Interviewing_Skills

Interview Techniques: 

Interview Techniques ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

What is an interview?: 

What is an interview? - A structured meeting between you and prospective employer Interviewing is a skill- like riding your bike PRACTICE makes PERFECT Therefore, practice, practice and practice! ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Being interviewed for a job can be a scary business. In one way it's great to get an interview. It means that your initial job enquiry, usually in the form of a letter and a CV, has been met with a degree of approval

Interviewing is a two-way street: 

Interviewing is a two-way street Employers are attempting to determine if you are an appropriate fit for the job and their culture You decide if the environment is right for you. ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Which interview?: 

Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to narrow the pool of applicants One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you with the potential employer Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a social setting Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of the facility, meet the staff, and additional questioning from different employees and/or administration ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Which interview?

Preparation Techniques: 

Research position, company, & industry Know yourself and be able to articulate skills, strengths, accomplishments, and career goals Prepare necessary materials (Copies of resume, references, portfolio/pen, palm pilot or organizer, breath mints) Ask for directions and where to park ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Preparation Techniques

Dry run technique : 

Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination (you may want to conduct a dry run prior to your interview day) Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to allow you to park, walk to the interview, use the restroom, or just gather yourself ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Dry run technique

Introduction techniques: 

Introduction techniques Only 1 chance to make a good 1 st impression Dress appropriately Smile Maintain eye contact Firm handshake Remain poised and confident ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Smile! Don’t sit unless told to Stay attentive Speak clearly and listen closely Show understanding with facial expressions Think about your answer before you speak

Body language signal techniques: 

Positive Signals Leaning forward = interest Smiling = friendly Nodding = attentive and alert Eye contact = curious and focused Negative Signals Crossed arms = defensive Fidgeting hands or tapping feet = nervous or bored Lack of eye contact = untrustworthy Leaning back= discomfort ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Body language signal techniques

Interview Questions Techniques: 

Standard or traditional - targeting your education, work experiences, and career goals Sample Questions Tell me about yourself? What is your greatest strength? Weakness? Why did you choose to interview with us? What did you like most about your last job? Least? What are your short and long term career goals? ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Interview Questions Techniques

Interview questions techniques: 

Behavioral Questions -These focus on your actions and/or behaviors in a previous setting. Past behavior provides clues to future behavior Sample Questions Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision? Tell me about a time you worked under a deadline? What do you do when a team member is not pulling his/her weight? Think about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it? ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Interview questions techniques

What questions to expect?: 

Inappropriate or unethical questions - Questions which probe into your private life or personal background - Questions about your ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, marital status Sample Questions How old are you? Do you have children? Do you have a disability? What religion do you practice? ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS What questions to expect?

What questions to expect?: 

Questions asked by the interviewee To determine if you are an appropriate fit for the company and position, prepare a list of questions for the interviewer Sample Questions What type of assignments can I expect within the first year? What do you like most about this company? What is the biggest challenge facing this department right now? What skills are you looking for in this position? What is the next course of action? ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS What questions to expect?

Principles …: 

-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences -Master the art of storytelling -Provide specific and concrete examples of your results/accomplishments -Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident throughout the interview process ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Principles …

Principles …: 

Remember an interview is a formal conversation--avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know” Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good” Think before speaking Avoid long verbose answers--limit your response to 1-2 minutes If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat or clarify it for you ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Principles …

General Interview Strategies: 

General Interview Strategies Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself Try to focus on the message you are trying to convey--NOT how well you are doing! ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Dressing for Success-Men: 

Dressing for Success-Men Suit-Single or double breasted Polished shoes Solid white shirt Conservative tie Neatly groomed hair, beard, and mustache Avoid strong colognes, earrings, and body piercing ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Dressing for Success-Women: 

Dressing for Success-Women Pant or skirt suit Pumps with small to medium heels Light makeup, perfume, and jewelry Wear neutral color hosiery ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

FOLLOW-UP: 

Ask good questions Thank the interviewer Request a business card Inquire about next steps in the process ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS FOLLOW-UP

FOLLOW-UP CONT: 

FOLLOW-UP CONT Send a thank you note within 24 hours ( check the culture issue) Letter may be handwritten or typed; e-mail is also acceptable Tailor each one to the individual. ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Consider …: 

Remember that only 15% of the success of an interview is out of your control Take some time to reflect - Overall, how well did I do? - What went well? - What steps can I take next time to improve? ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Consider …

Recommendations: 

Conduct a test run the day before the interview Practice! Practice! Practice! •Obtain a list of practice interview questions and jot down short answers • Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers •Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with Career Services Get a good night’s sleep-be well rested and alert for the interview Be relaxed and be yourself! ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Recommendations

Dos and Don’t: 

Don't wear anything new - wear something that you are familiar with. You shouldn't wear a skirt which is too short or has a split up to your bum. Don't leave your mobile phone switched on. Don't chew gum. Try to avoid saying 'um' and 'so...'. Do try to use correct grammar. Do ask what it was about your application that made the company want to get to know you better. Do make sure you know where the interview will be held. Make sure you know how to get there (by whatever means). If you go by car you really need to research where you can park. Don't run out of petrol on the way. ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Dos and Don’t

Common expected questions: 

I will always ask you what you're doing now and why (how do you fit in the company? Do you know how your role relates to the rest of the firm? Are you interested in the company you work for?). Apart from anything else, it acts like an ice-breaker and lets me frame some of my follow-ups. I will ask about strengths, weaknesses, things you're proud of, things you wish you'd done differently. Don't hide the negatives. I will never believe a candidate who has no weaknesses or never made a mistake and if I start distrusting you on that, I will distrust you totally. ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Common expected questions

Common expected questions…: 

I will ask you why you want the job and why you want to get out of your existing one. If you have specific relevant skills beyond the more general (obviously this depends on the role) I'm bound to ask about them. Think like an employer. I will not know what the PQR system or department is. If possible, don't put things on your CV that will just confuse me, but if you do, expect me to ask. Have a simple and concise explanation prepared. Expect me to probe. I will not always take your first answer for granted. ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Common expected questions…

Common expected questions: 

Try not to make me feel ill at ease. If I ask you what you've been doing for six months (say you have a break in your CV) and the answer involves a death in the family, etc, do your best to tackle the subject in a matter of fact way. I have been taught to handle things if you get unexpectedly emotional, but that doesn't mean I feel comfortable with it. If you have something like that lurking in your CV, expect it to come up. One caveat (warning) - when asked what your 'weaknesses' are, don't say 'I'm a bit of a perfectionist', 'I expect everyone to work as hard as I do' or any other self-aggrandizing, mock-deprecatory answers. Trust me on this - because people are still being trained to say this sort of thing - the only effect you will have on the interview panel is that they will laugh themselves sick after you've left the room. If any of these things are really faults of yours, explain why you think this is a problem for you rather than a problem for your colleagues. ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Common expected questions

Common expected questions …: 

Take time to think about the question before you start to answer. A pause of six or seven seconds (longer than it sounds) is definitely okay. If you lose track halfway through the answer, stop, ask the interviewer to repeat the question and make sure you stick to the point. Make sure that you ask a question appropriate to the post. If you really must ask about promotion, ask whether people who have come into the company at this level have been promoted internally. That sounds less pushy and less as if you are going to leave if you don't get promoted in the next five minutes ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Common expected questions …

Remember … as you finishi: 

ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Remember … as you finishi Listen for comments such as: I think I have all the information I need” “Do you have any other questions?” On your way out, thank the interviewer for his/her time Thank the secretary/facilitator

Can we assist you further?: 

Can we assist you further? Call +255 784 405 108 or recruitment@elsamconsult.com to schedule a mock interview Stop by during our walk-in hours to meet with a peer advisor if you have a quick question Schedule an appointment with a career counselor if you have a concern about your career or job search ELSAM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS