Interview Skills: Put Your Best Foot Forward

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Interview Skills Put Your Best Foot Forward

• Presented by Markell Steele, M.Ed.
• Futures in Motion, Inc.
• Transition to Industry Symposium

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Purpose of the Interview

• Recruiter/Hiring Manager wants to determine
• Can you do the job- knowledge, skills, abilities
• Do you want to do the job- interest and
  enthusiasm
• Will you fit in?- personality/environmental match

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Tips for Successful Interviewing

• Knowledge
• Presentation
• Follow-up

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KNOWLEDGE
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Know Yourself

• Understand relevant skills, interests and values
• Identify transferable skills
• Prioritize employment needs
• Tips
• Take a skills inventory (Skillscan)
• Use action verb list
• Analyze your experience for relevance
• Browse job openings to identify interests

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Know the Organization/ Company

• Recruiters hiring managers expect you to know
  something about the company/industry/position
• Chance for you to stand out from the competition
• Incorporate knowledge into interview responses

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What To Find Out

• Products / Services
• Size
• Ownership
• Profits / Losses
• Private / Public
• Stated Mission
• Training
• Benefits

• Competitors
• Client base
• Reputation
• Potential for Advancement
• Recent mergers / acquisitions
• Market stability

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Finding Company Information

• Company Annual Report
• Company Website
• Information Interviews
• Chamber of Commerce
• Magazines, Business Publications
• Press Releases
• Local business journals
• Professional Associations

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Company Research Websites

• www.vault.com
• www.wetfeet.com
• www.hoovers.com
• www.plunketts.com
• www.the-scientist.com/careers
• www.biospace.com
• www.biotechinstitute.org/careers
• Vault Guide to the Top Pharmaceuticals Biotech
  Employers, Third Edition

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PRESENTATION
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Interview Attire

• Consider your industry
• Consider the employer
• Consider your personality

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The Employer

• Look at pictures in company literature or on web
  pages
• Talk to people who know the culture of the
  organization

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Your Personality

• Choose clothes that fit your body type
• Look for the best quality you can afford
• Use low key accessories to personalize suits
• Use good judgment- You don't want to be known as
  the candidate who wore the Donald Duck tie

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Interview Scenarios

• One-on-one
• Group
• Committee/Panel
• Phone
• Scientific Presentation
• Multiple Interviews/Series

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Know Your Audience

• External Recruiter
• Human Resources Recruiter
• Hiring Manager
• Potential Co-workers

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Tips for Preparing

• Analyze the job description for clues about
  skills, experience and behaviors to emphasize
• Review your experiences for examples and
  accomplishments
• Anticipate related questions
• Identify 3-5 things you want the recruiter to
  remember about you and work those qualities into
  your answers

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Types of Questions to Expect

• Technical and Job specific
• Tests your knowledge and confirms that you can
  do the specific work of the job
• Behavioral-based-
• Determines temperament, how you handle
  situations
• (teamwork, communication, problem-solving/decision
  -making, conflict resolution, work under
  pressure, planning/organizing)

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Sample Questions/ Areas for Discussion

• Tell me about yourself.Describe your research.
• How did you choose this area of research?
• In what ways will your background enable you to
  do this job?
• Why should we hire you?
• How would your supervisor or direct reports
  describe you?
• What is your greatest strength? Weakness?
• How does this job fit into your long-term career
  goals?
• Why do you want this job?
• Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult
  person.
• What do you know about our company?
• With so many applicants, why should we hire
  you?

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Response Tips

• Monitor volume, clarity rate of speech
• Avoid saying, I dont know
• Accentuate the positive
• Avoid sharing personal information
• Explain what you can do for them, not what they
  can do for you provide relevant examples
• Use the STAR Approach

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Situation
Tell about the overall situation you will be
describing
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Task
Describe the specific task you completed
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Action
Describe what you did in the situation or while
completing the task
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Result
Finish your description by telling what happened
as a result of your action
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Focus on Accomplishments

• Managed 5 program budgets totaling 5m.
• Improved collections procedure to capture 50,000
  in unrealized revenue.
• Consistently exceeded sales goals by 20.
• Completed projects on time and under budget.

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PRACTICE
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Non-Verbal Communication

• Have firm handshake
• Exhibit appropriate body language
• Maintain eye contact
• Keep nervous habits in check
• Have Good posture, no slouching

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Your Questions for the Interviewer

• Build upon information from your research
• Clarify responsibilities duties
• Avoid benefits questions
• Indicate sincere interest in company your
  desire to become an integrated and productive
  team member

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Interview Day

• Preparation
• Look feel rested
• Dress Appropriately (formal conservative)
• Gather materials
• Arrival
• Arrive ten minutes early
• Be polite to everyone
• Introduce yourself (handshake, eye contact, and
  smile)
• Relax and be confident

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Materials to bring

• Extra Resumes
• Reference sheet
• Portfolio (if appropriate)
• Notes, paper pen

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After the Interview

• Before leaving
• Determine next steps in the selection process
• Ask for business card (for thank you notes)
• Convey what a pleasure it was to interview
• Shake hands with everyone

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Interview Follow Up

• Write a thank you note within 24-48 hours
• Mention interview highlights
• Include information you may have omitted during
  the interview
• E-mail or hard copy?