2 4-14- mpsa interview workshop ppt

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MPSA Interview Workshop

Rachel D. GahnUniversity of Minnesota College of Pharmacy

Pharm D. Candidate, Class of 2014

January 16, 2014 R. Gahn 1

Agenda

Etiquette

Introductory Questions

Behavioral Interview Questions

Questions to Ask

Correspondence, Other Tips


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Etiquette – Interview Day

Dress to Impress

• What to wear

• Glasses or contacts?

Body Language

• Posture

• Gestures

• Handshake


Dress to Impress - WOMEN

Dark, solid suit (pants or skirt)

Coordinated blouse

DO wear hose

Comfortable, Conservative shoes (low height, no open-toe)

Hair back

Neutral make-up

Minimal perfume

Simple Jewelry

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Dress to Impress - MEN

Suit (solid, dark color)

Long-sleeved white or subtle color shirt

Traditional tie

Dark long socks

Leather shoes

Minimal cologne

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WHAT NOT TO WEAR!

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Grooming

Hair

Neat

Pulled back if long

Facial hair

Neat

“intentional”

Nails

Trimmed

Classic color or no color

Gum

Do not chew gum!

Breath mints if desired

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Glasses or no glasses?

What you usually wear or feel most

confident

If contacts, bring your glasses just

in case

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Other Non-Verbals

Posture Eye contactFacial

ExpressionsGestures

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Posture

Sit Straight

• Square with interviewer

• Lean In, Do not slouch

• Mimic posture of interviewer

Crossing legs

• Women – Feet together or crossed at ankles

• Men – Do not cross legs

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Eye Contact & Hand Gestures

• Do not stare

• Maintain strong eye contact with interviewer(s)

Eye Contact

• Not too much, distracting

• Should match words/story

Hand Gestures

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Facial Expressions

Normal: When people tell a story, their features should match the emotions they are describing, collectively giving off the signal of a genuine laugh, smile, or gasp.

Not Normal: People who aren't interested in you may seem overly polite and fake: Their smile won't engage their eyes. Liars may be dramatic by smiling or laughing at odd times.

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http://glo.msn.com/relationships/body-language-whats-normal--whats-not-9891.gallery#!stackState=0__%2Frelationships%2Fbody-language-whats-

normal--whats-not-9891.gallery%3FphotoId%3D188454

The Handshake

Stand up Maintain eye

contact

Web to Web

Squeeze firmly,

2 pumps

What not to

do

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What to BRING

Extra hose BandaidsPortfolio with paper and pen

PenOptional:

Briefcase or purse

Business cards

CV copies Breath mint Tide-to-go pen

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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General Tips to Answer Questions

• Give examples

• Avoid short responses

Support answers

• Um, uh, like, you know

• Use pauses

Avoid non-fluencies

• Clarify questions (tactfully)

• Better than guessing what the question was

What did you say?

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What qualities/skills are important?Examples:

Teamwork & Collaboration

Progressive Leadership Drive

Communication Empathy ServitudeStress

Threshold & Resilience

Organization & Time

Management

Problem Solving

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Tell me a little about yourself…

Prepare for this question!

• Tell a story

• Know your CV

• 2-3 minute response is typical

Relate it to today

• Relevant past – explain decisions

• Use a framework

• Highlight important characteristics

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Introductory Questions

Why Residency?

State goals

Short Term

Long Term

Opportunity to learn/grow

Why here?Have you done your research?

Unique aspects of program/job

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What are your strengths?

University of MN students often excel here!

• StrengthsFinder

Explain 2-3 important ones

• Shape it into appropriate context

Give Examples

• Relate it to the job!

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What are your Weaknesses?

• Ability to identify them important

Use 2 weaknesses

• Everyone has weaknesses!

• Use TRUE weaknessesMy weakness is that I’m a perfectionist…

• Only mention what you are improving

• Don’t mention “deal breakers”

How are you overcoming them?

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BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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Behavioral Interview Questions

S• Situation (Context)

• Very brief

T• Task (Role)

• Very Brief

A• Action (What YOU did)

• Longest part

R• Result (So what?)

• Short

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Behavioral Question Tips

Don’t be thrown off by extremes

• “Best,” “Most Important”, “Worst”

What stories to use?

• Doesn’t have to have a positive ending

• Recent, memorable examples

Give Yourself Credit!

• Include quantitative results

Practice, Practice, Practice!

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QUESTIONS TO ASK AND CLOSING QUESTIONS

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Questions to Ask

Shows if you’ve done your research

Ask questions that you CANNOT

• Find on the website

• Ask every other residency/job

Determine the organizational culture

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Closing Questions

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Prepare a summary statement

• Reiterate why you are a good candidate

• If applicable, add what you haven’t had opportunity to say

• Demonstrate confidence and passion

If not asked a closing question

• Add summary statement after your last question

• Keep it brief (less than 1 minute)

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OTHER TIPS

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Follow-up

• Hand-written letter preferable, professional stationery

• Email if decision process is quick (jobs or scramble)

• What you write most important

Email or Letter?

• Correct title of interviewer or residency director

• Sparked your interest or connected with interviewer

What to include

• One to residency director is sufficient

• Not each person you meet

Who to contact?

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Correspondence

Use a standard signature on your email

Important contact

information

Don’t list every position

you hold

Voicemail message

Short and sweet

Name, Position if applicable

Sending communication

Use complete sentences

Have it proofread!

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Other tips

Interview starts when you walk in the facility

• Including (Especially) time with residents

Research who you will meet ahead of time

• Even recent publications

Do not speak negatively about bosses/preceptors or sites

After the interview day

• Write down impressions of program

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Questions?


Rachel Gahn

[email protected]

Resources

• Course material (Pharm Care Skills, John Grygelko)

• “Seven Essential Questions to Ask in an Interview”, Michael Kingston

• Sorensen T, Philbrick A. Roadmap to Post-Graduate Training in Pharmacy. Ch. 10 “Interview Process”

• ASHP Interview Preparation: An Overview (http://www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/MemberCenter/StudentForum/Interview-Preparation-handout-2010-09-15.aspx)

• UCSF Office of Career and Professional Development (http://career.ucsf.edu/pharmacy-students/internships-jobs-residency/interviewing-effectively)

• Michigan Pharmacists Association: Preparing for and Mastering a Pharmacy Interview

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