17 Jul homework Wasse
During the interview, you are selling yourself. You need to explain how you are the best match for the job. At the beginning of the interview, listen to the interviewers. Let them explain the job, the duties, and the interview process. Use immediacy behaviors, be positive, and act confident but not aloof. Imagine yourself being the interviewer. How should someone behave if you were considering him or her for a job in your organization? As you answer your questions, explain how your traits are the traits needed for the job. Give specific examples about how you were creative or energetic or patient.
If you are interviewing for a teaching job, you would consider characteristics in excellent teachers including patience, caring, organized, and life-long learner. Think of examples where you have displayed these characteristics in your work or volunteer experiences. Have clear examples about how you have experience and expertise to carry out the duties of the job. You should also understand the company environment and know that you are a good fit. I was working with a search committee, and we were interviewing people for a community college assistant professor position. The man we were interviewing had the education and experience, but he did not understand the community college environment. We are student focused, and when he referred to community college students as “those students” and “students who could not begin at the university level,” we were not impressed. Our students choose to start at a community college because of various reasons. It is a great place to begin their college experience. The people on that committee and the faculty and staff at my college respect our students, many of whom are working, raising families, attending co-curricular activities, and are going to school full time. This individual used wording that angered me. He would not have been a good fit for our college. Know the priorities of the company or organization. You should also consider if you would feel comfortable in the environment as well.
Introducing yourself
The first few minutes of the interview is the most crucial. You will have bathed, cleaned your nails, hair, and brushed your teeth. Go easy on cologne or perfume. If you are interviewing for a professional job, wear a professional, well fitted suit that is black, pinstriped, or navy. Dress shirts or blouses are typically white. Shoes are professional, closed toe, clean, and match your belt. For more information, read the professional appearance chapter of this text.
Arrive 15 minutes early. Take a few minutes to look at yourself in a mirror and make sure that your clothes and makeup have not slipped or faltered on your way there. You should have a professional looking briefcase or satchel with a copy of your resume, cover letter, pad and pens, and portfolio with examples of your work. Always be friendly and respectful. Let the receptionist know that you have arrived and sit down. Act as though everyone you meet may have input about you getting the job. Do not pace in the lobby or waiting area. Be patient and as relaxed as possible.
When someone calls your name, stand, smile, walk over, shake hands and introduce yourself. “Good morning. My name is Ruth Livingston and I am so happy to be here.” The handshake was discussed in another chapter, but it is an important part of this interview. If a committee is interviewing you, shake the hands of those conducting the interview. If you have not been told, ask where they would like for you to sit. Then, sit down, take out your notepad and write the names of each person so you can send them a thank you card or letter after the interview.
Appear as relaxed as possible, and allow them to do most of the talking during this important phase. Never, ever interrupt. You are to be friendly, likeable, and professional. Being loud, boisterous, timid, or arrogant does not make a positive first impression. When you practice interviewing with friends or family go through the introduction stage and get their opinions. Practice enough times that it does not feel awkward. Typically, first impressions are forever.
If you are the interviewer, consider the intimidating atmosphere that you may create and try to make the interviewee as relaxed as possible. Introduce yourself with a smile. Tell the interviewer that you appreciate his or her time and interest. The interview should be conducted in a comfortable area. Let the interviewee know where to sit, and offer something to drink. If there is a committee, make the introductions. You will find out more about a person who feels comfortable enough to talk with you and your committee. An aloof, intimidating demeanor will not attract the most skilled employees to your workforce. The interviewer(s) will be making a first impression as well. If you want to attract and retain the best, treat them with respect.
Nonverbal language
Researchers suggest that we convey 65 to 93 percentage of face-to-face communication through nonverbal messages (Beebe, Beebe and Ivy, (2006). We tend to believe nonverbal messages over the verbal messages. For example, if I say that I am happy to be here and I am slumped over as if I am sad, you will believe that I am not happy at all to be here. You should use nonverbal language that conveys what you are saying. Also, be very attentive. Make eye contact that is natural to every day conversation when you are talking with a group of people about a topic that really interests you. Do not stare anyone down. When asked a question, smile, look at the person asking the question, and then answer the question making eye contact conversationally with all of the interviewers. Lean forward, and sit poised but not rigid. Do not fidget with your papers, pen, hair, jewelry, or pick lint off of your clothes. These are nervous habits that are distracting. If you are nervous, keep it to yourself. It is an uncomfortable situation, and most people interviewing for the job of their dreams will be nervous.
Write down any information that you will want to refer to later, but do not write the questions. Hands should be placed in front of you on the table or in your lap. Watch lip licking, and do not have gum, candy, or food in your mouth. Also, do not bring a cell phone in with you. Leave it in the car. You may forget to turn it off. Nothing says incompetence like a cell phone ringing or vibrating during an interview. Use a friendly, conversational tone throughout.
Your rate, pitch, and volume should be a comfortable for everyone. Also, remove tag questions, vocalized pauses, and self criticism from your language in every occasion (Devito, 2006). Tag questions are when you are making a statement, but you raise the pitch in your voice so it sounds like a question. Or you add a word like, “Okay?” after your statements. This weakens your message and makes you sound uncertain. When you go into an interview, interviewers usually do not let you know if they like your answers, but you would really like a response. You are asked to list your three greatest strengths. You answer in the form of a question because you would like a response, “I am loyal, energetic, and optimistic?” This makes you appear wishy-washy and unsure about your strengths.
Vocalized pauses should also be omitted from your communication events. When you want to “um”, “and ah,” or “like,” substitute with a moment’s pause. If you get tongue tied, do not make some strange noise to compensate. Take a second to breath, and then start again. Finally, do not say anything bad about yourself or anyone you have ever known in your entire life. Be positive. We self criticize when we are searching for compliments. It makes you appear unsure of yourself.
Immediacy behaviors and professional appearances that are addressed in previous chapters are effective nonverbal communication tools. Think about the people who you enjoy working with. They are friendly, complimentary, honest, and kind. Display these behaviors in the interview and every day at work. If you are having personal problems or are in a bad mood, do not let it show. Use open posture, active listening, and vocal variety that shows off your communication skills.
Responses that achieve results
It is important that you are prepared for any questions that you will be asked. There are lists of typical questions asked in books and on Internet sites. Be prepared for the top questions asked, and follow-ups to the questions. Listen to the complete question. If you need to clarify or think that you do not understand all or part of the question, rephrase the question or ask that the person repeat the question. Look at the person asking the question, but make eye contact with the group when answering.
Paul Michael (2005) wrote an article about the 23 most asked interview questions and a strategy to develop answers. A more comprehensive list of questions are in the book, Monster careers: Interviewing (2005) and in Richard Beatty’s book, The interview kit 2nd ed. (2000). Read the information in these and other books when you are applying for a job to give you ideas. Answer the questions and give brief examples. Do not discuss examples that are personal. You should give professional examples. Below are ten of the most asked questions that were in Michael’s article and that I have been asked during interviews.
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
This is not a request to give a biography. Give some highlights about your education, professional goals, and present situation. Do not tell them about your children and what they are doing in school, or discuss your parents. You are selling yourself and your professional expertise.
2. Tell us about the professional experience that you have had that will help you be a better ___.
If you have experience in the field, go through the list. If you are just coming out of college, you should carefully consider how you will answer this question. You may mention the volunteer work and internship where you have worked in the field. If you developed a portfolio in college, now is the time to show your work. Explain why you are in this field of study. You have worked with people in customer service or as a server while you were going to college. Link these experiences with the duties of the job for which you are interviewing. Do not drone on and on about experiences that you have had that do not really apply. Be positive about your past work experiences. If you did not enjoy your previous job, keep it to yourself. Just highlight your professional or collegiate experiences as it relates to this particular position.
3. What is your greatest strength? How does that make you a more effective worker?
This opens the door for you to pitch your most positive quality. When preparing for the interview, think of three in order of importance even though this question asks for only one greatest strength. Tell the strength and then give an example about how you manifest this positive quality. For example: “My greatest strength would be my sense of loyalty. I believe that a company who gives me the opportunity to work, deserves my full attention and hard work. Loyalty also includes building the company and my colleagues up rather than being critical. At my last job, I volunteered to take on challenges above my regular job description. One example is when I worked after hours to design a new training module for incoming servers. It was an exciting challenge where I could use my expertise to make positive changes for my employer.” Think of the strengths that you have that would be an asset to this organization. It should always be positive and related to the position. Being a good mom is a positive strength, but only describe professional qualities, not personal qualities.
4. Describe a professional or academic failure you have had and how you recovered from it.
This question is designed to get you to thinking about your failures. Failure is not a negative as everyone fails at some time or another. As Zig Ziglar points out “Failure is an event, not a person.” It’s how you respond to that failure that is what the interviewer is looking for.NEVER tell an interviewer you don’t have any failures. As the question notes keep the failures professional or academic. Do not respond with personal flaws. This is a way to guarantee you won’t get the job. The failure that you choose should be a one-time event and not one that has happened many times. You may tell the interviewer that you failed to pass your math course the first time you took it. Do not blame the failure on anyone or make excuses for it. Simply tell the interviewer what you failed at and how you responded to that failure. Tell the interviewer, “I failed my stats class the first time I took it. I responded by immediately signing up for the class the next semester. I took what I learned from my first experience and applied it. I also ensured I planned enough time to study and took advantage of study groups the professor had set up. I am pleased to report I earned an A the next time.”
5. Do you enjoy working with a team or alone?
You enjoy working with other people, but you are also self-directed and can work alone as well. Tell about a time that you worked with a team with great results. If you do not have an example from work, bring up a group project in college or during your volunteer work. Always have a “play well with others” story ready.
6. When have you had a conflict with someone you worked with, and how did you handle it?
Of course, you are going to have conflicts with people, but the answer here will be an issue based conflict. You will not say anything negative about an individual you have ever worked with. Do not tell the interviewer you have never had a conflict with a co-worker. Even minor disagreements are conflict. Take your time and think of one for this question. Mention a time that you disagreed with someone on an issue, and explain how you positively dealt with the issue, but you did not attack the person. For example, “One conflict situation that I remember at work was when I was assigned to an office that was larger than my co-worker’s office. He felt that he should have gotten the office because he had been there longer. Actually, it did not matter to me, but it was important to him. Therefore, I just switched offices with him. I think the supervisor thought that he would not want to change offices, so she assigned it to me. It was one of those simple misunderstandings that turned out okay in the end.”
You should anticipate follow up questions that may be aimed to see if you will speak negatively about a colleague or boss. Do not fall for this one. If they follow up by asking about a time when things did not turn out as well, end with something generic such as, “Conflicts will occur, but when you treat people with respect, most of the time you can find a solution that everyone can agree on. I have found that people want to be listened to more than agreed with. I was working for an insurance company and a person was angry because the company did not replace his roof due to hail damage, but only replaced half of the roof. For me to become upset would have escalated the problem. I let him vent his frustrations. Then I said that I could understand his frustration. Unfortunately, the company paid for the claim as stipulated in the policy. I then offered to resubmit the claim. He was not pleased with the results, but he did calm down and left the office feeling better than when he came in.” Hopefully, you will not be pressed to tell about a bad result, but in this case, you are not speaking negatively about a colleague, boss, or even a customer.
7. How are you with working under pressure?
You are going to say that you work well under pressure and give an example. You may actually work more efficiently under pressure because you feel challenged. You may suggest that you have fantastic time management skills, which reduce the occurrences of stress; however, you can work effectively under pressure. If you crack under stress, do not mention this at an interview, and take courses, read books, attend workshops, and/or listen to tapes to overcome this obstacle.
8. What would you do if you were asked to do something you regarded as highly unethical if not outright unlawful?
If you were asked to do something that was unethical, you would explain why you must decline. You would also tell the interviewer who you would contact if this occurred. Keeping it to yourself can make you complicit if someone else is not as ethical as you and decides to do task you declined to do. However, mention that this company has an outstanding reputation and you do not believe that the later would ever occur.
9. Why should we hire you over the other qualified applicants who have applied for this position?
This is not the time to become shy. Explain the traits and skills that a person in such a position should possess and how you are that person. Then reiterate your impeccable work ethic and dedication to the company, colleagues, and clients. Mention your fantastic communication skills such as listening, interpersonal communication, and public address.
10. The final question asked is usually, do you have any questions you would like to ask us?
Be ready to ask appropriate questions. You should not ask about salaries. Look up the salaries from the company website. If this is not provided, there are Internet sites that give ranges of salaries for specific careers in your area. Have an idea about what you may be offered. If you are asked what salary you require, say that salary is negotiable depending on the company standard. If you are pressed forward, you will need to give a range that you will accept. By researching the typical amounts, you can give a range that does not scare the interviewers and that you can be happy with. You could ask about insurance and retirement benefits. However, benefits can be negotiated after they have expressed a desire for you to join their team.
The questions that you ask should relate to the company or organization and the specific job for which you are applying. You may ask about specific projects that are presently a priority. You could ask how soon you would begin working if you were offered the job. Ask if the interviewers believe that you are the type of person that they are looking for to fill the position. Ask if there is anything else that you can provide to assist them in making their decision. If on the rare occasion that they give you a negative response or tell you that they have someone else in mind, ask for feedback and if they know of another company looking for someone with your qualifications.
End the interview on a positive note and still smiling, no matter what. The search committee may have someone in mind before you came in, and that person may not work out. Even if you feel that they have been negative with you, leave on a positive note with all doors wide open.
In the end, be prepared for standard questions, unique questions, and follow up questions. Answer each question honestly and with confidence. When you are asked a question, think about your response and then answer, giving examples. You should always be positive and never say anything negative about a former boss, co-worker or company. Think about your positive qualities and talents and how these relate to the position that you are seeking. Practice answering questions with family and friends. Interview for a job as you would prepare for a speech: Research, prepare, practice, have a professional appearance, and use immediacy behaviors.
The follow up letter
Immediately after your interview, go home and write individual thank you notes to each person with whom you interviewed. Each letter to a team of interviewers should be different. If they will be making a decision within the week, you can hand write the letter on a thank you card and deliver the thank you notes to the receptionist the next morning, or you can send an e-mail. If you know that interviews will continue for more than a week, mail your thank you card that evening. Be careful to mention each person by their preferred title and that the note is well written and grammatically correct. If you did not write the names down during the interview, look them up on the company website if you are unsure. You will thank each person for his and her time. Mention anything that you forgot and wished you had mentioned. Look up examples of thank you letters online.
When I applied for the job that I am presently working, I forgot one of the person’s name on the committee. Thankfully, I had introduced myself to the division administrative assistant and had established a rapport with her while I was waiting to be called in for my interview. I called her that afternoon and told her that I wanted to be sure to include everyone in the thank you notes that I was writing. She was most helpful in providing me with the names and correct titles of each person. The next morning I delivered my thank you notes for each interviewer and a special card for her. I personally told her how much I appreciated her assistance and how she made this experience as pleasant as it could be. Within the other notes, I mentioned specific concerns that the individual interviewers had expressed. I had had one of the faculty members on the team in a class ten years prior. I expressed my appreciation for the difference she had made in my life then, and what an honor it would be to work with her, again.
Take this final interviewing step seriously. Even if you are no longer interested in the job after the interview, write a note thanking the interviewers for their time. People talk, and if your name comes up, it should be in a positive context. After you write your notes, letters, or e-mails, ask someone to proof what you have written. Your writings should be positive, professional, personable, and grammatically correct.
If you are the person doing the hiring, provide each person that you interview with a follow-up letter. Those who have made it to the interview are potential employees and may be the person who will be working with your competitors. After you have made your decision, follow up with a thank you for that person’s time and let him or her know that you keep applications on file for a specific period of time if another opening comes up in the near future. Interviewing is a laborious task for the job seeker and the employer. Those who reached out to you in the process may be a potential employee that you would consider later. A note will help in keeping lines of communication open for promising future prospects.
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