviews (cont.)

Screening interviews

Eliminate those who fail to meet minimum requirements
Take place on the telephone and sometimes online
Help determine whether a candidate should move on to the next interview stage

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Types of Employment Interviews (cont.)

One-on-one interviews

Expect one representative from the organization to ask more general questions.

Hiring/placement interviews

Learn how the candidate would fit into their organization

Panel interviews

Conducted by people who will be your supervisors and colleagues
Save time and money and show how staff works together

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Types of Employment Interviews (cont.)

Group interviews

Occur when a company interviews several candidates for the same position at the same time

Sequential interviews

Meet individually with two or more interviewers one on one over several hours or days

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Types of Employment Interviews (cont.)

Stress interviews

Meant to test reactions during nerve-racking situations and are common for jobs that cause significant stress

Online, video, and virtual interviews

Use online and video technology to interview job candidates from a distance

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Before the Interview

Ensuring professional phone techniques

Make sure your outgoing answering machine message is concise and professional; no distracting background noise.
Tell those who might answer your phone about your job search.
Prevent children from answering the phone.
Don’t answer your cell phone unless in a good location to carry on a conversation with an employer.
Use voice mail to screen calls.

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Making the �First Conversation Impressive

Keep a list on your cell phone of positions to which you have applied.
Treat any call from an employer like an interview.
Ask whether you can call back, if caught off guard.
Have a copy a your résumé available to answer questions.

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Making the �First Conversation Impressive (cont.)

Be prepared for a screening interview.
Take good notes during the phone conversation.
Ask for an interview if given the chance. Try to specify date and time.
Reconfirm the date and time of interview before hanging up.

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Researching the Target Company

Learn all you can about the company’s history, mission and goals, size, geographic locations, and number of employees.
Check out its customers, culture, management structure, reputation in the community, competition, financial conditions, strengths and weaknesses, and future plans.
If possible, interview employees. Consult blogs and other Web sources.

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Preparing and Practising

Study the job description. How do your skills and accomplishments fit the position?
Prepare success stories.
Practise answers to typical interview questions. Make your best responses automatic.

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Rehearsing Success Stories

Dealing with a crisis
Handling a tough interpersonal situation
Successfully juggling many priorities
Changing course to deal with changed circumstances
Learning from a mistake
Working on a team
Going above and beyond

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Cleaning Up Digital Dirt

Remove questionable content.
Stay positive.
Be selective about who is on your list of friends.
Avoid joining groups or fan pages that may be viewed negatively.
Don’t discuss your job search if you are still employed.
Set up a professional social networking page.

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Travelling to and �Arriving at Your Interview

Give yourself plenty of time to groom and dress.
Arrive at the employer’s office without being rushed.
Don’t smoke or eat anything smelly or messy before the interview.
Avoid too much perfume or cologne.
Be courteous when entering the office.
Greet the interviewer confidently.

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Fighting Fear

Practise interviewing as much as you can, particularly with real companies.
Prepare thoroughly.
Understand the process.
Dress professionally.
Breathe deeply.
Know your are not alone.
Remember that an interview is a two-way street.

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During the Interview

Sending positive nonverbal messages and acting professionally

Control your body movements.
Exhibit good posture.
Practise appropriate eye contact.
Use gestures effectively.
Smile enough to convey a positive attitude.
Listen attentively.

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During the Interview (cont.)

Sending positive nonverbal messages and acting professionally (continued)

Turn off your cell phone or other electronics.
Don’t chew gum.
Sound enthusiastic and interested but sincere.
Avoid empty words (e.g., um, uh, like).
Be confident but not cocky.

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Practising How to Answer �Interview Questions

Recite answers to typical interview questions in front of a mirror, with a friend, while driving in your car, or in spare moments.
Be sure to pronounce the interviewer’s name correctly.
Avoid answering questions with a simple yes or no.
Keep answers positive.
Don’t criticize anything or anyone.

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Practising How to Answer �Interview Questions (cont.)

Refocus to clarify vague questions: “By _____, do you mean _____?”
Aim your answers at the key characteristics interviewers seek: expertise, competence, motivation, interpersonal skills, decision-making skills, and enthusiasm for the company and the job.
Focus on your strengths; do not reveal weaknesses.
Use good English and enunciate clearly.

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Typical Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself.

What are your greatest strengths?
Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others? Why?
What was your college/university major and why did you choose it?
What are some things you do in your spare time?

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Questions to gauge your interest

Why do you want to work for _____?
Why are you interested in this position?
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to work in the _____ industry?
What interests you about our products �(or services)?

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Questions about your experience and accomplishments

Why should we hire you when we have applicants with more experience or better credentials?
How do your qualifications and experience prepare you for this position?
Describe the most rewarding experience of your career so far.
Who was the toughest boss you ever worked for and why?

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Questions about the future

Where do you expect to be five years from now?
If you got this position, what would you do to fit in?

Challenging questions

What is your greatest weakness?
How would your former supervisor describe you as an employee?

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Questions about salary

What salary are you looking for?
How much are you presently earning?
How much do you think you are worth?

Situational questions

If you were aware that a co-worker was falsifying data, what would you do?
A colleague has told you in confidence that she suspects another colleague of stealing. What would your actions be?

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Behavioural questions

Tell me about a time when you solved a difficult problem.
Describe a time when you worked successfully as part of a team.
Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with an upset customer or co-worker.

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Using the STAR Method to Answer Behavioural Interview Questions

Behavioural interview questions may begin with “Tell me about a time when you …”

To answer effectively, use the STAR method:

S What was the situation?

T What was the task?

A What action was taken?

R What was the result?

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Illegal and inappropriate questions

What is your marital status?
Do you have any disabilities?
Where are you from?
Have you ever been injured on the job?
Have you ever had a drinking problem?
Have you ever been arrested?

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Employment laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace also apply to interviews. Questions regarding race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, family situation, arrest record, illnesses or diseases, as well as personal information such as height, weight, or disabilities are not allowed in an interview. Most illegal interview questions are asked innocently by inexperienced interviewers. Candidates who are asked illegal questions must decide whether to answer, deflect the question tactfully, or confront the interviewer.
You may respond to an inappropriate or illegal question by asking tactfully how it relates to the responsibilities of the position.
Interview questions become illegal only if a court of law determines that the intent was to discriminate.

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Typical Interview Questions (cont.)

Illegal and inappropriate questions

How old are you?
Where were you born?
What was your maiden name?
Do you have any religious beliefs that would interfere with weekend work?
Do you have children?
How much do you weigh?

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Employment laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace also apply to interviews. Questions regarding race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, family situation, arrest record, illnesses or diseases, as well as personal information such as height, weight, or disabilities are not allowed in an interview. Most illegal interview questions are asked innocently by inexperienced interviewers. Candidates who are asked illegal questions must decide whether to answer, deflect the question tactfully, or confront the interviewer.
You may respond to an inappropriate or illegal question by asking tactfully how it relates to the responsibilities of the position.
Interview questions become illegal only if a court of law determines that the intent was to discriminate.

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Asking Your Own Questions

What will my duties be?
Tell me what it is like working here in terms of the people, management practices, workloads, expected performance, and rewards.
What training programs does this organization offer?

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Asking Your Own Questions (cont.)

Who would be my immediate supervisor?
What is the organizational structure and where does this position fit in?
Is travel required in this position?
How is job performance evaluated?
Assuming my work is excellent, where do you see me in five years?

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Asking Your Own Questions (cont.)

How long do employees generally stay with this organization?
What are the major challenges for a person in this position?
What do you like best about working for this organization?
May I have a tour of the facilities?
When do you expect to make a decision?

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Closing the Interview

Ending positively

Summarize your strongest qualifications.
Show enthusiasm for obtaining this position.
When the interviewer signals the end of the interview, stand up and shake hands.
Ask for a business card and ask to stay in touch through LinkedIn.
Be sure to thank the receptionist.

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After the Interview

Make notes on the interview as soon as you leave.
Alert your references that they might be called.
Write a thank-you letter to the interviewer. Remind the interviewer of your visit. Show that you really want the job and that you are qualified for it.
If you don’t hear from the interviewer within the specified time, call.

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Contacting Your References

Ensure you have asked permission to use references’ names.
Supply them with a copy of your résumé and information about the types of positions you are seeking.
To get letters of recommendation, recommenders need evidence to support generalizations, so give them ammunition.

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Following Up

Consider following up if you don’t hear from the interviewer within five days.
Using an e-mail to follow up is best and less intrusive.
Sound professional and courteous, not desperate or frustrated.
Don’t harass the interviewer and don’t force a decision.

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Preparing Additional �Employment Documents

Application form

Be ready with appropriate information for the application.
Review the questions carefully before starting.
Fill out the form neatly.
Answer questions honestly.
Use accurate spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

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Preparing Additional �Employment Documents (cont.)

Application or résumé follow-up message

Send a short follow-up e-mail or letter to jog the personnel officer’s memory, demonstrate serious interest, and emphasize your qualifications or to add new information.

Rejection follow-up message

Respond to rejections as other candidates may decline the position.
Is acceptable to admit disappointment

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Preparing Additional �Employment Documents (cont.)

Job acceptance and rejection message

Is a good idea to follow up with an acceptance e-mail or letter to confirm details and formalize acceptance
Show professionalism if you must turn down a job offer.
Thank the employer for the job, and explain briefly that you are turning it down.

Resignation letter

Leave your position gracefully and tactfully in a formal letter.
Remember that many resignation letters are placed in personnel files.

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Summary of Learning Objectives

Explain the purposes and types of job interviews, including screening, one-on-one, panel, group, sequential, stress, and online interviews.
Describe what to do before an interview, including ensuring professional phone techniques, researching the target company, rehearsing success stories, cleaning up digital dirt, and fighting fear.

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Summary of Learning Objectives

Describe what to do during an interview, including controlling nonverbal messages and answering typical interview questions.
Describe what you do after an interview, including thanking the interviewer, contacting references, and writing follow-up messages.
Prepare additional employment documents, such as applications, follow-up messages, acceptance messages, and resignation letters.

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