Interviewing Desiree Galenti & Beilee Tracey

Important Points to consider about your resume:
Bring hard copies of your resume to the interview
Be CLEAR, CONCISE and CONSISTENT
Tailor your resume to the specific job you are interviewing for
Make sure you highlight the accomplishments that are most relevant to the position you are applying for
Make sure your resume accurately represents your abilities and accomplishments The Résumé You should look at your resume as a test!<br>

The Résumé Should contain
Contact information (email, alternative phone- current!!)
Your Graduation Date
Your GPA
Pertinent Classes
Projects related to career path
Remember to list your role in the team: i.e.: Team Lead
Internships (paid and unpaid)
Technical skills
Student Organizations- can list under extra-curricular section
Showcase your accomplishments NOT your tasks!
Tailor your résumé
Have several versions
Make it scannable-
Do not get fancy i.e.: type setting
Bullets
Underlining
Have your resume reviewed for errors<br>

Interview Preparation Research industry
Research the company
Research the position
Know who you will be meeting with & their role in the company
Come up with sample questions and formulate potential answers
Practice in front of a mirror
Have a friend/family member practice interview you<br>

Interview Preparation cont. Career Center-Mock Interviews
Formulate a set of questions that you can ask of the interviewers
MapQuest and drive the route
Bring all needed documents to fill out an application (former work history, addresses, names etc)<br>

What to Wear for Women KNOW THE INDUSTRY ATTIRE
Manufacturing
Government
Entertainment
Slacks vs. Skirts?
Blouses-necklines
Shoes- closed toe, low heeled
Conservative makeup
Hair color
Minimal jewelry
What about body piercing and tattoos?
Perfume Your appearance makes your first impression<br>

What to Wear for Men KNOW THE INDUSTRY ATTIRE
Manufacturing
Government
Entertainment
Pressed Suits
Shined Shoes
NO WHITE SOCKS
Hair color
Cologne
Jewelry
Piercing and tattoos<br>

Types of Interviews Phone Screening
Preliminary interview stage
Usually conducted by recruiter
Used to develop applicant pool
Surface level
Necessary to advance to on-site
On-Site Interviewing
Secondary interview stage
Conducted by one or more hiring managers and/or HR
More in depth
Can include site tour and/or lunch
Be prepared to “sell” your skills
& back up your resume<br>

Systemic Format for Conducting Interviews Interview Steps
Preparing for the Interview
3-4 minutes
Breaking the ice:
2-3 minutes
Asking questions/verifying information:
14-17 minutes
Answering questions/Promoting organization to qualified candidates
6-8 minutes
Closing the interview
1-2 minutes
Evaluating/Recording Information
3-4 minutes Interviewer Tasks
Review candidate’s resume
Identify areas to explore
Make candidate comfortable
Set a relaxing tone
Extract job-related information
Verify unclear items on resume

Answer candidate’s questions
Promote organization
Present realistic picture
Discuss next steps
Bring interview to an end
Compare candidates qualifications
Record information accurately<br>

Phone Interviewing Keep four things in mind
Get their attention
Generate interest
Create a desire to know more about you
Make the representative take action!

Tips
Find a QUIET area/room and turn off all distractions
DO NOT ANSWER the other line or your cell phone
Communication Style-do not become familiar with the person
Let representative do most of the talking- take notes
Have résumé laid in front of you
Dress as if you are doing a face to face
Ask for the next step in the process<br>

In Person Interview Call to confirm you have the correct address, date, time and spelling of interviewers name.
Bring extra résumés (these can be your fancy version)
Fill out application accurately
If you sent ahead, bring a completed printed copy
Let the interviewer lead the conversation
Look directly at the person that asked the question.
Panel interview- start with person that asked question and end with that person
Do not make derogatory remarks about past experiences/ employers/team members
Avoid self-serving questions
Do not take your cell phone into the interview
Have 3-5 prepared questions
About the position/company/training
Don’t linger
Send a THANK-YOU – email or card<br>

In Person Interviewing-cont’d Body Language
Learn to control negative body movements
Firm Handshake
Taking your seat
Personal zone
Eye contact
Acknowledging you are listening
Smile
Hands- keep them under control
Hold onto something<br>

Behavior-based interviewing WHAT IS IT?
Behavior based interviewing focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are job related.
Based on the belief that past behavior and performance predicts future behavior and performance.
Use work experience, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, school projects, family life - anything really - as examples of your past behavior.
Be prepared to give specific examples
Looking to assess your past performances<br>

Behavioral Interviewing cont. How Can I Best Answer Behavior-Based Questions?
Think of "PAR for the Course". A complete answer to a behavior-based question must explain the task or problem for which you were responsible, the specific action you took, and the results of your actions. Your answer must contain all of these components to be a PAR answer. Tell the interviewer a "story" (with a beginning, a middle, and an end) about how you used a practical skill.
Problem (P) -- Advertising revenue was falling off for the Daily News and large numbers of long-term advertisers were not renewing contracts.
Action (A) -- I designed a new promotional packet to go with the rate sheet and compared the benefits of DN circulation with other ad media in the area. I also set-up a special training session for the account executives with a College of Business professor who discussed competitive selling strategies.
Result (R) -- We signed contracts with fifteen former advertisers for daily ads and five for special supplements. We increased our new advertisers by twenty percent (quantities are always good) over the same period last year.<br>

Practice Questions Describe a situation where your work/idea was criticized
Have you ever had any confrontations with a teammate
Have you done the best work you are capable of doing
Tell me something you are not very proud of
How did you get your summer jobs
What type of position are you interested in
What do you know about our company
Why did you choose the college you decided to attend
What are your biggest accomplishments
Can you work under pressure
What are your outstanding qualities
Why should I hire you over the other candidates<br>

Practice Questions cont. What was the most challenging part of your internship
What exactly do you mean when you say you want a position that challenges you
What would your references say
In what way, has your education prepared you for this position
Why do you want to work for this industry
Do you have any questions
You should be prepare to ask 3-5 career related questions
Training
Continuing education
Mobility in the company
Are there any concerns you have regarding my background that I can clarify- your chance to resell your self<br>

Ten factors being assessed Energy, drive, initiative
Trend of performance
Comparability of past accomplishments
Experience, education, industry background
Problem solving and thinking skills Overall talent, technical competency
Management and organizational skills
Team leader/motivate others
Character-values, commitment, goals
Personality/culture fit<br>

Where to look for guidance Career Center on Campus
Remember to have them check your resume
mock interviews
Career Fairs
Target those companies that you want to talk to-know something about them
Direct Research
Search companies profiles
Resume Databases
i.e.: www.monster.com; www.hotjobs.com
Newspapers
Thousands of overlooked opportunities since the web
Employment Agencies
Make sure that they are the correct service for your specialty
References
Go back to those that know you well
Networking/Professional Associations
Back to not what you know but who you know<br>

Additional Resources Hire With Your Head: A rational way to make a gut decision
by Lou Adler
Knock “em Dead 2004
by Martin Yate
The Everything Etiquette Book
by Nat Segaloff
NACE’s Guide to Interviewing College Students
www.naceweb.org<br>