Preparing for Interviews Part 1 Resources: • TED TALKS • YOUTUBE VIDEOS RELEVANT TO THE FIELD • An employment interview is a meeting during which both you and the prospective employer ask questions and exchange information. The employer’s objective is to find the best talent to fill available job openings, and your objective is to find the right match for your goals and capabilities. • During the screening stage of interviews, use the limited time available to confirm your fit for the position. • During the selection stage, con- tinue to show how your skills and attributes can help the company. • During the final stage, the inter- viewer may try to sell you on working for the firm. • Structured Versus unstructured interviews • A structured interview follows a set sequence of questions, allow- ing the interview team to compare answers from all candidates. • In an open-ended interview, the interviewer adapts the line of questioning based on your responses and questions. • In a panel interview, you meet with several interviewers at once.13 Try to make a connection with each person on the panel, and keep in mind that each person has a different perspective, so tailor your responses accordingly.14 For example, an upper-level manager is likely to be interested in your overall business sense and strategic perspective, whereas a potential colleague might be more interested in your technical skills and ability to work in a team. • In a group interview, one or more inter- viewers meet with several candidates simultaneously. A key purpose of a group interview is to observe how the candidates interact.15 Group interviews can be tricky because you want to stand out while coming across as a supportive team player. Be sure to treat your fellow candidates with respect, while looking for opportunities to demonstrate the depth of knowledge you have about the company and its needs. • In a behavioral interview, you are asked to describe how you han- dled situations from your past. • To prepare for a behavioral interview, review your work or college experiences to recall several instances in which you demonstrated an important job-related attribute or dealt with a challenge such as uncooperative team members or heavy workloads. Get ready with responses that quickly summarize the situ- ation, the actions you took, and the outcome of those actions. • In situational interviews, you’re asked to explain how you would handle various hypothetical situations. • In a working interview, you per- form actual work-related tasks. • Stress interviews help recruit- ers see how you handle yourself under pressure. • If you find yourself in a stress interview, recognize what is happening and collect your thoughts for a few seconds before you respond. • Employers expect serious candidates to demonstrate an understanding of the company’s operations, its markets, and its strategic and tactical challenges. • learning about the company and the job opening, try to find out as much as you can about the manag- ers who will be interviewing you, if you can get their names. Search LinkedIn in particular. What Are Employers Looking For? • Suitability for a specific job is judged on the basis of such fac- tors as • Academic preparation • Work experience • Job-related personality traits • Compatibility with an organi- zational culture and a position is judged on such factors as per- sonal background, attitudes, and communication style. Points To Learn about Organization • Full name • ●● Location (headquarters and divisions, branches, subsidiaries, or other units) • ●● Ownership (public or private; whether it is owned by another company) • ●● Brief history • ●● Products and services • ●● Industry position (whether the company is a leader or a minor player; whether it is an innovator or more • of a follower) • ●● Key financial points (such as stock price and trends, if a public company) • ●● Growth prospects (whether the company is investing in its future through research and development; • whether it is in a thriving industry) What and from where to learn about the job? • Company website, blogs, and social media accounts: Overall information about the company, including key executives, products and services, locations and divisions, employee benefits, job descriptions • ●● Competitors’ websites, blogs, and social media accounts: Similar information from competitors, includ- ing the strengths these companies claim to have • ●● Industry-related websites and blogs: Objective analysis and criticism of the company, its products, its reputation, and its management • ●● Marketing materials (print and online): The company’s marketing strategy and customer communication style • ●● Company publications (print and online): Key events, stories about employees, new products • ●● Your social network contacts: Names and job titles of potential contacts within a company • ●● Periodicals (newspapers and trade journals, both print and online): In-depth stories about the company • and its strategies, products, successes, and failures; you may find profiles of top executives • ●● Career center at your college: Often provides a wide array of information about companies that hire • graduates • ●● Current and former employees: Insights into the work environment Points to learn about the Position • Title • ●● Functions and responsibilities • ●● Qualifications and expectations • ●● Possible career paths • ●● Salary range • ●● Travel expectations and opportunities • ●● Relocation expectations and opportunities Common Interview Questions 1. What is the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Be prepared with a good example (that isn’t too personal), explaining why the decision was difficult, how you made the choice you made, and what you learned from the experience. 2. ●● Whatisyourgreatestweakness?Thisquestionseemstobeafavoriteofsomeinter- viewers, although it probably rarely yields useful information. One good strategy is to mention a skill or attribute you haven’t had the opportunity to develop yet but would like to in your next position.30 Another option is to discuss a past shortcoming you took steps to correct. • ●● Where do you want to be five years from now? This question tests (1) whether you’re merely using this job as a stopover until something better comes along and (2) whether you’ve given thought to your long-term goals. Your answer should reflect your desire to contribute to the employer’s long-term goals, not just your own goals. Whether this question often yields useful information is also a matter of debate, but be prepared to answer it.31 Common Interview Questions • What didn’t you like about previous jobs you’ve held? Answer this one carefully: The interviewer is trying to predict whether you’ll be an unhappy or difficult employee.32 Describe something that you didn’t like in a way that puts you in a positive light, such as having limited opportunities to apply your skills or education. Avoid making negative comments about former employers or colleagues. • ●● Tell me something about yourself. One good strategy is to briefly share the “story of you” (see page 563)—quickly summarizing where you have been and where you would like to go—in a way that aligns your interests with the company’s. Alternatively, you can focus on a specific skill you know is valuable to the company, share something business-relevant that you are passionate about, or offer a short summary of what colleagues or customers think about you.33 Whatever tactic you choose, this is not the time to be shy or indecisive, so be ready with a confident, memorable answer.
