Chapter 8 The Employment Interview Mc GrawHillIrwin Copyright

Chapter 8 The Employment Interview Mc. Graw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2011 by The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2 Chapter Summary • • • Analyzing Yourself Doing Your Homework Conducting the Search Preparing Credentials Creating a Favorable First Impression Answering Questions Asking Questions The Closing Evaluation and Follow-Up Handling Rejection Summary

3 Analyzing Yourself • Questions to Guide Your Self-Analysis ▫ What are your personality strengths and weaknesses? ▫ What are your intellectual strengths and weaknesses? ▫ What are your communicative strengths and weaknesses? ▫ What have been your accomplishments and failures? Continued. . .

4 Analyzing Yourself • Questions to Guide Your Self-Analysis ▫ What are your professional strengths and weaknesses? ▫ What do you want in a position and organization? ▫ What are your most valued needs? ▫ What are your professional interests? ▫ What is your tolerance of risk?

5 Doing Your Homework • • • Research your field Research organizations Research the recruiter Research the position Research current events Research the interview process

6 Doing Your Homework

7 Conducting the Search • • • Networking Knocking on Doors Newspapers and Newsletters The Placement Agency or Service The Internet The Career/Job Fair

8 Preparing Credentials • Resumes ▫ No single resume is suitable for all positions. ▫ Content of Resumes �Impressive career objectives; phrase them with great care. �Your educational record is most important for your first position. �Relevant experiences can set you apart from the crowd.

9 Preparing Credentials • Resumes ▫ Types of Resumes �Chronological resume; use action verbs to show that you are a doer. �Functional resume; place your experiences under headings that highlight your qualifications.

10 Preparing Credentials

11 Preparing Credentials

12 Preparing Credentials • Resumes ▫ Mechanics of Resumes �Make your resume easy to review. �Proofread your resume with great care. �Terms and labels are critical in scannable resumes. �There is no simple formula for creating resumes.

13 Preparing Credentials • The Portfolio ▫ Your portfolio shows you in action • The Cover Letter ▫ Design and target letters to specific positions and organization

14 Preparing Credentials

15 Preparing Credentials • Personal Web Sites, Pages, and Blogs ▫ Can be useful in professional impression formation ▫ Can provide negative information to interviewers ▫ Studies show recruiters are influenced by cyberinformation about applicants

16 Creating a Favorable First Impression • Relationship of the Interviewing Parties ▫ Know how and when to share control of the interview. ▫ Understand adapt to the relationship with the recruiter.

17 Creating a Favorable First Impression • Dress and Appearance ▫ Dress for a formal business occasion. ▫ Neatness costs nothing and pays dividends.

18 Creating a Favorable First Impression • Dress and Appearance: Advice for Men ▫ Be on the conservative side in dress and appearance. ▫ Coordinate colors carefully. ▫ When in doubt, ask for help.

19 Creating a Favorable First Impression • Dress and Appearance: Advice for Women ▫ Appearance should not call attention to itself. ▫ Provocative clothing can end your candidacy.

20 Creating a Favorable First Impression • Nonverbal Communication ▫ Nonverbal communication is critical in first impressions. ▫ Be alive and dynamic. ▫ Good communication skills are important in all positions.

21 Creating a Favorable First Impression • Arrival and Opening ▫ Be on time and ready to interact. ▫ How you handle yourself during the first few minutes with a stranger tells them a great deal about your interpersonal communication and people skills.

22 Answering Questions • Preparing to Respond ▫ Be ready to handle traditional questions. ▫ Welcome on-the-job questions to show what you can do.

23 Answering Questions • Responding: Successful Applicants ▫ Listen, think, and then answer. ▫ Effective answers are long on substance and short on puffery. ▫ Do not play act; act yourself. ▫ Good recruiters detect phoniness. ▫ Be informed before replying.

24 Answering Questions • Responding: Unsuccessful Applicants ▫ Unsuccessful applicants are passive and cautious. ▫ Know what not to do during interviews, and then do not do it.

25 Answering Questions • Unlawful Questions ▫ Do not be surprised by unlawful questions. ▫ Identifying Unlawful Questions �The pressure is on the applicant. �Review EEO laws and your rights. �Beware of recruiter tricks to get unlawful information.

26 Asking Questions • Guidelines for asking questions • Question pitfalls • Sample applicant questions

27 The Closing • • Be aware of everything you say and do. Take and active part in the closing. It’s not over ‘til it’s over. The employer is likely to note everything you do and say.

28 Evaluation and Follow-Up • Remember: the interview is more art than science. • Be thorough in your debriefing. • Quality applicants write thank you notes.

29 Handling Rejection • Don’t be a victim • Use each interview as a learning process ▫ Ask what you might do differently in the next interview. ▫ How did you handle behavioral-based and critical incident questions? ▫ What was the nature of the questions you asked? ▫ How might you have prepared more thoroughly? ▫ What did you do that might have turned off the recruiter? ▫ Was this a position for which you were highly qualified, or was it a stretch?

30 Summary • We are undergoing a second industrial revolution that’s moving from a manufacturing to a service and information-oriented society. • The best positions in the future will go to those who understand are prepared for the selection process. • You must know yourself, the position, and the organization to be selected for a job. • The job search must be extensive. • Interviewing skills are increasingly important.