The Interview Process
By: Stat 590 class of 2015
Spring
THE STEPS:
The phone interview
 The Video interview
 On-site interview
 Post interview negotiations
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THE PHONE INTERVIEW
Preparing for it and some tips
WHY PHONE INTERVIEW
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Employers usually have far more qualified candidates
than they can interview, so they'll look for ways to narrow
down that pool.
If you sound low-energy, unfriendly, distracted, or simply
unprofessional, or if you chronically interrupt or don't
communicate clearly, they'll put you straight into the
"no" pile.
So make sure you put your best game face on for this
very vital interview
Step 1: Phone Interview Research
o Find the resume that you used to apply for the job
o Find the job description you originally applied to
o Ask the hiring manager how long the interview will take
o Print out lists of possible interview questions: many online sources
o Research the company again
SOME STANDARD INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
Describe your strengths
 Describe your weaknesses
 How well can you multi-task
 How well you react in unfavorable circumstances
 How well do you handle stress
 Are you a team player
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Most interviewers ask these questions on top of
technical questions.
Step 2: Create a Work Station
o Choose a quiet home space
o Arrange to take the call from a land line
o Place the documents you just prepared on a clean
space in front of you
o Keep a pen and paper nearby
o Place a clock nearby, so that you know how much
progress the interview has made in the allotted time
Step 3: Phone Interview
o Use the person's name several times during the call,
after they introduce themselves
o Dress up/ Smile increase self-confidence
o Avoid using tentative words and sounds, such as "like,"
"um," "kind of" and "maybe."
o Never answer a simple "yes" or "no"
o Ask about the next step.
THE VIDEO INTERVIEW
If you have aced your phone interview most people
want a video interview
RISE OF THE VIDEO INTERVIEW
1. REHEARSE BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
Give it a try with your friend or family
 Check the other side of the screen
 Check your internet connection
 Use an HD webcam and headphones
 Clean the camera lens
 Charge your batteries or use an outlet
 Keep your profile professional
 Practice sharing screen and sending files
 Close all the irrelevant programs
 DO NOT SURF WHILE INTERVIEWING
 TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF
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2. PREPARE THE ENVIRONMENT
Choose a quiet place
 Background matters: choose a BLANK
background
 Play with the light
 Turn off the sound and cover the lens until the
interview starts
 Prepare your notes
 HAVE YOUR NOTES HANDY BUT NOT
OBVIOUS
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3. DRESS UP
Dress from head to toe instead of head to waist
 Color
- Neither blend in nor conflict with the
background
 Pattern
- Avoid stripes or busy patterns
 Cover visible tattoos
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4. WATCH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE
“Digital handshake”
- “slow, confident, professional, firm nod with a
slight shoulder bend and eyes forward” (Paul Bailo)
 Sit up straight, relax your shoulders
 Keep eye contact
- Eyes on the camera!
 Lean forward, active listening
 Hand gestures
 Don’t forget to SMILE
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5. PLAN FOR TECH PROBLEMS
Address the problem the sooner the better
 Emergency plan
 ALWAYS SEND A THANK YOU LETTER
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THE ONSITE INTERVIEW
You are ALMOST there
THE NEXT STEP- THE ONSITE INTERVIEW
You are now almost there: you have the onsite
interview
 How to prepare for it?
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PREPARE
Conduct Research:
 Conducting plenty of research on the company
you’re applying with and the position it’s offering.
 Ask for your itinerary ahead so you prepare.
 In academia know names and research/teaching
interest of those who are interviewing you.
 Locate Sample Interview Questions:
 Take time to review those questions—and come
up with great answers
 Come up with questions you want to ask
 Practice before the big day
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CONFIDENCE BUILDING
The Confidence Mirror:
 “Attractive” job candidates get more offers and
make more money especially in industry
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Power posing:
 Try power posing before an interview will greatly
improve how you feel and appear to others.
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THE NEXT STEP: ON-SITE INTERVIEWS
ARRIVING
Choose an early flight
 Take luggage with you
 Be aware the travel time from airport to hotel
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PRE-INTERVIEW DINNER
Dress like a formal interview
 Order a light meal
 Remember it is a series of interviews, not a time to
relax or eat
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DRESSING FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
Err on the side of conservative
 Wear colors that suit you, you don’t have to wear
black
 Don’t try to be funny or cutesy – there is time for
that later
 Make sure the clothes are not a distraction – no
mini skirts, or clothes that are too tight
 Wear shoes that are polished and look good. Stay
away from tennis shoes
 Dress for the LEVEL you are interviewing. Don’t
wear a designer suit unless you are interviewing
for the CEO position.
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DAY OF INTERVIEWS
• Stay fresh and treat each meeting as a separate interview
• Send your presentation slides ahead
• Bring whatever you need WITH you as well
• Have plan B and plan C worked out in your head.
ATTITUDE AND PREPARATION
Focus on the positives
 Make eye contact and smile
 Be present:
 Connected and fully engaged in the process and
what you need to convey about yourself
 BELIEVE that you are right for the job and the
others will believe that too.
 While they are interviewing you, you are
interviewing them as well.
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DEPARTURE
Ask for timetable before leaving
 Thank-you letters to all pertinent individuals
 Make the letters personal and no form letter
 Leave a good impression of yourself
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THE BEST STEP OF ALL:
OFFERS AND NEGOTIATIONS
So they made you an offer what you do about that:
JOB OFFER
Notified by a phone call.
 Get all aspects of the offer in
writing.
 Components: salary, summer
support, course reductions,
research funds, office set up
budget, travel budget,…
 Benefits: Relocation, medical,
retirement plans, paid leaves, sign
on and annual bonus, stocks and
investment,…
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JOB OFFER
Once you have an offer, call other departments
you visited if they can match the offer.
 Serves as a good stimulus.
 Academic departments unlikely to match offers
from private sectors.
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EVALUATING YOUR JOB OFFER
Job Description
 Benefits and Salary Package
 The Work Week
 Flexibility
 Do You Like the Person Who Will be Your Boss?
 Location, Location, Location
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NEGOTIATING A JOB OFFER
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Don’t underestimate the importance of
likability.
Help them understand why you deserve
what you are requesting.
Make it clear that they can get you.
Understand the person across the table.
Understand their constraints.
Be prepared for tough questions.
Focus on the questioner’s intent, not the
questions.
Consider the whole deal.
Negotiate multiple issues
simultaneously, not serially.
Don’t negotiate just to negotiate.
AVOID THESE 10 SALARY NEGOTIATION
MISTAKES
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Settling / Not Negotiating
Revealing How Much You Would Accept
Focusing on Need/Greed Rather Than Value
Weak Research or Negotiation Preparation
Making a Salary Pitch Too Early
Accepting Job Offer Too Quickly
Declining Job Offer Too Quickly
Asking for Too Many Changes in Counteroffer
Taking Salary Negotiations Personally
Not Asking for Final Offer in Writing
REFERENCES
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Cawley, J. A guide to advice for economists on the U.S.
Junior academic job market. Department of Policy Analysis
and Management and Department of Economics, Cornell
University, NBER and IZA.
http://www.job-interview-site.com/salary-packageevaluating-job-offer-and-negotiating-your-salarypackage.html
https://hbr.org/2014/04/15-rules-for-negotiating-a-job-offer
http://www.quintcareers.com/salary_negotiation_mistakes.
html