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Class 6

This document provides guidance on preparing for and participating in a job interview. It recommends researching the employer, knowing your own skills and the job requirements, practicing answers to common questions, and preparing questions to ask the interviewer. On the day of the interview, it advises arriving early and making a good impression. During the interview, it describes different types of interviews and questions, and how to answer appropriately. After the interview, it recommends following up with a thank you letter to reiterate your interest and qualifications for the role.

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76 views50 pages

Class 6

This document provides guidance on preparing for and participating in a job interview. It recommends researching the employer, knowing your own skills and the job requirements, practicing answers to common questions, and preparing questions to ask the interviewer. On the day of the interview, it advises arriving early and making a good impression. During the interview, it describes different types of interviews and questions, and how to answer appropriately. After the interview, it recommends following up with a thank you letter to reiterate your interest and qualifications for the role.

Uploaded by

api-308919474
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMM 2232

Communication for Career


Development
Week 6

Interviews

Before the Interview

Research the employer

Review job posting and your skills

Know how to get to the interview

Ask about interview structure - eg. length, #


of interviewers, tests

Practice answers to possible questions

Think of questions to ask interviewer

Know your resume

Print off your list of References

Look your best

Avoid perfume, cologne, excessive make-up

Arrive 10-15 minutes early

Make a good impression on receptionist

Arrange mock interview with career services

Research
Search website, news, databases
to learn as much as you can about the
employer

Products/services
Recent news stories

New projects

Parent company,
subsidiaries, locations

Mission statement

Annual sales/profits

Potential for growth

Industry position,
competitors

Organizational structure,
management style

Employee programs

During the Interview

Types of Interviews

Referral

Screening

Selection

Referral Interview

employer is looking at you for possible future


opportunities

may come through networking, referral from


contacts, or chance meeting at a professional
association meeting

Screening Interview

used by employer to narrow the field of


applicants

doesnt result in a job offer but a second


interview

Selection Interview

from a narrowed list of candidates employer


selects who will get the job

Forms of Interviews

Directed

Unstructured

Stress

Panel

Group

Telephone

Video

Directed

used in screening and selection interviews

highly organized, interviewer often working


from a checklist or script

answers are noted in writing and often scored

1-on-1, panel, telephone

Unstructured

open and relaxed feel

interviewer poses broad questions to


encourage you to talk and show your
personality

used in selection interviews

Stress

point of interview is to make you feel


uncomfortable to see how you react

dont react defensively, remain calm and


answer questions accurately and concisely

Panel

2-5 interviewers, all ask questions

start your answer looking at the person who


asked it

look at others while answering


return your attention to the person who asked
question before you finish your answer

Group

you interview with other applicants

everyone hears the interview questions and


responses from other applicants

may involve group problem solving activities


so employer can see your teamwork skills

Telephone
when you get the call to invite you to an

interview the caller may use the opportunity


to ask you questions or they may be
scheduled in advance

have a quiet place ready with your resume,


job applications, company research, and list
of questions to ask interviewer

Sit dont stand/pace; dont eat, drink, or


smoke

dress the way you would for in-person


interview

Video

Test technology beforehand; adjust room


lighting

Dress conservatively in solid colours

Look straight at the camera

control body movements

Types of Questions

Standard/Open-Ended

Behavioural

Situational

Stress

Standard/Open-Ended
Questions

used to determine how well you think on your


feet and how quickly you can focus on the
topic at hand
focus on your skills and how they will benefit the
employer

Behavioural
Questions

questions ask how you handled situations in


the past to see how you might handle them in
the future

Proof Stories

a short story about your past that proves you


have the skills you say you do

useful for all kinds of interview questions

Proof Stories
Story Structure

textbook calls it S.T.A.R

Situation - Task - Action - Result

Career Services calls it P.A.R

Problem - Action - Result

Proof Stories
Situation

What is the context of your story?

Where is the setting? Who are the


characters?

Proof Stories
Task

What were you doing? What goal were you


trying to accomplish? What problem were you
trying to solve?

Proof Stories
Action

What did you do to try to accomplish your


goal or solve your problem?

Proof Stories
Result

What were the results of your action? Was the


problem solved or goal achieved?

Proof Stories

Think of your stories as little movies

Situation/Task

like the first 20 minutes of the movie where


the setting, characters and goal of the
protagonist is introduced

Proof Stories

Think of your stories as little movies

Action

middle of the movie where the protagonist


works to achieve their goal

Proof Stories

Think of your stories as little movies

Results

if you leave this out of your story its like


the last 20 minutes of the movie gets cut
off and the viewers are left wondering what
happened

Situational Questions

used to assess your skills, knowledge and


judgement

similar to behavioural questions but instead of


asking about your past, questions pose
hypothetical situations and ask how you would act
in those situations

You can use Proof Stories to add concrete examples to


your answers
interviewers may ask you to role-play situation

Stress Questions

interviewer may try to unnerve you either


with their behaviour or their questions to see
how you react under pressure

If you could be a fruit, what fruit would you


be and why?

SAMPLE Q & A
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_data
base/
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_datab
ase/interview_questions.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_data
base/interview_questions_database.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_datab
ase/wild-card_interview_questions.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_datab

Inappropriate
Questions

The Canadian Human Rights Act entitles all


individuals to equal employment opportunities
without regard to:

Race or colour
National or ethnic
origin

Family/marital status

Sex

Pardoned Conviction

Religion

Disability

Age

Sexual Orientation

Are you planning on starting a family in the near


future?
If hired, I will be committed to the position and
perform all the functions of the job.
Didnt answer the illegal question, but didnt
offend the interviewer by pointing out that they
asked an inappropriate question.

Questions to Ask
Interviewer

General Questions

asked to obtain information to help you


decide on whether to accept job offer

Will there be training?

How is an employee evaluated?

Describe a typical job assignment.

Defining Questions

clarify hiring criteria, give employer


opportunity to brag about the organization,
set up your proof stories

What would you like to see accomplished by


the person filling this position?

What are you looking for this department to


accomplish in the next year or so?

Controlling Questions

tricky because they seek answers to


questions difficult to ask; use selectively and
sparingly

can help you in deciding whether to accept


the position; can be used after an offer is
made

Why is this position currently open?

What is a typical career path for someone in


this position?

More Examples:

textbook p. 131-133

Career Services Booklet p. 11

After the Interview

Make notes about what went well and what


could be improved

Send a thank-you letter to interviewer

If you dont get the job, ask for feedback on


why you werent chosen

Thank-You Letter

stand-out with one last contact

send immediately after the interview

dont beg for the job

try to include something new

include any accomplishments you may have


forgot to mention in interview. Keep it brief.

Thank-You Letter

Use same header as resume & cover letter

Address letter to person who interviewed you


or to the leader if it was more than one
interviewer

Thank-You Letter
Paragraph 1

thank interviewer for opportunity to meet


with them

comment on your positive impressions of the


company/organization

Thank-You Letter
Paragraph 2

offer new information about why the


employer should be interested in you,
perhaps something you forgot while in the
interview

repeat the job title you are applying for and


show continued interest in it

Thank-You Letter
Paragraph 3

let employer know you look forward to


hearing from them

make it clear that you are willing to come in


and discuss the job further

Thank-You Letter
Resources for writing a thank-you letter

p. 12-13 Career Services Interview Booklet

p. 88 Textbook

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