Interview Workshop

How to prepare and practice for an interview.

BEFORETHE

INTERVIEW

Preparation• Research the Company: – Company website– Social media– News– Other websites

Company Website

• Product or services• Mission, vision statement• Awards• Culture• Job description• Employees

Social Media: Culture

• LinkedIn company page & interviewer personal pages• Facebook• Twitter

Questions to consider: Do the employees at that organization care about the same things you care about? Will you get along?

Examples of things to look for: organizations where people bring dogs to work, play ping pong in the middle of the workday, chef or free meals, shuttles, have paid time off to do community service together.

Look up the people interviewing you on linkedin and bring up questions that relate to their backgrounds later, or people you know in common.

News

• Google news, yahoo news… search filters • Startups: Techcrunch, Venturebeat,

Pandodaily, Mashable, • SF/SJ/SV Business Journal

Look for: Financials and key figures, recent or new products or services, any mergers & acquisitions, what makes company unique.Current events in not only the company but also their industry.

Other Websites

• Wikipedia• Glassdoor: INTERVIEW TIPS!!! • Startups: Crunchbase

Look for: employee #s, offices, founding team, funding if startup, story of how company was created, what its growth has been and what its growth potential is for the future

Glassdoor: prior interview tips from people who have interviewed in the past.

Glassdoor.com

Practice• Create an accomplishment sheet• Prepare & practice answers to most common

interview ?s• Using your research, come up with ?s tailored

to the company AND industry to ask the interviewer

• Using job description, prepare ?s in regards to the role/responsibilities

• Practice interviewing with a friend

Interviewer Wants to See:

• A track record of high energy and team leadership

• A demonstrated record of comparable past performance

• A strong ability to adapt and produce results in a new environment

Accomplishment Sheet

• Create a chart of each of your prior jobs, internships, experiences (can include being an officer in an organization)

• Take note of your major accomplishments in each role that relate to this job

• Ensure you bring up these accomplishments when you are being interviewed! Try to sneak them into your answers & tie them to specific things found in the job description.

• Using job description, try to give examples of how you have done each role/responsibility listed.

TRY TO MARKET YOURSELF BASED ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION!

Introduction

First Impression= VERY important• Offer to shake hands upon meeting, smile “I’m Sarah

Clifford, it’s a pleasure to meet you”• “Tell me about yourself”– Explain background– Why interested in job/ company– Focus on recent experiences/qualifications that will allow

you to excel in the job you are interviewing for– Tidbit about you personally in order to connect on a person

level– Short & sweet

Interview Questions

• Traditional Questions– Get to know you– Relate to your resume

• Behavioral Questions– Past performance to predict future performance– Require you give specific examples– STAR Technique

Traditional Questions

• What is your typical work day like? Break down into % and give examples• What is your biggest accomplishment at work? Hiring manager wants SPECIFIC examples• What are 2 strengths you possess? A weakness? What have you done about it? Give example

for strength. Weakness: show what you have been doing to overcome it• What is my biggest challenge at work? Make sure it’s not an important / essential duty for

this position for which you are interviewing• What is the most difficult thing to communicate? They are looking for you to demonstrate

leadership• What is important in your next job? Make SPECIFIC to the job description• Do you have any regrets with decisions you have made with your career? They are trying to

understand if you have made a definite career plan for yourself starting off and why you made the moves you made

• What is your typical work day like? Break down into % and give examples• What is your current salary and bonus? What do you expect from this company? DO NOT give

a specific figure, tell them you are looking for an opportunity to grow, in an exciting company, if they really hone in on this, give a range, the recruiters job is to do the negotiating for you

• What is the most challenging project you have worked on? Explain why it was challenging and then show how you successfully accomplished it

• Tell me about a time you lead a cross functional team?• What is your 5-year career plan? 10-year etc Don’t say you will have the interviewers job, comes

across as cocky• Why do you want to leave your current job? Try not to say anything bad about your prior (or current

job) be positive.• Why are you considering our company? Basically what do you know about this company, have you

researched it• What are 5 products that this company produces / sells? Research ahead of time!• Why are you interested in this role/company/industry? • Why do you want to work for this company?• What extracurricular activities have you been involved in? How do you spend your spare time?

What are your hobbies?• Why should we hire you?• Do you have any questions for me? YES always have questions!• How do you add value to your clients?• Why did you choose this particular role? What do you really want to do in your next career move? • What style of management gets the best from you? • What interests you about our products or services? • What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held? Which did you enjoy most?• Are you willing to relocate? Travel?• What does 'teamwork' mean to you?

Behavioral Questions• Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.

• Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.

• Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.

• Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.

• Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.

• Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.

• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

• Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.

• Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.

• What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.

• Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).

• Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.

• Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed.

• Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.

• Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co worker.

• Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.

• Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.

• Give me an example of a time when you used your fact­f inding skills to solve a problem.

• Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.

• Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

• Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.

• Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.

• Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low)

STAR TechniqueSituation or TaskDescribe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience or any relevant event.

Action you tookDescribe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what you did not the efforts of the team. Don't tell what you might do, tell what you di

Results you achievedWhat happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn

Questions for InterviewerShow CONFIDENCE & remain positive at all times. Make sure the hiring manager sees that you want this job!

• What are the main areas of responsibility of the position? Try and get a % answer.

• What will be the greatest challenges? This will allow you to demonstrate how you will add value to the organization.

• Why do the people you meet like working for your company, Why did they come here?

• Do you have any concerns about my abilities to perform this function? This shows you are confident, interested and allows you to address the concern with the hiring manager.

• In your view what are some of the biggest challenges which your company faces at this time?

• A detailed description of the position? • Reason the position is available?• Culture of company? • Anticipated induction and training program?• What sorts of people have done well? • Advanced training programs available for those who

demonstrate outstanding ability.• Earnings of those successful people in their third to fifth

year?• Company growth plans?• Best-selling products or services?• The next step?

Top 10 Things Not to Say In a Job Interview

1) “How much does this job pay?” Don't be the first to bring up salary2) Don’t bad mouth your boss3) Anything that assumes you have the job4) “I hate my job”5) Anything flirty6) I have no weaknesses, just make sure the quality isn’t a big part of the job. Show how you have worked towards improving this weakness.7) Why have earnings dropped this past quarter? Nothing negative!8) Can I work from home? Vacation policy? Ask after offer9) “You will regret it if you don’t hire me”10) “I have no questions for you”

Remember…

• Be able to explain reasons for leaving all prior opportunities and ensure that the response is positive.

• Rather than lack of opportunity at your former employer, “I was looking for some new challenges in my career that were not available” is a much better answer.

Closing the Interview

• Always ask questions• Leave with final statement expressing your

desire for the job• Get interviewer’s contact information or

business card for follow up• Firm handshake and thank them for their time• Thank you note or email due in 48 hours!

THEINTERVIEW

Dress to Impress• Dress conservatively and preferably in darker

colors, pay attention to all facets of your dress and grooming

• Go to the bathroom right before to ensure you look presentable.

Make a Good Impression• Sit upright in your chair. • Look alert and interested at all times. • Be a good listener as well as a good talker. • Smile.• Shake hands firmly• Appear confident but not cocky• Act as if you are determined to get the job you are

discussing, even if you are no longer interested in it. Never close the door on opportunity. It is better to be in the position where you can choose from a number of jobs.

What to Bring• List of references, preferably former managers

or peers (3-4)• Resume• Business cards• Directions to interview location• Notepad & pen

Arrive 10 minutes EARLY!!!

• Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name, the correct pronunciation and his/her title

POST INTERVIEW

Thank You Note• Send out an email thank you note immediately

within 48 hours (better if 24 hours) thanking the interviewer and reiterating your interest in the job.

• Use your thank you note as a way to provide information on anything regarding your qualifications you didn't get a chance to mention during the phone interview.

• Try to add a personal touch such as something you guys spoke about. Ex) Upcoming ski trip