INTERVIEWING STRATEGIES
By Margaret Nichols, MA, LMHC, CPC
Executive Coach and Outplacement
Counselor
425-681-3815
coaching@att.net
REVIEW YOUR SAR’S
• SITUATION
• ACTION STEPS TO SOLVE THE SITUATION
• RESULTS – HOW DID THIS BENEFIT THE
COMPANY?
CHECKLIST FOR THE BIG DAY
• Dress appropriate to
company culture
• Bring a list of references
with you
• Arrive early – positive
self-talk while you wait
• Relax your body – take
several cleansing
breaths
• Bring several copies of
your resume which has
been reviewed by
another pair of eyes
• Look your absolute best
• List of questions you
want to ask
• Strong confident
attitude yet friendly as
well and empathic
Use of Neurolinguistc Programming
• Match the style of the interviewing to create
greater rapport building
• Lean slightly in
• Maintain good eye contact
• Smile and be yourself
• Speak at the pace of the interviewer; subtle
mirroring of body language; try to reflect their
way of processing information
Group Interviews Can Be Challenging
1. Focus on the person asking you the question.
2. In some interviews the panel will take notes continuously and it is hard
to read body language – do the best you can
3. Engage each person on the panel – try to quickly assess their style and
mirror their body language – amiable, cognitive, pragmatic, social
4. Ask if you have answered their questions completely. If they continue
to write and nod their heads they are processing your answers. When
they stop writing, it’ time to move on to the next question
5. It’s good to pause before answering a question and compose your
thoughts – don’t let the group format throw you
6. Stress interviews are sometimes held in group formats – focus on each
question, relax and be yourself; you can’t please everyone.
Two Additional Tools
• Do a SWOT analysis on yourself:
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
• 30 Second commercial:
My name is _________. Most recently I have
worked for __________ or attended school
majoring in __________. A recent
accomplishment I am proud of is _________.
I am a strong ____________ and enjoy _______.
My goal is to work for a ______________
company where I can contribute in the following
ways ________________________________,
As the interview draws to a close
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1.
2.
3.
Ask about next steps in the interview process
Thank each person for taking the time to meet with you
Reaffirm your interest in the position
Ask any remaining question you may have – usually the interviewer will
ask you to share any questions you may have as your time together draws
to a close
Shake each person’s hand and smile before leaving.
You will know right away on an emotional level how it went – be strong,
grounded, friendly, prepared and thorough in your answers without going
on too long.
If it’s meant to be you will get a callback; if not it’s simply a learning
experience to ask yourself the following questions:
What went well?
What did not go so well?
What will I do differently next time?
Follow-up
• Don’t forget the thank you note
• Typed letter is nice – addressed to each
participant – restate why you are a match for the
job and be professional yet enthusiastic
• Handwritten note on professional stationery is
even nicer – especially if things went very well
• E-mail thank you note to all members of a large
group interview – ask the receptionist to give you
a card for each person and check the spelling and
e-mail address of each individual
PRACTICE TIME
• Introduce yourself using your 30 second
commercial format
• Share one trait from your SWOT analysis –
don’t be hard on yourself – if you share a
weakness tell us how you will begin to turn it
around
• Demonstrate your understanding of the SAR
process by telling us a success story
Good Luck!
• Final questions you may have?
About your presenter: Margaret Nichols is a
Career Counselor at Bellevue College and in
private practice in Redmond
Available for 1:1 appointments via phone by
calling 425-681-3815
Or e-mail: coaching@att.net