Interview Tips and Tricks Jan 2018
- 1. Interview Tips & Tricks Jan 24th 2018 Presenter: Victoria Welsby – Adjunct Professor and Founder, BAM POW LIFE
- 2. 01 02 03 Learning Outcomes Learn how to ace an interview Come away with the ability to think like an employer How to avoid common interview mistakes
- 3. What is the purpose of the job interview?
- 4. 01 02 03What is a Job Interview? An opportunity to meet face to face or be screened by phone or skype. To discuss qualifications To assess your ability, skills and FIT! 04To demonstrate your skills and personality 05To sell yourself – what the resume does not tell them about you
- 5. 3 Main Questions 01 02 03Can you do the job? Will you like the job? Will you be liked?
- 6. What types of interviews are there?
- 7. Types of Interviews Face to Face Interview • One person or group • Behavioral and/or case • Once or a few times Presentations • Job dependent • Key personnel Technical/Aptitude Testing • Job required skills • Psychological/personality Telephone Interview • Screening usually • Conducted by HR • Worth pursuing further? Site Visits & Groups Tours, meals and interacting with other candidates and stake holders
- 10. How to be cool as a cucumber Because being calm helps us perform better! Remember the four R’s: • Research • Role play • Relax • Realise
- 12. Preparation is key The Interview Process One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation. - Arthur Ashe
- 13. 1. Plan ahead: Location – do a dry run on bus or car ahead of time 2. Research company and position you are pursuing. Assess your transferrable skills and experience 3. Develop list of potential questions you could be asked and responses Roleplay the answers– practice makes perfect! 4. What to wear/what to bring with you The Interview Process Preparation:
- 14. The Interview Process (Some) useful resources to research employers and the interviewers: - Company’s website - David Lam Library Online Resources - Glassdoor.com - Social Media Step 2: Getting Ready Preparation: Employer’s Research More resources: - LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram - Business media - WorkBC - Job postings - Professors - Your current network - Alumni
- 15. What is the biggest MISTAKE you can make in a job interview (according to recruiters)?
- 16. What is the biggest MISTAKE you can make in a job interview (according to recruiters)? Knowing little to nothing about the company you are interviewing with Knowing little to nothing about the position you applied to and why you are interested
- 17. The job description and requirements The Interview Process Preparation: Assess your skills and experience as it relates to the job Your job history, experience and skills
- 18. 01 02 03Preparation: Common Questions Why do you want to work for us? Why should we hire you? Tell me about yourself 04What are your strengths/weaknesses? 05Behavioral questions 06Technical/Analytical questions 07Problem solving/stumper questions
- 19. Mock Interviews with a coach Interview StreamPractice Makes Perfect Other Resources: • Connect – Interview e-module • www.talentegg.ca • iphone/ipad Apps
- 21. The Interview Process Preparation What should you wear? - Business Formal - Business Casual - Casual
- 22. The Interview Process You only have one chance at a first impression!
- 23. Let’s practice our first impression!
- 24. 01 02 School: Specialization “Why (what skills made you think you would succeed in this field?” Work: General overview of positions (industry) “What are the key skills developed/used?” 03Extra-curricular: “What are you involved in?” “What are the key skills developed/used?” The Interview Process Common Questions: Tell Me About Yourself 04Fun: “What do you do to chill out?” 05“Why am I here today?”
- 25. The Interview Process Strengths and Weaknesses They will most likely then start about your strengths and weaknesses Have examples of 2-3 strengths and examples from your personal, school and work experience. Have a weakness that is something you are working on, or is unrelated to the job.
- 26. Time to brag! Strengths 01 Example 02 How you have used your strength 03 Action 04 Result Use real life experiences and if possible, quantify it. ”I am excellent at business development. I created a new sales method that increased customer referrals. Over the last 2 years I have exceeded my sales target by over 25%.”
- 27. We are all human Weaknesses 01 Example 02 Method of how you are improving 03 Lesson learned 04 Result If your weakness is blatant, say it. (language) What ways is this asked? • Grades • Tell me about a time you failed
- 28. 3 minutes – write down a strength and a weakness
- 30. • Provide examples of your past performance told in a story format that shows your skills in a positive way • Story is non-fiction! • Logical beginning, middle and end • Easiest way to keep the interviewer engaged and listening Behavioral Questions Past performance indicates future success
- 31. SSituation TTask AAction RResults Detail the background. Provide a context. Where? When? Describe the challenge and expectations. What needed to be done? Why? Elaborate your specific action. What did you do? How? What tools did you use? Explain the results: accomplishments, recognition, savings, etc. Quantify. How to Answer Behavioral Questions?
- 32. Example Behavioral Questions 01 02 Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way Describe an instance when you had start something from scratch and what was the result 03 Give me a specific example of a time when your eye for detail prevented or solved a problem 04 By providing examples, convince me that you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments 05 What was the most difficult decision you have made in the past year and how did you make it?
- 33. Technical/Analytical Questions Technical or analytical questions are used to dig into prior work or school project experience that would assist the company in identifying all the skills you can bring to the position. They are also asked to see how quickly you can think on your feet. Concrete examples are often sought.
- 34. Problem Solving Questions ? Here’s the secret: your interviewer isn’t necessarily looking for a right answer. • How quickly you can think on your feet • How you’ll approach a difficult situation • Can you remain positive and proactive and make progress in the face of a challenge
- 35. Problem Solving Questions ? • Relax, be yourself, and tackle it calmly. • Talk to the interviewer through your internal thought process, so he/she can gain insight into the way you think and analyze information. How to answer it? How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine? Explain the Internet to an 8-year old in three sentences. - Monitor Deloitte - Microsoft
- 36. Questions to Ask Them • Primary objectives • Challenges • How to succeed The Role • Short/long term goals • Upcoming initiatives • Work environment The Company The Interviewer • Their story with the company • Challenges faced in this role • How are they connected with this role?
- 37. Phrasing a Question Fair Are you planning to open an office in Toronto? Good What are your plans for opening an office in Toronto? Better I read in the news about a possible opening for an office in Toronto. I was wondering what factors are under consideration for this decision.
- 38. What you can get from asking questions • Validating the values of the company/team/manager to make sure they align with you • Does this company/role offer what you want? • Demonstrate your expertise in the industry by asking job content/subject matter/trend related questions • Any deal-breakers for you? • Selling yourself as a candidate (closing them)
- 39. Posing Questions Some Good Examples **My favourites • What is your favorite part of your job and working with this company? • What were the characteristics of the most successful person in this position in the past?** • When are you looking to short list/make an offer? • If I am extended an offer, how soon would you like me to start? • What is your management style? • Is there anything that makes you think I may not be successful in this position?** • Are there any skills you want this employee to have that were not on the job description?
- 40. Phrasing a Question Bad Examples • How many days of sick leave will I have? • What’s the company’s mission? • How much is my monthly salary? • Anything that would have been on the website.
- 41. Closing the Interview • Thank them! • What is the hiring process? • Do you know their email? • Ask for their card • Are they meeting a lot of candidates? • Get as much information as you can! • Tell them you’re interested in the role and the company • Use their name • Smile • Thank them again!
- 42. After the Interview: Send a Thank You note or email
- 46. Checking your phone while you wait
- 47. Being too early
- 48. Looking shabby
- 50. Rambling
- 51. Being rude
- 52. Wearing too much perfume or cologne
- 54. Not following up
- 55. Q&A