PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW Presenters - Ja Rita S. Johnson Cassandra Blackwell Cassandra Blackwell

PREPARING FOR A PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWINTERVIEW

Presenters - Ja Rita S. Johnson Presenters - Ja Rita S. Johnson

Cassandra BlackwellCassandra Blackwell

PREPARING FOR A PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWSUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

To provide Interviewing skills and techniques that will market you during the interview process

OBJECTIVE


Gather as much information as you can about the Gather as much information as you can about the

position.position. Review the Position Description and Critical Job Review the Position Description and Critical Job

Elements. Elements. Find personal examples for as many duties Find personal examples for as many duties

outlined in the Position Description. outlined in the Position Description. Know the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities needed Know the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities needed

for the position. for the position. Talk to someone in the area.Talk to someone in the area. Review their Website and get a copy of their Review their Website and get a copy of their

mission statement or business plan.mission statement or business plan.


Identify your work experiences that Identify your work experiences that

relate to the position.relate to the position. Determine your strengths and be Determine your strengths and be

prepared to mention them during the prepared to mention them during the interview.interview.

Identify your weaknesses. Be prepared Identify your weaknesses. Be prepared to show examples of how you are to show examples of how you are overcoming your weaknesses or overcoming your weaknesses or turning them into positives. turning them into positives.

Prepare a possible list of questions the Prepare a possible list of questions the interviewer might ask of you. Prepare interviewer might ask of you. Prepare answers based on your strengths.answers based on your strengths.


– When contacted for the Interview, When contacted for the Interview, ask who is on the interview panel.ask who is on the interview panel.

– Make sure you write down the Make sure you write down the location and time of the interview, location and time of the interview, and contact information. Keep the and contact information. Keep the information at work and at home.information at work and at home.

– Request a Mock Interview.Request a Mock Interview.


On the Day of your Interview:On the Day of your Interview:

– Make sure you get a good night’s Make sure you get a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast. sleep and a healthy breakfast.

– Dress professionally and arrive a Dress professionally and arrive a few minutes early. few minutes early.

– Make sure you know how to Make sure you know how to pronounce the name each panel pronounce the name each panel member.member.


On your way into the Interview:On your way into the Interview:

– Make sure you are smiling and Make sure you are smiling and courteous to everyone. courteous to everyone.

– Stay calm and show confidence.Stay calm and show confidence.– Keep positive thoughts and be Keep positive thoughts and be

enthusiastic.enthusiastic.– When introduced to the interview panel, When introduced to the interview panel,

greet them with a pleasant smile and greet them with a pleasant smile and make sure you maintain good eye make sure you maintain good eye contact.contact.


– Place yourself in a position to give a firm handshake Place yourself in a position to give a firm handshake to each panel member as they introduce themselves.to each panel member as they introduce themselves.

– If you personally know or have worked with one of If you personally know or have worked with one of the interview panel members. DON’T SHOW IT, if it is the interview panel members. DON’T SHOW IT, if it is to be told, let them tell it.to be told, let them tell it.

– If one of the interviewers initiates small talk, engage If one of the interviewers initiates small talk, engage yourself with them, but don’t take over the yourself with them, but don’t take over the conversation.conversation.

– If given a compliment on your appearance, hair, If given a compliment on your appearance, hair, shoes, etc. Respond with a pleasant “Thank You”. shoes, etc. Respond with a pleasant “Thank You”. Do not elaborate.Do not elaborate.


Mastering The Interview:Mastering The Interview:– Don’tDon’t fidget - it gives the impression fidget - it gives the impression

that you are nervous.that you are nervous.

– Don’tDon’t fold your arms - it sends the fold your arms - it sends the message that you are not receptive to message that you are not receptive to the question or the panel.the question or the panel.

– Don’t talk with your hands. Don’t talk with your hands.

– LeanLean toward the interview panel - it toward the interview panel - it indicates you are receptive and indicates you are receptive and engaged.engaged.

PREPARING FOR A PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWSUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW– Try to establishTry to establish good rapport with the interviewer. good rapport with the interviewer.

– Make sure each panel member is treated Make sure each panel member is treated equally equally as important. as important.

– Remember all questions are important, so answer Remember all questions are important, so answer them to the best of your ability.them to the best of your ability.

– Even if you personally know a panel member, you Even if you personally know a panel member, you always need to be very specific with your answers. always need to be very specific with your answers. Although a panel member may know of your work Although a panel member may know of your work history and experiences, you can’t get credit for it history and experiences, you can’t get credit for it unless you expound on it during your interview. unless you expound on it during your interview.


– Listen closely and ensure you understand the Listen closely and ensure you understand the question. Never interrupt. question. Never interrupt.

– If you don’t understand the question, ask that it be If you don’t understand the question, ask that it be repeated. repeated.

– Take your time, but don’t drag out your answers Take your time, but don’t drag out your answers and don’t answer too quickly.and don’t answer too quickly.

– Keep your answers to within approximately two Keep your answers to within approximately two minutes.minutes.

– Refrain from using Um! Uh! Or Mmm!Refrain from using Um! Uh! Or Mmm!– If you use IRS jargon, make sure you explain what it If you use IRS jargon, make sure you explain what it

is.is.

Examples: Examples: RTR – Remittance Tracking ResearchRTR – Remittance Tracking ResearchAMS – Accounts Management ServicesAMS – Accounts Management Services


– You should always answer questions truthfully. Your You should always answer questions truthfully. Your answers showcase your strengths and experience.answers showcase your strengths and experience.

– If asked something and you don’t know the answer, If asked something and you don’t know the answer, be honest. Try to avoid negative qualifiers. Give a be honest. Try to avoid negative qualifiers. Give a positive approach with your response.positive approach with your response.

– Remember questions generally focus on Leadership, Remember questions generally focus on Leadership, Customer Satisfaction, Employee Satisfaction and Customer Satisfaction, Employee Satisfaction and Business Results.Business Results.

– Usually you will be given a questions regarding ethics Usually you will be given a questions regarding ethics and integrity. If your answer reflects doing the right and integrity. If your answer reflects doing the right thing, then you will always give the right answer.thing, then you will always give the right answer.


Types of Questions:Types of Questions:

Behavioral Question: Behavioral Question: “Tell me about a “Tell me about a time when you . . . “time when you . . . “ Requires you to Requires you to recall a past experience or recall a past experience or accomplishment. accomplishment.

Question: Question: “How would you . . . ““How would you . . . “ Requires you to explain a course of Requires you to explain a course of action. action.

Behavioral Interview Behavioral Interview QuestionsQuestions

Tell me about a time when ...Tell me about a time when ...

Give an example of when you ...Give an example of when you ...

Walk me through a situation Walk me through a situation where ...where ...

How did you handle it when…How did you handle it when…

Traditional or Traditional or SubjectiveSubjectiveQuestionsQuestions

If given the opportunity how If given the opportunity how would you…would you…

How would you handle…How would you handle…

What would you do if…What would you do if…

Answering Behavioral Answering Behavioral QuestionsQuestions

SAR APPROACHSAR APPROACH

SSituationituation: Briefly describe.: Briefly describe.

AActionsctions: Specifically what : Specifically what youyou did and why did and why youyou did it. did it.

RResultesult: Describe the result and : Describe the result and what you learned or would do what you learned or would do differently.differently.

Answering Behavioral Answering Behavioral QuestionsQuestions

SHARE APPROACHSHARE APPROACH SSituationituation: Briefly describe.: Briefly describe. HHindranceindrance: What’s the obstacle or : What’s the obstacle or

barrier? barrier? AActionction: What was done to correct the : What was done to correct the

situation and why?situation and why? RResultesult: As a result of your action, : As a result of your action,

what was the outcome? what was the outcome? EEducationducation: What did you learn from it?: What did you learn from it?

Examples of QuestionsExamples of Questions

Questions you may encounter during Questions you may encounter during the course of an interview.the course of an interview.

See Your HandoutSee Your Handout

Leadership Leadership CompetenciesCompetencies

Personal LeadershipPersonal Leadership Leading OthersLeading Others Leading ImprovementLeading Improvement Business ResultsBusiness Results

Personal LeadershipPersonal Leadership Competencies Competencies

Self Development Self Development

CommunicationCommunication

Political SavvyPolitical Savvy

Leading Others Leading Others CompetenciesCompetencies

Relationship ManagementRelationship Management

Group Leadership Group Leadership

Customer FocusCustomer Focus

Managing Performance and Managing Performance and DevelopmentDevelopment

Leading Improvement Leading Improvement CompetenciesCompetencies

Change ManagementChange Management

Innovation and Risk Innovation and Risk ManagementManagement

Achievement OrientationAchievement Orientation

Business Results Business Results CompetenciesCompetencies

Problem Solving and Decision Problem Solving and Decision MakingMaking

Leveraging ResourcesLeveraging Resources

Strategic Planning and Strategic Planning and ImplementationImplementation

Exercise 1Exercise 1

Tell me about a time when Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an you had to deal with an unanticipated situation that unanticipated situation that required you to make a quick required you to make a quick decision?decision?

Exercise 2Exercise 2

You are the lead on your team and the You are the lead on your team and the

team is not meeting their productivity team is not meeting their productivity

requirements. Your manager has beenrequirements. Your manager has been

adjusting figures on the daily report to adjusting figures on the daily report to

indicate the team is meeting the indicate the team is meeting the

requirement. Tell us how you would requirement. Tell us how you would

handle this situation.handle this situation.


– Never make negative comments Never make negative comments regarding a previous position or regarding a previous position or supervisor/manager.supervisor/manager.

– When your interview is finished, When your interview is finished, the panel may ask you if you the panel may ask you if you have any thing you would like to have any thing you would like to add or if you have any questions. add or if you have any questions. Be prepared to say something.Be prepared to say something.


Make sure you end the interview in a positiveMake sure you end the interview in a positiveway! For example:way! For example:

“ “I want to thank you for considering me for I want to thank you for considering me for the position of _______ and if given the the position of _______ and if given the opportunity, I know I will do an excellent opportunity, I know I will do an excellent job”.job”.

““Thank you for giving me the opportunity Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview. This position has been a to interview. This position has been a career aspiration of mine for quite some career aspiration of mine for quite some timetime

oror is a part of my Career Learning Plan”is a part of my Career Learning Plan”

PREPARING FOR A PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWSUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWAfter the Interview:After the Interview:

– Reflect on the interview and how well Reflect on the interview and how well you did and make notes on the things you did and make notes on the things you feel you could have done better.you feel you could have done better.

– Even if you are selected for the position Even if you are selected for the position ask for feedback on your interview.ask for feedback on your interview.

– Send a personal note or e-mail thanking Send a personal note or e-mail thanking each member of the interview panel for each member of the interview panel for the opportunity of interviewing.the opportunity of interviewing.


Last but not least!Last but not least!

SELL YOURSELF! LET IT BE KNOWN!SELL YOURSELF! LET IT BE KNOWN!

YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKESYOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKESTO BE TO BE

THETHE BESTBEST CANDIDATE!CANDIDATE!

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PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW Presenters - Ja Rita S. Johnson Cassandra Blackwell Cassandra Blackwell