Interviewing StrategiesCharting Your Career Path

Fall 2011

MCC-EU.1740.002

Cynthia Wiseman

Purpose of Course

To equip participants with the interviewing and job search tools necessary to ensure that they are self-aware and market-ready when they join the work force.

Interviewing StrategiesMCC-EU.1740.002

• Two credits• Must have all assignments completed by due date!

Expectations• Show up on time for appointments/class • Be prepared for appointments/class

Read syllabus carefully and fullyNote contact information– Appointments – email/in-class– General inquiries – csw2@nyu.edu or engspeak@aol.com

Office HoursTuesday 11-12 p.m.By appointment

A Word about Wasserman Center for Career Development

133 E. 13th Street, NYC

What NYUCareerNet & NYUInterviewNet offer:• Calendar of all center-related events• Links to databases – great research tools• On-Campus Recruiting• Job and Internship postings• Campus Fairs –

http://www.nyu.edu/students/undergraduates/career-development.html

Career Fairs• Fall Job and Internship Fair• Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 11am-3pm, Kimmel Center• NYU students from all majors are invited to attend our largest fair of the year to

explore part-time and full-time opportunities as well as internships. Meet with employers and learn more about both domestic and international positions.

• Engineering & Technology Career Fair at NYU Poly• Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 10:30am-3:30pm, NYU Poly, Jacob's

Gymnasium• NYU students and NYU Poly students are invited to attend this fair to meet

with a large number of employers from diverse industries. Explore full-time, part-time and internship opportunities in fields including Engineering, Computer Hardware/Software, Technology, Science, Management, and Digital Media among others.

• This fair will take place at NYU Poly.•  

Career Fairs• Graduate Level Economics and Finance Career Fair

• Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 10am-12pm, Wasserman Center

• Learn about opportunities for graduate students in economics and finance.

• Co-sponsored by the NYU Department of Economics and NYU Department of Mathematics in Finance.

• RSVP on NYU CareerNet under Events > Seminars

• Computer Science and Technology Career Fair

• Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 10am-12pm, Wasserman Center

• Meet with employers to discuss opportunities in computer science and technology.

• Co-sponsored by the Masters Association for Computer Science at NYU.

• RSVP on NYU CareerNet under Events > Seminars

• NGO, Non-Profit & Government Career Forum

• Friday, December 2, 2011, 11:30am-3pm, The George Washington University

• Gain valuable professional insight and advice about working in the NGO, Non-Profit and Government sectors. Network with organizational representatives and learn about internship and full-time opportunities. For additional information, check NYU CareerNet.

• This fair will take place at The George Washington University. Held in collaboration with the

Women's Foreign Policy Group, The George Washington University, and the Univ of PA.

Topics Covered

• Interviewing strategies– Self Assessment– Researching the organization– Interviewing – Nonverbal Communication

• Resume Development & Letter Writing • Job Search Skills & Networking

AssignmentsCheck-in/Conferences• Post journal on Blackboard when assigned• Schedule one-on-one w/ teacher for review of resume & cover if necessary• In-class sign-up or email preferences for meeting times to csw2@nyu.edu

Resume • First draft due September 27– peer review• Second draft October 4 -- submit to prof & schedule conference if

necessary

Ideal Job: Define characteristics, find actual job description and explain how the job meets your criteria for an ideal job: BB journal entry

Career Goals• Define your short- and long-term career goals. BB journal entry• Research the Organization – preparation for interview• Research a position/job description appropriate to your current skill set

(internship, entry-level position). BB journal entry

AssignmentsMock Interviews – in-class & videotaped -- Written critique of interview and your

performance as both interviewer and interviewee• Prepare for “real” interviews • Identify stumbling blocks • Demonstrate your strengths

Group Research Project: Interview the interviewers• Conduct informational interviewers with interviewers• Compile results in research paper• Presentation of results to class

Introductions

• Divide into groups of 4-5• Write down the names of the people in the group• Without asking your group members, write down

your impression of each person:– Studier (1)– Partier (5)

– GPA

– Major

– Politically conservative (1) – liberal (5)

– Music preferred

Prepare for Interview!

The Five Big Questions…• Tell me about yourself.• Why did you choose New York University?• Why are you interested in this position?• Why are you interested in this company?• What questions do you have?

Interview Questions – Blackboard site

Quick Quiz

What are your career plans?

What is a Career?

• Progress through life – growth and development in vocational and avocational areas of life

• Progress within an occupation or series of occupations

• Cradle-to-grave process

Career Planning Model

Who are you?Assess Yourself.

What are your options?Assess Options.

Set objectives. Test possibilities.Decision Making.

Who Are You?

• Assess Yourself.– Do you prefer working with facts or ideas?– Do you prefer to work alone or in groups?– Do you prefer a structured or unstructured

work setting?– Are you more comfortable working with

“things” or people?

What are your career options?

• Assess options.– What do you want to do?– How well do you “fit” with options?– What do you need to do to get there?– What obstacles are in your way?

Set Objectives - Test Possibilities.

• Decision Making.– Have you set realistic, attainable

expectations?– Are you willing to invest what it takes to

reach goal?– Is there a time frame associated with goal?

Is it attainable?

Preparation

What’s involved?

Internal and External

What’s Your Hiring IQ?

Evaluating Your Hiring I.Q.

Total Score:>135 Least likely to make job search

mistakes< 110Room for improvement in

job search techniques

Block of responses:01-14Relates to knowledge15-23Relates to patterns of behavior

Homework

• Self-Assessments

• Readings on Interviewing Techniques and the Job Interview

• Post of Db