Preparing for the
Employment Interview
Identify the #1 Obstacle to Your
Getting a Job
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Write it down on the paper in front of you,
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Then ………………
Agenda
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The Resume
Scheduling the Interview
What you should know before the interview
What is your goal in the interview? Developing Your
Interview Strategy.
Questions your interviewer may ask you
Questions to ask your interviewer
Body Language Cues
The Interview
Do’s and Don’ts
10 Biggest Job Interview Blunders
Invest in Yourself and Keep Yourself Up-to-Date
The Resume
A good resume will not get you a job offer but will help
get you an interview.
Some tips:
Important, but not critical, to limit the resume to one
page
Chronological order by job, most recent job first
Don’t go back more than 15 years unless to show experience or
skills critical to job being applied for
Focus on job functions, responsibilities and accomplishments
that align with job being applied for. Don’t just describe
activities.
Be specific, where possible- increased sales X%, managed Y
people, reduced expenses $Z.
Use short, descriptive phrases, not extensive and wordy text
What you should know before the
interview
•What position are you interviewing for?
•Who is the employer? What industry, size, history?
•Who will be interviewing you? Human Resources, your
manager, co-worker?
•Research the company and industry. Read the company’s
mission statement.
What is your goal in the interview?
Developing Your Interview Strategy
•You must understand the objective you want to achieve.
•Market yourself- you are the “product” you want your prospective
employer to invest in. You will help solve the company’s problem.
Focus on how the company will benefit by hiring you, not how you
will benefit.
•What are the most important 3, 4, 5+ aspects of your character,
abilities, talents and skills (CATS)? Are they critical for the job?
CATS Inventory
My CATS
CATS Interviewer
Desires
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
Do your CATS equal or exceed the CATS
required for the job?
Tips for Answering Questions
Try to use the key words when describing your
skills –
accountable, responsible, reliable, honest, committed,
dedicated, hard-working, loyal, team player, trustworthy, wellorganized, quick learner, persistent, creative, innovative,
resourceful, pro-active, flexible, adaptable, competitive, like to be
challenged, multi-tasker, responsive, decisive, problem solver,
experienced, goal-oriented, drive for results, handle ambiguity,
meet deadlines, leadership qualities, detail-oriented, tactful, selfconfident.
Give examples from your employment history
and experience to support your response.
SAY
Your Interview Strategy
S-promote your SKILLS
A- validate your skills with ACTUAL examples
Y- focus on how to help YOU (the employer)
Questions Your
Interviewer May
Ask You
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General Questions
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Anything on your resume.
3. How will this company benefit by hiring you?
4. Why do you want to work at this company?
5. What in your experience indicates you are a
good candidate for this job?
General Questions (cont.)
6. What do you hope to find out during the
interview process that will help you decide
whether you want to work at this company?
7. What do you feel is your greatest
accomplishment? Why?
8. What are your strongest job-related
skills?
9. What job-related skill do you feel is
your greatest development
opportunity?
General Questions (cont.)
10. What attracts you to this type of work?
11. What motivates you to do a good job?
12. What do you do outside work?
13. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
14. Why should we select you over other top
candidates?
Job-Related Questions
1. What do you think this job entails and what
might you like or dislike about the work.
2. How would you respond to a customer, client, or
employee who complains to you
3. How would you respond to a co-worker who
complains to you about a manager or company
policies or procedures?
Job-Related Questions (cont.)
4. You have an employee who doesn’t appear to be
working hard. How do you motivate that employee
to improve performance?
5. How do you handle “constructive criticism”
given to you?
Job-Related Questions (cont.)
Questions about Your Previous Job
6. Describe a conflict you had with a colleague and
how you resolved it.
7. Tell me about a time you saw room for
improvement in some area of your work or a
process that could be more efficient. How did you
make the necessary changes?
Job-Related Questions (cont.)
8. Describe a time when you had 2 bosses telling
you to do conflicting tasks. How did you handle
it?
9. Tell me about a time where your job required
you to do a task that you did not know how to do.
How did you get it done?
Job-Related Questions (cont.)
10. How did you handle criticism from your boss?
Did you welcome feedback and discussion about
your job performance?
11. Did you ever hire or fire anyone?
12. What didn’t you like about your previous job?
Job-Related Questions
(cont.)
13. Tell me about a difficult situation you
encountered at school or at a previous job
and how did you resolve it.
14. Tell me something you failed at and what
you learned from that failure.
Questions to Ask
Your Interviewer
Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
1. What are the top three tasks you want me to
perform after being hired?
2. Why did you choose this company and why do
you like working here?
3. Is there room for growth and advancement?
4. What advice do you wish you had received when
you started working here?
Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
(cont.)
5. Where do you think this company will be in 5-10
years?
6. Are there opportunities for professional training
or further education so that I can be a more effective
employee?
7. How will I be evaluated and by whom?
8. What is the general culture of the company?
Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
(cont.)
9. Are there other job responsibilities not
mentioned in the ad?
10. Do you have a mentoring program?
Volunteering program?
11. What do you expect me to accomplish short
term and long term?
Questions to Ask Your
Interviewer
(cont.)
12. When will you be making a decision on the
successful candidate?
13. May I call you if other questions arise?
More Interview
Tips
Body Language
The unconscious outward reflection of
internal feelings
The Definitive Book of Body Language – Allan And
Barbara Pease
The Body Language Cues
Your Cues
Make a good first impression
Use the interviewer’s name
Make and keep eye contact.
Lean slightly forward when speaking
Sit facing the interviewer.
Don’t cross legs (men) or fold arms
Nod your head
The Interviewer’s Cues
Impatience
Lack of interest and focus
The Interview
Let interviewer complete question.
Respond and react to what the interviewer says
Don’t interrupt.
Be enthusiastic and energetic.
Talk as if you’re going to work for a long time
Are you passionate about something on your
resume?
Part-time job, accomplishment? Show passion
when discussing it.
Do’s
< Do be nice to the receptionist
< Do shine your shoes
< Do turn off your cell phone
< Do have extra copies of your resume
< Do send a “thank you” note or email
within a day of the interview
Don’ts
= Don’t be late
= Don’t dress casually, unless told
beforehand (don’t ask)
= Don’t take notes during the interview
= Don’t ask about benefits in the first
interview
= Don’t order spaghetti at a lunch interview
Top 10 Interview
Mistakes
Top 10 Interview Mistakes
10. Criticizing your previous
boss
9. Not showing energy and
enthusiasm
8. Not researching the company
interviewing you
Top 10 Interview Mistakes
(cont.)
7. Talking too much about what
you want and not how you will
benefit the company
6. Not rehearsing answers to
tough questions
Top 10 Interview Mistakes
(cont.)
5. Not differentiating yourself
from your competition
4. Thinking you have all the
answers
3. Not making a good first
impression
Top 10 Interview Mistakes
(cont.)
2. Going to the interview without
a strategy as to how you will
get the job
1. Not being prepared
Invest in Yourself
Keep yourself up-to-date
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Professional, industry journals
Webcasts
Books, tapes
Seminars, lectures
Internships
Adult education courses
Organization memberships
Certifications
Pursue outside interests
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Hobbies, volunteering
Final, Pre-Interview Checklist
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Do I have my strategy clear – do I know what to
SAY?
Am I confident and prepared??
Do I look professional?
Is my energy level up?
Am I ready to make a great first impression?
Summary
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Develop your strategy
CATS inventory – 3-5+ critical CATS
Just SAY it!
Practice for the tough ones
Use the key words
Avoid the Interview Mistakes
Do’s and Don’ts
Invest in yourself
Ask for the job
Remember: