Communicating for
Results
9e
8
The Employment
Interview
Key Ideas
•Methods for successful job
hunting
•Interview preparation
•Phases of an interview
•Suggestions for interviewers
Copyright Cengage © 2011
1
Consider this . . .
Interviews are one of the least efficient
forms of professional communication
available . . . However, most professionals
are willing to rely on such an admittedly
inefficient form of communication because
it is potentially one of the most efficient
forms available.
Skopec, Situational Interviewing, Harper & Row, 1986, p. 5
Copyright Cengage © 2011
2
RadioShack’s Resume Woes
Chris Gardner/Associated Press
CEO Case Study
What future policies could Radio Shack
implement to ensure resume inaccuracies don’t
occur in the future?
What are two advantages and disadvantages
of a Radio Shack company blog?
Why do you think Edmondson falsified
information on his resume?
Copyright Cengage © 2011
Preparing for the job Hunt
Investigate the employment market
Locate specific jobs of interest
Prepare a resume
Check resume for accuracy and honesty
Prepare a letter of application
Prepare for the interview
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Investigate Employment Market
Job-hunting success rates (in percentages) . . .
*10-20% in finance, health care, engineering, or IT
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Locate specific jobs of interest
Networking
The most successful job-hunting method
 Before a job interview, conduct 10-40 information
interviews
Information interviews provide:

Specific information
 Feedback
 Referrals
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6
Prepare a quality resume
Types of resumes include . . .
Conventional Paper resume
Scannable Resume
E-mail resume
Web Resume
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7
The conventional paper resume
Name, address, phone numbers
Objective or position desired
Education
Areas of knowledge
Job experience
Other information if shows character &
is job-related
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Types of paper resumes
Chronological
 Emphasizes work experience
Chronological order
Functional
Emphasizes skills rather than work experience
Downplays dates
Combination
Emphasizes specific skills
Chronological order
Brief look at education
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Scannable resume
Traditional resume
Altered to be computer-friendly
Used for online job-sites that electronically
scan resumes
Differs from conventional resume
Must be plainer and easier to be read by OCR
scanners
Add keyword summary of skills and
qualifications
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10
E-Mail resume
Also called an e-resume
Plain-text bare bones
Designed to be pasted into an email
message
Some companies don’t receive them
because of possibility of viruses
Does not take the place of a paper resume
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11
Web resume
Also called a web portfolio
Includes the following:
Name, e-mail address & objective/goal
A link to your professionally formatted resume
A link to multimedia (video clip or
PowerPoint)
Links to information that showcases
qualifications & abilities
Only job-related information
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Check resume for accuracy and honesty
Distorting content is unethical
Lying is illegal
Avoid the following:
Exaggeration - overstating facts
Distortion – misrepresenting facts
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Prepare a letter of application
Address to a specific person
Begin with greeting & position sought
Provide personal information and that
would be of interest to the employer
End by requesting interview
Give phone number and availability
Use correct grammar and style
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14
Prepare for the interview
Have a positive attitude
Create a positive impression
Engage in Impression Management
Communicate using impression-management
verbal comments
Manage verbal and nonverbal communication
Dress for the occasion
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Impression Management techniques
Describe self in a positive manner
Describe past events with positive
personal stories
Express opinions that agree with the
interviewer
Claim personal responsibility for
successful past events
Make statements that complement
company or interviewer
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Verbal communication
Variety in pitch, tempo and volume
Pleasant-sounding voice
Speak rapidly and confidently
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Nonverbal communication
Gesture and smile often
Look directly at the interviewer
Nod head in a positive manner
Lean forward while maintaining a natural
comfortable posture
Copyright Cengage © 2010
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Dress for the occasion
Table 8.1
Five common mistakes men and women make in dress and appearance
Men
Women
1. Clothes that don’t fit properly or are
wrinkled or dirty
1. Clothes that are ill fitting or
wrinkled
2. Shirts that fit too snugly at the collar
or around the waist
2. Clothing that is inappropriate
especially when too short or too
revealing
3. Hands, hair, or nails that are dirty
3. Too much perfume; too much or
too little makeup
4. Scuffed or the wrong color shoes;
white socks
4. Scuffed or inappropriate shoes
5. Cheap-looking tie or tie that is too
short
5. Inappropriate or too much jewelry
Source: R. J. Ilkka, 1995, “Applicant Appearance and Selection Decision Making: Revitalizing Employment Interview Education,”
Business Communication Quarterly, 58(3), pp. 11–18; Martin Yate, 2008, “Knock ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2009,” pp. 123-136.
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Types of Interviews
 The non-structured interview
 The structured interview
 The hostile or stress interview
 The group interview
 The video or virtual interview
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Planning answers to questions
Use technical jargon common in their
field.
Use active, positive, and concrete
language.
Support answers with specific examples,
Use humor when appropriate
Describe job weaknesses or physical
disabilities in a positive manner.
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21
Types of questions interviewers ask
Standard questions
Behavioral questions
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22
Sample Standard questions
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to leave your current job?
What salary are you expecting?
Where do you want to be five years from
now?
Describe yourself in three adjectives.
Why should we hire you over others
applying for this position?
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Sample Behavioral questions
Suppose you were given a project that required
you to interact with employees at all levels of the
organization. Select three levels and explain
specifically how you would communicate with
each level.
Tell me about a situation where you benefited
from a personal mistake.
Explain how you saw a new project through to
completion.
Suppose you had an important decision to make,
but the information to base it on was conflicting.
How would you handle the situation?
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Sample Questions to ask the interviewer
 How creative am I allowed to be on this job?
 Would the company support me if I went back to school?
 What is the typical career path of an individual entering the
organization at this level?
 What could I do or read while you are considering my
application that might help me on the job if I’m hired?
 How will my performance be measured by you and by
higher-ups?
 It’s been a pleasure meeting with you. Now that we’ve
talked, I really want this job. Can you tell me what the next
step will be?
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After the interview
Be prepared to follow-up
Send Thank-You Card and email
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Conducting an interview
 Show high levels of nonverbal immediacy
behaviors (discussed in Chapter 5), such
as eye contact and an open body posture.
Listen to interviewee answers and limit
the number of interruptions.
Ask open questions and allow sufficient
time to answer them.
Copyright Cengage © 2011
27
Conducting an interview
Get to know interviewee ahead of time
Plan the environment
Organize interview carefully
Plan each phase
Ask only lawful questions
Listen carefully to the interviewee
Clarify and verify verbal responses
Copyright Cengage © 2011
28
Communicating for
Results
9e
8
The Employment
Interview
Key Ideas
•Methods for successful job
hunting
•Interview preparation
•Phases of an interview
•Suggestions for interviewers
Copyright Cengage © 2011
29