Presented and Developed by Joe H. Jones Interviewing.pdf · hire you –rather than anyone else for this ... dealing with right now?” “What do you expect the person filling this

Presented and Developed by

Joe H. Jones

Before the interview

Types of interviews

What does HR look for in an interview?

Interview strategies

During the interview

Types of interview questions & types of interviewers

Questions for Interviewers

How to close out an interview

copyright Transition Masters 2015 2


✓Know the job description

✓Do research on the company

✓Have questions ready for the interviewer

✓Bring at least five copies of your resume (in case you have to face a panel)

✓Practice up to 20 of the most likely interview questions



✓ Be prepared to take assessment/skills tests(Ask in advance if you will be given a test)

✓ Practice answering “Tell Us A Little About Yourself”

✓ Identify and practice telling your top three accomplishment stories related directly to the job description.

✓ Prepare and practice solid reasons they should hire you – rather than anyone else for this position.

✓ Prepare your portfolio

✓ Practice presenting your portfolio

✓ “Can we leave some time at the end of the interview for me to ask you some questions and show you my work samples?”

✓ “Is it okay if I take notes in my notebook during the interview?”

✓ “Can you give me an overview of the duties of the job from your point of view?”✓ Remember, base your interview strategy on what

the hiring manager tells you vs. what was in the formal published job description!

✓ “What problems/pains and new initiatives are you dealing with right now?”

✓ “What do you expect the person filling this position to do during his/her first 90 days on the job?”


Pre-screening (usually over the telephone but can be a Skype video interview)

One on one - face to face with HR and/or hiring manager

Multi-level staircase interview – screener, HR staff, immediate supervisor, department manager.

Multi-person panel interview◦ Multiple people asking questions as a panel or

group◦ Manage your emotions and energy



Structured

Intuitive

Person Oriented

Job/Task Related

Trait Interviews

Behavior Based Interviews

Gut - Feel Interviews

Conversational Interviews

✓Be 10 minutes early

✓Dress appropriately

✓First impression – 72% of the ultimate decision is based on the first 2 minutes of the interview.

✓Be positive when answering questions

✓Express interest in the job!

✓Show energy & enthusiasm



1. Are you qualified?

2. Will you fit? (company culture - team fit and critical skills)

3. What are the risks of hiring you?

4. Can they afford you?


55% Body Language and Gestures◦ Facial liking

38% Tone of Voice◦ Vocal liking

7% Words◦ Verbal liking

From the 1967 Albert Mehrabian study on likeability.


Traditional questions◦ “Tell us a little about yourself?”

◦ “What are your strengths?”

Behavioral questions◦ “Give me an example of a goal you reached and….?”

◦ “Tell me how you would handle a situation where…?”

Situational/Scenario Questions

Stress Questions (designed to see how you react)


1. “Tell us a little about yourself.”

2. “What are your greatest strengths?”

3. “Why did you leave your last job?”

4. “Why do you want to work here?”

5. “Why should I hire you instead of the others we are interviewing?”

6. “What are your salary requirements?”◦ Can get salary range from either an insider or

http://www.payscale.com , salary.com, glassdoor.com


http://www.payscale.com/

Techniques for Effectively Answering Interview Questions✓Speak in a relaxed, natural, conversational way✓Smile & maintain eye contact✓Show enthusiasm in your voice✓Maintain good posture & no fidgeting✓ It’s OK to take 5 seconds to think of an answer

before responding✓Keep answers short and concise to be effective (30-

45 seconds)✓Use the PAR model when telling accomplishment

stories


✓Try to address the question from the employer’s perspective

✓Provide enough detail so interviewers don’t have to dig to get the information they want

✓Practice answering questions to get feedback on your performance, or leave a voice mail for yourself with the answer to see how it sounds to you.

✓Use your portfolio! Include quantifiable accomplishments, 2 line compelling testimonials or awards whenever possible to show proof of the value you produced for your previous employer


1. “Is this a new position? What happened to the person previously in this position?”

2. “What do you consider to be the three most critical success factors for the person you hire for this position?”

3. “Who will be the primary customers (internal and or external) that I will be serving in this position and how will I know the impact I will have on them?”


4. “As an employee, specifically how could I exceed your expectations?”

5. “What excites you about coming in to work here?”

6. “What are the biggest challenges facing the (company or department) right now?”

7. “If I were to start tomorrow, what would be the top priorities on my to-do list?”

8. “Which of my skills do you see as most important for the challenges that come with this position?”


Three closing interview questions!1. Based on my resume and this interview, is

there any reason you can think of that you wouldn’t hire me? OR What additional skills or experience do you wish I had that would make me a better fit for this job?

2. What is the hiring process from this point forward?

3. Who should I follow up with, how (email, phone call, etc.) and with what frequency?



✓Within 24 hours send them a thank you note! (email or handwritten)

✓Follow up again in 7-10 days with a telephone call, note, letter, or email – depending on when they expect to make an offer.

✓Expect it to take longer than you wish for them to make a decision and an offer.

✓Expect an average of 5 interviews with different companies before you get THE offer you take.


✓ Be prepared before the interview

✓ Know what they are looking for

✓ Prepare answers to typical interview questions & practice responses

✓ Close out the interview properly

✓ Let us know the outcome!



Contact Information

Joe H. Jones

Phone: 813-960-1876

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.transitionmasters.org

Documents

Presented and Developed by Joe H. Jones Interviewing.pdf · hire you –rather than anyone else for this ... dealing with right now?” “What do you expect the person filling this