Fast Track Guide to Interviewing by Career Works

Transitions…….

Your Personal Path to a New Career Fast Track Transition Guide to Interviewing Workbook

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Table of Contents Interview Management Skills ..........................................................................................................................3 What is a Successful Interview? ......................................................................................................................3 Visualize a Successful Interview ......................................................................................................................4 Using Your Resume in an Interview .................................................................................................................4 Your Positioning Statement .............................................................................................................................5 Before the Interview ........................................................................................................................................6 Impression Management .................................................................................................................................7 The “Magic Pills” of an Interview ....................................................................................................................8 What to Wear – Men .....................................................................................................................................10 What to Wear – Women ...............................................................................................................................12 Using Your Voice ............................................................................................................................................13 Learn to Listen ...............................................................................................................................................14 Public Speaking and Message Content ..........................................................................................................14 What to Take to the interview .......................................................................................................................16 Reading the Interview Environment ..............................................................................................................17 Employment Application ...............................................................................................................................18 Getting Results during the Interview .............................................................................................................19 Types of Interviews ........................................................................................................................................20 Informational Interviews ...............................................................................................................................22 Telephone Interviews ....................................................................................................................................24 Screening Interviews .....................................................................................................................................25 Group (panel) Interviews ...............................................................................................................................25 Hiring Manager Interviews ............................................................................................................................25 Background Questions ...................................................................................................................................27 Preference Questions ....................................................................................................................................27 Blue Sky Questions ........................................................................................................................................28 Challenging Questions ...................................................................................................................................29 Sensitive Issues ..............................................................................................................................................30 No-Win Questions .........................................................................................................................................30 Additional Interview Questions .....................................................................................................................32 Asking the Questions You Need Answered ...................................................................................................33 Interview Evaluation ......................................................................................................................................35 Follow-up / Thank You ...................................................................................................................................37 © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Interview Management Skills The skills and strategies discussed thus far help you obtain an interview with the goal of being offered the job. Your resume has served as your advertising brochure - it communicates your marketable skills and lets the interviewer know you have the qualifications to do the job. The interview will allow you to present yourself as the total package and will determine if you are the right person for that particular work environment. In other words, can you clearly articulate your competency and compatibility for this work environment? The interview process will determine if your needs and those of the company match. So, you already know that your goal- demonstrating that you are the right person for the job, and the goal of the interviewer - finding the right person for the job, are the same. There are good and bad interviewers - not all interviewers are prepared to properly conduct an interview. The goal of this section is to give you tools to ensure you have the advantage in an interview and teach you how to communicate your strengths whether you are asked to or not. There will be other qualified candidates for the job. You want to be the one perceived as adding the most value to the organization. Good preparation requires time, thought, organization, and practice. These are the reasons why so few people actually prepare for the interview.

What is a Successful Interview? A successful interview is not a random, off-the-cuff conversation. A successful interview is carefully planned so that you dispense key information within the framework of the interviewer's questions. Remember that this is a dialogue, not a monologue, conducted on the basis of mutual respect. You respect their time and consideration of you as a candidate, and they respect the opportunity to have you express your desire to be a valued part of the organization. The outcome of a successful interview lies with you, the candidate. You have about one hour to get your core message across convincingly. Some tips for a successful interview include:     

A positive career attitude An outstanding resume that highlights your accomplishments Demonstrating your competency (you can do the job) Demonstrating your compatibility (you can do the job in this culture) Developing chemistry (you can do the job with this team)

Your ability to use the power of information - about yourself and finding out what you need to know about the company are critical.

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Visualize a Successful Interview There is a French proverb that says, "Nothing breeds success like success." Take a moment to think about what it feels like to be "in the zone" in an interview. From the very beginning of the interview everything is going your way. Your smile, appearance, handshake, and presence are right on target. They are asking the right questions and you are giving the right stories. Your stories easily connect your values, skills, experiences, and motivators to every situation they present. Their body language and verbal comments all seem to indicate that you are saying and doing the right things. As the interview ends, you ask your closing questions and it is clear you are the candidate of choice. By the time you get home there is a voice mail with a job offer. This is the ultimate interviewing experience! Now, think back to what made the interview a success - your preparation. In order to visualize success, you have to be prepared psychologically, physically, and intellectually. This means you have a game plan that ensures success in the interview. By practicing, you learn how to respond to any question with an accomplishment statement that demonstrates your ability to do the job. Every discussion with hiring managers should be considered an interview. Your role in the discussion is to position your skills, talents and experience as a solution to the challenges they face in their organizations.

Using Your Resume in an Interview You have already developed a tool for answering interview questions - the resume. Your resume has a professional career objective that concisely says what type of position you are seeking. You will develop a positioning statement that tells them about who you are. And, you have developed accomplishments (success stories) to bring to life many of your job experiences. Use powerful images to tell your success stories. Limit your stories to one to two minutes. Capture their listening in the first 30 seconds with the drama of your story, match your stories to the company's needs, and only give details that add value to your story.

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Your Positioning Statement In order to get what you want, you have to articulate what you want. The positioning statement does that for you. It provides a vivid and clear picture of exactly who you are and what you can offer an employer. This statement will serve as the opening, or closing comment, about your abilities during an interview. Essentially, it answers the request to "tell me about yourself."

Example: I am human resources professional with experience as a generalist and in the recruiting arena. The past two years I’ve been the manager of college recruitment for a Fortune 500 company. I’ve participated on a team responsible for developing an orientation program for new employees. My strengths include designing orientation programs, marketing research and fluency in Spanish. The positioning statement must be concise and communicated in less than two minutes. It should associate you with a profession, focus on your skills, reference organizations where you have worked or want to work in; and tell your unique strengths. Develop your positioning statement: _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

Once you have mastered your positioning statement and have done your "homework" on the company, you will be able to add information that clearly differentiates you from other candidates. For example: I am human resources professional with experience as a generalist and in the recruiting arena. The past two years I’ve been the manager of college recruitment for a Fortune 500 company. I’ve participated on a team responsible for developing an orientation program for new employees. My strengths include designing orientation programs, marketing research and fluency in Spanish. It sounds like your company is looking to develop a college relations component to add your human resources department. My experiences, both academically and professionally, are a good match for your current needs.

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My strengths include designing orientation programs, marketing research and fluency in Spanish. I noticed your company has experienced rapid and sustained growth over the last ten years, including the opening of offices in Mexico and Spain. I would welcome the opportunity to work for an international company where I could contribute to your growth. Remember, you want to be able to deliver this commercial about yourself in less than two minutes. In order to do that you will have to write it down and practice - practice - practice until it comes out naturally and unrehearsed.

Before the Interview It is important to start preparing for the interview several days before it actually occurs. The more you practice every detail, the more relaxed and confident you will be in the real interview. The first thing to do is research the company and collect as much pertinent information as possible. Obtain any documents that will help you learn about the company, such as an annual report, a prospectus, or a company newsletter. If you are interviewing for a particular department or division, ask for information specific to that area. Other information links will be, but are not limited to:     

Company websites Business newspapers, periodicals, and magazines A brochure from a competitor Professional organizations and industry associations Talking to people who work for the company

Other information you should have includes:

Product Line(s)      

Major products, brand names, and/or services What products or services are in the greatest demand New technologies impacting the industry Basic trends and areas of growth in the industry Standing in the industry Major competitors

Financial Health  How the company is doing?  Is the company growing?  Is the company in the midst of layoffs or cutbacks? © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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 Does the company have a history of layoffs?

Corporate Data   

Chief Executive Officer's or President's name Key positions and organizational structure Location of corporate headquarters or parent company

Remember to access on-line databases that will provide you with pertinent company information:        

Hoover's Dun and Bradstreet 411 Stocks Market Guide (company financials) Vault Reports (industry reports) WetFeet.com (company information) Yahoo! Industry News Industry Research Desk

The more information you have, the easier it will be for you to identify the areas of the company to which you can add value. If you can talk to someone who works for the company or has worked for the company, try to find out what challenges face the person who could hire you. You will be in a better position to explain how you could help solve a problem or add to a successful outcome for the challenge.

Impression Management What do you have to do to make a good first impression? Perception is reality. Regardless of what impression you think you are giving, the other person's perception is what counts. If you want to be successful in your interactions with people, you have to display the right reality. Everyone you meet will form an impression of you. You have already demonstrated you competency with your resume and cover letter. Now, you have to match your appearance and body language to the perception of the interviewer. Interview stage chemistry, rapport and "fit" will determine whether or not you get the position. The person who creates the best sense of compatibility will be offered the job. How important are the words you use in conversation? How important is non-verbal communication?

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Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. In fact, what you say (verbal word choice) accounts for only 7% of communication. How you say the words (vocal tone, inflection, rate, volume, and pitch) accounts for 38% of the communication. You might be surprised to find out that 55% of communication is non-verbal. So, your posture, your walk, your facial expressions, body movements and gestures are very powerful. The non-verbal image and impression you make has to impart confidence and enthusiasm to the interviewer. This is why developing a positive career attitude is very important. Also, your physical actions will express your inner character and emotions. To maintain good non-verbal communication, try to eliminate distractions, such as tugging on your clothing, chewing on a pen, jingling coins in your pockets or tapping/shaking your feet. From the moment you leave your car and enter the building for the interview, your image has to say power and your impression has to charm and capture everyone you encounter.

The "Magic Pills" of an Interview The research team of Dimitrius and Mazzarella termed the phrase "magic pills." Magic pills are a number of impression management techniques you want to incorporate into your everyday routine of communicating with people. Dimitrius and Mazarella state "don't worry about overdoing them. Be concerned that you use them enough." These magic pills are eye contact, smiling, handshaking, greeting, posture and appearance.

Eye Contact Eye contact accounts for the majority of non-verbal facial messages you send. Good eye contact enhances communication, helps build rapport, and increases the level of disclosure in the conversations. A study on eye contact and interviewing found that eye contact by the interviewer increased the candidates' responses and amount of information shared. The converse was true, too. The level of eye contact by the candidate increased the amount of response from the interviewer. Good eye contact involves looking at the speaker, moderate eye movement and blinking, relaxed facial expressions, and maintaining contact about 60-70% of the time.

Smiling Think of your smile as one of your accessories. It has to accentuate the positive. If you connect your smile to appropriate movements and gestures, you will enhance your sense of openness, honesty and trustworthiness. However, be careful not to smile too much. The smile is a natural emotional response to something pleasurable. You want the interviewers to have a positive emotional response to you. Research indicates that the best results come when you intersperse a reassuring smile with your message. ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Handshake and Greeting The best way to literally connect with someone is to shake his or her hand. It is a sign of friendship, and it is the only time we automatically accept physical contact from a stranger. The handshake creates an emotional bond and allows you to enter into someone's personal space. Because a handshake is expected, we are at ease when the other person accepts our greeting. Be sure that your grip is firm but comfortable (don't be a limp noodle and don't be a vice grip). You need to have a good grasp of the other person's hand. Your palm should touch the other person's palm; your ring and pinkie finger should curl under the bottom of the other person's hand - to hold and lift as you shake. Pay attention to your posture, motion, and length of the handshake. You should be at a comfortable distance from the person, using good posture. It is acceptable to have three to five up and down motions. Be sure not to jerk the person's arm. A good handshake lasts long enough for you to get a good grip and grasp while verbalizing your greeting. Call the person by name. Speak when you shake their hand. The first and last words that we speak are often remembered the most. Therefore, connect your handshake with good opening and closing remarks. Maintain good eye contact.

Posture The best body posture for conveying confidence, leadership, competency, and chemistry involves holding your head upright, having your chest out and keeping your shoulders back. Good posture also involves standing on the balls of your feet. This will keep you leaning forward slightly. That demonstrates interest in the speaker, energy, and attentiveness. Finally, good posture involves the way you walk. Do not strut as if you are in a shopping mall or schoolyard with your friends. Keep your walk to a medium pace and do not drag your feet.

Appearance Dress for success! To create the desired impression, you have to dress and look the part. People will form their first impression of you in 7 to 30 seconds. Most interviewers know if they will hire you within the first five minutes! Obviously, you need to give careful thought to your appearance. While you may be tempted to dress in the latest fashions and styles, you must be careful to remain professional in your appearance. Your task is to make a favorable impression so that you can market, advertise and sell your skills to the best possible company. Since perception is reality, your goal is to be perceived as the most appropriate candidate for the position.

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Impressions count. Consider the "12 x 12 x 12 Theory:"   

People judge you first from 12 feet away; Then they judge you from 12 inches away; and Then they judge you based on the first 12 words out of your mouth.

Based on this theory you can see how appearance, body language, and public speaking are connected to success. Accepted business appearance for men and woman is outlined below:

Men Hair    

Short, conservative cut, styled to compliment the shape of your face; no tails, colors, braids, twists, or mullets Neatly combed, clean, not too "greasy" A clean shaven face is preferred in most offices If you have a beard, mustache, sideburns or a goatee, consider shaving if for the job search or be sure to keep it clean and well-trimmed

Suits        

Choose natural fibers and fabric that is appropriate for the office Make sure the jacket is long enough and the inside lining does not hang below the jacket Remember to cut the tags and threads off of new coats and slacks Make sure there is ample room in the shoulders, back, and sleeves Have the suit dry-cleaned before the interview Dark blue or gray are the best colors; if the suit has a pattern or pinstripes, it should be discreet Slacks should have a slight break in the front Clothing should fit smoothly with no pockets flapping or bowing

Shirts     

Freshly pressed solid or pinstripes only White is preferred; light blue and French blue are acceptable Always wear long sleeves with a suit Make sure the collar lays nicely in the suit Cuffs should show about 1/4 inch below the sleeve of the jacket

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Ties        

Ties should pull the look together and complement the entire outfit Silk; 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches wide No bow ties Not too loud or too bright No novelty ties Choose a tie with a small pattern: dots, stripes, foulards, geometric patterns Your tie should end at the middle or bottom of your belt buckle The weight of the fabrics you wear should be consistent and appropriate for the season

 

Black, brown, or cordovan color shoes Shoes should be comfortable, well-polished and heeled so you are not leaning to the side

Shoes

Jewelry     

Gold or silver watch with a band of the same color or leather No gimmicky or sport watches School rings are appropriate; no chunky or flashy rings No chains or bracelets No earrings

Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses    

Frames should be in one of your best neutral colors and complimentary to your face Make sure the lenses are not too large or too small; you should be able to see the whole eye No sunglasses Wear contact lenses that are clear or slightly tinted

Accessories      

Wear a quality leather belt 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, the same color as your shoes, shows no sign of wear and has a discreet gold or silver buckle If you have a designer belt, remove the leather tag Do not belt your pants below the stomach After shave or cologne, should be light or none at all Make sure your wallet is not causing your pocket to bulge Wear dark socks that are over-the-calf so your skin does not show when you sit down

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

No earrings!

Avoid  

Short sleeved shirts, light colored suits, and undershirts with prints or designs Nose rings, lip and tongue piercings

Women Hair, Makeup and Nails    

Hair should be neat, conservative, and professional; no multicolor, extensions or large clips Keep your hair off your face - you do not want your hair distracting you or the interviewer Makeup should be simple, soft and match the colors of your clothing Nails should be manicured with light or clear polish - no designs

Suits, Dresses and Skirts       

Business skirt suits and/or pantsuits are acceptable Dark colors such as black, navy, gray or neutral suits are best Skirts and dresses with coordinated jackets are acceptable Complementary solid color blouse is recommended - white, cream, pastel - not too revealing Your dress or skirt should cover the knee when seated Have the suit dry cleaned before the interview Clothing should fit smoothly and be free of loose threads or hems

Shoes   

Medium heeled leather pumps (black, brown); no sling back or open toe shoes Heels should be no higher than 1 to 2 inches Always wear panty hose or knee highs (even in the summer) that match your shoes and outfit

Jewelry and Accessories      

Simple earrings (one per ear), not dangling A conservative jewelry that is not noisy or distracting One bracelet One ring per hand Carry a small purse Your perfume should be light or none at all

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Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses    

Avoid  

Showing your eyebrow, tongue, lip, nose or navel piercings, tattoos or cleavage Runs in nylons

Using Your Voice Since 38% of communication is vocal – what you convey through your tone, volume, pitch, and rate of speech influences the success of your conversation. People who are thought of as "great communicators" use their voice to capture and engage the audience. During an interview, your voice has to be strong and filled with energy. Ask yourself, "what picture does my voice paint?" You want to have a vocal style that conveys enthusiasm, competence, and self-assurance. The Greek physician Galen once said, "the voice is the mirror to the soul." This is one of the reasons why it is necessary to practice your responses - you want them to be natural and sincere. As you are speaking, make sure you are conveying the appropriate emotions with your voice. Good listening will help you determine the appropriate vocal tone to use. Think about how others hear your voice. Are you too loud? Do you talk too fast or too slow? Is your voice soft? It is high pitched? You have to think about the message you want to get to the interviewer; what is the best volume, tone, pitch, and pace to use for you? The interview is a dialogue between you and the interviewer - you want to make sure you are understood. When we get nervous, we usually talk at a faster pace. The best defense for nervousness is to practice being comfortable with your answers. Things about your voice to consider during an interview:     

Speak clearly; do not mumble Do not talk with your hand by your mouth Do not whine Try not to give a pretentious vocal quality - too arrogant A void expressions such as "like" and "you know" and too many "ums" and "ahs"

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If there are words that you know are difficult for you, practice them before the interview. Use a dictionary or thesaurus to find words that will add to your vocabulary. Another trick is simply to define the word in a sentence (as part of your success story). Do not try to come up with an "interview voice." If you are an allergy sufferer or have chronic laryngitis, try to rest yourself before the interview. Before the interview starts, ask for a glass of water. Telephone interviews are becoming a more common practice and can happen as a planned event or when you least expect them! Your verbal and vocal skills will be all you have to rely on to determine your success. You need to be enthusiastic and conduct yourself as you would in a face to face interview and make sure your words paint the right pictures.

Learn to Listen Since 55% of communication is non-verbal, we need to hear and process what people are saying in a conversation. Listening is both an art and an acquired skill. The key to being an effective listener comes from creating an environment "where people are comfortable enough to tell you what you need to hear and know. Active listening will alert you to the needs and wants of the interviewer; it gives you the opportunity to adjust your success stories. The more information you collect about the employers' needs, the better you can link your benefits to their needs. You can build rapport by:  Showing you have heard their message. Paraphrase their comments or give an example of your accomplishments that illustrate their points  Hearing and feeling their emotions  Not interrupting  Not arguing, putting down or patronizing  Standing or sitting close without invading their space - positioning yourself to receive information  Getting rid of distractions  Actively participating, but not being too intense  Being responsive and direct  Maintaining your objectivity  Prompting others to talk and encouraging others to listen  Giving an appropriate amount of self-disclosure to develop a sense of familiarity.

Public Speaking and Message Content If you have not taken a public speaking class, you should. Research indicates that over 90% of people list public speaking as one of their worst fears. If you cannot communicate the correct © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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message about yourself, you will not be hired. The heart of public speaking is delivering a message that is heard and understood by the listener. Your message has to be understood. To do that, you have to:  Use language that is appropriate for the audience.  Make sure your language reflects kind, expressive, positive, and politically correct words.  Use humor that will enhance and is appropriate to your message. It should not be cruel, silly, or self-depreciating.  Be liberal with your compliments.  Use proper English (never assume street slang is appropriate).  Articulate, pronounce and enunciate your words correctly. If there are newer vocabulary words you want to use, practice them.  Try to deliver your message in a series of small sound bites.  Repeat the messages to emphasize the point.  Rephrase the main message so that they are heard in two or three different ways. Do not:           

Tell a lie. Use profanity. Use slang, such as "my bad", "dude", "peace out," "yo," "hey" or "whazzup." Use words that you cannot explain or try to sound too intelligent. Try to show off. Overuse clichés. Let your answer be "I don't know" or "maybe." Speak in a defensive manner. Exaggerate your accomplishments. Say non-words - "um," or "uh." Use filler words such as - "sorta," "you know," "like," or "see what I'm saying."

Responses to interview questions will typically be about two minutes long. You have to be concise, capture the attention of the interviewer (the listener) and use accomplishment stories.

Locating the Company Do not assume you know where the company is located or how long it will take you to get there. The day before your interview, take a drive or ride a bus/train/cab to the company. Check the address - you do not want to go to the wrong location if the company has more than one facility in your city. The practice drive to the location will allow you to gauge your time appropriately you want to arrive about ten to fifteen minutes early. Check for any road construction or traffic concerns that could slow your time of arrival. Find the correct location for visitor parking. If you arrive more than fifteen minutes early, wait in your car. This will give you time to relax and compose yourself before the interview. Have an interview "repair kit" to handle unexpected situations such as mud on your shoes, a stain on your clothing, a run in your pantyhose, or developing heartburn. © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Hint: Here are some items you might want to include in your repair kit:

• • •

Breath mints or spray

• •

Umbrella

Antacids

•

Comb/brush

•

Aspirin

Panty hose

•

Lint brush

•

Power Bar

• •

Spot remover

• • • • •

Dental floss

Hair Spray

Static guard

Shirt and tie Safety pins Sewing kit Shoe shine kit

Before the interview starts, hang up your coat and use the restroom. You want to use every moment of the actual interview to sell yourself. The first person you encounter will most likely be a receptionist or administrative assistant. Greet everyone you meet with a friendly smile and respect. You want to keep this person on your side. Research indicates that two-thirds of bosses say that the opinions of their receptionist or administrative assistants influence them. If the interview is in a restaurant or if you end up in one during the course of the interview, schedule, order a light meal that is easy and fast to eat. You want to spend your time talking, not chewing.

What to Take To the Interview You want to appear as professional as possible - leave your gym bag, backpack, or book bag in your car or at home. Bring a portfolio that includes copies of your resume, reference list (only present this when asked) and work samples if appropriate. Portfolio and work samples can be especially important for journalism, public relations, advertising and communication occupations. People respond well to visual images. If you have a pager or cellular phone, leave it in your car. Bring a pen, notebook and calendar with you. Ask if it is inappropriate to "take notes" during the interview; be sure to record names or dates for follow-up interviews, appointments and thank you letters.

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Read the Interview Environment As you enter the building for the interview, pay attention to the style of decoration and any item that brings personality to the building and organization. For example, there is an insurance company whose building is designed like a ship. The company website describes the history of the design and how it fits into the company philosophy. Using this knowledge in the interview will impress the interviewer. Moreover, you want to pay attention to items that give an office or a department its personality. Office layout, neatness and location can provide a great deal of information about the personality of the interviewer. Windows, doors, noise and aesthetics will all play a part of your forming an impression of the company. Office props refer to what you actually see in the office space. What you see will tell you about the interviewer's personality, likes, hobbies, and interests.      

Are there photos/posters on the desk or on the wall? Calendar. Is it updated? What is its theme? What type of reading material is in the office? Is there any artwork - statues, trophies, vases? What are the desktop items? Are there any plants or flowers? What condition are they in?

Your senses will also help you have a successful interview.  Listen for opportunities to gain available information  Listen for the appropriate time to share information.  Listen for distractions (do not talk if you cannot be heard) such as passing trains, clock bells, public address announcements or lawn mowers/snow blowers.  Listen for music playing in the background  Look for items to use as conversation tools for rapport building (college logos, a book, a statue or picture).  Look at who is in the room. How are they dressed? Where are they sitting? Do they look approachable?  Look for non-verbal signs of positive acknowledgment to your responses.  Be aware of the interviewer(s) response to touch - handshake. How close does the group sit or stand to one another?  What does the office smell like? Be aware of what is produced in the environment. A candidate who interviewed for a job at a food company did not know that the facility was also a slaughterhouse. He left the interview believing that he had done a great job. When he called the next day and found out that he was not in the final candidate pool, he was shocked. He inquired as to what he did wrong and was told "you looked like you didn't want to be here." The candidate explained that he had never been to a slaughterhouse before, and was caught off guard by the smell. After the explanation, he received another interview and was hired by the company. © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Be aware that the interview might take place in an open area, small office, or large conference room. As you are escorted to the interview room or area, pay attention to the environment. Consider anything that could be a distraction (copy machine, elevator, walking traffic) and adjust your presentation accordingly.

To Sit or Stand, That is the Question When you enter the interview room, do not immediately sit down. Take a quick snapshot of the room and see how the office environment is set up. You want to greet everyone with a pleasant greeting and a handshake. Walk around the room and greet everyone, do not try to reach across a table. This one-onone encounter establishes rapport and a good first impression. Wait until you are asked to be seated before you sit. Make a natural attempt to sit at the head of the table. This is the power position; you want to have some control in the interview. Notice the type of chair you are sitting in. If it is a regular desk chair, adjust the chair so that you can sit comfortably at the table (you might take notes) and adjust the back of the chair or sit on the edge so you are sitting straight up and not leaning back. Make every effort not to lean back. If you are asked to sit on an oversized chair or couch, the best thing to do is position yourself on the edge. Sitting all the way back will make it difficult for you to get up. If you are standing in a group, position yourself so that you can be seen and heard by the group. Use your body language to show that you are "open" and approachable. Keeping an open body language means standing straight, hands out of your pockets, smiling, good eye contact with everyone and facial expressions that convey the right emotion. Be mindful of invading others' personal space (stand about two feet from others). These behaviors will enhance your image, create the appropriate emotional contact and ensure a safe psychological distance. More important, you demonstrate a sense of trustworthiness and honesty.

Employment Application The company may ask you to complete an application as part of the interviewing process, or you may complete an online application. Pay attention to:    

Whether the application is to be completed in blue or black ink; never use a pencil Write legibly - neatness counts Use the space provided unless the application specifies otherwise Have names, addresses, phone numbers and dates of previous employers with you

Getting Results During the Interview One way to get the results you want from the interview is to understand how the interview is set up. The typical interview has four components: © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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   

Opening, rapport building, and agenda setting Chemistry building and giving information about yourself (your positioning statement) Interview questions, organizational fit and asking questions of the interviewer Closing

You can have a fair amount of control over this process as long as you have a strategy. That strategy needs to include being prepared, knowing what to expect, eliciting needs, presenting competencies and handling questions. During the opening, recognize the importance of building rapport. Greet the interviewer in a friendly manner - make the most of that first contact - exchange pleasantries, share the right information, provide compliments and be gracious. Indicate why the employer is of special interest to you and let the interviewer know that you are pleased to have this opportunity to discuss your skills with them. Have some small talk topics ready to discuss. The second part of the interview is where you will spend the most time. This is where you are asked questions and have to give your responses. What you want to convey is that your experience, skills and competencies match the needs of the position and organization. The closing section is a time for you to thank the interviewer(s), and reaffirm your interest in the ·position. It may be appropriate to ask if they are seeing any other candidates or if in their evaluation they see any reason why you will not be selected for the job. You need to ask the question "Can you tell me about the next steps?" Find out the next step and see if it is all right to call the interviewer if, after a certain time period, he or she has not contacted you. Do not chew gum or smoke cigarettes during an interview, even if someone else does. If you accept a soda, coffee, or a glass of water, make sure there is a place to set it down.

Types of Interviews This section will highlight the most common types of interviews and tips for being successful.

Behavioral Interviews Behavior based interviewing is a style of interview where the interviewer explores specific behaviors of the candidate and determines whether those skills fit the needs of the organization. They determine key job-related areas and obtain information on how you behaved in prior situations that relate to those areas. The interviewer is trying to match your skills (job, technical or performance) to the job description. The interviewer might lead off the questions with:

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

"Give me an example of .. ", "Describe a situation in which you ... " or "Tell me about a time when ... "



Instead of asking how you would handle leading a group, the interviewer might say, "Tell me about a time when you were selected to lead a group. /What did you do? How did it turn out?"

The interviewer is trying to see what you did, not what you would have done. The main point for the interviewer is to see what your future performance might look like. The interview follows a pattern: It is pre-planned, structured and directed toward seeking specific behavioral information. Don't worry; you have already started to prepare for the behavioral interview - the accomplishment statements on your resume, your positioning statement and your success stories. The secret to answering the behavioral interview question is using the SOAR technique. SOAR stands for situation, obstacles/opportunity, action and results. Anticipate questions and match your success stories to the skills the job requires. A void answers that are abstract, vague, off target, redundant, incomplete or too detailed.

Practice answering the following behavioral type question: Tell me about the most challenging project you had to work on. What did you do? What were the results?

Example Answer: Situation/Obstacle:

Volunteered to develop a market/recruitment plan for a community youth center that had been losing members for three years.

Action:

I evaluated programs, looked at enrollment trends at the neighborhood schools, held focus groups with the area teenagers, surveyed former and met with the staff of the Center. I discovered that a new Teen was built about ten miles away.

members Center

I recommended changing the programming to attract younger children and families and providing specialized (teen leadership) programs.

Result:

In the past year membership has increased by 115 and the agency has received $105,000 in grant monies for new programs.

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Develop a SOAR story for yourself:

Situation/Obstacle: _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Action: _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Result: _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

Some interviews will be more challenging than others. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you, so stick to your agenda. If there is a long pause, do not ramble to fill the space. Instead say, "Is this an appropriate time for me to ask a few questions?” Then, ask a question that will provide you with more information about the position and what type of person they want in it - think competency, compatibility, and chemistry. If you get a very challenging question, one that is beyond the skill level of the position such as "Our top people in finance had a tough time solving this one, what would you have done?", do not be tempted to over-extend yourself. Use your interviewing skills to answer the question, "That situation would be tough for anyone. I would review all the information with my team and have a brainstorming session. I would rely on the intellectual power of my colleagues." In the case of rapid-fire questions, do not be afraid to write the questions down and/or ask for clarification. Then, take your time and fully address each question. Also be prepared for the off-the-wall questions such as, "If you were a tree what kind would you be?" or "If you were a color what color would you be?” The best way to respond to any psychological or stressful question is to remain upbeat, show your positive career attitude, and provide stories with a successful ending.

Informational Interviews © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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These are also called networking interviews; a job may or may not be available at this time but you may have an interest in the company or in getting a key person's advice. Your objectives are the five Rs we discussed in the Job Discovery section of this manual:

• •

Reassurance

• • •

Research

Reciprocity

Remembrance Referrals

The information you want to give is the same as in an interview for a position, however, you want to dedicate more time to asking questions and collecting information. Your "Positioning Statement" is especially helpful here. Your goal is to get more names or referrals from a contact. You can say things like, "If this were your resume, who would you want to see it?" or "Who else should I be talking with in the healthcare industry?" If contacts ask for resumes to distribute to their friends, ask tactfully if they would mind telling you who they might be sending them to so you could follow up. Be respectful of the person's time. If you said you would only take 20 minutes, stick to it. Here is a sample script for a contact interview: Introduction: Good Morning.

I am George Hunter. Joyce Murphy suggested that I speak with you because I am currently exploring a career in engineering.

Reassure:

Let me assure you that Joyce gave me no reason to believe that there is a suitable job in your organization or that you might know of one elsewhere. But Joyce did say that you might be helpful to me. My plan is to look/or a career in the field you are familiar with.

Set Agenda:

Today, I'd like to do two things. First, I'd like to briefly review my background summarized in the resume I sent you. Then I would like to talk to you about:

Suggested topics for discussions:

• •

Your views on the chemical industry.

•

How my skills/experience might fit in an industry or organization that you are familiar with so that I can get some advice and suggestions on where I should direct my job search.)

How my skills/experience might fit in an organization like yours.

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Question:

Could I begin with my background?

Hint: Although we suggest that you ask contacts their opinion of your resume, 20 people will have 20 ideas about what constitutes a good one. (It's one of those subjects everyone's an expert in.) Don't consider changing yours unless you get consistent feedback about a specific area.

Here are some subject areas and questions you may wish to ask:        

  

How would you approach a job search in (industry/function) with my background? What objections do you feel I may have to overcome? Do you have suggestions as to how I might improve my job search strategy? Is there anything I am overlooking that might be critical to my search efforts? Could you refer me to two or three other people who could help me with my search? I want to gather as much information as possible and their advice might also be helpful. Who else do you think I should talk to? Who else could I talk to who could give me information about this field/industry? I would like to meet other professionals/managers who might be able to offer ideas on my career change/search. Can you suggest anyone? It is not my intention to ask these people for a job, but I would like to hear their comments and ideas, One of my target companies is ________________ , Would you happen to know anyone there who I might contact to help me in my information gathering? Often times consultants/attorneys/vendors hear about changes within organizations. Do you know or have you worked with a consultant that could be helpful to me? (When the response is "I don't have anyone in mind" or "let me think about it.") May I call you in a few days after you've had some time to think it over?

If you are exploring a new career path, you may want to ask:     

What background did you have before coming into this field? Tell me about the duties and responsibilities in a position like ___________ _ What kind of knowledge, skills and abilities are required? How would I go about acquiring the necessary skills and/or knowledge for this kind of work? What does it take to be successful in this field?

What is the outlook for opportunities in the future? What kinds of salaries go along with positions like this? How did you first become interested in your industry? Thank him or her at the conclusion of the interview and be sure to send a thank-you note, letter or email. .

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Telephone Interviews Employers use these more frequently. They are done to speed up the selection process and are usually conducted by one interviewer. Basically, they serve as a "screen-out" filter. The interviewer is ensuring that your background fits the specific criteria the employer is looking for to determine if an in-person interview would the next step. Screening interviews on the telephone can happen when you least expect them. They are just as important as a face to face interview, so you will want to be sure to be prepared and not distracted. Let's take a moment to practice your telephone greeting. Give a pleasant greeting, thank the interviewer for calling, and ask how the interview will proceed.

For example: Good afternoon, Mrs. Berry. Thank you for taking time today to speak with me. I am very excited to have this opportunity to discuss my skills and experience. Could you tell me how the interview will proceed? Now, pick a partner and practice your telephone greeting. First, write it down. Try to say it less than thirty seconds. _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

It is necessary that you do several things during the interview to be successful:           

Write down the person's name and telephone number. Ask permission to call back if you have additional questions. You are relying on your voice to reflect your personality and skill level. Act as if you are face-to-face with the interviewer. Sit-up straight or stand up (standing up will give more power to your voice). Concentrate, enunciate and hold the mouth-piece about one-inch from your mouth Have a copy of your resume and job description in front of you. When speaking, lower your voice and speak slowly. Do not give the impression that you are being rushed. Be prepared to take notes. Be sure to answer the "tell me about yourself' question with your positioning statement.

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ď&#x201A;ˇ Stay calm. If you need a moment to remove distractions from your side of the conversation, ask for it. ď&#x201A;ˇ Ask what the next steps will be and try to get a commitment to meet in person.

Screening Interviews These interviews are usually held with an in-house recruiter or human resources professional, and are intended to determine whether or not you should be considered more seriously as a candidate. A screening interview can take place in person or by telephone. Whatever the circumstances, it is still an interview and your goal is to keep yourself in the running and be asked back for another interview. Answer all questions in a way that will demonstrate your competencies and skill sets. It is rare that an offer is made during a first interview, so it is in your best interest to avoid discussing salary or benefits until you know more about the job and/or an offer is made.

Group (or Panel) Interviews In this setting you will be meeting with more than one interviewer at the same time in the same room. Group interviews are conducted for many reasons. They might be your future co-workers and they want to see how you would fit into the group - chemistry and competency. Or, the group could be composed to get a cross-section of opinions about the candidate - compatibility. Finally, the group could be composed of people who you will report to (your future boss and her boss) -looking for competency, compatibility, and chemistry. Group interviews call for you to have a presentation style to your answers. The success in this type of interview rests with your ability to build rapport with several people at the same time. Also, try to remember each person's name and title (draw a picture of a table and make a seating chart). This will allow you to direct your questions and responses to the appropriate person(s). Shake hands with all participants when entering and leaving the room. Maintain good eye contact with each person when asking and answering questions. In a group interview you could get caught in the crossfire of questions; that is, one person might interrupt your response to another person before you finish. Remember that you can be assertive and set the pace of the interview. You could say: "In order to be fair to each interviewer, I would like to finish my response to Dr. Jones. After that, could you please ask your question one more time?"

Hiring Manager Interviews This is the most important interview, because when the right job comes along, it will be a hiring manager who makes the decision to bring you into the organization. If you establish rapport and position your qualifications, a hiring manager will look for reasons to hire you. This is where your accomplishments related to the job, technical and performance skills should be

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presented as solutions to their needs. The hiring manager has the power to waive qualifications if they believe you are a good fit, so being in the right place at the right time can work in your favor. Pay attention to what you hear. You may hear information that is very valuable to you when responding to questions. For example, the hiring manager might express some problem areas in the department. This is your opportunity to tailor your success stories to show how your experiences will help the manager solve his problems. Before your interview, develop a list of specific and relevant experiences that will bring to life the skills and characteristics of positions you are seeking. Some of the interview questions you can anticipate might be:     

Tell me about yourself. What is your greatest strength? What do you do well? What things have you done the best? What qualifications do you have that make you successful?

Some questions are focused on the company. Research the company and prepare enough success stories so that you can easily handle these questions. For example:  Why do you want to work here?  What interests you about this company?  What do you know about the company and its culture? Behavioral and competency interview questions might include:     

What have you done to help your department meet its goals? Describe a time when you had to resolve a conflict between your co-workers or peers. What is the most difficult project you've had to work on? What is the best class you have ever had? Tell me about the accomplishment you are most proud of.

Some questions are specific to your technical or professional field. You are asked to think about trends in your profession and industry. If you are up-to-date on the critical issues, buzzwords and recent news in your field, you should handle these questions well. Here are some examples:  Describe a strategy to increase revenue.  What software would you recommend for a company like this one?  What are the main trends or factors that will influence this field in the next five years?

Hypothetical questions will be vaguer, and will allow you to provide a theoretical or opinion related answer. Examples would be:  How would you handle being team leader?  What would you do if you were the CEO of this company?

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Tips and Tricks for answering Behavioral, Company, Technical, and Hypothetical questions include:        

Use the SOAR technique Do your homework on the company before the interview Pause to organize your thoughts Ask for a moment to think through an unexpected question Practice telling your stories out loud Let the humor in a story show Observe and listen to your interviewer Check your understanding of the questions

Background Questions Many of these are called opportunity questions because they are an open invitation for well prepared candidates to display their strengths. What percentage of your college expenses did you earn yourself? What is your class rank? Tell me why you selected your internship/co-op positions? What aspects of your education/last work experience relate to this position? What types of activities were you involved with that helped you develop your leadership skills? Let's review some other challenging interview questions you may encounter:

Preference Questions These questions want to assess whether or not you - your personality -- are a good fit with the organization. It will be difficult to "out guess" the interviewer and determine what they are looking for in a candidate. Therefore, it is best to simply answer these questions honestly. Examples are:  What type of boss do you prefer?  What college course did you like most and least?  Do you prefer:    

working with words or numbers? communicating in writing or by phone? working alone or with people? routine or variety in your work?

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     

 a person of another race? Why did you choose this line of work? Are you willing to go where the company sends you? Are you primarily interested in service to people or making money? Who had the greatest influence in your life? Who do you most admire? Should managers focus on what is wrong and fix it or should they emphasize what is going well and reinforce it?

Tips and Tricks for Preference questions:  When asked a question about "most" and "least", always spend time on the positives  When asked a question about what you "prefer," point out the positives in all options  When asked "do you mind working for" questions, the answer is always, "Of course not."

Blue Sky Questions These questions are about the abstract - past and future. Although some questions seem to require a theoretical answer, try to respond with a practical one.       

What would your ideal career position be? Tell me about how you have set your career goals? Where do you want to be in three years? What does success mean to you? What new goals have you established lately? Tell me about a time when you used information from one of your classes? About one-third of the people in this job start with an MBA. Tell me about your formal education and training and how it will help you with this position?

Tips and Tricks for Blue Sky questions.      

Provide a practical answer that will sell your skills and abilities Use your resume, it has accomplishments and success stories Think like a behavioral interviewer - integrate a SOAR story as an answer to any type of question Questions about education and training are looking to uncover your motivation (think positive career attitude!) Find out if the company offers on-site training or professional development opportunities Be consistent with statements about career goals

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These questions are typically designed to produce an emotional reaction, test your ability to function under pressure, or analyze your demeanor. Stay focused and composed. Having prepared answers is the best defense.    

How long will it take you to contribute to this company? How much time should a person spend on his or her job? Convince me that you are suitable for this job. Define:  cooperation.  loyalty.  aggressiveness.  Are you eager to please?  Would you lie for the company?  Sell me this pen.

Tips and Tricks for Challenging questions:   

Turn them into an opportunity with a successful result Stay upbeat and positive Do your best to present yourself with integrity and professionalism

Outside Activities Questions Some of these are of questionable relevance, but you should be prepared to provide an answer.    

What was the last book you read that was not assigned in a class? How do you spend spring and summer break? What outside associations or groups do you belong to? What office have you held in them? What are some of your hobbies or recreational activities?

Tips and Tricks for Outside Activity questions:    

Be honest Mention things relevant to your field or profession Be interesting Do not make your hobbies or activities seem more important than your education or career

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A general guideline as to what is an appropriate and legal interview question is that it should be job related. Questions that illicit information about disabilities, arrest records, birth place, height and weight, age, nationality or religious affiliation raise the inference that they are being asked in order to discriminate. Sometimes interviewers are innocently trying to make conversation and blunder into illegal areas. Calling their attention to this does not enhance your candidacy, so you must determine how to respond. Examples of inappropriate questions are:       

Are you married? Do you have any children? What do you worry about? What was your father's occupation? How is your health? How often do you drink? What were the values taught in your home?

Tips and Tricks for Sensitive Issue questions: 

Once the question is asked, you will have to respond; take a moment to come up with a short, professional response You could say, "Is there a concern about this area that relates to this particular position? Or can you elaborate? I am not sure how that relates to the job responsibilities." These questions may anger you, but focus on letting them know you are the right person for the position.

 

No-Win Questions In addition to checking your qualifications, a good interviewer will always probe for weaknesses and potential problems. The questions take several forms:

Weaknesses    

What is your greatest weakness? What don't you do well? What are your limitations? What have you been criticized for?

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 If I ask your boss, what would he/she say are your greatest deficiencies? Choose a weakness that is not too bad, but true. Do not say you procrastinate, are not punctual, do not get along with certain kinds of people, are a loner, do not follow thorough very well on projects, are moody or are easily irritated. The interview is a marketing opportunity and sales call for you. You could say: ''I'm a perfectionist and I want to make sure the job is done right. I need to work on delegating more. "

Being Unsuccessful    

Tell me about a time when what you tried was unsuccessful. Have you ever failed at a job? How could your supervisor have done a better job? Most "unsuccessful" attempts are a natural part of being successful.

Always answer the "being unsuccessful" questions using the SOAR technique. Remember the "0" stands for obstacle and opportunity. Convince the interviewer that you have learned from your mistakes.

Leaving the Job Why are you leaving your current internship? Why did you quit working for

If you are leaving a position, your interviewer will want to know why. Keep your reason for leaving short. It is best to talk with your current supervisor and develop comments for both of you to tell a prospective employer.

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Tips and Tricks for No- Win questions:        

Never lie Be positive and avoid negative comments about your past boss or company If you have to say a negative, couple it with a positive If the interviewer is persistent, acknowledge his/her objection by saying: "You make a good point, I would ask that question, too" or "You make a good point, let me answer that directly." You want to defuse the emotions raised by the prospect of a confrontation Refute stereotypes Offer weaknesses that "aren't so bad" - they are really strengths taken to excess Do not volunteer your weaknesses Keep answers short and vague; you do not want the interviewer to remember the negatives

Additional Interview Questions An organization called "Recruiting Trends" compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions in interviews with college students. Consider the type of question and interview in which these questions could be asked. Develop responses for each so you are well prepared. 1) What are your long range and short range goals? Why did you choose these goals versus others? How are you preparing yourself to achieve them? 2) What kind of personal goals do you have other than those related to an occupation? 3) What do you see yourself doing five years from now? 4) What are your long-range career goals? 5) What are the main rewards you expect in your business/professional career? 6) What do you expect to be earning in five years? 7) How do you feel about the importance of money versus, say the type of work? 8) What do you consider your greatest strengths and weaknesses? 9. How do you think a friend or a professor who knows you well would describe you to others? 10) What motivates you to work? 11) How has your school experience prepared you for this job/career? 12) What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful and an asset to our company? 13) What do you think it takes to be success in a company like ours? 14) What qualities do you think a successful manager/supervisor should have? 15) What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? 16) If you were hiring someone for this position, what qualities would you look for? 17) Why did you select the school you attended? 18) What led you to choose your field of major study? 19) What subjects do you like best? Least? Why? 20) If you were in charge of your school, what changes would you make, and why? © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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21) Do you think grades are a good indication of your academic achievement? 22) What have you learned from participating in extracurricular activities? 23) In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable? 24) How do you work under pressure? 25) Of the jobs you have had, which has been the most interesting? Why? 26) How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation? 27) Why were you interested in interviewing with our company? 28) What do you know about our company? 29) What criteria are you considering to evaluate the company for which you hope to work? 30) How do you feel about the possibility of relocating in the future? 31) Are you willing to travel? 32) Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located? 33) Can you describe a major problem you encountered and how you dealt with it? 34) What kinds of lessons have you learned from mistakes you have made? 35) How would you feel about spending the first several months as a trainee? 36) What two or three things are most important to you in a job?

Asking the Questions You Need Answered The interview is a two-way communication process. It is just as important for you to ask questions as it is for you to respond to questions. You have been learning how to respond appropriately in order to demonstrate your skills; asking meaningful questions will demonstrate your interest in the position. The best way to get your questions answered is to frame your questions around five significant areas:     

Responsibilities of the position Resources available to help you accomplish the responsibilities Level of authority this position has Performance measurements Corporate culture

Ask how you go about questions. To answer these questions the interviewer has to outline a series of actions. You will learn something about what the work environment is like at that company. For example:     

How do you go about developing your team? How do you go about setting goals? How do you go about measuring performance? How does this department interact with the IT department? Is there a detailed job description that describes the duties of the job and the reporting relationships?

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 What would your expectations be for this position in the first six months?  How would you describe your management style?  How would you describe the culture of the organization?

Regrouping and Refocusing If you have ever played golf, you have heard of the term "mulligan". Essentially, it means you get to take the shot over again without penalty. With interviews, we may think we have said the wrong thing, the interviewer's response is not what we anticipated, or we give the right answer to the wrong question. If you sense that something has gone wrong in an interview, it usually has. If you feel like you need to correct a response, do it! There are three tricks to overcoming a bad response or impression - acknowledge it, explain it (clarify or rephrase it), and provide a new impression. People are more understanding and forgiving than we give them credit for. For example, you could say: I noticed some of you raised your eyebrows when I answered the question on how to handle an irate customer. The situation I explained had to do with a customer who regularly returned damaged or clearly worn clothing. My seemingly harsh reaction was not only approved by store management but I also rehearsed it with the manager. What I did not mention was that this one customer cost our store nearly $3,000 in returns over the past nine months. Once you have acknowledged and explained the impression, create a new one. Last summer a woman entered our store located at the airport. She was very upset as she had an important business meeting in six hours and her luggage was lost. To make matters worse, her purse was stolen while she was actually filing a report with the airline. She wanted to know fithere was any way she could get a line of credit charged to her company. Store policy prohibited such a move. But I let her call her boss and explain what was happening. Minutes later, we received a fax from her boss authorizing the use of the company credit card AND he wanted to start a separate account with us. His words, "In the event that this happens again, I don't want to embarrass my workers. I'll send you a list of employees who will be approved by me for making purchases. All of our employees have two forms of company identification. Rest assured no fraud will take place on either end." The next day I was asked by my supervisor to chair a new committee on how to let other companies know of our policy changes.

Interview Closing and Analysis The last impression you leave with the interviewer is just as important as the first. Just as you formulated your "Positioning Statement," write down a closing statement and commit it to memory. In your closing statement, reiterate your ability to fit in and add value to the organization. Once the interview is over, complete an interview analysis and evaluation of how you saw yourself in the interview. © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

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Interview Evaluation After most interviews, you remember things you should or should not have said. Use this experience to your advantage. Sit down and debrief as soon after the interview as possible. You can use this form as a guide. Time and date of interview: _________________________________________________________ Company name: __________________________________________________________________ Person(s) seen: ___________________________________________________________________ Interview conditions: ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ How did this position become available? ________________________________________________________________________________ What are the key skills, background or talent desired? ________________________________________________________________________________ What are the company's key strategies? ________________________________________________________________________________

Using a scale of 1-10 (with 10 the highest), rate yourself in the following areas: How was my introduction?

__________

Did I explore their needs and get new information?

__________

Did I link my benefits to their needs?

__________

Was I confident and professional?

__________

How was my non-verbal communication?

__________

Did I maintain good rapport?

__________

Were the hiring manager's comments positive?

__________

Did I leverage a next meeting or conversation?

__________

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What is my overall satisfaction with the meeting?

Advantages of working there

__________

Disadvantages of working there

Any clues about the culture or work environment? _________________________________________________________________________________

Any clues about the compensation package? _________________________________________________________________________________

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Follow-up/Thank You Letter You should request a business card, at the end of the interview. After the interview is over, promptly send a thank you or follow-up letter or e-mail. Only twenty percent of candidates do so. Remember that this is a professional letter so check your grammar and spelling. Send a letter to each person who interviewed you; make sure you personalize each letter and make them different from one another. By personalizing each letter with information you obtained from the interview you bring the person's attention back to the interview and the positive interaction with you. If additional information was requested, be sure to send it as soon as possible. Do not be afraid to continue to search for new information about the company and the position you applied for. Use the follow up letter to add information you thought of later that will advance you as the candidate of choice.

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WILLIAM H. STONE 170 West Elm Street San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 321-9087

Date

Ms. Tanya Paine Austin Motor Company 176 Sunset Road Milwaukee, WI 53201

Dear Ms. Paine: It was a pleasure to meet and talk with you on Monday. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Austin Motor Company and feel that you gave me a better understanding of the Human Resources position. The broad experiences I have with recruitment programs for college interns and mentoring programs for management training would prove very helpful as you move forward with your ad hoc committee for mentoring. One thing I did not mention during the interview is my successful experience teaching Junior Achievement courses to high school students. I know I can apply the same level of commitment to your service learning program at Austin Motor Company. I am very interested in this position. I believe that it is the challenging opportunity I have been seeking. On the chance that you may wish to have some additional information, I plan to call you on Friday. Thank you again for your interest.

Sincerely,

William H. Stone

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

www.career-works.com

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