Slide 2 Have you ever had to go to a job interview? How did it
feel? Were you nervous about what questions they might ask? Did it
feel like you were being put on the spot? Maybe you have never had
a job interview and are nervous about what to expect. In this
program we will help prepare you for success in your next job
interview. Use the green buttons at the bottom of the screen to
advance or go back in the program. Some screens may require you to
answer a question to advance. Slide 3 In this program, we will look
at getting the important information from a job listing, making a
good first impression at an interview, feeling comfortable
answering common interview questions, and some helpful follow-up
strategies You should take notes during the program. Some of the
information you write down will be used later in class and for your
mock interview. Slide 4 Relevant information in a job listing
Important information includes the job title, company, and address.
Job Title: Company: Address: This is where you will send your cover
letter and go for your interview Slide 5 Other information will
help you plan for the interview. The job description will tell what
you will be doing, so you should educate yourself on those duties
if necessary. The mission of the company will help you sound
informed and excited about working there. Job description Company
mission/information Slide 6 Where would you send your resume to
apply for one of these positions? A. The Free Lance- Star in
Fredericksburg A. The Free Lance- Star in Fredericksburg B.
Carriage Hill Health and Rehab Center B. Carriage Hill Health and
Rehab Center C. Jobfetch.com D. The Contact Us button at the bottom
of the page D. The Contact Us button at the bottom of the page
Slide 7 Where would you send your resume to apply for one of these
positions? This is the newspaper that ran the ad, not the company.
Try again B. Carriage Hill Health and Rehab Center B. Carriage Hill
Health and Rehab Center C. Jobfetch.com D. The Contact Us button at
the bottom of the page D. The Contact Us button at the bottom of
the page Slide 8 Where would you send your resume to apply for one
of these positions? A. The Free Lance- Star in Fredericksburg A.
The Free Lance- Star in Fredericksburg Correct! C. Jobfetch.com D.
The Contact Us button at the bottom of the page D. The Contact Us
button at the bottom of the page Slide 9 Where would you send your
resume to apply for one of these positions? A. The Free Lance- Star
in Fredericksburg A. The Free Lance- Star in Fredericksburg B.
Carriage Hill Health and Rehab Center B. Carriage Hill Health and
Rehab Center This is the website showing the ad, not the company
you are applying to. D. The Contact Us button at the bottom of the
page D. The Contact Us button at the bottom of the page Slide 10
Where would you send your resume to apply for one of these
positions? A. The Free Lance- Star in Fredericksburg A. The Free
Lance- Star in Fredericksburg B. Carriage Hill Health and Rehab
Center B. Carriage Hill Health and Rehab Center C. Jobfetch.com
This is to contact the website, not the company you are applying
to. Slide 11 Which of the following is an important piece of
information to share during an interview? A. Document number A8283-
3NPR A. Document number A8283- 3NPR C. You are energetic,
respectful and caring. C. You are energetic, respectful and caring.
B. You read the Free Lance-Star every day. B. You read the Free
Lance-Star every day. D. You are not sure what a long term care
unit is. D. You are not sure what a long term care unit is. Slide
12 Which of the following is an important piece of information to
share during an interview? You will not need to know this. C. You
are energetic, respectful and caring. C. You are energetic,
respectful and caring. B. You read the Free Lance-Star every day.
B. You read the Free Lance-Star every day. D. You are not sure what
a long term care unit is. D. You are not sure what a long term care
unit is. Slide 13 Which of the following is an important piece of
information to share during an interview? A. Document number A8283-
3NPR A. Document number A8283- 3NPR C. You are energetic,
respectful and caring. C. You are energetic, respectful and caring.
This is not relevant information D. You are not sure what a long
term care unit is. D. You are not sure what a long term care unit
is. Slide 14 Which of the following is an important piece of
information to share during an interview? A. Document number A8283-
3NPR A. Document number A8283- 3NPR Correct! These are all traits
they are looking for. Correct! These are all traits they are
looking for. B. You read the Free Lance-Star every day. B. You read
the Free Lance-Star every day. D. You are not sure what a long term
care unit is. D. You are not sure what a long term care unit is.
Slide 15 Which of the following is an important piece of
information to share during an interview? A. Document number A8283-
3NPR A. Document number A8283- 3NPR B. You are energetic,
respectful and caring. B. You are energetic, respectful and caring.
C. You read the Free Lance-Star every day. C. You read the Free
Lance-Star every day. You should probably look up what this is
before the interview. Slide 16 When you read a job listing, you
should also brainstorm about any relevant experience you have that
you can talk about in an interview. It does not need to be
experience in the field of the job listed, though that is valuable.
If the job asks for you to be a leader, think of times when you
were a leader. If the job asks for written or communication skills,
think of times you used those skills. These skills can be things
you used at work, school, activities you participate in or
volunteer activities. Refer to the job listing you printed for your
binder. Make a list of any skills you have that would help you in
that job. They can be specific things to that job, or things that
employers look for in general. Brainstorm about things you do in
your work, school, social or family life that would help you on the
job. Do not advance until you have completed your list. Slide 17
Take a few moments to look over your list. Be honest about what
skills are relevant to the job. The following are suggestions to
help you add things and revise your list. Bring your list to class
on mock interview day. Language skills: Can you write well or use
more than one language? Computer skills: It doesnt matter where you
got them, but most jobs prefer you to have them, even if its just
word processsing Social Skills: anytime you were part of a team or
in a leadership role- it could be for school, work, sports, clubs,
church, etc. Job-specific skills: Do you have skills that are
specific to this field or job? Slide 18 After preparing for your
interview, lets talk about first impressions. Make sure you arrive
on time. Plan to arrive early because you may have to account for
traffic, parking or finding the correct location. Dont go to the
location too early, though, because sitting around waiting for an
hour or more can be awkward. When you meet your interviewer, give
them a firm handshake and introduce yourself confidently. Be sure
to specify why you are there if it has not already been
established. Click above for an example: Slide 19 How you dress is
the first thing an employer notices about you when you arrive for
an interview, and is often taken as an indication of how you will
appear for work each day. Dress appropriately for the job or a
little nicer. While you may not need to wear a suit to interview
for a job on a construction site, you should look professional for
any interview. If the interview is in an office setting,
professional office attire should be worn, which means a suit for
men if possible, or at least a shirt and tie. For ladies a pantsuit
or conservative dress is recommended. T-shirts should not be worn;
instead wear a shirt with a collar or more professional blouse.
Items like hats and sunglasses should never be worn indoors Make
sure your clothes fit and are not falling off and are not wrinkly.
Also, avoid chewing gum as you enter the interview, though fresh
breath is a good idea. Slide 20 If you are given an appointment
time of 2:00 PM for an interview, when is a good time to arrive?
12:00 Noon 1:45 PM 2:00 PM 2:15 PM Slide 21 If you are given an
appointment time of 2:00 PM for an interview, when is a good time
to arrive? Noon is way too early. You will end up sitting around
awkwardly until the interview 1:45 PM 2:00 PM 2:15 PM Slide 22 If
you are given an appointment time of 2:00 PM for an interview, when
is a good time to arrive? 12:00 Noon Correct! This will give you
plenty of time. 2:00 PM 2:15 PM Slide 23 If you are given an
appointment time of 2:00 PM for an interview, when is a good time
to arrive? 12:00 Noon 1:45 PM This is cutting it too close. If
anything holds you up, you will be late. 2:15 PM Slide 24 If you
are given an appointment time of 2:00 PM for an interview, when is
a good time to arrive? 12:00 Noon 1:45 PM 2:00 PM You dont want to
be late at all. Slide 25 To interview for a server position at a
restaurant, what would you wear? Slide 26 Correct! Slide 27 To
interview for a server position at a restaurant, what would you
wear? This would be a little too formal for working in a restaurant
Slide 28 To interview for a server position at a restaurant, what
would you wear? This would not be professional enough for an
interview Slide 29 To interview for a server position at a
restaurant, what would you wear? This would not be professional
enough for an interview. Slide 30 To interview for a server
position at a restaurant, what would you wear? This would not be
appropriate for an interview. Slide 31 To interview for a server
position at a restaurant, what would you wear? Correct Slide 32
Though you cant prepare for every question an interviewer might
ask, there are some common ones that you can prepare for. In the
next few slides you will hear three of the most common interview
questions: Why do you want to work here? What are your greatest
strengths and weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Slide 33 Why do you want to work here? Now is when the research you
did on the job listing will come in handy. Recruiters like to hear
the good things about their company, and they also like employees
who know about the company and agree with its mission. If you know
anything about the company that you like, or that drew you to it,
share. Now would also be a good time to mention any specialized
experience you have for this job. If you dont have much experience
doing this kind of job, you can say that you are excited to learn.
Slide 34 What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Play up
your strengths, and dont hesitate to mention anything that would
make you suited to this job. You can refer to your list of skills
you made for help. Many people have a hard time with finding a
weakness to talk about in an interview. You dont want to say
anything that will frighten or worry the interviewer (like having a
short temper). The best weaknesses to mention are either ones that
you have overcome (I used to have a hard time with organization,
but now that I have a planner/computer program I keep everything
organized) or something that is not really a weakness, like being a
perfectionist if the job requires attention to detail. Slide 35
Where do you see yourself in five years? The reason why employers
ask this question is because they want to see that if they invest
in training you, you will stick around. If you are looking for a
job for just until you finish school, let them know how much longer
you will be in school. Letting them know you are in school will
also help them be flexible with your schedule. If there is any
possibility that this company has jobs you would like to have
long-term, now is a good time to ask if there are opportunities for
advancement. Slide 36 A major part of how an interviewer considers
your responses is not about what you say, but how you say it. Your
tone, posture and body language are all important. Slouching down
in your chair shows a lack of interest in the interview. Nervous
movement of your hands or feet or rapid-fire responses to their
questions may make you seem less confident. The best methods to sit
up straight and think of the interview as a conversation. Remember
that you are not being interrogated, but are finding out if this
job is a good fit for you. Feel comfortable asking follow-up
questions and showing interest in the job. Slide 37 Some interview
questions may ask you to recall a story from your professional
experience. Some examples of these would be Tell me about a time
when you were in a stressful situation and how you handled it, or
Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision. Having a
few stories in mind to tell can help with these questions Take out
your notes and write down two stories you can tell about stressful
situations or difficult decisions. Stories from work are best, but
if not they can be from school, family or other situations if they
can be made relevant to work. Remember to avoid using situations
that make you look bad. After you have finished your stories, go to
the next page to review. Slide 38 In your stories, did you remember
to Include lots of details of the situation to make the story
believable. Make your stories relevant to the job for which you are
interviewing Choose stories that turn out well and make you look
good. Include details that make the stories interesting. Bring your
revised stories to class the day of your mock interview. Slide 39
How would you respond to the question Where do you see yourself in
five years? if you were applying for a job as a server in a
restaurant. Possibly still with this company. Are there
opportunities to be promoted to management? Possibly still with
this company. Are there opportunities to be promoted to management?
Not waiting tables, thats for sure Not waiting tables, thats for
sure I plan on working in the medical field. I am in college and
this job will help me build people skills and pay tuition I plan on
working in the medical field. I am in college and this job will
help me build people skills and pay tuition Im going to be a nurse.
Slide 40 How would you respond to the question Where do you see
yourself in five years? if you were applying for a job as a server
in a restaurant. Correct! A recruiter would be happy to see your
interest in staying with the company. Not waiting tables, thats for
sure Not waiting tables, thats for sure I plan on working in the
medical field. I am in college and this job will help me build
people skills and pay tuition I plan on working in the medical
field. I am in college and this job will help me build people
skills and pay tuition Im going to be a nurse. Slide 41 How would
you respond to the question Where do you see yourself in five
years? if you were applying for a job as a server in a restaurant.
Possibly still with this company. Are there opportunities to be
promoted to management? Possibly still with this company. Are there
opportunities to be promoted to management? Your response should
show a little more respect for the job you are applying for. I plan
on working in the medical field. I am in college and this job will
help me build people skills and pay tuition I plan on working in
the medical field. I am in college and this job will help me build
people skills and pay tuition Im going to be a nurse. Slide 42 How
would you respond to the question Where do you see yourself in five
years? if you were applying for a job as a server in a restaurant.
Possibly still with this company. Are there opportunities to be
promoted to management? Possibly still with this company. Are there
opportunities to be promoted to management? Not waiting tables,
thats for sure Not waiting tables, thats for sure Correct! Even
though you might not still be with the company in five years, you
still sound like a valuable employee Im going to be a nurse. Slide
43 How would you respond to the question Where do you see yourself
in five years? if you were applying for a job as a server in a
restaurant. Possibly still with this company. Are there
opportunities to be promoted to management? Possibly still with
this company. Are there opportunities to be promoted to management?
Not waiting tables, thats for sure Not waiting tables, thats for
sure I plan on working in the medical field. I am in college and
this job will help me build people skills and pay tuition I plan on
working in the medical field. I am in college and this job will
help me build people skills and pay tuition This sounds like you
may not be interested in this job. Slide 44 Which of the following
show good posture for an interview? Slide 45 This interviewee seems
a little nervous. Slide 46 Which of the following show good posture
for an interview? Correct! This interviewee is sitting up and
looking confident Slide 47 Which of the following show good posture
for an interview? This interviewee is slouching and not dressed
appropriately. Slide 48 A thank-you letter is a way of showing
gratitude to someone for taking the time to interview you and
reminding them that you are still interested in the job. Though you
dont have to put details about yourself in a thank-you letter like
you did for your cover letter, some details are important. You
should address the letter to the person who interviewed you, so get
their name and title at the interview. You should remind them also
about which job you interviewed for and on what date. They may be
in charge of hiring for the whole company and conducted many
interviews, and this is a way for yours to stand out. We will
practice writing thank-you letters using a template in a later
lesson, but you should be familiar with the information you need to
gather at the interview. Calling to follow up about a job after an
interview can also help you stand out from the field of applicants.
It can also let you know sooner if you did not get the job and need
to move on. Call in a few weeks after the interview, but dont keep
calling. You dont want to be a nuisance. Slide 49 To whom do you
address your thank-you letter? The president of the company The
president of the company The contact name on the job listing The
contact name on the job listing The person who interviewed you The
person who interviewed you To whom it may concern Slide 50 To whom
do you address your thank-you letter? No, the president is probably
not involved in hiring you. The contact name on the job listing The
contact name on the job listing The person who interviewed you The
person who interviewed you To whom it may concern Slide 51 To whom
do you address your thank-you letter? The president of the company
The president of the company This may not be the person hiring you
This may not be the person hiring you The person who interviewed
you The person who interviewed you To whom it may concern Slide 52
To whom do you address your thank-you letter? The president of the
company The president of the company The contact name on the job
listing The contact name on the job listing Correct! To whom it may
concern Slide 53 To whom do you address your thank-you letter? The
president of the company The president of the company The contact
name on the job listing The contact name on the job listing The
person who interviewed you The person who interviewed you If you
have had an interview, you should know someones name. If you have
had an interview, you should know someones name. Slide 54 After
your job interview, when should you call to follow up? Every day In
two weeks After you have interviewed at three other businesses
After you have interviewed at three other businesses Wait for them
to call you Slide 55 After your job interview, when should you call
to follow up? This might annoy them. You should give them some time
to make a decision. In two weeks After you have interviewed at
three other businesses After you have interviewed at three other
businesses Wait for them to call you Slide 56 After your job
interview, when should you call to follow up? Every day Correct!
After you have interviewed at three other businesses After you have
interviewed at three other businesses Wait for them to call you
Slide 57 After your job interview, when should you call to follow
up? Every day In two weeks That may take a while. You should give
yourself a clear timeframe. Wait for them to call you Slide 58
After your job interview, when should you call to follow up? Every
day In two weeks After you have interviewed at three other
businesses After you have interviewed at three other businesses
That may take a long time. Calling to follow-up shows you are still
interested. Slide 59 This concludes this program on interview
preparation. Well done! Hopefully you now feel more confident and
prepared for your mock interview. Please bring your notes with your
list of skills and professional experience stories with you to
class.
