Getting the job you want

The Interview
These things actually happened
A woman brought her large dog to the
interview
A man interrupted the interview to phone his
therapist for advice on how to answer one of
the questions
A man pulled out a camera and took a picture
of the interviewer. Said he collected photos
of everyone who interviewed him
Objectives
Impress upon you the importance of preparation and
practice
Give you some important information and suggest
some strategies to give you an edge
Identify resources for you to use
Resume
Resume
sume

Resum
Resume

Resume

100+ Resumes
Maybe 5 people interviewed
The Job Offer
When you reach the
interview stage of your job
search, you are one step
away from a job offer.




People usually underestimate
how much preparation and
practice it takes to have a
really great interview.
They are interested in 2 things
Can and will you do the
job (do you have the
required experience and
competencies)

Will you fit in

The key principle
As soon as they are convinced that you can do the job,
the degree to which the interviewer feels comfortable
with you is probably the single most important
determinant of your acceptability as a candidate.
Six ways to make people like you
Become genuinely interested
Smile
Remember that a persons name is to that person
the sweetest and most important sound in any
language
Be a good listener; encourage others to talk about
themselves
Talk in terms of the other persons interests
Make the other person feel importantdo it
sincerely
There may be more than one
round of interviews. The first
interview could be a phone
interview intended to narrow
the field of candidates.
Research
The industry
The company
The job
Inventory your own
talents, skills, and
accomplishments
Sources of information for the industry
and company

On-line data bases through
our library website
The organizations own
literature and website
Know the job


a specific skill necessary to do a job
Whats a
competency?
Examples of competencies

Initiative
Customer Service
Impact and Influence
Integrity
Communication
Analytical Thinking
The ten most standard competencies
(macro skills) used by organizations
1. Achievement/Results Orientation
2. Initiative
3. Impact and Influence
4. Customer Service Orientation
5. Interpersonal Understanding
6. Organizational Awareness
7. Analytical Thinking
8. Conceptual Thinking
9. Information Seeking
10. Integrity
Determine the competencies
Carefully review the job description
Read other companies job descriptions for the same
position
Google: position name competencies
(project manager competencies)

www.google.com


Interview people who are already
doing this job
How did they get into this work?
What do they like best?
What do they like least?
What are the key tasks/responsibilities?
What are the key skills (competencies)
needed to be successful?
What were their interviews like?
Can they recommend someone else with
whom you could speak?
Think out of the box
Not just jobs
Class projects
Co-curricular leadership roles
Volunteer experiences
Personal life experiences
Competency Worksheet
Competency

1. Customer Service

2. Initiative

3. Communication

4. Problem Solving


Proof


On this side, you
should come up with as
many examples and
situations where you
demonstrated each of
the competencies you
have determined are
essential to doing the
job well
Develop your talking points
What theyre looking for:

3 years
management/supervisory
experience

Experience working in non-profit
organizations

Proven ability to fund raise

Involvement with the Austin
community

What you bring:












Questions ???
The most important ones are
the ones you ask them.

www.glassdoor.com
www.youtube.com
<career change job
interview questions>

Why is a manhole cover round?
Behavioral questions: the cornerstone of competency
based interviewing

These are questions designed to draw out how
you are likely to respond to situations once you
are on the job, i.e. do you have the requisite
competency

Tell me about a time when; What would you
do if
Successful Behavioral Answer=
STAR
S/T- Situation and/or Task (paint a
picture for the interviewer)
A- Action (what did you actually do)
R- Result (what was the outcome
of your actions)

Tell me about a time when you demonstrated superior
customer service skills?
Can you give me an example of your problem solving
skills?

Heres an example
Interviewer: Can you tell me about a time when you
exhibited superior customer service skills?

You: I can remember a time when I was working in a
restaurant and when I came to work, I realized that
our heater had gone out during the night. I called
the repair people and provided all of the customers
free hot drinks until we had the repairs made. I
received a letter of commendation from the owner
of the restaurant. He mentioned that some of the
customers had told him what action I had taken.
Possible topics

Teamwork
Strengths
Weaknesses
Career Goals
Salary
Stress
Anger
Leadership
Ethics
Project Management
Creativity
Specific skills
Develop your success
stories focusing on what
theyre looking for
Your goal:
to try to take charge of the interview


**If you are being interviewed by an individual who is well trained
in competency based interviewing, you may not be able to do this.
In that event, just focus on answering the questions
Ask open ended questions
On what basis will you be making your decision?
Could you talk a little bit about what it will take to
be successful in this position?
What are the key responsibilities of this position?
Whats the most important things I can do in the
first 90 days?
What do you enjoy most about working here?

Asking questions does 3 things:
Demonstrates your interest
Helps create a bond with the interviewer
Dissipates your anxiety; you feel more in control
Tack your first question on to the end of
your first answer.
A suggestion
The first question
Tell me about yourself?


Remember:

They dont want your life story.
Prepare a tight, well-rehearsed two minute commercial
about why you are the right person for the job.
Your response to this first question will set the tone for
the entire interview.
Finish your response with a question for them







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2318JxxN-tI&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ezFNrWMTlc&feature=related

Developing your
90 second-two minute pitch
What is the most important thing you want them to know
about you?
What is the second most important thing I want them to
know about me?
What are the key selling points/accomplishments that
prove the first two statements?
What separates you from the competition?
What are some other selling points?
What objections might they have and how are you going to
overcome them?

Try this
Them: Tell me about yourself

You: Answer and pause at the end and ask, From your
experience, what are the two or three most important
things youre looking for in the ideal candidate

Them: Someone with A, B, and C

You: Interesting. Those are all areas I regard as
strengths. Could I take a minute or two and tell you
about myself in regard to those things?
A Portfolio ?
A kind of show and tell about the things youve
done relevant to the position: certificates,
samples of your writing, brochures you
developed, formal letters of commendation,
notes thanking you for something you did, etc
Done in a quality manner
Use it during the interview and/or leave it
behind when you leave
Reduces your nervousness
Possible portfolio items
List of patents
Writing samples
List of publications
Hierarchical charts
Training certificates
MS Project spreadsheets
Letters of recommendation
Detailed project descriptions
Performance appraisal excerpts
Examples of best work performed
Graphs or charts documenting success
Awards and certificates of achievement
Commendations by customers or direct reports
Some questions NOT to ask
Now what is it that your company does?
What are your psychiatric benefits?
What do you consider as excessive absences?
The salary question
Not good negotiating ploys (actually
used)
Ive been trying to earn six figures all my life.
I need to pay for my childs private schooling.
My wife is now earning more than me.
Do your homework (Rule #1)
Know what is fair and reasonable for someone with
your background, experience, and education.
Know what your minimum is, i.e. whats the least
youll accept.

www.salary.com
www.payscale.com



Know your own value (Rule #2)
Be sure you can articulate why they should pay you more
Can you provide quantified reasons why youre worth
more than they are offering?
Postpone the discussion (Rule #3)
Postpone any discussion of salary until you have an
offer. If they ask you What kind of salary are you
looking for?, stall them:

Salary is important to me, but not the most important
thing. If we both think that this job is a good fit , Im
sure salary wont be an issue. Could we talk a little
more about my qualifications and then come back to
the salary question?

If they press you
Smile, and say something like:

I would like to know a little bit more about the
position and the responsibilities in order to give you
an honest answer. May I ask you how you would
define success for this position?
If they still insist
Simply say,

Im only looking for something that is
competitive for someone with my background
and experience. Have you established a range
for this position?

Of course they have, and they will probably tell you what it is
And then
If the amount is in your range, take the top of
their range and make it the bottom of your range
and say, Thats very close to what I was looking
for. I was looking for something in the $40-
45,000 dollar range. OR

If the amount is in your range, look them in the
eye and repeat the top of the range and then
shut up. Dont say a word. Silence is one of the
most powerful negotiating tactics.
Another one of their tricks
Sometimes the interviewer will ask you what your
current salary is. Say something like:

Im currently making in the mid thirties, but Im really
looking for something that is more challenging with
more responsibilities. Thats what attracted me to this
position. I feel that Im more than ready for a job like
this and know I can make a difference. Have you
established a range for this position?
Or
My past position is very different from this one in so
many ways. It would be like apples to oranges. Im
attracted to this position because it has so many more
challenges and responsibilities. Have you established
a range for this position?
If you are still far apart, try to change the job
description and identify new responsibilities
that would justify a higher salary.
Other possible compensation
Relocation expenses
Tuition reimbursement
Additional vacation or personal time
Bonuses
Memberships
Severance package
Insurance

Remember

Keep all of these discussions cordial-- not
adversarial
They want you; at this stage, they dont want their
second choice or have to re-open the search
Bulls win
Bears win
Pigs lose


Heres something to try
If you are convinced that they really cant go
any higher on the starting salary and you really
want the job, say something like:

I really want this position and I know that you
will be more than satisfied with my
performance. The only thing that causes me
any hesitation in accepting is that I was looking
for slightly more in a starting salary. Could we
agree on a set of goals to be accomplished in
the first six months, and if they are reached, my
salary would be raised to $XXXXX?
Tips
In the end,

What you want should be reasonable and based on
your research
Try to fill the gap between their offer and the number
you want
Talk about differences in terms of monthly salary
Think about compensation in broader terms than just
starting salary

Resources
www.quintcareers.com/salary_negotiation_tutorial.html
www.careergames.com
Interviewing and Salary Negotiation by Kate Wendleton
How To Make a $1000 a Minute by Jack Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=salary+
negotiations&search_type

The most important
question to ask
Do I have the job?
Not quite that bluntly, though
Say something like:

Ill be looking forward to your decision, and,
hopefully seeing you again OR

I would love to be part of your team. When should
I hear from you? OR

Im excited about the possibility of working for
you, and I know I can make a difference. Are you
at a point yet where you could offer me the job?
The Assessment Center
Interview
The Center is a process, not a place
Its a type of interview that really tries to see how you would
actually perform in typical situations that would come up in
the role for which you are applying
Much more stressful; hard to prepare for
Panel of experts evaluating your performance
Increasingly being used for positions such as Department
Head, Manager, or Director; rarely, if ever, used for entry
level positions
Youll know in advance that this is the type of interview that
will be used

Heres what a day might look like:
9:00am-9:15am Orientation
9:15am-10:15am In-box exercise
10:15am-11:15am Presentation; questions and answer
11:15am-11:30am Break
11:30am-12:15pm Psychological testing
12:15pm-1:30pm Lunch with group
1:30pm-1:45pm Given scenario description
1:45pm-2:30pm Role playing situation; other
participants know their role
2:30PM-3:30PM Questions and answers with panel
3:30pm Wrap-up
4:00pm THE END
So what do you do?
First, dont be applying for jobs that you have no business
applying for
Be sure youve done your research on the organization and
the position
Apply some of the principles we covered today, especially
during the question and answer portion of your interview
Always be asking yourself what are they looking for?
Do a google search using <assessment center interviews>
The Perfect Interview by John Drake, pp154-156
Three things that will kill you

A limp handshake
No eye contact
Arriving late
Check this fact out
The last person interviewed gets the job 58% of the time
The first person, 14% of the time
Other important things to know
The more you get the interviewer talking, the greater
your chances of getting the job

Non-smokers get the offer 94% of the time

First impressions are critical. The first 20 seconds
cant get you the job, but it can get you eliminated
from further consideration
More tips
You need a confident walk, a firm handshake, eye
contact, and a smile
Be personable, enthusiastic, and friendly
Try to mirror the interviewer
Speed read the individual: www.personalitytype.com
Be nice to the secretary and all other staff you meet
Dress neatly and in conservative business attire; arrive 5-
10 minutes ahead of time
Be sure you know how to get there, parking conditions,
location of the office, etc
Other tips
Avoid one word answers.
Anticipate reasons why they might feel that
youre not the exact person they want ; be
prepared to tell them something that
overcomes their reservations.
What about illegal questions?
Have questions to ask them-go to
google.com and use <interviewee
questions> as the keyword.


One more tip
Be sure to write a thank you note. You not only want to
thank them for the interview, but also want to restate
the case for why youre the right person. You have the
additional knowledge you gained through the
interview. Put it to work.
Last tip

Resources
Competency Based Interviews by Robin Kessler
Interviewing and Salary Negotiations by Kate Wendleton
Knock Em Dead by Martin Yate
101 Dynamite Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview by
Richard Fein
Hiring The Best by Martin Yate
The Perfect Interview by John Drake
www.job-interview.net/
www.careergames.com
www.vault.com
http://ahrma.jobing.com/
So it wont fall
in.




So, why is a manhole cover round?