Interview Preparation Radiation Sciences

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Interview Preparation Radiation Sciences

• February 12, 2008
• Erin Lowery
• Assistant Director
• University Career Center
• Division of Student Affairs Enrollment Services
• Virginia Commonwealth University

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Interview Preparation

• Research
• Yourself skills, qualifications, qualities,
  strengths and weaknesses
• Career field, specific employer and position
• Interviewing formats, questions and trends
• Prepare
• Develop and practice effective communication
  skills
• Practice, practice, practice
• Perform
• Make a positive, professional impression

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ResearchYourself

• How did you choose Radiation Sciences as a
  major/career field?
• What are your long and short term career goals?
• What skills have you developed?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• How would you describe your personality?
• What motivates you?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses, and how do you
  compensate for them?
• What are your failures and how did you learn from
  them?

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Research Career Field, Employer Position

• Read employers printed materials and web site
• Become familiar with the mission of the
  organization
• Know the position description
• Know current trends in your chosen field
• Take advantage of specialty associations/professio
  nal organizations web sites and newsletters
• American Society of Radiologic Technologists
  http//www.asrt.org/
• Virginia Society of Radiologic Technologists
  http//www.vsrt.org/
• Industry and employer Research web sites
• Wetfeet.com
• Rileyguide.com
• Vault.com

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ResearchInterviewing

• Resources
• University Career Center http//www.students.vcu.
  edu/careers/
• UCC Resource Library
• www.collegegrad.com
• Interview Formats
• Interview Questions
• Trends

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Interview Formats

• Formal Informal
• ? One-on-one ? Lunch
• ? Panel ? Tour
• ? Information Session
• ? Expect the unexpected
• ? Be prepared to interact with other candidates
• ? Every interaction with anyone from
  organization is part of interview!

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Communication

• Verbal communication - only 7 of communication
• How you say it/tone of voice 38
• Non-verbal communication 55!
• Handshake
• Body language/Posture
• Facial Expressions
• Eye contact

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Interview Questions

• Personal Questions
• Resume/Application Questions
• Case/Technical Questions
• Behavioral Questions
• Atypical Questions
• Illegal Questions

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Personal Questions

• Questions about your goals and interests
• Questions about your qualities
• Questions about your strengths and weaknesses
• Tell me about yourself
• Why are you interested in this position?
• What can you contribute to our organization?
• What salary range are you seeking?
• How did you first become interested in radiation
  sciences?
• Tell me what you know about our organization.
• What do you expect from us?

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Resume/Application Questions

• Questions about your experience, education,
  skills, and campus community involvement
• What relevant experience do you have?
• Elaborate on (a particular part of your
  resume)
• Explain(a poor grade or another failure)
• In the Radiation Sciences curriculum which
  classes have you enjoyed the most and least?
• Know your resume
• Anticipate difficult questions

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Case/Technical Questions

• You are given problem to solve
• You are given scenario and asked to explain how
  you would respond
• What would you do if?

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Behavioral Questions

• Questions used to determine how you respond in
  certain situations
• Questions that elicit specific supporting
  examples rather then general responses
• Tell me about a time when

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Behavioral Questions

• Describe a situation where you went above and
  beyond what would normally be expected to
  accommodate the needs of others or exceed their
  expectations.
• Describe a situation in which you faced a sharp
  learning curve. What steps did you take to
  develop your knowledge? How did you apply what
  you learned?
• Tell me about a time when you were able to work
  effectively on a team where people held
  conflicting opinions. What was the situation?
  Describe your role.
• Have you ever been a role model for someone? If
  so, please explain who the person was and what
  you did.
• What do you do to make the people around you
  feel important, appreciated, and respected?

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STAR Technique

• Use the STAR Technique to answer behavioral
  interviewing questions
• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

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Atypical Questions

• Unusual questions that catch you off guard
• Demonstrate your creativity, flexibility and how
  well you think on your feet
• If you were a tree, what kind would you be and
  why?

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Illegal Questions

• Questions about age, disability, gender, national
  origin, race, religion or creed, family and
  relationship issues
• Options refuse to answer, answer the question,
  tactfully ask for relevance of question, or
  answer the real question behind the question
• Ask yourself what the question tells you about
  the workplace

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Tips for answering all questions

• Pause before answering
• Listen to the question
• As a general rule, keep your answers under one
  minute
• Stay focused avoid tangents
• Give a definite ending to your response
• Be very specific provide examples
• Avoid vague or general responses
• Be honest
• Dont be defensive
• Dont make excuses
• Dont be surprised
• Dont say I dont know
• Be aware of interviewers strategy
• Dont ruminate on less than perfect answers

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Asking Questions

• Asking Questions serves several purposes
• Gives you more information about the
  company/organization
• Demonstrates your interest and your research
• Demonstrates your critical thinking skills

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Asking Questions

• Be prepared with lots of informed questions
• Let the interviewer run the interview dont ask
  questions until the appropriate time
• Dont ask anything that is answered on the
  website
• Ask questions that demonstrate your research of
  the employer and interest in the position

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Questions to askAsk questions about the culture
and philosophy of the organization

• Training and learning environment
• Training process
• Ongoing and frequent evaluations
• Mentoring program/buddies
• Technology
• Paperless
• Technology training

• Professional development
• Leadership development
• Opportunities for advancement
• Seminar or conference attendance
• Communication
• Flow of information
• Intranet
• Suggestion box
• Dress code
• Social, work/life balance
• Flexible schedules
• Is there some fun in the organization? Sports
  teams, parties, etc

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Questions to Ask

• Tell me about initial and future training
  programs.
• How would you describe the work environment in
  your organization?
• How often are performance reviews given?
• How are reviews conducted?
• What are the organization's plans for future
  growth?
• What are the possible career paths from this
  position?
• What makes your organization different from
  others in your field?

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Make a Positive, Professional Impression

• Professional appearance
• Preparedness
• First impression
• Dont let anxiety get the best of you
• Express appreciation

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Professional Appearance

• MEN
• Conservative, dark suit
• Shirt ironed
• Belt matches shoes
• Comfortable shoes
• Hair cut/ shaven/ well-groomed
• Remove jewelry
• Avoid aftershave or cologne

• WOMEN
• Conservative, dark suit
• Appropriate length skirt with hose
• Bring extra hose
• Comfortable shoes with low heel
• Avoid camisoles or low riding pants
• Wear conservative makeup and jewelry
• Avoid perfume or scented lotion

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Preparedness

• Before the interview, review your resume, cover
  letter and any correspondence with employer
• Know directions and parking
• Arrive early, get enough sleep, eat breakfast, be
  well groomed
• Bring professional portfolio and pen, copies of
  your resume and references
• Turn off cell phone
• No bags (except purse)

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First Impression

• Smile
• Eye contact
• Posture
• Greeting and Introduction
• Handshake
• Use names always titles (Ms., Mr., Dr.) until
  invited to use first names
• Use Ms. for women (instead of Miss or Mrs.),
  unless asked to address them otherwise

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Express your Appreciation

• Send a thank you note the same day of your
  interview
• Send individual notes to everyone who interviews
  you
• Handwritten, typed or e-mail
• Refer to interview discussion
• Include the reasons you are a good fit for the
  position and employer
• Emphasize your interest in the position and
  explain how the interview confirmed or heightened
  your interest

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Dont Let Anxiety Get the Best of You

• Seek a balance some anxiety is helpful
• What motivates you?
• What keeps you positive confident?
• Does anxiety motivate or paralyze you?
• When does anxiety hit?
• What are you saying to yourself during the
  interview?
• Practice methods of coping with anxiety
• Interview practice and preparation
• Healthy eating and exercise
• Sleep
• Breathing
• Positive self-talk

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Common Mistakes

• Mistaking stiffness for professionalism
• Not developing rapport
• Talking poorly about past employers
• Trying to take over the interview
• Forgetting/not using names
• Not listening
• Appearing arrogant/know-it-all
• Providing general, rather than specific answers
• Behaving too casually during lunch/tour/less
  formal parts of interview or with someone you
  know
• Sounding rehearsed/memorized
• Ruminating on poor answers
• Not treating every interaction with employer as
  part of interview
• Not communicating your excitement and motivation
• Not sending a thank you note

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Reflect on your experience after the
interviewand learn from it
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Resources to Practice Interviewing

• UCC mock interviews
• UCC Behavioral Mock Interviewing Program
• March 5, 6
• Registration begins on February 27 on Rams
  Recruiting
• Behavioral Mock Interviewing Preparatory Workshop
• Monday, March 3, 500-600 p.m.
• Richmond Salon II, Student Commons
• InterviewStream

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University Career Center

• Student Commons, first floor
• Hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• www.students.vcu.edu/careers
• [phone]
• To schedule an appointment with Erin
• E-mail your name, major, availability,
• and reason for the appointment
• Erin Lowery
• elowery_at_vcu.edu