If resume is successful, you will have interview {interview}|.
preparation
Wear conservative clothes, like suit. Groom well. Look neat. You already have confidence that you can do job well and that job fits your goals and skills. Be ready to be confident, sincere, smiling, energetic, and friendly. Be ready to listen. Be ready to treat everyone courteously and with respect. List references. List questions. Copy the resume. Take your research notes. Take your correspondence. Obtain interviewer names and titles. Ready your accomplishment stories and competencies. Check materials and web site about company. Find key names. Determine allotted time. Arrive early enough to read lobby materials.
interview formats
Traditional interview has interviewer asking questions and applicant answering. Strategic interview has interviewer asking questions and applicant answering, plus discussion of company and manager needs and applicant competencies relative to needs.
questions
Questions are about experience, skills, latest job, work experience, activities, accomplishments, competencies, style, and values. Questions are about why you like this company and contributions you could make. Questions about age, birthplace, nationality, race, religion, arrests, marital status, children, height, weight, drugs, hobbies, unions, and disabilities are not appropriate.
questions: goals
Questions are about objective, goals, ideal job, three-year to five-year goal, career-change plans, previous goals and results, motivations, and values.
questions: problems
Questions are about job-related problems, reason for leaving, dislikes, likes, and drug test.
questions: training
Questions are about education, training, courses, uses, and problems solved.
questions: weaknesses
Questions {knockout questions} are about weaknesses, weakness situations, problems, strengths, overqualifications, criticisms received, boredom, laziness, pressure responses, conflicts, diversity, power use, disagreements with boss, and adaptability. State that you are overcoming them or learning from them.
questions: salary
Questions are about salary or range.
question: types
Interview has three question types. Why do you want job in company? What can you do for company or person? What is salary you want? Talk about the future you expect to have with company in job, not about future jobs. Talk about organization needs, problems, and future. Show how your skills fit those needs. Be ready for questions about the past. Give usual salary range for job.
style
Be informal and friendly. Use two or three sentence answers. Do not say anything bad about oneself. Remember that interviewer probably has little skill in interviewing. Do not apologize or be defensive. Admit you do not know. Do not argue or become irritated.
If asked about which job type you want, tell why you like industry, why you like company, why you like job, and what your career plans are. If asked why you want to leave present job, or why you do not have job, talk about what you want more of, such as responsibility, opportunity to be creative or independent, field or industry knowledge, self knowledge, personal development, and/or salary. If asked about present job, talk about chances for promotion, achievements, and present salary. If asked about your present job and workers, state facts without criticizing workers, supervisors, or company. If asked about skills, state your best skills, how skills relate to job and company needs, and situations in which you used skill. If asked about weaknesses, state weakness only if you mention what you are doing to correct it and without apology. If asked to take tests, say yes.
conclusion
Summarize meeting and express interest. Arrange second meeting or contact. Send followups. Do not accept job at interview. State time you will give answer. After job offer, discuss salary and get offer and salary in writing.
People {interviewee} need to know if skills, experience, and competencies are enough and liked, to see the fit with company people and culture, and to receive enough pay and benefits.
interviewee questions
Responsibilities, job description, expectations, immediate needs, position history, next higher position, qualifications needed {interviewee questions}. Resources, co-workers, current experience, current training, training programs, budget, support from other departments. Authority, hiring/terminating, command chain, reports, supervisor history, supervisor experience, supervisor training, decision-making process, documented procedures, documented policies, budgeting, approvals. Performance, goals, goal making process, evaluation process, expectations, rewards/bonuses/promotions, review periods. Culture, management style, formality level, tight or loose structure, relations between departments/projects, turnover rate, position openings, internal candidates.
People {interviewer} needs to know your skills, experience, and competencies, to see how you fit with company people and culture, and to see how much is enough pay and benefits.
Interviewer asks about your past experience to show competencies and values, to test technical skills and performance skills {behavior-based interview}. Use accomplishment stories and competency list. You have five competencies, each with five stories.
Workers ask about your past experience to show competencies and values {group interview} {panel interview}. Use accomplishment stories and competency list. You have five competencies, each with five stories. Present to group and people. Use names and titles.
Interviewer reviews job requirements, your resume, and your qualifications {screening interview} {initial interview}. Interviewer asks about your education, skills, and experiences. It lasts 10 to 30 minutes. Use accomplishment stories and competency list. Talk about five competencies, each with five stories. Obtain interviewer name and number.
Interviewer reviews job requirements, your resume, and your qualifications {telephone interview}. Interviewer asks about your education, skills, and experiences. It lasts 10 to 30 minutes. Use accomplishment stories and competency list. Talk about five competencies, each with five stories. Obtain interviewer name and number.
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Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225