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Getting the JobGetting the JobWinning Interview StrategiesWinning Interview Strategies©©
Copyright 2004Copyright 2004
Peter Wales
Copyright 2004
Key Class Phrases Key Class Phrases
“ “ Slow down! You’re speaking too fast!!”Slow down! You’re speaking too fast!!”
““Could you repeat that please?”Could you repeat that please?”
““I don’t understand. Could you please explain I don’t understand. Could you please explain it another way?” it another way?”
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Seminar OutlineSeminar Outline
IntroductionsIntroductions Issues & expectationsIssues & expectations About Interviews About Interviews Getting the InterviewGetting the Interview ConfidenceConfidence Creativity – Make an Impression! Creativity – Make an Impression!
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Seminar OutlineSeminar Outline continued continued
Taking chargeTaking charge Body LanguageBody Language Using Humour & “Smalltalk” Using Humour & “Smalltalk” Follow-up Follow-up QuestionsQuestions Wrap-upWrap-up
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Peter R. WalesPeter R. Wales
30 years corporate experience 30 years corporate experience English & French Language Development English & French Language Development One-on-One Tutoring One-on-One Tutoring Writing Skills EducationWriting Skills Education Interview Skills Interview Skills Business Development Consultant Business Development Consultant
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Issues / ExpectationsIssues / Expectations
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Getting the InterviewGetting the Interview NewspapersNewspapers
Websites …..Websites …..
Job FairsJob Fairs
Word-of-MouthWord-of-Mouth
??????????
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Getting the InterviewGetting the Interview
Concise, clear and appropriate resumeConcise, clear and appropriate resume
Great cover letter - customizedGreat cover letter - customized
Creativity - DifferentiatorsCreativity - Differentiators
Be persistent!!Be persistent!!
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Word PowerWord Power
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Be Creative!Be Creative!
““Company who hires me will have great fortune!”Company who hires me will have great fortune!”
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More creativity!More creativity!
““Now that I have my foot in your door …….”Now that I have my foot in your door …….”
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CreativeCreativeBrainstorming Time!Brainstorming Time!
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The InterviewThe Interview
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Interview ConfidenceInterview Confidence
3 Magic Words regarding interviews3 Magic Words regarding interviews
Prepare!Prepare! Prepare!Prepare! Prepare!Prepare!
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Be PreparedBe Prepared
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Dress for SuccessDress for Success
First impressions count - 80% visualFirst impressions count - 80% visual
Conservative Conservative
Men - Suit & Tie (freshly pressed!)Men - Suit & Tie (freshly pressed!)
Ladies – SuitLadies – Suit
Shoes are important!!!!Shoes are important!!!!
Carry a portfolio + a good penCarry a portfolio + a good pen
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Be Prepared!Be Prepared! Have copies of your resume + cover letterHave copies of your resume + cover letter
Prepare a 2 minute summary background + Prepare a 2 minute summary background + qualifications monologuequalifications monologue
Research the company – internet / annual Research the company – internet / annual report / newspaper websites / online trade report / newspaper websites / online trade journalsjournals
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Be Prepared!Be Prepared!
Take notesTake notes
Have your questions ready. Have your questions ready.
Turn off your cellphone! Turn off your cellphone!
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Breaking the “Ice” Breaking the “Ice”
““Smalltalk” Smalltalk”
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““Smalltalk”Smalltalk” Current Events (news)Current Events (news) BusinessBusiness SportsSports TravelTravel KidsKids CultureCulture Politics (never on a job interview!)Politics (never on a job interview!)
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““Smalltalk”Smalltalk”
When all else fails ……….
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““Smalltalk”Smalltalk”Talk about the weather!!
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Body LanguageBody Language
Nonverbal
Communication
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The Body Language TestThe Body Language Test
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Active ListeningActive Listening
Acknowledge with nods and affirmative comments.Acknowledge with nods and affirmative comments.
Take notes selectively. Take notes selectively.
Maintain eye contact. Maintain eye contact.
Ask smart questions when appropriate.Ask smart questions when appropriate.
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Interview ConfidenceInterview Confidence
An interview is a dialogue not an interrogationAn interview is a dialogue not an interrogation
Interviewers will respect intelligent questionsInterviewers will respect intelligent questions
Use your notes!Use your notes!
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Types of InterviewsTypes of Interviews
BehavioralBehavioral
One-on-oneOne-on-one
Team Team
TelephoneTelephone
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Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral Interviews
Based on past behavior and performanceBased on past behavior and performance
Uses the past as a predictor for the futureUses the past as a predictor for the future
Questions designed to test adaptability, leadership, Questions designed to test adaptability, leadership, problem solvingproblem solving
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Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral InterviewsQuestionsQuestions
Describe a difficult problem that you tried to solve. Describe a difficult problem that you tried to solve.
How did you identify the problem? How did you identify the problem?
How did you go about trying to solve it? How did you go about trying to solve it?
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Describe a time when you tried to persuade Describe a time when you tried to persuade another person to do something that he/she was another person to do something that he/she was not very willing to do.not very willing to do.
Describe a time when you decided on your own Describe a time when you decided on your own that something needed to be done, and you took that something needed to be done, and you took on the task to get it done.on the task to get it done.
Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral InterviewsQuestionsQuestions
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A good BI answer should have three parts. A good BI answer should have three parts.
Think of it as a Think of it as a “STAR”“STAR” response response
Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral InterviewsAnswering QuestionsAnswering Questions
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ST: Situation or TaskST: Situation or Task
Describe the context in which the behavior or Describe the context in which the behavior or action took place.action took place.
A: Action.A: Action.
Logically take the interviewer through the steps Logically take the interviewer through the steps you you took to handle the situation or resolve the problem. took to handle the situation or resolve the problem.
Keep your answer clear and concise.Keep your answer clear and concise.
Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral InterviewsSTARSTAR AnswersAnswers
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R: Results.R: Results.
Explain your results Even if you weren't as Explain your results Even if you weren't as successful successful as you'd hoped, it's important to make it as you'd hoped, it's important to make it clear that you clear that you understand the implications of the outcome understand the implications of the outcome
and why it and why it happened.happened.
Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral InterviewsSTARSTAR AnswersAnswers
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Behavioral InterviewsBehavioral Interviews
Know Your resumeKnow Your resume
Be able to draw from a variety of experiencesBe able to draw from a variety of experiences
Be familiar with the jobBe familiar with the job
Develop a good STAR narrativeDevelop a good STAR narrative
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Other InterviewsOther Interviews
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Typical Interview QuestionsTypical Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself.Tell me about yourself.
Why would you like to work for this company?Why would you like to work for this company?
What are your long-range career objectives?What are your long-range career objectives?
Of which personal accomplishments are you most proud? Of which personal accomplishments are you most proud?
What qualities do you think this position requires?What qualities do you think this position requires?
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Tough QuestionsTough QuestionsWhat do you consider to be your strengths? What do you consider to be your strengths?
Your weaknesses?Your weaknesses?
Why should we consider you for a position with our Why should we consider you for a position with our company?company?
What makes you the best candidate?What makes you the best candidate?
How do you determine or evaluate success?How do you determine or evaluate success?
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Tough QuestionsTough Questions
What do you consider to be your strengths? What do you consider to be your strengths?
MandarinMandarin CantoneseCantoneseCapableCapable CompetentCompetentDiscrete Discrete ProfessionalProfessionalEnthusiasticEnthusiastic High Energy LevelHigh Energy LevelWork aloneWork alone Work well with othersWork well with othersResponsibleResponsible DedicatedDedicatedAmbitiousAmbitious InnovativeInnovativeCreativeCreative ??????????
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Tough QuestionsTough Questions
What do you consider to be your weaknesses? What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
Sometimes I work too hard!Sometimes I work too hard!
PerfectionismPerfectionism
Too conscientiousToo conscientious
English Language SkillsEnglish Language Skills
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Tough QuestionsTough Questions
Why should we consider you for a position with our company?Why should we consider you for a position with our company?
I’ll make I’ll make ourour company more profitable. company more profitable.
I’ll share my skills & expertise with my co-workers.I’ll share my skills & expertise with my co-workers.
I’ll do my best to promote I’ll do my best to promote ourour products, services. products, services.
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Tough QuestionsTough Questions
What makes you the best candidate?What makes you the best candidate?
My strengths!!My strengths!!
Knowledge + Experience ++++++Knowledge + Experience ++++++
MotivationMotivation
You get ME!!!You get ME!!!
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Time for Your QuestionsTime for Your Questions
What’s the salary?What’s the salary?
How much vacation do I get?How much vacation do I get?
Will I have my own office?Will I have my own office?
Is there parking?Is there parking?
What benefits do you have? What benefits do you have?
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Time for Your QuestionsTime for Your QuestionsWhen do I start?!!When do I start?!!
If hired, would I be filling a newly created job, or replacing If hired, would I be filling a newly created job, or replacing someone? someone?
What are the things you look for in your employees?What are the things you look for in your employees?
What duties are most important for this job? Least important?What duties are most important for this job? Least important?
Can someone in this job be promoted? If so, to what position?Can someone in this job be promoted? If so, to what position?
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Time for Your QuestionsTime for Your Questions
How would I be trained or introduced to the job? How would I be trained or introduced to the job?
How is the job important to the company - how does it contribute? How is the job important to the company - how does it contribute?
Who are the other people I'd be working with and what do they Who are the other people I'd be working with and what do they do? do?
How will I get feedback on my job performance? How will I get feedback on my job performance?
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Time for Your QuestionsTime for Your Questions
If hired, would I report directly to you, or to someone else?If hired, would I report directly to you, or to someone else?
How would you describe your most successful employee? How would you describe your most successful employee?
What could I say or do to convince you to offer me the job?What could I say or do to convince you to offer me the job?
When will you be making your hiring decision?When will you be making your hiring decision?
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Canadian ExperienceCanadian Experience
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Canadian ExperienceCanadian Experience
Whenever possible Whenever possible youyou initiate this discussion. initiate this discussion.
Be honest and frank.Be honest and frank.
Relate your previous experience + successes to the job.Relate your previous experience + successes to the job.
Acknowledge the issue then “sell” yourself! Acknowledge the issue then “sell” yourself!
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Canadian ExperienceCanadian ExperienceVolunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer Opportunities
Seniors’ HomesSeniors’ Homes
Youth OrganizationsYouth Organizations
Charity OrganizationsCharity Organizations
Citizens’ Groups Citizens’ Groups
Municipal Government CommitteesMunicipal Government Committees
Get Involved!!!Get Involved!!!
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Interview Follow UpInterview Follow Up
Email “Thank You”Email “Thank You”
customize, personalize, use your notes!customize, personalize, use your notes!
Creativity! Make sure they remember Creativity! Make sure they remember YOU.YOU.
TelephoneTelephone
Persistence!!Persistence!!
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English Language SkillsEnglish Language Skills Never stop learning - Use every opportunity you have to Never stop learning - Use every opportunity you have to
develop your English language skills!develop your English language skills!
Stay abreast of current events - local, national & Stay abreast of current events - local, national & international – read newspapersinternational – read newspapers
Cultivate friendships with other cultural + ethnic groups. Cultivate friendships with other cultural + ethnic groups.
Engage yourself the Canadian “experience”Engage yourself the Canadian “experience”
Share your culture + ethnicity Share your culture + ethnicity
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What About Headhunters?What About Headhunters? Treat the interview with the same respect & attention Treat the interview with the same respect & attention
as others as others
Headhunters get a % or fee upon or after placement. Headhunters get a % or fee upon or after placement.
Be clear regarding Be clear regarding your your objectivesobjectives
Be careful of “wild goose chases”Be careful of “wild goose chases”
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PersistencePersistence
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Press OnPress OnNNothing in the world can take the place of persistence. othing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not;Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with
talent.talent. Genius will not;Genius will not;
unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not;Education will not;
the world is full of educated derelicts.the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
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QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?
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interviewstrategies.tripod.cominterviewstrategies.tripod.com
Seminar Materials & HandoutsSeminar Materials & Handouts
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SURVEY TIME!SURVEY TIME!
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Contact InformationContact Information
Peter R Wales
(905) 474-3961
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