Interviewing Success
Claiming your power in the interview
Presented by the Humphrey School Career Services Office:
Lynne Schuman, Director
Martha Krohn, Assistant Director
Interviewing Success - Agenda
1.
Measuring success
2.
Preparing, conducting, and following-up
3.
Using the power of story
4.
Common interview questions
5.
Questions that you ask
6.
Handling illegal questions
Measuring Success
Success for employer?
Success for candidate?
Interviewing in three steps:
1.
2.
3.
Prepare
Conduct
Follow-up
Prepare: The Employer’s Viewpoint
Why is this position important to the organization?
What are their needs?
How can I demonstrate that I meet those needs?
How can I address any concerns they might have?
Prepare: Content
“An interviewer controls the flow of the interview, but the
interviewee controls the content. “ H. Anthony Medley
Examples - that demonstrate your
accomplishments using skills and abilities
important to the employer
Answers - to common interview
questions
The question you hope they don’t ask
Questions for the organization
Preparing for Difficult Subjects:
Craft Good Answers
Welcome the question or acknowledge
the employer’s concern
Minimize concerns by briefly explaining
your solution
Tell employers what they gain by hiring
you - be specific
Be proactive if you can minimize a
problem by bringing it up
Prepare: Interview Formats
One-on-one interviews
Panel or group interviews
Phone interviews
Video interviews
Conduct: During the Interview
Strong
beginning, strong ending
Listen
Slow
down. Pause
Be professional in ALL interactions
Be wary of using humor
Interview Follow-Up
Two Types of Behavioral Questions
Behavioral - focused on past behavior
Situational – focused on future possible
behaviors
Using the Power of Story –
to demonstrate past behavior
Structure
=> S-A-R
◦ Situation – a specific situation in which you played a
significant role
◦ Action – or actions that YOU took
◦ Result – the good outcome that was a result of your
actions
Preparing S-A-R stories
Using position description, pick out
important skills, knowledge and duties
Prepare a S-A-R story for each relevant
quality you can claim
Practice telling these stories concisely
Teamwork Story
S: I was on a 4 person team in my Economic Development class.
One team member kept missing meetings and not keeping up her
part of the work.
A: I volunteered to talk to her. We met outside school & discussed
how things were going. She felt completely overwhelmed and unable
to keep up. We worked out a schedule for the project that felt
more realistic for her. In return, she promised to make the rest of
the meetings.
R: The team project came together in good time, and we presented
it to the class. The instructor gave us an A for the project and
complemented us on our smooth functioning as a team.
Other Common Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself.
Key:
Can the candidate sort and prioritize
information that is relevant to this job and this
organization?
Strategy: Often the first question – prepare a
strong response.
Give brief experience/education history,
emphasizing how it led you to your interest in
this career area/organization.
Questions
Why are you interested in this position?
Key:
◦ Do your interests mesh with the job?
◦ Will you stay engaged and interested?
◦ What do you have to give and what do you have to
gain?
Strategy: Prepare a brief explanation as to why your
background (experience, training, interests) makes this
position a logical one for you.
This is where you could address “overqualified”
concerns.
Questions
Where do you see yourself five years from
now?
Key:
◦ Is your future vision compatible with the
direction this job and this organization will
take you?
◦ Are you worth investing in or will you leave
quickly?
Questions
What is your greatest strength? Your greatest
weakness?
Key:
◦ Are you self-aware and analytic?
◦ Can you discuss strengths in a way that
relates them to the job to be done? (Can use
a S-A-R story to illustrate)
◦ Do you take responsibility for weaknesses,
problem solve and correct/mitigate them?
Selecting Your Weakness
Authentic
Generic, not personal
Not essential for this job
A problem that you are solving –
emphasize the solution in your answer
Asking YOUR questions
Fill in gaps in information
Learn organizational culture
Explore challenges and trends
Express interest in and knowledge of
their work
Clarify the hiring process and timelines
2/3rds of questions should be about the
work & organization
Handling illegal questions
Personal information not related to job
requirements
Areas to be aware of
National
origin/citizenship
Age
Marital/family status
Affiliations
Religious beliefs
Height/weight
Disability
Medical history
(physical or mental)
Arrest record
Military discharge
Responding : Your Choices
Answer the question, or
2. Refuse to answer the question, or
3. Answer the concern.
1.
Interviewing Well
“In my career I have interviewed a lot of
job candidates, and I can tell you the ones
who stand out – and get the jobs – are
those who project a clear sense of
themselves...”
James A. Johnson
2006 HHH Commencement Keynote Address
Other Resources on Interviewing
The Six Reasons You’ll Get The Job: MacDougall and
Sanders-Park, 2010. Looking at a position through the employer’s viewpoint.
Discusses the 6 areas that employers look for in a candidate, whether they know
it or not, and ways to demonstrate how you have them.
Sweaty Palms: H. Anthony Medley, 2005.
Going Global: Access through GoldPass.umn.edu – Online resource
on career opportunities around the world and how to secure them.
Ted Talk: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are by Amy Cuddy :
http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_ar
e.html
Quiet: Susan Cain, 2013. Subtitled “The Power of Introverts in a World That
Can't Stop Talking”
HHH Career Appointments: Meet with Lynne or Martha
for interviewing coaching or a mock interview: Go to hhh.umn.edu/career &
click on “Make An Appointment”
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