Job InterviewsJared McKenzie

Today’s Agenda1. Review the interview process2. Mock interviews3. Discussion4. Peer Assessment

Getting ReadyStep 1: Create an excellent first impression.Think about: - your clothing - your handshake - your smile - eye contact

Getting ReadyStep 2: Be prepared for your interview.- Bring a copy of your resumé.- Prepare one or two questions you could ask your interviewer.

Getting ReadyStep 2: Be prepared for your interview.- Practice responding to behaviour descriptive questions like, “Tell me about a time where you work was criticized. How did you handle that?”

The Interview ProcessRemember, a job interview has three main goals:1. Find out if you can do the job.2. Find out why you want the job.3. Find out if you will fit in the organization.

Can you do the job?These types of questions may look something like this:

“What are your strengths?”“Why should we hire you?”“Have you had any experience in this type of work?”

Can you do the job?The interviewer wants to know how well your qualifications match the job requirements.

Effective answers make you stand out.

Why do you want the job?These types of questions may look something like this:

“Why did you apply for this job?”“What do you know about our organization?”“What is it about our products that interests you?”

Why do you want the job?The interviewer wants to know if your interested enough in the position to do a little research.

Spend a few minutes on the company website or talk to someone who works there.

Will you fit with the organization?These types of questions may look something like this:

“What kind of boss do you prefer?”“How do you handle repetitive work?”“What are your long-range goals?”

Will you fit with the organization?These questions must be answered honestly.

Telling the interviewer what he or she wants to hear might give you a job that you hate.

Behaviour Descriptive QuestionsThese questions ask you about a situation from the past or a hypothetical situation.

Example: “Describe a time for me when you had trouble working with others on a group project. How did you resolve that situation?”

Behaviour Descriptive QuestionsThese questions try to assess how well you will handle situations you may encounter on the job or how well you respond to pressure.

These questions are best answered by using a STARS technique.

STARSS – Situation: Describe the circumstances and the problem you faced.T – Task: Explain what you needed to do and why.A – Action: Describe the actions you took.R – Results: Explain what happened as a result of your efforts.S – Skills: Describe the skills you used to accomplish what you did.

ActivityMock Interviews: 1. Our first volunteer will wait outside the classroom door. When he or she knocks, he or she will come in and participate in an interview at the front of the class.2. The rest of the class will be listening, observing, and filling out the peer assessment sheet.