Interviewing skills

AGENDA

1. Types of Interviews

2. Pre-interview preparation

3. During an Interview

4. After Interview

5. Suggestions and Final Tips

Types of Interviews

• Phone: for initial screening to narrow down the number of candidates

• One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you with the potential employer

• Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once

What do you have to do?

Before Interview

During Interview

After Interview

Before Interview

DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARE

LINING UP FOR THE SAME

POSITION

WHICH MEANS…

YOU NEED TO

STAND OUT

FROM THE

CROWD

IT STARTS WITH

YOUR MENTAL

MINDSET

YOU HAVE A CHOICE…

YOU HAVE A CHOICE…

½ empty

YOU HAVE A CHOICE…

½ empty

½ full

YOU HAVE A CHOICE…

½ empty

½ full

This is a Loser’s

mentality

YOU HAVE A CHOICE…

½ empty

½ full

This is a Loser’s

mentality

This is a winner’s

outlook

IT IS LIKE A FIGHT

Remember!

Interviewing is a skill.

Practice makes perfect!

BEFORE THE FIGHT

Know Yourself

Articulate your skills, strengths, accomplishments, and career

goals

WHEN you are invited to an interview, the interviewer

believes you may be a good match for the job so wants to

know for sure

Know your CV

BEFORE THE FIGHT

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice; don’t rehearse or try to

memorize

Mock Interviews with friends/family on

job interview questions

BEFORE THE FIGHT

Arrive Early

solid color

Polished leather shoesConservative tie

Belt

Dark socks

Neatly groomed

hair, beard, and

mustache

Avoid strong colognes

Neatly trimmed nails

Solid

colors

Professional hairstyle

less colored scarf

Neatly manicured clean nails

Light makeup

Light or No jewelry

During Interview

There is ONLY one chance to make a good first impression

CREATE A GOOD IMPRESSION

GREETING AND INTRODUCTION

• Extend your hand to shake hands with the

interviewer Good, firm handshake

• Wait until you are offered a chair before you sit

down

• Relax

• Repeat names

• Strong eye contact

GREETING AND INTRODUCTION

• Wear a confident smile

• Keep your jacket on

• Most interviewers decide whether or not

they are going to hire you within the first

three minutes of the interview, so you see

the importance of good greeting!

GREETING AND INTRODUCTION

• Greeting: “Hello” or “Good Morning”

• Your name: “I'm….."

• The reason you are here: “ I have got an

interview"

• Time of the interview: “at 2:00”

REMEMBER!!

You never get a second chance to make a good impression.

SO,

Be different, be impressive.. It’s like

an advertisement!

Positive Signals

BODY LANGUAGE

WHAT SIGNALS ARE YOU SENDING?

Leaning forward = interest

Smiling = friendly

Nodding = attentive and alert

Eye contact = curious and focused

Positive Signals

BODY LANGUAGE

WHAT SIGNALS ARE YOU SENDING?

Looking around and at

the other person

Arms and Legs open

BODY LANGUAGE

WHAT SIGNALS ARE YOU SENDING?

Negative Signals

Looking down or away =

Fear and nervousness

Crossed arms = defensive

BODY LANGUAGE

WHAT SIGNALS ARE YOU SENDING?

Fidgeting hands or tapping

feet = nervous or bored

Negative Signals

Leaning back= discomfort

Types of Questions

Standard or Traditional

targeting your education, abilities, work experience, and career goals

Sample Questions

Tell me about yourself

What is your greatest strength/weakness?

Why did you choose to interview with us?

What did you like most/least about your last job?

What are your short and long-term career goals?

TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

Your key accomplishments at previous jobs or

college

The strengths demonstrated by those

accomplishments

How these relate to the job for which you're

applying

ANSWER: STRENGTHS

Hardworking

As I am a hardworking person it is helping me in completing tough tasks

Team Person

As a team person I could understand every one’s feeling and have an opportunity to understand others’mentality

Openness to change

This helps me to adapt to the given situation

BE READY FOR…

“Your greatest Weakness”

The best way to answer this

question is to pick out a negative

that you might really possess but

that could also be seen as a

positive .

ANSWER: WEAKNESS

Perfectionism Where ever I am going and whatever doing I would prefer perfection in my work.

Ambitious As an ambitious person I am looking for knowledge in everything. If the organization is not up to my expectation I cant do full `fledged work

Intolerant to Dishonesty I do not support any one who is dishonest

So this gives me an opportunity to give my full effort to the company reputation

Behavioral Questions

- These focus on your actions and/or behaviors in a previous setting.

- Past behavior provides clues to future behavior

Sample Questions

Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision?

Tell me about a time you worked under a deadline?

What do you do when a team member is not pulling his/her weight?

Think about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?

TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

ANSWER: BEHAVIOURAL

The Situation in which it occurred

The Action you took

The Result S T

A R

Questions asked by the

interviewee

To determine if you are an appropriate fit for the company and position, prepare a list of questions for the interviewer

Sample Questions

What type of assignments can I expect within the first year?

What do you like most about this company?

What skills are you looking for in this position?

What is the next course of action?

QUESTIONS

“How to Communicate Your Strengths in a Job

Interview”

After Interview

“DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR

ME?”

• Thank the interviewer

• Request a business card

• Inquire about next steps in the process

• Ask some question related to the organization

environment and/or job description

FOLLOW-UP

Send a thank you note within 24 hours

Letter may be handwritten or typed; e-mail is also

acceptable

“THANK YOU” LETTER

Your Name

Your Address

Your Email

Date

Title

Organization

Address

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me about the XXX position

with XXX Company. I appreciate your time and consideration in interviewing me for this

position.

After speaking with you and the group, I believe that I would be a perfect candidate for this

position, offering the quick learning and adaptability that is needed for a diversified position.

I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you once the final

decisions are made regarding this position. Please feel free to contact me at anytime if further

information is needed. My cell phone number is XXX.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Video Time

See what to do and what not to do!

GENERAL INTERVIEW STRATEGIES

• Be prepared to talk about yourself and

your experiences

• Storytelling

• Concrete examples

• Remain positivity, enthusiasm, and

confidence

GENERAL INTERVIEW STRATEGIES

• Avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know”

• Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” or “probably”

• Think before speaking

• Avoid long answers

• If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat or clarify it for you

GENERAL INTERVIEW STRATEGIES

• Remain calm, relaxed, and be

yourself

• Try to focus on the message you are

trying to convey, NOT how well you

are doing!

• Don't swear or use slang words.

• Don't slouch in your seat.

• Don't smoke.

• Don’t lie.

GENERAL INTERVIEW STRATEGIES

• Don't be arrogant and assume you have

got the job.

• Don't discuss religion, politics and

gender relations or personal ones.

• Don't read from CV.

• Don't criticize former employers or

colleagues.

• Don't argue with the interviewer, no

matter what.

QUESTIONS