Preparation for The Interview

Preparation for the Interview

Three Types of Questions
1. Can you do the job? Skills and experience
2. Will you fit? Is the chemistry right?
3. Can we deal with your career compensation issues?
a. Why are you qualified?
b. What are your strengths?
c. What are your weaknesses?

Would you hire someone you did not trust? Body Language/Eye Contact
Would you hire someone who did not have credibility?

Trust and Credibility Key to success on an interview
Always answer a question with evidence…
Conduct a skills inventory on yourself. Prioritize them.
Match your skills to the requirements of the job.
Leave your own personal needs out of the equation.
4. Let the interviewer finish the question
Pause
Answer the question
Test the interviewers interest level – “I know we are running out of time’
“I know you are busy”
5. 20% presentation – 80% evidence and results
6. Opportunity and Responsibility
Career / Compensation Issues
What are you looking for salary-wise?
Where do you want to be three years from now?
· Job Content Interesting and Challenging
· Opportunity for more responsibility
· Salary will be commensurate with that responsibility
Everything you say comes from within.
Educational (Make notes in the blank spaces)

Related course-work
Major
Minor
Electives
GPA
GPA in minor
Activities
Fraternity/Sorority

Accomplishments
Educational
Extra Curricular
Publications

Honors & Awards
Strengths/ Weaknesses
When developing your skills inventory, it is imperative that when you state a specific skill or attribute that you can support that point to the following:
How?
When?
Where?
Why?
What did I learn from that?
How did I gain from that?
Did I reach a goal?
Did I accomplish something?
Did I reach an objective?
Did I pass a milestone?
Did I make a contribution?
Was I effective?
Did I finish what I started?




Skills Inventory Development:
Esoteric skills and Work related experience: Vocabulary/Lingo (50 words or phrases)
Technical – i.e. Engineering Credit Training, Attorney, Physician
Esoteric – i.e. Trading, Engineering, Accounting, Computer Science, etc.


Checklist
Generic Skills:
Communications Verbal/ Written
Management Potential
Supervisory
Management
Decisiveness
Project Management (has a beginning and an end)
Time Management
Organizational
Planning (non-functional)
Operations
Administrative (Paper flow, Record keeping, Bureaucracy)
Financial (Finance, Accounting budgets, Short term planning, Strategic planning)
Accounting (CPA requirements, Cost accounting, Managerial Accounting)
Analytical
Quantitative
Qualitative
Follow-through
Creativity
Computer literacy (Programming, using software i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Lotus, dBase, etc.)
Computer hardware (PCs, LANs, Network, Mainframes, etc.)
Consultative/ Advisory
People handling skills
Political skills
Selling
Marketing
Learning skills/ Quick study
Educational – work related studies
Avocations, hobbies, athletics, other interests,…



Strengths (list your 3 strongest skills)
1.______________________________________
2_______________________________________
3.______________________________________


Weaknesses (list 3 real weaknesses)
1.________________________________________
2_________________________________________
3.________________________________________


Chemistry/Checklist (Circle 10 -12)
Hard working
Strong work ethic
Disciplined
Leadership
Tenacious
Responsible
Industrious
Determined
Motivated
Decisive
Personal
Easy to get along with
Outgoing/ extraverted
Careful
Shy/ introverted
Timely
Eager to learn

The Interview

FIRST IMPRESSIONS…. You do not have a second chance to make first impression.
1. What is the purpose of the interview?
a. Identification of qualifications / skills
b. Fit/ Chemistry
c. Career and compensation expectations
2. Roles that one takes on that one might not be trained for
a. SELLING
b. DEBATING
3. Selling steps
KNOWLEDGE
a. Product knowledge
b. Belief in product
c. Develop trust and credibility in buyer
1) How well do your know yourself? – Skills database
2) Confidence
3) Does the interviewer believe it?
PREPAREDNESS
a. Know buyer’s needs/ wants (Job Description)
b. Analyze those needs
1) Set priorities
2) Write job description
c. Address the needs of the buyer. Prepare mental or written outline of your presentation.
d. The seller’s needs never come before those of the buyer.
4. Debating
a. General statement supported by evidence
b. Presentation
5. Philosophy
a. Content of the job (day to day activities & functions)
b. Opportunity to take on more responsibilities
c. Compensation


The bottom line comes down to:
Can you answer the question “Can you do the job?”
1. Do you understand the position you are applying for?
2. Why are you qualified for this position?
3. What do you bring to the party?
4. What do you put on the plate?
5. What are your strengths? (How would you describe your attributes?)
6. What are your weaknesses?
Where do you come up short?
What would you like to improve about yourself?
7. Why are you looking for a job?
8. Why are you interested in this job?
9. How much are you earning?
10. How much do you want to earn?
11. If you could design the ideal situation for yourself, what would it be? Why?
12. What are your immediate goals?
13. Where do you see yourself three years from now? Five years from now?
14. What do you see as your major accomplishments?
15. How have you made a contribution?
16. How would this entity benefit in hiring you?
17. What do you do? What have you done?