Earning the Interview
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Top quality résumé & cover letter
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Use a professional voicemail message and email
address
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What’s on your FACEBOOK?
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Reply promptly to messages from potential employers
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Networking!
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Are you on LinkedIn?
www.svsu.edu/careers
Boston Marathon bombing
victim Halloween costume
makes Michigan woman
target on social media
A photograph posted to Alicia Lynch's
Twitter account, @SomeSkankinMI, shows
the Michigan woman wearing an SVSU race
shirt with fake scars on her legs. The
photograph has gained national attention and
led to death threats following the costume
tweet.
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/inde
x.ssf/2013/11/boston_marathon_bombing
_victim.html
Manage your online presence
Common Dress Code Mistakes
(Page 20) WOMEN
MEN
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suits that don’t fit properly
and are wrinkled
mismatched socks
mismatched belt and shoes
facial hair that is not
trimmed or shaven properly
inappropriate ties
strong scented cologne
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skirts that are too short
strong scented perfume
too much make-up
no hosiery with skirts
lack of hygiene
improper jewelry
large, mismatched purse
Don’t be THAT person!
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“Business Casual” vs. “Professional”
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Males – It’s all about the suit
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Preparation before the Interview
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Research the organization
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Internet – how do they present themselves?
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Contact HR for company packet
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Assess culture through current employees
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Prepare copies of résumé
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Select or purchase proper attire
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Develop sample questions and answers
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Videotape practice interview
www.svsu.edu/careers
General Rules of Ettiquette
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Firm handshake
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Eye contact
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Posture and grace
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Do not sit until offered a seat
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Greet everyone you meet with a smile, introduction &
handshake
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Treat everyone as though they are a decision maker
www.svsu.edu/careers
Interview Process
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Step 1: Introductory State
 First impressions are made
 Building a rapport
Step 2: Review your qualifications
 30 Second Pitch
 Focus on your strengths & skills
 Use your research and establish that you are a good
fit in their culture
 Give concise and thorough responses
www.svsu.edu/careers
Interview Process
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Step 3: Matching
 Will you fit in the corporate culture
 Are you coach-able
 Do you have the passion and drive to be successful in
the position
 Interviewer may explain job in detail
Step 4: Conclusion
 Ask questions and discuss selection timeline
 Collect business cards for writing thank you notes
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Types of Interview Questions
1. Traditional
2. Behavioral
3. Situational
4. Experiential
www.svsu.edu/careers
Traditional Questions
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Common interview questions
“Tell us a little bit about yourself.”
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
“If you were a type of salad dressing, what
one would you be?”
 Describe yourself with 30 second pitch
 Clear, concise and thorough
 Describe thought process when necessary
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Behavioral Interviewing
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Question about something that happened
Past actions are predictors of future behavior
“Describe a time when you had to work in a team
environment.”
“Tell me about a time you had to deal with a co-worker
who didn’t complete their ‘fair share’ of the workload
Be specific: “A time” is one event
www.svsu.edu/careers
Situational Interviewing
 Hypothetical circumstances
 Predictor about how you would handle an event if it
actually happened
 “What would you do if you had a dispute with a coworker?”
 “How would you handle a client who is upset with the
organization?”
 Tell a story of anecdote if one is available
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Experiential Interviewing
 Experience with a certain task
 “Have you ever completed a security audit?”
 “What type of experience do you have managing
others?”
 “Have you ever completed a SOP?”
 Be thorough and specific
 Elaborate upon the depth of your experience
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S.T.A.R Approach
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Situation
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Task
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Share more details about the problem, challenge, or task that you
needed to address
Action
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Briefly provide a broad description of the background where your
example is taking place
Describe several possible courses of action and explain why the one
you chose was best. Give details that illustrate what you were like in
action
Result
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Analyze the outcome of your action and the resolution of the situation.
Indicate whether or not you would follow the same course in the future
www.svsu.edu/careers
Steps for Managing an Interview
Interact with the entire panel
1.
Make direct eye contact with the individual asking the
question
2.
Begin by directly responding to the interviewer
3.
Make eye contact with remaining panel members as
you answer
4.
Finish response with initial interviewer
www.svsu.edu/careers
Resources available from Career Services
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Resume and cover letter building and critiques
Online Tutorials
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Resume, Cover Letter, Interviewing, Job Search Strategies
Mock interviews and interview coaching
Network development
Career fairs on campus exclusively for SVSU students to
network with potential employers
Internship/Co-op advising
Job search strategies
Developing personal brand
On-campus student employment
www.svsu.edu/careers
THANK YOU
mmajor@svsu.edu
989.964.7130
www.svsu.edu/careers
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