Chapter 8 Job Interviews

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Interviewing for a Interviewing for a Job and Résumé Job and Résumé

WritingWriting“You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”

– American Proverb

Preparing for an interviewPreparing for an interview

Know yourself - Build a dossier or personal inventory

Personal Work History

Education

Self-Assessment

What is a dossier and what is What is a dossier and what is contained in it?contained in it?

Background on your previous employmentWhere you have gone to school and what skills you have acquiredYour strengths and weaknesses - and how they relate to the job you are seeking

Personal work historyPersonal work history

Every employerName

Address

Telephone number

Dates of employment

Each jobSpecific Duties

Specific Skills

Promotions, awards, or recognition you received

Writing a RésuméWriting a Résumé

This is a formal version of your personal inventoryContains

IdentificationYour objective or job goalEducation and trainingWork historyPersonal dataReference statement

Job Objective

Identification

Education

Personal Data -

Clubs,

Activities and

HonorsWork History

Training

Personal Data -

Recreational

Reference Note

Identification on RésuméIdentification on Résumé

Name

Address

Phone number

Email

At top

List name as you want to be called at work

ObjectiveObjective

Focus of Résumé

Part time work?

Unpaid volunteer?

Scholarship?

College acceptance?

How might you write your objective?

Education and trainingEducation and training

While in high school, it goes at the topLater on at the bottomUsually when you will graduateGPA - if for acceptance or impressiveTraining - what might relate to the job or be impressiveWhat might you list?

Work historyWork history

Information on each jobName, location of business , and dates of employmentResponsibilities on jobIf you have never had a paid position, what could you include?

Personal dataPersonal data

ActivitiesHonorsOutside interestsVolunteer work

ReferencesReferences

Available upon request

Have information with youNames of employers

Check with them in advance to use

Phone numbers

TipsTips

Be positive

Be brief

Stick to facts

Keep your language clear

Keep your eye on goal

Before InterviewBefore Interview

Research employer

Practice, practice, practice

Work on RésuméWork on Résumé

Create dossier

Work with partner reviewing information

Put in form to type

Finish Résumé (typed)

Write a cover letter

Cover Cover LetterLetter

Catch attentionProvide the contextDescribe accomplishmentsRequest an interviewUse proper business letter format, punctuation, spelling, and make it look professional.

Answering Interview Answering Interview QuestionsQuestions

Anticipate questions.

What might they ask?

Typical QuestionsTypical Questions

Why do you want to work for us?What are your strengths and weaknesses?What would you like to be doing in five years (or upon graduation?)What is your grade point average?What have been your favorite and least favorite courses?Were your extracurricular activities worth your time?Why should I hire you?What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Make Positive PointsMake Positive Points

Puff balls–easy questions that give opening to talk like, “Tell me about yourself.”

Pauses–Another chance to show initiative

Bridges–transition from one answer to another or a chance to make a point

Add “sparklers”–illustrates your point

Rehearse Tough QuestionsRehearse Tough Questions

Why should I hire you?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Why do you wantto work here?

Take Your TimeTake Your Time

Think before you answer.

Be sure to address the issue.

You can ask for time to think if needed.

You can ask for clarification–paraphrase question.

Inappropriate QuestionsInappropriate Questions

Ask yourself, “Does it have something to do with the job or position for which I am interviewing?”Examples of inappropriate questions:

What is your political party?Do you go to church regularly?Do you drink?What is your sexual orientation?What is your IQ?Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?How much do you weigh?

How to handle inappropriate How to handle inappropriate questionsquestions

Try to tackle the real concern

Answer briefly and move on

How would you handle, “Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?”

What other questions could be difficult for you?

Questions to Ask the Questions to Ask the InterviewerInterviewer

Clarify responsibilities. Who would be my

supervisor? How many nights

would I close? (Don’t imply that you don’t

want to work too hard.) How soon will you make

a decision?

Interview Check ListInterview Check List

Be alert, energetic, and aware of body language.Pay attention to names, specific information.Begin and end with shaking the interviewer’s hand.Dress appropriately.What do you think are common mistakes in dress?

Interview Check ListInterview Check List

Get there on time!A day or two ahead, confirm time and check for how long to plan on the interview.Ask if you should bring anything like a portfolio.Arrive at least 15 minutes early.Go by yourself.Any waiting time you can use to check appearance and read company literature.

Interview Check ListInterview Check List

Do I have résumé?Three references?Know how long to get there?Interviewer’s name?Turned off electronic devices?Thanked interviewer?

Recalling the FactsRecalling the Facts

In addition to jobs, where might you experience an interview?

What is most important consideration in organizing your résumé?

What is included in special skills?

How do you determine what to wear to the interview?

When should you arrive for the interview?

What is the strongest nonverbal communication?

What should you do before the interview?

What are sparklers and why do you use them?

Do you have to answer all questions?

How important is it to speed through answers?

Look Back on Page 226

VocabularyVocabulary

networking

interview

résumé

mock interview

pull ball

pause

bridge

sound bite

portfolio

List on Page 205 of textbook