INTERVIEW SKILLS
Interview Preparation
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PREPARATION
It is vital to your success as an interviewee to prepare for your meeting with the employer. In advance of the job interview, the candidate should focus on these important items: 1) Research the company, 2) Identify key points, 3) Collect relevant stories, 4) Organize the portfolio, 5) Be ready with questions to ask, and 6) Rehearse.
RESEARCH
Prepare for your job interview by doing some in-depth research. Gather useful information about the company you intend to interview with. Learn what you can about the employer. Be informed about the job. Appear knowledgeable of their business and their line of work. Do your homework.
Where can this valuable information be obtained? Company website, public library, chamber of commerce, business publications, company literature, annual reports, employee handbooks, magazine articles.
KEY POINTS
Plan ahead. Organize your main ideas in advance. Commit to memory the major points of your presentation. Determine your key qualifications. Identify your strengths, abilities and skills. Write them down. Learn them.
STORYTIME
Recall a few relevant stories you can tell during the interview. These stories or anecdotal examples should reflect your past experience, set you in a positive light and provide supportive evidence of your skills and abilities. Telling a story allows you the opportunity to communicate positive emotions and feelings... a sense of enthusiasm, pride and dedication. Telling a story makes you more memorable to the interviewer.
SHOW & TELL
Bring along some impressive examples of your work (a portfolio), letters of reference, an award, an article written about you, a paper you wrote or some kind of artifact or prop you can refer to as evidence of your skills and accomplishments.
QUESTIONS
Ask questions in the interview. Prepare a few good solid ones in advance. Ask the kind of questions that indicate your interest in the company. Don't ask about salary or benefits. Ask questions that reflect your attitude and motivation.
REHEARSE
Practice the presentation. Rehearse what you will say in the interview. Conduct a mock interview. Anticipate questions you might be asked. Practice formulating and expressing your responses.
INTERVIEW PREP SHEET
Company:______
Department:______
Job Title:______
Interviewer:______
5 Facts About the Company:
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3______
4______
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5 Qualifications for the Job (Job Description):
1______
2______
3______
4______
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5 Main Points About Yourself:
1Knowledge:
Education ______
Degrees/Awards ______
Major/Concentration/Focus ______
Subject Matter ______
Coursework ______
2Experience:
Employment/Jobs ______
Functions ______
Accomplishments ______
Activities ______
Memberships ______
3Skills:
General ______
Functional ______
Business ______
Interpersonal ______
Technical ______
4Personal Traits:
Personality ______
Favorable Attributes ______
Unique Characteristics ______
Work Ethic ______
Adjectives ______
5Goals & Motivations:
Reasons for choosing this career ______
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Plans for future ______
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5 Stories to Tell:
1______
2______
3______
4______
5______
5 Questions to Ask:
1______
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3______
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5______
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MICHAEL LEBEAU 2007