Applying and Interviewing for

Employment
 Submitting your Resume
 Your résumé is the centerpiece of your job
search package. However, it needs support
from several other employment messages
before, during, and after the interview process.
These messages include application letters,
job-inquiry letters, application forms, and
follow-up notes.
 Writing Application Letters
 Solicited

•Advertised Job Opportunity

•Clear Job Qualifications
•Increased Competition

 Prospecting

•Unannounced Opportunity
•Unclear Job Qualifications

•Fewer Competitors
 Conti…
 Whenever you mail, , upload, or hand-deliver your
résumé, include an application letter (aka, cover
letter) to let readers know what you’re sending, why
you’re sending it, and how they can benefit from
reading it. Take the same care with your application
letter that you took with your résumé. A poorly
written application letter can prompt employers to
skip over your résumé, even if you’re a good fit for a
job.
 Conti…
 If you’re sending a solicited application letter
(in response to an identified job opening)
you’ll know what qualifications the
organization is seeking. You’ll also have more
competition because hundreds of other job
seekers will have seen the listing.
 Conti…
 If you are sending a prospecting letter (an unsolicited
letter to an organization that has not announced an
opening), you will have to do some research to identify
the requirements the position is likely to have. In
addition, search for information about the company, its
customers, the profession, or the manager to whom you
are writing. Using such information in your letter will
help you establish common ground with your reader and
show that you are tuned into what is going on in the
industry.
 Tips for Application Letter
 Write Your Letter to a Specific Person

Address your letter to a specific person who can hire you. If you can’t find a name,
addressing your letter to “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable.

 Clearly Identify the Opportunity

Clearly identify the opportunity you’re applying for or expressing interest in.
 Conti…
 Show You Understand the Company

Show that you understand the company and its marketplace.

 Don’t Volunteer Salary History

Never volunteer salary information unless an employer

asks for it.
 Conti…
 Keep Your Message Short

Keep it short—no more than three or four paragraphs. Remember that all you are trying to
do at this point is move the conversation forward one step.

 Show Personality, But Be Businesslike

Show some personality, while maintaining a business-appropriate tone. The letter gives
you the opportunity to balance the facts-only tone of your résumé.
 Conti…
 Project Confidence, Not Arrogance

Project confidence without being arrogant.

 Don’t Repeat Résumé Information

Don’t just repeat information from your résumé; instead,

convey additional professional and personal qualities
and your reasons for wanting this particular job.
 Using the AIDA plan for application letters
 Get Attention

 Build Interest

 Increase Desire

 Motivate Action
 Conti…
 Getting attention. The opening paragraph of your application letter has two important
tasks to accomplish: (1) clearly stating your reason for writing; and (2) giving the
recipient a reason to keep reading by showing that you can meet the company’s needs.

 Building interest and increasing desire. The middle section of your letter presents your
strongest selling points in terms of their potential benefit to the organization, thereby
building interest in you and creating a desire to interview you. Be specific and back up
your assertions with convincing evidence.

 Motivating action. The final paragraph of your application letter has two important
functions: to ask the reader for a specific action (usually an interview) and to facilitate
a reply. Include your address and phone number, as well as the best time to reach you.
Alternatively, you can take the initiative and say that you will follow up with a phone
call.
 Following up after submitting a Resume
 Make a Positive Impression

First, keep in mind that employers continue to

evaluate your communication efforts and
professionalism during this phase, so don’t say
or do anything to leave a negative impression.
 Conti…
 Follow Employer Instructions

Second, adhere to whatever instructions the

employer has provided. If a job posting says
“no calls,” for example, don’t call.
 Conti…
 Be Aware of Job-Posting Dates

Third, if the job posting lists a close date, don’t call or write
before then, because the company is still collecting
applications and will not have made a decision about inviting
people for interviews. Wait a week or so after the close date.
If no close date is given and you have no other information to
suggest a timeline, you can generally contact the company
starting a week or two after submitting your résumé.
 Asking follow up questions
When you follow up by or telephone, you can share an additional piece of information that links your
qualifications to the position (keep an eye out for late-breaking news about the company, too) and ask questions
about the hiring process as a way to gather some information about your status. Good questions to ask include:

Has a hiring decision been made yet?

Can you tell me what to expect next in terms of the hiring process?

What is the company’s timeframe for filling this position?

Could I follow up in another week if you haven’t contacted me?

Can I provide any additional information regarding my qualifications?

Whatever the circumstances, a follow-up message can demonstrate that you’re sincerely interested in working
for the organization, persistent in pursuing your goals, and committed to upgrading your skills.
 Understanding the Interviewing Process
 An employment interview is a formal meeting during which both employer and
applicant ask questions and exchange information. The employer’s objective is
to find the best talent to fill job openings. Your objective is to find the right
match for your goals and capabilities.

 As you get ready to begin interviewing, keep two vital points in mind. First,
recognize that the process takes time. Start your preparation and research early;
the best job offers usually go to the best-prepared candidates. Second, don’t
limit your options by looking at only a few companies. By exploring a wide
range of firms and positions, you might uncover great opportunities that you
would not have found otherwise. You’ll increase the odds of getting more job
offers, too.
 The typical sequence of Interviews
 Most employers interview an applicant multiple times before deciding to
make a job offer. Applicants often face a sequence of interviews, each with a
different purpose.

 The screening stage

 The selection stage

 The final stage

 The screening stage
 First is the preliminary screening stage, which
can take place on campus, a company’s office,
by telephone, or via a computer-based
screening system. Time is limited in screening
interviews, so keep your answers short while
providing a few key points that differentiate
you from other candidates.
 The selection stage
 The selection stage helps the organization
identify the top candidates from all those who
qualify. During these interviews, show keen
interest in the job, relate your skills and
experience to the organization’s needs, listen
attentively, and ask insightful questions that
show you’ve done your research.
 The final stage
 If the interviewers agree that you’re a good
candidate, you may receive a job offer, either
on the spot or a few days later by phone, mail,
or . In other instances, you may be invited back
for a final evaluation, often by a higher-
ranking executive. The objective of the final
stage is often to sell you on the advantages of
joining the organization.
 Common types of interviews
 Organizations use various types of interviews to
discover as much as possible about applicants.

1. Structured vs. unstructured interviews

2. Panel and group interview

3. Behavioral, situational, and stress interviews

 Structures vs. unstructured interviews
 A structured interview follows a set of
sequence questions, allowing the interview
team to compare answers from all candidates.

 In an open-ended interview, the interviewer

adapts the line of questioning based on your
responses and questions.
 Panel and group interviews
 In panel interview, you meet with several interviewers at
once; in a group interview you and several other candidates
meet with one or more interviewers at once.

 In panel interview, try to make a connection with each person

on the panel, and keep in mind that each person has different
perspective, so tailor your responses accordingly. For
example, an upper-level manager is likely to be interested in
your overall business sense and strategic perspective, whereas
a potential colleague might be more interested in your
technical skills and ability to work in a team.
 Behavioral, situational, working and stress
interviews
 In a behavioral interview, you are asked to describe how
you handled situations from your past.

 In situational interviews, you are asked to explain how

you would handle various hypothetical situations.

 In a working interview, you perform actual work related

tasks.

 Stress interviews help recruiters see how you handle

yourself under pressure.
 Interview Media
 To succeed at a telephone interview, treat it as
seriously as an in-person interview. Be prepared with
a copy of your résumé and any correspondence
you’ve sent to the employer. If possible, arrange to
speak on a landline so you don’t have to worry about
mobile phone reception problems. Remember that
you won’t be able to use nonverbal signals to create
a good impression, so a positive, alert tone of voice
is vital.
 Conti…
 IM are also sometimes used in the screening stage.
While you have almost no opportunity to send and
receive nonverbal signals with these formats, you
do have the major advantage of being able to
review and edit each response before you send it.
Maintain a professional style in your responses and
be sure to ask questions that demonstrate your
knowledge of the company and the position.
 Conti…
 Many employers use video technology for both live and
recorded interviews. Prepare for a video interview as you
would for an in-person interview and take the extra steps
needed to become familiar with the equipment and the process.
During any video interview, remember to sit up straight and
focus on the camera.

 Online interviews can range from simple structured

questionnaires and tests to sophisticated job simulations that
closely mimic actual job situations and skills.
 What employers look for in an interview
 Interviews give employers the chance to go beyond the basic data of your résumé to
get to know you and to answer two essential questions.

 The first is whether you can handle the responsibilities of the position. Suitability
for a specific job is judged on the basis of such factors as academic preparation,
work experience, and job-related personality traits.

 The second essential question concerns organization fit; that is, whether your
overall personality and approach to work will be appropriate, not only for the target
position but also for the organization. All good employers want people who are
confident, dedicated, positive, curious, courteous, ethical, and willing to commit to
something larger than their own individual goals. Companies also look for fit with
their individual cultures. Just like people, companies have different “personalities.”
 Preemployment testing and background
checks
 Many companies rely on pre-employment testing to
determine whether applicants are suited to the job and
whether they’ll be worth the expense of hiring and training.
1. Integrity tests:
2. Personality tests
3. Cognitive tests
4. Language proficiency tests
5. Job knowledge and job skills tests
6. Substance tests
7. Background checks
 Conti…
 Integrity tests seek to identify job candidates who are more likely to steal or
commit other ethical or legal infractions on the job. Employers have had some
success in using integrity tests.

 Personality tests try to assess either general character or suitability for the
demands of a specific profession. They profile overall intellectual ability,
attitudes toward work, interests, and managerial potential, as well as such
characteristics as dependability, commitment, honesty, and motivation.

 Cognitive tests measure a variety of attributes involved in acquiring, processing,

analyzing, using, and remembering information. Typical tests involve reading
comprehension, mathematics, problem solving, and decision making.
 Conti…
 Employers gauge language proficiency through reading and writing tests.

 Job knowledge and job skills tests are designed to assess competency or specific
abilities needed to perform a job.

 Employers use substance tests to avoid high costs and low productivity associated
with drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. Companies with mandatory testing
have found real advantages, including lower accident rates, fewer disability
claims, and decreased violence and absenteeism.

 Background checks help employers verify the credentials on your résumé, see how
well you manage credit, or learn if you have a criminal record.
 Preparing for a job interview
 Now that you’re armed with insights into the
interviewing and assessment process, you’re
ready to begin preparing for your interviews.
Preparation will help you feel more confident
and perform better under pressure, and
preparation starts with learning about the
organization.
 Learning about the organization and your
interviewers
 Today’s employers expect serious candidates to show that they understand the company’s
operations, its markets, and its strategic and tactical challenges. When planning your
employment search, you researched the companies to whom you sent your résumé. But now that
you've been invited for an interview, you'll want to fine-tune your research and brush up on the
facts you've collected. Making this effort demonstrates your interest in the company, and it
identifies you as a business professional who knows the importance of investigation and analysis.

 In addition, learn as much as possible about the managers who will be interviewing you, and get
their names, if you can. A good place to search is LinkedIn, since many professionals have
profiles on that popular business networking site. You can also ask your contact at the company
for the names and titles of those who’ll be interviewing you. Think about ways to use whatever
information you find during your interview. For example, if the interviewer lists membership in a
particular professional organization, you might inquire about the organization during your
interview. Doing so will give the interviewer a chance to talk about his or her own interests,
which will help you build rapport.
 Planning for the employers questions
 Throughout the interview process, you can expect to get a mix of questions that
are specific to you and the particular job opening, as well as questions that are of
a more general nature, such as the following:

 What is the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Choose a good example,
explaining why the decision was difficult, and how you made the choice you made.

 What are your greatest weaknesses? Describe a weakness so that it sounds like a
virtue (such as working too hard) or describe a relatively minor shortcoming and
explain how you’re working to improve it.
 Conti…
 Where do you want to be five years from now? Your answer should reflect your desire to
contribute to the employer’s long-term goals, not just your own goals. Whether this question
yields useful information is a matter of debate, but be prepared to answer it.

 What didn’t you like about previous jobs you’ve held? Describe something that you didn’t like in
a way that puts you in a positive light, such as having limited opportunities to apply your skills
or education. Avoid making negative comments about former employers or colleagues.

 Tell me something about yourself. Ask if the interviewer would like to know about your specific
skills or attributes. If this point is clarified, then respond accordingly. If it isn’t, explain how you
can contribute to the organization.

 How do you spend your free time? Prepare an answer that is honest and that puts you in a
positive light. Sports, hobbies, reading, spending time with family, and volunteer work are all
“safe” answers.
 Thinking ahead about questions
 Planning for employers questions

 Planning Questions of your own

 Boosting your confidence
 Focus on Your Value to the Company


Start by reminding yourself that you have value to offer the employer, and the employer already thinks highly
enough of you to invite you to an interview.

 Emphasize Your Positive Attributes

If some aspect of your appearance or background makes you uneasy, correct it if possible or offset it by
emphasizing positive traits such as warmth, wit, intelligence, or charm.

 Highlight Your Individual Strengths

Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, focus on your strengths.

 Know How You Can Help the Employer

Instead of worrying about how you will perform in the interview, focus on how you can help the organization
succeed.
 Polishing your interview style
 Competence and confidence are the foundation of your interviewing style,
and you can enhance those by giving the interviewer an impression of poise,
good manners, and good judgment. You can develop an adept style by staging
mock interviews with a friend. You can record these practice sessions and
then evaluate them yourself, looking for opportunities to improve.

 As you stage your mock interviews, pay particular attention to your

nonverbal behavior, including your posture, eye contact, facial expressions,
and gestures. Pay close attention to your speaking voice as well. If you tend
to speak in a monotone, for instance, practice speaking in a livelier style, with
more inflection and emphasis. And work on eliminating speech mannerisms
such as you know, like, and um, which might make you sound inarticulate.
 Presenting a professional image
 Physical appearance is important because clothing and grooming reveal a candidate's personality, professionalism, and ability to sense the
unspoken “rules” of a situation. The following look will serve you well in just about any interview situation:

1. Neat, “adult” hairstyle

2. For more formal environments, a conservative business suit

3. For less formal environments, smart-looking “business casual”

4. Limited jewelry (men, especially, should wear very little jewelry)

5. No visible tattoos or visible piercings (other than earrings for women only)

6. Stylish but professional-looking shoes

7. Clean hands and trimmed fingernails

 Conti…
 Stylish but professional-looking shoes (no extreme high heels or casual shoes)

 Clean hands and nicely-trimmed fingernails

 Little or no perfume or cologne (some people are allergic and many people are put off by strong smells)

 Subtle makeup (for women)

 Exemplary personal hygiene

 Send a clear signal that you understand the business world and know how to adapt to it. You won’t be taken seriously
otherwise.
 Being ready when you arrive
 When you go to your interview, take a small notebook, a pen, a list of the questions you want to ask,
several copies of your résumé (protected in a folder), an outline of what you have learned about the
organization, and any past correspondence about the position. You may also want to take a transcript of
your college grades, a list of references, and a portfolio containing samples of your work, performance
reviews, and certificates of achievement. If you want to use a tablet for taking notes, ask the interviewer’s
permission. Also, turn off your mobile phone.

 Be sure you know when and where the interview will be held. The worst way to start any interview is to
be late. Verify the route and time required to get there, even if that means traveling there ahead of time.
Plan to arrive early.

 When you arrive, you may have to wait for a while. Use this time to review the key messages about
yourself you want to get across in the interview. Conduct yourself professionally while waiting. Show
respect for everyone you encounter and avoid chewing gum, eating, or drinking. Anything you do or say
at this stage may get back to the interviewer, so make sure your best qualities show from the moment you
enter the premises.
 Interviewing for sucess
 At this point, you have a good sense of the
overall process and know how to prepare for
interviews. The next step is to get familiar with
the three stages of every interview: the warm-
up, the question-and-answer session, and the
close.
 The warm up
 Of the three stages, the warm-up is the most important, even though it may account
for only a fraction of the time you spend in the interview. Studies suggest that many
interviewers make up their minds within the first 20 seconds of contact with a
candidate. Don’t let your guard down if the interviewer wants to chitchat; these
exchanges are every bit as important as structured questions.

 Body language is crucial at this point. Stand or sit up straight, maintain regular but
natural eye contact, and don’t fidget. When the interviewer extends a hand, respond
with a firm but not overpowering handshake. Repeat the interviewer’s name when
you’re introduced (“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Litton”). Wait until you’re asked
to be seated or the interviewer has taken a seat. Let the interviewer start the
discussion. Then, be ready to answer substantial questions right away, for example,
“Why do you want to work here?” or “What do you know about us?”
 The question and answer stage
 Questions and answers will consume the greatest part of the interview. The interviewer will ask you about your
qualifications and discuss many of the points mentioned in your résumé. You'll also be asking questions of your
own.

 Answering and asking questions. Let the interviewer lead the conversation, and never answer a question before
he or she has finished asking it. Tailor your answers to make a favorable impression. Don't limit yourself to yes
or no answers. If you're asked a difficult question, pause to think before responding. Periodically ask a question
or two from the list you've prepared; you'll not only get answers but also demonstrate your interest.

 Listening to the interviewer. Paying attention when the interviewer speaks can be as important as giving good
answers or asking good questions. The interviewer's facial expressions, eye movements, gestures, and posture
may tell you the real meaning of what is being said. Be especially aware of how your answers are received.

 Handling potentially discriminatory questions. Employers cannot legally discriminate against a job candidate
on the basis of race, color, gender, age (from 40 to 70), marital status, religion, national origin, or disability. If
you are asked questions that are personal or potentially unlawful, how you respond depends on how badly you
want the job, how you feel about revealing the information asked for, what you think the interviewer will do
with the information, and whether you want to work for a company that asks such questions.
 The close
 Like the warm-up stage, the end of the interview is more important than its duration would indicate. In the last
few minutes, emphasize your value to the organization and correct any misconceptions the interviewer might
have.

 You can generally tell when the interviewer is trying to conclude the session. When you get the signal, respond
promptly, but don't rush. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity and express an interest in the organization. If
you can do so comfortably, try to pin down what will happen next, but don't press for an immediate decision.

 If you do receive an offer during the interview, you'll naturally want to discuss salary. However, let the
interviewer raise the subject. If asked about salary, say that you expect to receive the standard salary for the job
in question. If you don't like the offer, you might try to negotiate if you're in a good bargaining position and the
organization has the flexibility to accommodate you.

 Maintain a notebook or simple database with information about each company, interviewers’ answers to your
questions, contact information for each interviewer, the status of thank-you notes and other follow-up
communication, and upcoming interview appointments. Carefully organized notes will help you choose from
the job offers you’ve received.
 Follow up after an interview
 Staying in contact with a prospective employer after an
interview shows that you really want the job and are
determined to get it. Doing so also gives you another
chance to demonstrate your communication skills and
sense of business etiquette.

 Any time you hear from a company during the application

or interview process, respond quickly. Companies flooded
with résumés may move on to another candidate if you
they don’t hear back from you within 24 hours.
 Follow up message
 Write a follow-up message (a “thank-you note”) within two
days of the interview, even if you feel you have little chance
of getting the job. In addition to demonstrating good etiquette,
a thank-you message lets you acknowledge the interviewer’s
time and courtesy, convey your continued interest, reinforce
the reasons that you are a good fit for the position, and ask
politely for a decision. Depending on the company and the
relationship you’ve established with the interviewer, the
thank-you message can be handled via letter or . Be brief and
sound positive without sounding overconfident.
 Message of inquiry
 If you’re not advised of the interviewer’s
decision by the promised date or within two
weeks, you might make an inquiry. A message
of inquiry (which can be handled by if you
have the interviewer’s address) is particularly
appropriate if you’ve received a job offer from
a second firm and don’t want to accept it
before you have an answer from the first.
 Request for a time extension
 If you receive a job offer while other interviews are
still pending, you'll probably want more time to
decide, so write to the offering organization and ask
for a time extension. Preface your request with a
friendly opening. Ask for more time, stressing your
enthusiasm for the organization. Conclude by allowing
for a quick decision if your request for additional time
is denied. Ask for a prompt reply confirming the time
extension if the organization grants it.
 Letter of acceptance
 When you receive a job offer that you want to
accept, reply within five days. Begin by
accepting the position and expressing thanks.
Identify the job that you're accepting. In the
next paragraph, cover any necessary details.
Conclude by saying that you look forward to
reporting for work.
 Letter of declining a job offer
 After all your interviews, you may need to
write a letter declining a job offer. Use the bad
news plan for this message. Open warmly, state
the reasons for refusing the offer, decline the
offer explicitly, and close on a pleasant note,
expressing gratitude.
 Letter of Resignation
 If you get a job offer and are currently
employed, you can maintain good relations
with your current employer by writing a letter
of resignation to your immediate supervisor.
Follow the bad news plan, and make the letter
sound positive, regardless of how you feel.