This document outlines an interview skills workshop. It discusses important interview skills like communication, teamwork, initiative and providing examples to demonstrate competencies. It emphasizes the need to research the company, know your strengths, and answer common questions like "tell me about yourself." Exercises are provided to help participants practice competency-based questions and formulating responses to common interview questions in 3 sentences or less. The goal is to help interviewees effectively showcase their fit for the role and organization.

1. Interview Skills
Workshop
03/15/13 www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepreneurship bikaner 1

2. From: afterschoool centre for social
entrepreneurship
www.afterschoool.tk
03/15/13 2
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

3. Outline
 Skills and Competencies
 The Interview
 Exercise - competency based interview
questions
 That Question – T.M.A.Y.
 Exercise – answering That Question
03/15/13 3
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

4. Skills – they just can’t get enough
Energy
Self Belief Teamwork
Empathy Intellect
Communication Skills YOU Self Awareness
Initiative Self Motivation
Knowledge Flexibility
IT Skills
03/15/13 4
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

5. Examining the Skills
Intelligence
Research skills
Managing Information
IT skills
Intelligence/
Technical
People Numeracy
Skills Problem Solving
Skills
Ongoing development
Personal Attention to detail
???????
Development ???????
Skills
- Grades
- Projects
- Extracurricular courses
- Hobbies
03/15/13 5
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

6. Examining the Skills
People Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Communication
Intelligence/ Leadership
People
Technical
Skills
Teamwork
Skills
Customer Focus
Influence
Personal
??????? Empathy
Development ??????? Conflict resolution
Skills
Dealing with customers &
colleagues, Work experience,
College projects &
03/15/13 presentations 6
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

7. Examining the Skills
Personal Development
Self Awareness/Self
Confidence
Negotiation
Intelligence/ Energy & Enthusiasm
People
Technical
Skills Resilience
Skills
Initiative
Personal Adaptability
???????
Motivation
Development ???????
Ability to deal with change
Skills
Networking
Work Experience / Sports/
Clubs
03/15/13 7
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren
Arranging Events /Elections

8. Examining the Skills
X Factor
Drive
Intelligence/
People Entrepreneurial Spirit
Technical
Skills
Skills Can Do Attitude
“Cop-on”
Personal Airplane test
??????? Ability to put yourself in the
Development
????? Interviewer’s position
Skills
Ability to read a situation
03/15/13 8
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

9. Pe
0
5
10
15
20
25
rs ua
s
ive
03/15/13
En
erg
Co etic
nfi
de
Mo nt
tiv
ate
De d
cis
An ive
Po al
sit
ive ytica
At l
titu
Pro de
Te ac
am tive
Co
mm Playe
Taken from recruiting literature of 41 Employers
r
who attended the UL Careers Fair on 18.10.2007
un
ic a
to r
Cr
Wo ea
rk tiv
un Fl e e
de x ib
Cu rP le
sto r ess
me ure
rF
Le oc
Ta ad us
9 ke ers
res hip
po
ns
Ha ib
rdw ility
ork
Am ing
What do Employers want?
b it
iou
s
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

10. Most Wanted List…
Te
am on
Wo cati
rk ing Oral muni
Mu m
lti- Co
ta ski t
n g e emen
Tim nag
Ma
Decisi
on Ma s
king
S kill
IT
g ENERGY Man
o lv in a
lear ging o
blemS ning wn
Pro
on
en tati Wri
t
Pres Com ten
ll s mu
S ki ni c a
tion
Ref: Skillsproject.ie
03/15/13 10
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

11. The Interview – it’s showtime
03/15/13 11
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

12. Wishful thinking…..
Just three little
words……….
03/15/13 12
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

13. Employer’s Concerns
 CAN you do this
job?
CAN?
 Do you want this
job? (WILL?)
YOU
WILL ? FIT?
 Why are you the
best person for the
job and our
03/15/13 company? (FIT) 13
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

14. Interview Basics
BEFORE DURING
 Where, Who, How?  First Impressions
 Know the company -  Energy
RESEARCH  Listen, then answer
 Trends affecting the  Think positively
industry  Breathe!
 Use Informational
 Are we having fun
Interviews yet?
 Know what company
 Nervous is normal
wants
 Always ask a
 Practise your
(contextual) question
competency stories
03/15/13 14
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

15. Interview Basics
ALWAYS
 Put yourself in the Interviewer’s
place
 Know your CV and how to use
competency stories
 Make it enjoyable for them
 Know why you want to work THERE
03/15/13 15
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

16. Interview Basics
ALWAYS (cntd)
 Have an answer to the “tell me about
yourself” question
 Practise the Strengths and
Weaknesses question
 Enquire about next steps
 Say Thanks !
03/15/13 16
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

17. Interview Basics
NEVER
 Sell yourself short - “I’ve only….”
 Make excuses
 Lie
 Reveal confidential information
 Run down their competitors
 Confuse arrogance with confidence
 Look disinterested
03/15/13 17
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

18. Competency Based Interview
 Usually one-on-one
 Formal and appears stilted at times
 Asked your describe your behaviour
according to:
 The Situation in which it occurred
 The Action you took
S
 The Result T
A R
03/15/13 18
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

19. Interviewing:
Competency Questions
Worksheet 1
03/15/13 19
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

20. Competency Questions
Exercise-Worksheet 1
1. Motivation
2. Managing Priorities
3. Initiative
4. Teamwork
5. Influence/Communication
Refer to handout. Choose one question
to answer. Then interview partner. Don’t
choose same competency as partner.
03/15/13 20
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

21. Scorecard for Competencies
Competency No. of Score
Examples 1–5
Motivation 2 4
Managing 2 4.5
Priorities
Teamwork 3 5
Influence/ 2 3.5
Communication
Adaptability/ 3 4.5
Flexibility
03/15/13 21
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

22. Telephone Interviews
03/15/13 22
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

23. Telephone Interviews
 Increasingly used as first selection
method
 Companies with ongoing recruitment
needs
 In response to adverts or job site
postings
 Be prepared for call – avoid clueless
response
03/15/13 23
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

24. Telephone Interviews
 Zero distractions
 Simulate a business environment
 Desk - CV or application form
 Agree on a time that suits you
 Check your voicemail message..and
your web profile
 Practise answers out loud
03/15/13 24
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

25. So, tell me about yourself….
03/15/13 25
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

26. Tell me about yourself…
 Your personal statement summarising:
 Education
 Skills
 Experience
 Career Objective
Theme: what I can do for YOUR company
03/15/13 26
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

27. Tell me about yourself…
 90 seconds maximum, then STOP
 No jokes
 No “as you can see from my CV..”
 Practise out loud and often
 Give the people what they want
 Tailor it a little for each employer
03/15/13 27
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

28. Tell me about yourself…
Education
I am a Final Year student in the University of Limerick studying for a
BA in Accounting and Finance. I have specialised in International
Financial Markets and am completing my dissertation on the
systematic effect of the weak dollar on international currency
markets. I have achieved 2.1’s throughout my time at UL and am
confident of achieving a 2.1 or perhaps a 1st this year
Skills
I am motivated and driven and have shown this by combining
working and studying over the last three years. I’m a confident
communicator and have led and facilitated many debating and
sports society activities in university. I enjoy interacting with people
and have been heavily involved with customer facing activities for
many years. I like setting challenges for myself and last year
completed the Dublin City Marathon aswell as reaching the national
final of the advanced Suduko Championships.
03/15/13 28
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

29. Tell me about yourself…
Experience
I have spent two summers working in the funds accounting industry
and have become proficient on the industry specific IT systems as well
as having a strong working knowledge of all the key terms in the
industry. I have maintained a good network of friends and ex
colleagues in the industry and they keep me up to date on the latest
developments in the industry. In my part time job I am responsible
for generating direct marketing revenues from 45 clients so I know
what is involved in maintaining client relationships.
Career Objective
I want to build on my knowledge of the funds industry and become a
Fund Accountant with my own portfolio of clients. I want to do this
with one of the largest global players where my skills and enthusiasm
will be recognised and rewarded, and where I can make a real
difference to the company’s profitability and success
03/15/13 29
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

30. So, tell me about yourself….
03/15/13 30
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

31. Exercise 2
Devise a response to the tell me about
yourself question, refer to worksheet for
suggested structure
03/15/13 31
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

32. And Finally
 Know your skills/competencies
 Know your skills stories
 Know what the employer wants
 Give the people what they want
03/15/13 32
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren

33. 03/15/13 33
www.afterschoool.tk afterschoool centre for social entrepren