NETWORKING &
INTERVIEWING SKILLS 101
Phyllis A. Scott
Corporate Recruiter
Geisinger Health System
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NETWORKING KEY POINTS
Why is someone from a healthcare
system here?
• Research - translational
• Clinical Innovations
• Biostatistics
• Bioinformatics
• Insurance Company – GHP
• Phenomics Data Analytics
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NETWORKING KEY POINTS
 What is Networking?
 Importance


Social Capital
Expanding your Social Capital
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NETWORKING
 Making connections
 Exchanging information, contacts, referrals, good
will, or services
 Building and cultivating mutually beneficial
relationships
 Facilitates making you an insider, not an outsider
 It is not selling nor using people for your gain
 Networking leads to new relationships, new
opportunities and greater accomplishments
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NETWORKING
 Stat News (www.statnews.com)
“Over the coming decades, many of the most
important stories in the world will come out of
life sciences. Our mission is to uncover and
follow the biggest stories rising out of this
sector. Major, untold stories will unfold on our
site, as we examine issues and questions that
affect every human being. There is simply not
enough coverage.” presently of these vital
matters. STAT launches now to do
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NETWORKING
 Stat News (www.statnews.com)
•In the Lab
•Money
•Politics
•Health
presently of these vital matters. STAT launches
now to do
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NETWORKING
• Relationships are catalysts for
success
• People do business with/hire those
they know, like and trust
• Relationships permit you to serve
as a resource/help others succeed
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NETWORKING
Social Capital

Mutually beneficial relationships build
Social Capital
the network of social connections that exists between
people, which enables and encourages mutually
advantageous social cooperation
 Unlike traditional forms of capital,
social capital is not depleted by use;
in fact it is depleted by non-use
("use it or lose it")
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NETWORKING
Using Social Capital
• Most job seekers tell a limited number of
individuals in their network that they are in a job
search
• Retention of that encounter is short lived and job
seekers quickly fall out of sight and out of mind
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NETWORKING
TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS JOB SEEKERS

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

must stay top of mind
remind their network of their search focus
post changes, promotions, achievements
highlight opportunities being considered
facilitate network to provide support
• Your networks are constantly bombarded with
information, and people seeking help
• You need to stand out, rise above the noise and remain
top of mind
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NETWORKING
Ultimately,
it’s not about who you know
... but WHO KNOWS YOU!!
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NETWORKING
• Learn dynamics, identify new careers,
and establish contacts within your
industry
• Get “plugged in” to your academic and
professional community
• Accelerate your professional
development
• Create your referral networks
• Facilitate win-win relationships
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NETWORKING
• Learn dynamics, identify new careers, and
establish contacts within your industry
1. Professional Society Websites
2. Employer of Choice Websites
3. Academic Department Websites
4. Linked-In Professional Group
Discussions and Announcements
5. Attend lectures and presentations
6. U-tube Professional Meetings
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NETWORKING
• Get “plugged in” to your academic and
professional community
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Build professional relationships online
Linked In, Twitter, Facebook – and make sure
that you keep your profiles up to date
Alumni Groups
Subscribe to professional website updates
Professional Association Websites
Professional Association Student Organizations
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NETWORKING
• Accelerate your professional development
1. Develop strong working relationships with
members of faculty who have contacts within your
industry of choice
2. Join Student Chapters of Professional
Associations
3. Attend Association Conventions, Meetings,
Presentations, Call for Papers
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NETWORKING
• Create your referral networks
1.
NEW IDEAS, NEW PEOPLE FOR A NEW YEAR
• Join a Student Chapter of a Professional
Association,
a local civic or service group, Non Profit or even a
Campus Service Organization that relates to your
field of study or enhances your academics,
• Surround yourself with new people. Infuse your
network with fresh relationships and expand your
circle of influence,
• If your Academic Advisor, Faculty, or Career
Services staff does not know you – run don’t walk
to remedy this
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NETWORKING
• Create your referral networks
1.
ATTEND RECRUITMENT AND ACADEMIC EVENTS OTHER
THAN JUST CAREER FAIRS:
• How did you get into your line of work?
• What about the profession interested you?
• What major changes do you foresee in your industry?
• What are the current trends?
• What have you found to be the best ways of connecting to other
recruiters/other Professors in this field?
• What are the best Graduate Programs in this field?
(Every question delivers an impression about you, so ask
questions that make you look smart, informed and concerned.)
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NETWORKING
• Facilitate win-win relationships
 Offer your assistance for the next event
Serve as host, set up/take down,
Check in attendees etc.
 Connect your connections
 Ask how you may help
Focus on building long-term relationships, not an
immediate transaction. People who invest the time to
forge relationships and build their social capital are
those who will ultimate succeed
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
 Interview formats
Phone Screens
2. Traditional One-on-One Interviews
3. Group or Panel Interviews
4. Phone/Video Interviews
1.
 Interview Questions
 Practice Your Answers
 Develop Your Questions
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• The phone interview
1.
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Screens candidates at a low cost/time effective manner
15-30 minutes in length/usually HR or Recruiter
Narrows the pool of candidates for in-person
interviews
Confirms your qualification; checks salary
expectations
Use a landline, or stay in one place
Interview in a quiet space with limited distractions and
noise
Enunciate and speak clearly. Try smiling as you speak.
Your answers will come across more positively
Clarify any questions when you are unsure of the
meaning.
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Traditional in person one to one interview
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Allows employers to get to know you on an individual level
and ask more specific questions
These are most often performed by the decision maker, which
is potentially your boss and coworkers
They're going to be concerned with how well you're going to
fit in and you're going to support them in their jobs
You need to focus on non-verbal behaviors, like eye contact,
tone of voice, and body language. Body language may vary
based on the country
Dress the part. You want them to see you as a potential
coworker
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Group or Panel Interviews
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Allows the employer to save time and also get multiple opinions
Each individual on the panel will have a different perspective
Try to understand how their position relates to the one to which you
are applying
Body language is still important
Make your introductions count, make eye contact and use their names,
include quieter people in the conversation by asking their opinion
Remember, they're evaluating your interaction, so be sure to listen and
engage where appropriate
You will want to make eye contact again with everyone at some point
in the conversation
Finally, ask for business cards from everyone on the panel for proper
follow up
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Phone video interview
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Allows the employer to cut down on travel and cost
Follow the same advice as the traditional on-site
interview
Test run the equipment well before the interview
Arrive early so you can make any adjustments to
lighting or appearance prior to the interview or coming
online
Use the selfie mode so you know how you appear
Make sure your environment looks clean,
professional, and there are no immediate distractions
in the area
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Behavioral Questions
The concept is to use your past behavior to predict
your future behavior
2. It will often take the form of, tell me about a time, or
give me an example, to allow you to draw upon
your past experiences to show your skills and
knowledge
3. For example, tell me about a time when you had to
meet a deadline, and you didn't meet expectations.
Or, give me an example of a time when you
innovated on a project.
1.
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• SAR METHOD
• You will score the highest on behavioral questions if your
answers follow Situation – Action – Results (SAR)
• Describe the situation, explain your actions, and state the
results.
• Tell me about a time when you managed a project with team
members from other departments and faced a challenge
• .
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
•
1.
2.
•
1.
2.
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Situation:
When I was with my former company I managed a project that involved representatives from sales,
marketing and an outside agency.
Our goal was to increase the market share for one of our existing products.
Action:
So I used the project plan that I built into a spreadsheet that listed all the tasks and the time frame for
when those tasks were due.
And I also listed the people who were responsible for each task.
And then, I set up semi-weekly meetings for the project team to review all action items that were due.
There was one member of the sales team that was constantly late with his projects.
So I scheduled a one on one meeting with him to determine what was preventing him from completing
his projects on time.
And I also explained to him that the whole project was going to fall behind if he kept missing his due
dates.
And as it turns out, we were near the end of the quarter and he was behind on his sales quota. So he
was focusing all of his attention on sales.
I asked if there was anything I can do to help you , or if there's someone else in the sales department
who could assist. Now in the end there was a sales administrator who actually helped him complete his
project.
• Result:
1.
We were able to develop an effective action plan which resulted in an increase of market share by 20%on this
product
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Case or Situational Questions
The purpose is to evaluate your problem solving
and analytical abilities.
2. It will often take the form of, how would you, or
what would you do? Your answer shows how you
would approach a problem, or a work situation, and
allows them to see how you think on your feet
3. For example, how would you change our website?
Or, what would you do if you had an angry client?
1.
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Resume Based Questions
The purpose is to gain more information on
experiences you have highlighted and confirm
the depth of your skills and knowledge.
2. They'll ask you direct questions from your
resume. So you'll need to be able to expand on
it in detail.
3. For example, you mentioned in your resume
that you have HTML experience. Can you tell
me where you've used this?
1.
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
Practice, Practice, Practice
• Practicing for the interview helps you feel
confident not stressed out about what
you're going to say
• You'll want to mirror an actual interview as
closely as possible
• Set up a space that is conducive to
interviews
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Dress the part, and have a friend or
family member play the part of the
interviewer.
• You may also create flashcards that will
allow you to shuffle them and be
comfortable answering in any order.
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
Your Turn To Ask Questions
1.
You'll want to make sure that it is the right
organization and role for you.
1.
Asking questions confirms your interest in
the company, and may be used to make you
stand out in the interview process.
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Ask about the organization. Demonstrates interest
• Ask about the history of the position. Gains insight
into the organization and the potential for
advancement
• Ask about the job responsibilities. Gain
understanding of the position
• Ask about the expectations of the position. See how
you'll be evaluated
• Finally, ask what the next steps are in the process.
This is important so you know when to follow up
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INTERVIEWING TIPS
• Bizarre Questions
1.
2.
3.
Brainteasers. For instance, how many airplanes are in
the sky right now? The goal of the interviewer is not to
get the right answer from you, but to see how you think
through the situation.
Testing your knowledge and skills. For instance, if you
were interviewing for a sales position, someone might
say to you, sell me this pen.
Questioning fit. For instance, if you were a tree, what
would you be? In an entrepreneurial setting you may
want to be fast growing like bamboo. But in a
conservative banking environment you may want to be a
solid hardwood tree like an oak.
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NETWORKING AND INTERVIEWING
 It is not so much Who you Know,
but WHO KNOWS YOU!
 Get Connected, Stay Connected,
REPEAT
 You get one chance to make a good
impression – prepare for interviews
NETWORKING &
INTERVIEWING SKILLS 101
Phyllis A. Scott
Corporate Recruiter
Geisinger Health System
pascott@geisinger.edu