INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES John M Robinson SES

INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES John M. Robinson (SES Retired) Former Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Chief Diversity Officer U. S. Department of State June 14, 2017

Research shows that most "yes" or "no" decisions are made within the first few minutes of an interview!

Your Interviewing IQ TRUE OR FALSE? 1) Interviewing is interviewing. If you have interviewed successfully in the past, this one is essentially no different. Do what worked before and stay calm. No big deal. Just be yourself. 2) Interview committees have by and large already made up their minds. The interview is really just final verification. It is more or less out of your hands. Just be there and smile. 3) The interview is about skills, abilities, and aptitudes. Go light on your opinions and emphasize experience. 3

Your Interviewing IQ 4) They already have read your bio, checked references, and reviewed your resume. The interview is basically about image, dress, and use of language. 5) In every interview team, there is one decision maker. Figure out who it is and focus your answers there. 6) If there is a person on the panel that you have seen at conferences before, don’t acknowledge this fact or talk about related issues. 4

Before the Interview q. Do your homework - learn as much as you can about the organization o Web page, strategic or operational plans, performance measures, news, periodicals, colleagues o Think through how you will help them achieve goals q. Be familiar with the vacancy announcement—and what they are looking for q. Know your application package (resume, ECQ’s, KSA’s) q. PRACTICE — Trusted colleagues and mentors can help 5

Before the Interview q. Get a good watch q. Check transportation arrangements — directions, travel details, parking, public access q. What to take with you o Contact names, phone numbers o Extra resumes, application packages o List of your questions o Mobile phone; any emergency items you might need (e. g. , medical) 6

Top 10 Interview Questions Rather than memorizing somebody else's idea of a good answer, it's much more useful to be able to think on your feet and come up with your own responses. 1) What do you know about this organization? 2) Why do you want this position? 3) Give an example of a situation where you didn't meet your goals or objectives. 4) Give an example of a situation where you faced conflict or difficult problems. 5) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 7

Top 10 Interview Questions 6) What would your current manager say are your strengths and weaknesses? 7) Why should we give you this position? 8) Give us an example of when you have worked to an unreasonable deadline or been faced with a big challenge. 9) Do you like working in teams? 10) What is the first thing you would change, if you were to start work here? 8

Types and Strategies Types of Interview How To Handle Them STRUCTURED, COMPETENCY-BASED o Review job description or vacancy announcement. Employer identifies competencies (skills, ECQ’s, abilities, experience) required for role. o Identify the types of skills, abilities and experience required for the role. o Think of examples (tell your story) in your career where you have demonstrated these. It may help to make notes. 9

Types and Strategies Types of Interview How To Handle Them BEHAVIORAL, SITUATIONAL o Difficult to second-guess which questions might come u; prepare as for Structured Competency-Based Interview. Assessing how you would act in certain situations, behave in o Listen to the question. Make sure you have understood it. Take a moment to think about the role, if hired. what they're looking for. Hypothetical questions. These might be about a time in your o Give an honest answer, but make sure you remain positive. If possible, back up your past, or asking you to imagine answer with an example. yourself in a future situation. 10

Types and Strategies Types of Interview How To Handle Them TELEPHONE o Remote, can be first point of screening. o Daunting, but actually good thing— means resume, ECQ’s impressed enough to make them want to find out more. o If called to in person interview, means they're serious about you and not wasting your time. Prepare as you would for in person. Dress smartly and arrange a time for the call when you're not at work and can finish without interruptions. Be able to clearly explain why you think you're a suitable candidate. o Pay attention to tone of voice. o Make sure to focus on interviewer, don't get distracted by other things in room. 11

Types and Strategies Types of Interview How To Handle Them PANEL o Prepare as for a 1: 1 interview. Don't let multiple interviewers stress you out. Want candidates seen by number of managers, peers— candidate meets interviewers at once. May play "Good Cop/Bad Cop” where one is aggressive and another sympathetic to see how you perform under stress. o Focus on person who asked the question, but make good eye contact with all interviewers. o Don't be put off if one seems grumpy, but also don't be lulled into false sense of security if one seems very friendly. 12

For SES Interviews ECQs Can Show Up in Both Competency-Based and Behavioral Interviews q. Leading Change q. Leading People q. Results-Driven q. Business Acumen WHAT IS YOUR STORY? WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES? ? ? q. Building Coalitions/Communications 13

Some Interviewing Tips q. Understand that interviews are competitive. Come to play. Play to win. q. Pay careful attention to dress. Wear comfortable, polished shoes. Avoid flashy or revealing clothes, loud perfume or colors. q. Pace your answers so that interviewers get time to do their work of asking questions. q. Some questions are off-limits. Volunteer information that may help in your positive evaluation even if not asked (Vietnam vet, church goer, grown kids, good health). 14

Some Interviewing Tips q. You are likely to be asked what you did to prepare -- shows seriousness and respect. q. You can tell more, but be sure that you answer the question asked. If in doubt that your response was sufficient, ask if you answered the question. q. Show up (ON TIME). You may have it in the bag, but no-shows don’t get jobs and often don’t get a second chance. q. Secretaries and assistants (are often asked to) provide input more often than you think, so be polite and respectful of all personnel you meet in and around the interview. 15

More Interviewing Tips q. Interviews are often lost to mosquitoes rather than dragons and lost within the first two minutes. q. Most employers are as scared as you are during the hiring interview. q. During the interview, observe the “ 50/50 rule, ” speaking and listening. Confidence has a lot to do with interviewing; that, and timing. Michael Parkinson 16

Still More Interviewing Tips q. Ask good questions when the table turns to you; relevant, genuine, and intelligent inquiries make a great final impression. o What do you want to know about the organization, team, culture? o What do interviewers like most about working there? o What would they change if they could? o Organization research may have raised other questions for you to ask. 17

Scenarios How would you handle these? q. Your primary reason for job hunting is that your present boss is racist (sexist/unfair/very poor leader). q. This job is just one of several for which you are applying, and not your first choice going into the interview. q. You have an inside “undercover” contact who has given you lots of inside information on this organization, its leadership, and workplace issues. 18

Interview Follow-Up q. Thank you letter, call, e-mail can help double chances of job offer, help them remember you; use judgment to see which approach works best — send it the same night. q. Could add information not covered during interview—“might be of interest" to reader. q. Finish with warm, but professional, sign-off that gently urges them to action—"I look forward to hearing from you soon. " q. Top Tip: Make sure you have correct spelling of your interviewers’ names — avoid offending them! 19

Interview Follow-Up q. Follow up, but don’t pester. Get an idea of the timeline for decisions—then remember that recruitment always takes longer than everyone expects…including them. q. If you get the offer…. before you accept it—NEGOTIATE the compensation package (see “Closing the Deal, ” Inteview. Stuff. com) 20

Interview Follow-Up If You DON’T Get the Job … q. Self-analysis (some, but don’t “ruminate”) q. Learn how to deal with interview rejection q. Make a feedback request call o Make sure you are not angry o Call main recruitment contact or primary decision maker o Prepare list of questions o Don’t try to argue the point o Accept opinion without contradicting (sign of maturity) o Thank them for their time and feedback 21

References q. What Color is Your Parachute, Richard N. Bolles q. Taking Charge, Making the Right Choices, Perry M. Smith q. If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You’ll Probably End Up Somewhere Else, David Campbell, Ph. D. q. Interview. Stuff. com 22

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