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job interview

- an interview to determine whether an applicant is suitable for a position of employment, the questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited);often conducted by journalists; "my interviews with teenagers revealed a weakening of religious bonds"

Interview

- A formal meeting in person, especially one arranged for theassessment of the qualifications of an applicant. A conversation, such asone conducted by a reporter, in which facts or statements are elicitedfrom another.

PREPARING THE INTERVIEW

An interview provides the hiring managera perfect opportunity to identify the applicant best qualified and bestsuited for the organization. Conducted properly, it is a valuable tool in thehiring process.

Prior to the interview:

As you prepare for the interview consider the following:Be prepared (develop a list of questions to be utilized for all applicants inthe same job)Ask open-ended questionsRefrain from asking any questions about age, sex, ethnic origin, race,religion or political beliefs, and medical conditions/disabilities.

During the interview:

Record the applicant’s responsesIntroduce yourself and your positionBriefly describe the organization structureDescribe the position the applicant is applying forExplain that you will be taking notes during the interview to assist you inremembering their responsesExplain that all applicants will be asked the same questionsAsk the applicant if he/she has any questions

After the interview has concluded:

Thank them for coming to the interviewExplain that you are in the interviewing phaseExplain that you will be making a decision within the next ____ days/weeks/monthsInform them if they will be asked to come back for a second interviewInform them whether or not they will/will not be contacted if they are notchosen for the position.

FORM STRUCTURE OF INTERVIEW –

Before receiving a job offer from an employer, you will typically have aseries of interviews. The first interview is a screening interview conducted either over the phone or at the employer’s office. On-campus interviews are consideredscreening interviews. Screening interviews are brief, usually lasting 30-60 minutes.During that time, the employer will want you to elaborate on experiences and skillsoutlined in your résumé.Many employers use the screening interview as a chance to describe the organizationand the position. If the employer is impressed with your performance in this interview,you will be invited to a second (and perhaps third or fourth) interview. The secondinterview is longer, lasting anywhere from two hours to a whole day. It could include a

variety of questions, some form of testing, lunch or dinner, a tour, as well as a series of interviews with various employees. You should come away from the second interviewwith a thorough understanding of the organization's culture and environment, jobresponsibilities, and have enough information to decide on a job offer - if one isextended.

The Warm-Up

Each interview follows a rather predictable pattern of warm-up, information exchange,and wrap-up conversations. During the first few minutes of the interview (the warm-up),an employer will be formulating a first, lasting, impression of you. The way you greet theemployer, the firmness of your handshake, and the way you are dressed, will all be apart of this initial impression. An interviewer may begin by asking common-groundquestions about shared interests, the weather, or your travel to the interview. Someinterviewers might start by saying "Tell me about yourself." This is an opening for you tobriefly and concisely describe your background, skills, and interest in the position.

The Information Exchange

The information exchange will be the primary part of the interview. This is when you willbe asked the most questions and learn the most about the employer. In screeninginterviews, many employers will spend more time describing their opportunities thanasking you specific questions. The reverse will be true in second interviews. Interviewquestions may range from "Why did you choose to pursue a business degree?" to"What are your strengths/weaknesses?" and "What are your long-range career goals?"If you are prepared for the interview, you will be able to emphasize your qualificationseffectively as you respond to each question. By practicing for interviews, you will gainconfidence and have more polished answers.

The Wrap-up

Eventually the employer will probably say, "Do you have any questions?" This is your cue that the interview is moving to the wrap-up stage. Always ask questions. Thisdemonstrates your research and interest in the job. Your questions might be direct,logistical questions such as, "When can I expect to hear from you?" (if that has not beendiscussed); questions to clarify information the employer has presented; a questionregarding the employer's use of new technology or practices related to the career field;or a question to assess the culture and direction of the organization such as "Where isthis organization headed in the next five years?" or "Why do you like working for thisorganization?" Do not ask specific questions about salary or benefits unless theemployer broaches the subject first. The employer may also ask you if you haveanything else you would like to add or say. Again, it's best to have a response. You canuse this opportunity to thank the employer for the interview, summarize your qualifications, and reiterate your interest in the position. If you want to add informationor emphasize a point made earlier, you can do that, too. This last impression is almostas important as the first impression and will add to the substance discussed during theinformation exchange.

Panel interviewing

- allows multiple people to interview a job candidate atthe same time. A panel has two or more participants, which may include thedirect manager for the role, human resources staff, department managers,and/or the candidate’s potential colleagues. Peer participants commonlyparticipate when recruiting a new senior staff member, but they can also beincluded in panels for recruits at other levels.

One-to-one Interview

This is the most common type of Interview. In the One-to-one interviewthe candidate for employment meets directly with the interviewer.

THE INTERVIEW FORM -

When interviewing candidates for a position, it is agood idea to use a generic

interview form

. An interview form can aidthe interviewer in remembering specific candidates by recording specificstrengths, weaknesses, and compatibility with the position.

There are a multitude of questions that can be added to an interviewform. For example, you may ask yourself if the candidate has enoughknowledge of the specific job or job related topics. Putting an importantand broad question such as this at the top of the form could make iteasier to weed out applicants later. A good interview form will alsoevaluate experience, interest and enthusiasm in the position, theirperceived desire to succeed, and rank their poise and confidence. Aninterview form may also rank the candidate on their comprehension of the job and what will be expected of them if they accept the position. These points and potentially many others on an interview form give theinterviewer a clear perspective on all the candidates once the interviewprocess is over.

interviewers

- serve as the agents of data collection.

Their task includescontacting the target persons, gaining their

cooperation, and conductingthe interviews according to the

rules of standardized interviewing.

HOW TO ASK QUESTION

- isn’t the type of reply an interviewerexpects to hear when he or she invites you to ask questions near the endof an interview. In fact, the way you approach the Q&A session will have adirect impact on the interviewer’s perception of you. Based on thequestions you ask, a judgment will be made in regard to how interestedyou seem to be in the company.

COMMON DIFICULTIES FOR THE INTERVIEW

–

nowing what kind of questions you will be asked at your interview can be a real help. Youwon't be able to predict every question, but there are some commonones that most interviewers will ask. Some will be related to the job forwhich you are applying, while others will be more generic.

Common question ask by the interviewer-

The Questions

A. OpenersB. Work Experience/Job PerformanceC. Education/Training/Future GoalsD. Company ResearchE. PersonalF. Closures

A. Openers

1. Tell me about yourself...

The interviewer is asking you to tell them about yourself as a person, not merely about your jobskills.Take your cues from the interviewer as to how formal or informal you should be.a.Try to provide information that may indicate something you have in common withthe interviewer. b.Describe a few personal items, such as hobbies or interests.c.Mention work-related factors such as previous work experience, training andeducation.Mentioning these topics will help create a friendly atmosphere and put you and the interviewer atease with each other.

B. Work Experience/Job Performance

1. Have you ever done this type of work before?

The interviewer is trying to determine if you are qualified for the job.If you have completed similar work in the past or have held a job using some of the requiredskills, examples of skills used in past jobs should be described. If this line of work is new to you