Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Intelligent Interview: " Keeping Your Cool in The Hot Seat"
The Intelligent Interview: " Keeping Your Cool in The Hot Seat"
Interview
Page 1 of 16
Among the conversations you are likely to have across your lifetime, the interview stands out as
one of the most important. Your career and dream job with a target employer often depends
upon your performance during this conversation.
Your resume is often the ticket to winning an opportunity to have this conversation. The target
employer invites you to have this conversation because they saw something in your resume that
interested them. Now, its your turn to step beyond the paper and show them your strengths.
However, not unlike the feelings you might experience after your dream person accepts an
invitation for a date, you are nervous and edgy. You ask yourself:
9
9
9
9
The best way to overcome these fears is to prepare. You can control some aspects of an
interview. This booklet focuses on strategies and helpful tips that will enable you to interview
with confidence.
Page 2 of 16
Thankfully, the Internet is an excellent source for the answers to many of these questions. At a
minimum, you should review the employers web site (if they have one), their last annual report,
and recent financial analyst research reports (for public firms). You may also contact the local
Chamber of Commerce or check out relevant trade journals, magazines (e.g., Business Week)
and business indexes (e.g., Hoovers Business Index, Dun and Bradstreet).
Page 3 of 16
Page 4 of 16
Page 5 of 16
Behavior-based interviewing is built on the premise that past behavior predicts future behavior.
To be successful using a behavior-based approach, you must have analyzed your experiences and
know how to relate them to the current position the company is seeking to fill. Use the S.T.A.R.
approach to answer questions.
The S.T.A.R. Answer
The S.T.A.R. answer states a Situation or Task you were given describes the Action you took
and explains the Results of that action.
Situation or Task: Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to
accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of
what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand.
This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
Action: Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Even if you are
discussing a group project or effort, describe what you did -- not the efforts of the team. Don't
tell what you might do, tell what you did.
Results: What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you
learn?
9 Weakness Questions
Using your resume as a guide, some employers will key in on areas where your skills may be
less than others (or the posted job requirements) and try to test your proficiency and see if
they can scare you off the job. Be prepared to counter likely weaknesses with illustrations
that show you have the core skills and personal characteristics that are critical to effective job
performance. If you were fired from a job, be prepared to discuss what you learned from the
situation without giving excuses or badmouthing a prior employer.
9 Traditional Questions
Using their own instinct as a guide, the employer representatives will ask broad open-ended
questions that require you to think on your feet and sell yourself. For example, most
employers will want to know why you want the job and why you want to work for them.
9 Stress and Problem Solving Questions
Some employers are now testing the waters by asking more difficult problem solving
questions or questions that place the candidate under stress. It is even possible that events
could be staged during the interview to see how you would react. For example, two
interviewers could pretend to argue on an issue and look to see how you react. An interview
could even attempt to start an argument or irritate you. Some ask riddles that appear
unrelated to the job just to see how you think on the spot.
Page 6 of 16
Page 7 of 16
Some questions, such as those about hobbies or interests, may seem irrelevant. Interviewers ask
these questions to learn more about your personality and interpersonal skills. Use these
questions to further highlight your strengths. Participating in a sport may demonstrate
teamwork; doing needlepoint may highlight your attention to detail; playing chess may illustrate
your critical thinking skills.
Your goal is not to memorize answers to possible questions. Instead, your goal is to become
comfortable speaking about yourself, particularly your job-related experiences,
accomplishments, training and personal characteristics.
Develop Questions to Ask the Employer
Think ahead and identify the key questions you want to ask the employer. Keep in mind, the
interview is a two-way conversation. Like a first date, both parties (the employer and you) are
evaluating your fit. An employer anticipates that you will have questions. In addition, your
questions can help to further sell your job-related skills. Come up with interesting, thoughtprovoking questions that will make the interviewer(s) believe that you are sincerely interested in
the organizations future and your work there.
Ideally it is best to have the interviewer initiate discussion on salary range and benefits. Before
the interview you will want to research salary and benefits for the position you are interviewing
so you can have a range in mind if the interviewer asks. Otherwise, wait for a firm offer to begin
discussion about exact salary and the benefits package. If salary and benefits are brought up, you
want to convey flexibility. The best time to discuss salary is after you have been offered the job.
Questions you should not ask include:
9
9
9
9
9
Page 8 of 16
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
Page 9 of 16
8. Have a professional pen and pocket planner or Palm Pilot (or similar device) ready. Do
not bring your cellular phone or pager into the interview.
9. Eat a light, safe meal the night before. Get a good nights sleep the day before the
interview. Avoid drinking coffee or other drinks or eating food that may stain your teeth or
cause bad breath before the interview. Brush your teeth just before you leave for the
interview. Use mouthwash and wash your face and hands.
10. Be sure you have everything with you at the interview that you may need to complete an
employment application. You may be asked to do so before or after the interview.
Dressing for Success Guidelines
In one major survey 95% of the employers interviewed said a job seeker's personal appearance
affected the employer's opinion of that applicant's suitability for a job.
Women
Men
Page 10 of 16
The Interview
The day has finally arrived. This is your chance to shine. You are prepared and raring to go.
Personal Interviews
Be sure to arrive at least 10 (preferably 15) minutes before your interview. On your way to the
interview, call to mind some of your happiest memories or proudest moments and listen to
uplifting music. This is not the time to cram for the interview.
Just before you walk in the employers door, check your attire and grooming. Comb your hair.
Check your teeth. Be sure there is no lint on your clothes. Be sure you have your portfolio,
briefcase, or folder. Wipe your shoes on the entry mat.
Walk upright at a professional pace through the door, smile and cheerfully greet the receptionist.
As a gatekeeper, the receptionist is important to you. Be sure to develop a positive rapport with
the receptionist.
Assuming you are asked to wait for the interviewer to come to the lobby and get you, do not get
too comfortable. Carefully look at things in the lobby awards, plaques, product samples you
may learn some last minute information about the company that could help you. If you do sit
down, be sure you are ready to get up and shake the interviewers hand as soon as he or she
arrives.
Once you arrive at the interview setting, wait until the interviewer directs you to take a seat. Be
sure when you do sit that you use good posture. A typical interview will usually begin with a
firm handshake and a few minutes of "small talk". At this juncture the employer is attempting to
put you at ease and to establish rapport. The employer may also take some time up front to
explain the job in more detail, discuss the company, or initiate friendly conversation.
Even in small talk, you can put your foot in your mouth if you are not careful. If the interviewer
asks, for example, Did you have any trouble finding us? dont rush to tell him that you got
lost or were nearly late, etc. Keep things positive.
Whether it is a screening, phone or selection interview, now the questions will begin. Keep in
mind, the employer has to be on his/her toes. The interviewer has to make you feel comfortable
so they can elicit the best responses from you, ask intelligent questions, remember your answers
and think of the next question. The sooner you seem comfortable and turn the interview into a
conversation, the better it will be for everyone.
While you can't be prepared for every question and every contingency, you have done your
homework and you are ready. Here are a few tips to guide you through the interview:
9 Don't be afraid to be yourself, to let your enthusiasm show. While you want to be your
"Sunday best" self, you don't want to be somebody you are not because they won't be hiring
the person they thought they were. You wouldn't want the organization to misrepresent itself.
Sunrise Solutions, Inc.
Page 11 of 16
9 Be prepared to answer many of the same questions over and over since you will be meeting
many different people.
9 Avoid words like just and only. Don't minimize what you have done. You didn't just lead a
student group through the rewriting of their constitution; you carefully guided the group.
9 Dont take the interview over. Let the employer guide the interview. Try to speak about
50% of the time. Listen attentively and be sure to answer the question that is asked.
9 Avoid vague answers such as, Im a people person. Instead, describe the specific ways you
demonstrate day-to-day that you are a people person.
9 Don't hang out your dirty laundry. That is, don't volunteer negative information that was not
asked for. For example, you don't need to say you are not familiar with PCs if you are not
asked. If asked, respond honestly but put a positive spin on your response by letting the
interviewer know that you are very comfortable with computers and you are confident that
you will be able to learn their system easily.
9 Dont bad mouth prior employers or anyone for that matter.
9 The corollary is, volunteer positive, relevant information that the interviewer may not have
asked for.
9 There will be tough questions that you didn't expect. If you need a moment to think about
how to respond, take it. You are better off taking 30 seconds, breaking eye contact and
developing a well thought-out response rather than starting, getting to the middle of an
answer and realizing you are giving a poor answer. If you don't respond to a question as well
as you would have liked let it go and move on. Don't keep dwelling on it in your head or else
it will affect the rest of your interview.
9 Avoid using words like um, uh, like, and you know.
9 At meals, avoid ordering messy or expensive foods. Eat a light meal. Do not order alcohol
with your lunch or dinner.
9 Don't smoke (before or during the interview).
9 Sit up, maintain comfortable eye contact (you don't need to stare them down), and above all,
smile and try to be at ease.
9 Watch for behavioral (body language) clues from the interviewer. Beware of giving lengthy
answers and watch for the gotcha look that shows youve answered the question or absent
looks that show you are off track.
9 Relax and connect with the interviewer. The interview is a conversation.
Page 12 of 16
Page 13 of 16
Phone Interviews
Prepare a quiet, comfortable place for your telephone interview. Be sure to have your resume and
the results of your research in front of you for quick referral.
Answer the phone with a professional greeting. Speak with a smile on your face. Be sure to
speak clearly and at a pace that is easy to listen to.
Be assertive. Ask for a face-to-face interview so you can share samples of your work and meet
the hiring manager(s).
Disable the call waiting feature prior to the call. You do not want to put the interviewer on hold
or hear persistent beeps during your call.
Page 14 of 16
Page 15 of 16
Page 16 of 16