Interviewing Made Easy! Presented by Alpha Kappa Psi – UCSD Co-ed Business Fraternity Professional Development Workshop, April 11 th , 2007 San Diego

So you want a job.. (obviously) By now you know how to write a brilliant resume Unfortunately, a resume only functions as an entrance test The interview is the single most important part of getting a job Many people worry about cracking under the pressure This won’t be a problem for you.

By now you know how to write a brilliant resume

Unfortunately, a resume only functions as an entrance test

The interview is the single most important part of getting a job

Many people worry about cracking under the pressure

This won’t be a problem for you.

… .think of it as a fight You train really really hard, walk into the interview room, punch your interviewers, scream at the top of your lungs, and walk out in victory. THE END

You train really really hard, walk into the interview room, punch your interviewers, scream at the top of your lungs, and walk out in victory.

THE END

Before the fight Know yourself. Know your enemy. The company (products, services, environment) Know its competitors. Know how it distinguishes itself in the marketplace. Train, train, train Practice, don’t rehearse or try to memorize Mock Interviews with friends/family Dress to impress

Know yourself.

Know your enemy.

The company (products, services, environment)

Know its competitors.

Know how it distinguishes itself in the marketplace.

Train, train, train

Practice, don’t rehearse or try to memorize

Mock Interviews with friends/family

Dress to impress

Show up to fight day Where are you supposed to be? Know the address, building, floor, etc. Arrive early – “Ten minutes early is on time, on time is late.” Arrive properly dressed and ready

Where are you supposed to be?

Know the address, building, floor, etc.

Arrive early – “Ten minutes early is on time, on time is late.”

Arrive properly dressed and ready

Dressing the Part - Men Professional dress: CONSERVATIVE Black, Navy, or Grey Suit Silk Necktie with conservative pattern Dark Socks (Black is best) Dress Shoes (Black Lace-ups are best) Beards, mustaches and hair: neatly trimmed, short is best. They don’t like walking forests.

Professional dress: CONSERVATIVE

Black, Navy, or Grey Suit

Silk Necktie with conservative pattern

Dark Socks (Black is best)

Dress Shoes (Black Lace-ups are best)

Beards, mustaches and hair: neatly trimmed, short is best. They don’t like walking forests.

Dressing the Part - Men Business Casual Jacket not required Everything else is basically the same as professional dress.

Business Casual

Jacket not required

Everything else is basically the same as professional dress.

Dressing the Part - Women Professional dress: CONSERVATIVE A dress blouse and dark colored jacket No kinky pantyhose Closed-toe and closed-back dress shoes Light, Natural Makeup, unless you are interviewing for clown school No crazy bling-blings, please No more than one ring on each hand One set of earrings only

Professional dress: CONSERVATIVE

A dress blouse and dark colored jacket

No kinky pantyhose

Closed-toe and closed-back dress shoes

Light, Natural Makeup, unless you are interviewing for clown school

No crazy bling-blings, please

No more than one ring on each hand

One set of earrings only

Dressing the Part – Women Business Casual Open-toed shoes okay, but no flip flops Conservative sweater okay Jacket not required Business Casual does NOT mean clubbing attire

Business Casual

Open-toed shoes okay, but no flip flops

Conservative sweater okay

Jacket not required

Business Casual does NOT mean clubbing attire

General Rules to looking Hot & Sexy (Business style) If you fidget with your hair, tie it back. If you fidget with your hands, keep them folded. Portfolio or briefcase (no purse) Neatly trimmed nails No visible body piercing, no rings other than college or wedding ring

If you fidget with your hair, tie it back.

If you fidget with your hands, keep them folded.

Portfolio or briefcase (no purse)

Neatly trimmed nails

No visible body piercing, no rings other than college or wedding ring

Please be kind…to our noses Try not to eat right before, especially anything that gives bad breath (onion, garlic, coffee) Don’t smoke before an interview Have a mint, but spit out gum Easy on the perfume / cologne!

Try not to eat right before, especially anything that gives bad breath (onion, garlic, coffee)

Don’t smoke before an interview

Have a mint, but spit out gum

Easy on the perfume / cologne!

Make a good impression Be early (at least 10 minutes) Refresh by re-reading the job description Relax Good, firm handshake Repeat names Strong eye contact Wear a confident smile. Keep your jacket on Maintain solid posture

Be early (at least 10 minutes)

Refresh by re-reading the job description

Relax

Good, firm handshake

Repeat names

Strong eye contact

Wear a confident smile.

Keep your jacket on

Maintain solid posture

In the Interview Check your ego at the door Think about your answers Use open body language Don’t be afraid to laugh (but no psycho laughing please) Friendly, yet professional Ask questions, engage conversation Thank them using names, get their cards

Check your ego at the door

Think about your answers

Use open body language

Don’t be afraid to laugh (but no psycho laughing please)

Friendly, yet professional

Ask questions, engage conversation

Thank them using names, get their cards

Put yourself in their shoes What are they looking for? Smarts “ Can they handle the work and do a good job?” Communication, thinking on your feet Cultural Fit “ Would I want to work with him/her for long periods of time” Personality Growth Potential “ Are they a future manager (leader), or just a 6 month employee?”

What are they looking for?

Smarts

“ Can they handle the work and do a good job?”

Communication, thinking on your feet

Cultural Fit

“ Would I want to work with him/her for long periods of time”

Personality

Growth Potential

“ Are they a future manager (leader), or just a 6 month employee?”

Common questions Tell me about yourself. What do you know about us? Why do you want to work for us? Why should we hire you? What are your strengths and weaknesses? If you have a pet anteater, what would you name it and why?

Tell me about yourself.

What do you know about us?

Why do you want to work for us?

Why should we hire you?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

If you have a pet anteater, what would you name it and why?

Questions to ask Tell me about your experience here. Can you describe a typical work day? Describe your management style and what kind of employee fits in. What are the skills and abilities that are most important to succeed in this job? Ask stuff you really want to know!

Tell me about your experience here.

Can you describe a typical work day?

Describe your management style and what kind of employee fits in.

What are the skills and abilities that are most important to succeed in this job?

Ask stuff you really want to know!

Follow-up Tips Send out a thank you letter to your interviewer the day of . Thank the person for taking the time to meet with you In your own words, “Thanks for meeting with me and imparting your wisdom.”

Send out a thank you letter to your interviewer the day of .

Thank the person for taking the time to meet with you

In your own words, “Thanks for meeting with me and imparting your wisdom.”

Just to recap Prepare Dress well Mobile phone off Firm handshake Wear glasses if you use them (or they will think you have a lazy eye) Think before you answer Relax Thank you note/email

Prepare

Dress well

Mobile phone off

Firm handshake

Wear glasses if you use them (or they will think you have a lazy eye)

Think before you answer

Relax

Thank you note/email

Don’t give up Every interview is a part of the journey. You might get rejected hundreds of times. Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. Learn the lessons and move on. Good luck!

Every interview is a part of the journey.

You might get rejected hundreds of times.

Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. Learn the lessons and move on.

Good luck!

That’s all folks. Download me on www.ucsdakpsi.com  THANKS FOR STAYING AWAKE  Any questions?

Download me on www.ucsdakpsi.com

 THANKS FOR STAYING AWAKE 

Any questions?