Selection Interview Assignment

Assignment 2: Selection Interview Assignment

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to give each student the opportunity to improve his/her skills in the selection interview. This goal will be achieved by critiquing a “simulated” interview.

Procedures: The procedures for this project are detailed on a day-by-day schedule below:

Preparations for Day 1

Two basic documents need to be prepared for the next class period:

1. Develop a current resume according to the guidelines presented in class and the book.

2. Construct a 1-page typed job description of an actual job you wish to apply for upon graduation.

Day 1 (activities should take about 10 minutes)

3. Divide into groups of three.

4. Designate a person “A”, person “B”, and person “C” within the group.

5. There will be 3 rounds of interviewing according to this schedule:

PersonRound 1Round 2Round 3

AERobserverEE

BEEERobserver

CobserverEEER

6. The EE should give the respective ER a job description and resume.

7. Agree upon some method so that all interviews will be tape-recorded.

Preparation for Day 2

8. The ER should prepare an interview guide (author calls it “Interview schedule”) with the introduction (include means of building rapport and orienting the EE with the purpose, agenda, etc.), the body with an appropriate sequencing of questions and probes, and the conclusion (summarize what has taken place, what will happen next). (See the sample interview guide of a mutual fund study in this guide.) The ERs should plan an interview for the EE such that the ER represents a specific firm that could hire the EE. (The EE’s job description and resume will help the ER plan questions.)

9. Observers should develop some method for systematically analyzing the interview according to the principles discussed in class and the book. Remember, one of the basic purposes of this exercise is to provide specific feedback to the ER and the EE. Be sure to mention both the positive as well as the negative.

Day 2

10. Conduct rounds 1,2 and 3 according to this schedule:

Round 1

20 minutes:interview

5 minutes:oral critique

 observer analyzes ER’s interviewing technique

 observer and ER evaluate EE’s interviewing style

 observer and ER critique EE’s resume

Round 2

20 minutesinterview

5 minutesoral critique

Round 3

20 minutesinterview

5 minutesoral critique

Preparations for Day 3

11. Observers prepare a 1 - 2 page critique of the interview including both positives and negatives (“areas of improvement”). The report should include specific communication recommendations for the EE. The major focus should be on the EE’s style. Make 3 copies of your critique--1 for the professor and 1 each for the ER and EE. You may also include a critique of the assignment.

12. Analyze the cassette tape when you were the EE. Prepare a 1 page critique of your own interview style.

13. Draft a thank-you letter to your ER.

Day 3

14. The following items are to be prepared in a professional form and handed in for grading:

your own resume
your own job description
your critique as the observer (step 11)
your critique of your own interviewing style as EE (step 12)
your interview planning (6 strategies)
your interview guide
your thank-you note

Interviewer/Interviewee Evaluation

1. The interviewer demonstrated sensitivity to the interviewee.