Chapter 20: Interviewing

BOOK: pgs. 305-318

PDF: pgs. 315-328

What you need to Know

• Types of interviews: information gathering, helping, problem-solving, performance, exit, employment

• Resume do’s and don’ts

• Interview Tips

• Is it ethical for an interviewer to ask a potential employee during an interview if they have appropriate daycare set up for their children?

• Interviews are goal-oriented communication events where both sides use Q&A techniques to gather information and achieve their goals.

• When did you last have an interview? Do you remember how you were sitting?

Types of Interviews

• Information-gathering interviews - a type of interview that seeks to discover facts, information, and other knowledge about a particular topic from peers, experts, witnesses, or others who may be knowledgeable about it

• Helping/Advice interviews - a type of interview that takes stock of a problem or challenge faced by an individual and offers informed and expert advice on how to handle it

• Problem-solving interviews - a form of very specific information gathering coupled with an emphasis on solving a specific problem

• Performance reviews - a type of interview that provides employers and managers with information used to determine raises, as well as target areas of improvement for staff; also called performance interviews

• Exit interviews - a type of interview conducted by human resources professionals with outgoing employees designed to gather information about the processes and climate of the organization in an attempt to use that information in the future to improve

• Employment-job interviews - a type of interview in which employers conduct conversations with applicants for open positions in an effort to determine to whom they would like to offer a position; the interviewers seek information about the company that will influence their decision to accept an offer, should one come

• Island interviews - a type of interview in which prospective candidates are placed in a room together and asked to discuss why they believe they are the better fit for the position

Resume Do’s and Don’ts

• Do:

  • Proofread and edit your resume before submitting

  • Use action verbs when describing past experiences

  • Explain concretely how you solved a problem at a previous job

• Don’t:

  • Use the same resume for all jobs

  • Lie on your resume

  • Add personal information such as marital status, etc.

• Also:

  • Have a strong cover letter

  • Have 3 references ready for when you do apply for a job

• How to Write a Cover Letter - Monster.com

  • www.monster.com/career-advice/article/sample-cover-letter

  • These five steps are the basis of how to write a cover letter:

  • Greeting: Address your cover letter to the proper person.

  • Opening: Write a personable, inviting opening paragraph that notes how your skills are a perfect fit

  • Hook: Highlight your past achievements as they relate to the job you’re applying for.

  • Skills: Emphasize additional relevant skills, such as computer languages or certifications.

  • Close: Briefly recap your strengths as a candidate, and include your contact information.

The Body of the Interview

• Closed-ended questions - questions that have defined answers from which you will choose the best fit

• Open-ended questions - questions that ask you to craft your best answer to the inquiry

Tips for Interviewing

• Shake hands (or briefly greet) everyone in the room

• Establish a rapport with the interviewer (friendly and conversational)

• Introduce yourself

• Be prepared to answer close-ended and open-ended questions

• The first question is usually tell me about yourself (just tell them your job interests and overview of your job experience)

• Have questions ready to ask the interviewer about the job, etc.

• Know background information about the company or organization so you come to the interview informed.

• The closing: have an explanation ready as to why you are interested in this job