Interview Tips PowerPoint (1)
- 1. 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 208, Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-731-1010
- 2. Expert Interview Tips ★ Christine Faville, President ★ Risa Sady, Business Development
- 3. - THE RESUME GETS YOU THE INTERVIEW - THE INTERVIEW GETS YOU THE JOB Keep In Mind
- 4. Invest in your Resume? ➔ Take the time to tailor your resume for each position you are applying for. ➔ Match your skill set to the job posting to ensure your resume stands out from the rest & secures an initial interview.
- 5. Some Statistics to Consider before Submitting Your Resume... ➔ 80% of resumes that are professionally written get immediate response from recruiters & hiring managers. ➔ 427K resumes are posted on Monster every week ➔ An average of 250 resumes are received for each job posting ➔ 88% job rejection if there is a photo of yourself ➔ Recruiters spend 5 to 7 seconds looking over your resume ➔ It only takes ONE spelling or grammar mistake for your resume to be ignored. ➔ 76% of resumes are ignored if your email address is unprofessional.
- 6. Sent in your resume and have not heard back?
- 7. ★ A follow up call can win you the interview! Be Proactive. Know Who & When to Follow Up? ➔ If you do not hear back within ONE WEEK, follow-up ➔ Make sure you are in a quiet place. ➔ NEVER ask for the Human Resources Dept or the Recruiting Manager. ➔ Make sure you speak to the actual hiring person ➔ If NO luck ask the receptionist. ➔ When following up via email make sure you reference the title of the position you are applying for and your name in the subject line. Some Tips: Take Control & Drive the Process Yourself
- 8. Email -subject lines that are appropriate & catchy to grab a Recruiter/Hiring Manager’s Attention! ➔ Superstar looking for new challenges & opportunities ➔ (YOUR NAME) - The best addition to your team ➔ Hiring me will help with your team and business goals - available NOW! ➔ Hiring me will change your company because... ➔ From the World’s Greatest Salesperson ➔ You need me as a candidate ➔ 5 things you don’t know about (YOUR NAME) ➔ Your next great sales hire...I will show you why! ➔ I am a top candidate for your_____position
- 9. Helpful Resources & Tips Utilize Glassdoor Best Time to Schedule Interview ➔ Avoid scheduling an interview for Mondays & Fridays. Best time is Tuesday @ 10:30am. ➔ Confirm interview one day prior. ➔ Reviews by former employees ➔ Salary Details-Earning Potential ➔ Open jobs ➔ Employee perspective on company hiring Clean-up your Social Media ➔ Use Social Sweepster to clean up your Facebook & Twitter. 91% of employers search your social media for red flags.
- 10. This is your 1st Interview treat it like one. When you get a call for a job...DO not take the call if you are not ready, just woke up, if you are in a noisy place or children are crying. Make sure you are able to recall the position you applied for. Be ready to answer these questions ➔ Are you currently employed and for how long? ➔ Why are you looking to leave your current job? ➔ What were your top responsibilities in that position? ➔ What makes you qualified for this open position? ➔ Why did you leave your last place of employment? ➔ What are your salary requirements? Ask what the position is paying? Phone Screen Process
- 11. You are invited to come in for an interview… Now what?
- 12. Research! Research! Research! Where to look and what to know! Research = Confidence ➔ This will allow you to showcase your knowledge of the company. ➔ This will give you confidence to speak at the interview ➔ Do not pretend to know more than the interviewer ➔ Company Website ➔ Go to their social media pages (Linked In, Facebook & Twitter) ➔ Know how the company is structured. Who is in charge. Know the name of the CEO & key top management. ➔ Research the person who is interviewing you Practice! ➔ Get a friend or family member for the “pretend” interview and have them ask you questions. Record yourself.
- 13. Be Prepared! ➔ Familiarize yourself with the company and the position you are applying for. ➔ Review the job description and make sure you are familiar with the capabilities and responsibilities that the job entails. ➔ Prepare a couple of questions about the company & the position to ask your interviewer. ➔ Go to Staples - make professional copies of your resume on nice bond paper. Bring several copies of your resume with you and a list of references. ➔ Make sure you know where the office is & how to get there. If you are unfamiliar with the area, make a drive by beforehand.
- 14. First Impressions are determined by: ➔ 55% - Your professional dress, act & walk through the door. ➔ 38% - Quality of your voice, grammar & confidence ➔ 7% - Word choice
- 15. First impressions are everything! 65% OF HIRING MANAGERS SAY CLOTHES CAN BE THE DECIDING FACTOR BETWEEN TWO SIMILAR CANDIDATES ➔ Dress appropriately. Avoid loud colors ➔ Always look professional, neat and clean. Make sure your suit is neat & clean. ➔ Get a manicure - Women & Men ➔ Clean Shaven ➔ No Piercings ➔ Cover Tattoos
- 16. Men’s Attire What should I wear to my interview: ➔ Chic-Fil-A Shirt & Tie ➔ Bank /Finance Co Suit & Tie ➔ Light cologne ➔ Clean shaven or trimmed facial hair ➔ Professional socks
- 17. Womens Attire ● Clean & Professional Hair Style ● Little to no jewelry ● Mild or no Fragrance ● Knee Length Skirt ● Conservative shoes-Low Heel ● Sparse Make-up ● White Long Sleeve Shirt
- 18. Do not be late for your interview...First strike
- 19. Once you walk in, the interview has begun! ➔ Arrive no more than 10 minutes early - you do not want to put pressure on the interviewer. ➔ Greet the Receptionist - “Hi, I am here to see…” *Smile (You never know who is sitting at the front desk!) ➔ How to Act in the Waiting Room - Good posture ➔ Cell phone OFF ➔ The importance of eye contact, firm handshake, smile when talking ➔ Articulate your speech ➔ Avoid excessive gesturing/fidgeting
- 20. During the Interview ➔ Always speak positively about past employers ➔ Smile when talking about your last position ➔ Maintain eye contact & show interest in everyone involved. ➔ Maintain correct body posture ➔ Before responding to a question, pause & think about what you would like to say - this will avoid quick and weak responses ➔ Highlight your strengths ➔ Only sell your qualities that apply to the role ➔ Be prepared to expand on what your resume says ➔ Prove that you are the right fit for the position
- 21. How to respond to a question you do not know how to answer ➔ Remain Calm. Take a deep breath ➔ Do not say “I do not know” and don’t make things up ➔ Don’t start rambling as you will show the interviewer you are nervous ➔ Ask questions - maybe it is the question you do not understand. Ask the interviewer to clarify the question
- 22. Most Common Interview Mistakes ● Not be prepared for your interview - you didn’t do your research or“Winging” the interview” ● Over explaining why you lost your last job ● Failing to set yourself apart from other candidates ● Do not get caught up in talking about the negative aspects of your life ● Not asking questions ● Failure to Ask for the Job Not Prepared Talk Too Much Lack Confidence
- 23. Common Nonverbal Mistakes ● 67% - Fail to make eye contact ● 47% - Have little knowledge of the company ● 38% - Don’t Smile ● 33% - Have bad posture ● 33% - Fidget too much ● 26% - Have a weak handshake ● 21% - Play with Their Hair or Touch their face ● 21% - Cross their arms over their chest
- 24. Never Talk about… ➔ Personal Issues ➔ Salary or Benefits ➔ Start Date ➔ Personal / Social Life ➔ Religion / Politics ➔ Past bad job or employer experiences
- 25. Questions NOT to ask in your Interview
- 26. Some Questions to prepare to ask your Interviewer ➔ What are the top responsibilities of this position? ➔ What are the qualities that you are seeking in a candidate for this position? ➔ Why is this position open? ➔ How long have you been working at this company & what do you like best about working here ➔ What is the next step in the hiring process? Examples:
- 28. Tell me About Yourself… ➔ No one wants to hear about your entire life story. In a couple of sentences describe your TOP strengths, motivations and experiences that relate to the position! ➔ Emphasize your EXPERIENCE, ENTHUSIASM & PROOF OF PERFORMANCE. EXAMPLE: I am an innovative HR Manager with 8 years of experience managing all aspects of the HR function from recruiting to training to benefits for Fortune 500 Companies.
- 29. What Is Your Greatest Strength? Some Examples of Words that Describe your Strength: ● Enthusiastic ● Trustworthy ● Creative ● Disciplined ● Patient ● Respectful ● Determined ● Dedicated ● Honest ● Versatile ● Leader Focus on your Strengths ● Your ability to prioritize ● Your ability to work under pressure ● Detail Oriented ● Strong Organizational Skills Share something that makes them think….
- 30. What is your Greatest Weakness? ➔ Minimize the trait and emphasize the positive ➔ Select a trait and come up with a solution to overcome the weakness ➔ Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate more on professional traits Examples: ➔ Attempting to please everyone ➔ Being too critical of yourself A good reply: I am a perfectionist so sometimes it takes me a couple minutes extra to finish an assignment, because I always double check my work.
- 31. Why did you leave your last job prior to finding other employment? ➔ Do not talk negatively about your previous employer or the employees. Be able to explain why it was a reasonable separation and why you are a fantastic candidate. You do not want the interviewer to have to make any assumptions about what happened and why? Suggestions how to answer this question: ➔ I wanted to take some time & really focus on finding the right fit for my next career move. I made sure I was in a position to do so. ➔ Unfortunately, the company lost their biggest client and resulted in layoffs. As a result my position was eliminated. I am proud of the work I did and I received outstanding performance reviews.
- 32. Gap in employment? ➔ Employment gaps are tough to explain. Be prepared to explain why. ➔ You do not want to come across as lazy or unhireable. ➔ Find a way to make your extended unemployment seem like a choice you made based on the right reasons. Examples - ● Co-chaired an event that raised much needed funds for charity ● Traveled ● Was in a financial position where I could take some time off to find the right company & job.
- 33. Why Do you Want to work Here?
- 34. Why Should I hire you? Why are you a better Candidate? Ask yourself these questions: ➔ What are the most important qualifications for this position from the company’s perspective. ➔ In which of these areas do I really shine ➔ What are my most impressive accomplishments ➔ What makes me different from a typical candidate. ➔ You can do the work & deliver exceptional results ➔ I have always been recognized as a hard worker and exceeding the expectations of management ➔ You possess the combination of the skills and experience that make you stand out I have a unique combination of strong technical skills and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and breakdown information to be more user friendly. Answers to consider
- 35. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? ➔ Employers don’t want to hear that you expect to climb the corporate ladder and be a supervisor. ➔ Share that you have been a mentor to others and led projects with little to no supervision. ➔ Stress your leadership potential. ➔ FOCUS ON THEM… In 5 years you should have made a significant impact to the company’s bottom line. Develop a strategy how you can achieve this in the role you are interviewing for. Example : My goal right now is to find a company where I can grow & take on new challenges. I would like to assume more responsibilities but more importantly, I want to work for a company where I can build a career.
- 36. What are your Salary Requirements? Ladders, Glassdoor, Job Market Guide - good resources ➔ Salary negotiation should not be discussed until you are extended an offer. This is when you have the most power to negotiate. Recruiters typically try to get this information out of you as early as the phone screen. ➔ Research the going rate for your target job prior to coming into the interview. Good Answers: ➔ I am sure we can come to a salary agreement if I am the right person for the job ➔ I have some idea of the market, but for the moment let’s start with a range. What do you have budgeted for this position?
- 37. Close the Interview & Ask for the Job! ➔ Create a lasting positive impression - If you feel this is the right job remind the employer why you are the perfect person for the position. ➔ Ask what the next steps are in the process and timetable the employer expects to make a decision about the position. ➔ Thank your interviewer for his/her time ASK FOR THE JOB BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE ROOM Examples: ❖ I think my experience and skills are a great match for this position. I would be a great asset to your company and a team player. When can I expect to hear back from you? Follow up with a thank you email the following day
- 38. Questions? We thank you for the opportunity