Chapter 8The

Employment Interview

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Chapter Summary

Choosing a Career Path Analyzing Yourself Doing Your Homework Conducting the Search Preparing Credentials Creating a Favorable First Impression Answering Questions Asking Questions The Closing Evaluation and Follow-Up Summary

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Choosing a Career Path

Current market trends: Retail at every level Hospitality management Health care in every form Education/training Technology Engineering

Preparation is the key to successful employment interviews.

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Analyzing Yourself

Questions to Guide Your Self-Analysis What are your personality strengths and

weaknesses? What are your intellectual strengths and

weaknesses? What are your communicative strengths and

weaknesses? What have been your accomplishments and

failures?

Continued...

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Analyzing Yourself

Questions to Guide Your Self-Analysis What are your professional strengths and

weaknesses? What do you want in a position and organization? What are your most valued needs? What are your professional interests? What is your tolerance of risk?

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Doing Your Homework

Research your field Research organizations Research the recruiter Research the position Research current events Research the interview process

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Doing Your Homework

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Conducting the Search

Networking The Obvious Places The Placement Agency or Service Publications The Internet Career Fairs

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Doing Your Homework

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Preparing Credentials

Resumes No single resume is suitable for all positions. Content of Resumes

Impressive career objectives; phrase them with great care.

Your educational record is most important for your first position.

Relevant experiences can set you apart from the crowd.

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Preparing Credentials

Resumes Types of Resumes

Chronological resume; use action verbs to show that you are a doer.

Functional resume; place your experiences under headings that highlight your qualifications.

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Preparing Credentials

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Preparing Credentials

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Preparing Credentials

Resumes Mechanics of Resumes

Make your resume easy to review. Proofread your resume with great care. Terms and labels are critical in scannable resumes. There is no simple formula for creating resumes.

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Preparing Credentials

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Preparing Credentials

The Portfolio Your portfolio shows you in action

The Cover Letter Design and target letters to specific positions and

organization

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Preparing Credentials

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Preparing Credentials

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Preparing Credentials

Personal Web Sites, Pages, and Blogs Can be useful in professional impression

formation Can provide negative information to interviewers Studies show recruiters are influenced by cyber-

information about applicants

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Creating a Favorable First Impression

Relationship of the Interviewing Parties Know how and when to share control of the

interview. Understand and adapt to the relationship with the

recruiter.

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Creating a Favorable First Impression

Dress and Appearance Dress for a formal business occasion. Neatness costs nothing and pays dividends.

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Creating a Favorable First Impression

Dress and Appearance: Advice for Men Be on the conservative side in dress and

appearance. Coordinate colors carefully. When in doubt, ask for help.

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Creating a Favorable First Impression

Dress and Appearance: Advice for Women Appearance should not call attention to itself. Provocative clothing can end your candidacy.

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Creating a Favorable First Impression

Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is critical in first

impressions. Be alive and dynamic. Good communication skills are important in all

positions.

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Creating a Favorable First Impression

Arrival and Opening Be on time and ready to interact. How you handle yourself during the first few

minutes with a stranger tells them a great deal about your interpersonal communication and people skills.

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Answering Questions

Preparing to Respond Be ready to handle traditional questions. Welcome on-the-job questions to show what you

can do.

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Answering Questions

Responding: Successful Applicants Listen, think, and then answer. Effective answers are long on substance and

short on puffery. Do not play act; act yourself. Good recruiters detect phoniness. Be informed before replying.

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Answering Questions

Responding: Unsuccessful Applicants Unsuccessful applicants are passive and

cautious. Know what not to do during interviews, and then

do not do it.

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Answering Questions

Unlawful Questions Do not be surprised by unlawful questions. Identifying Unlawful Questions

The pressure is on the applicant. Review EEO laws and your rights. Beware of recruiter tricks to get unlawful information.

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Asking Questions

Guidelines for asking questions Question pitfalls Sample applicant questions

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The Closing

Be aware of everything you say and do. Take and active part in the closing. It’s not over ‘til it’s over. The employer is likely to note everything you

do and say.

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Evaluation and Follow-Up

Remember: the interview is more art than science.

Be thorough in your debriefing. Quality applicants write thank you notes.

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Summary

We are undergoing a second industrial revolution that’s moving from a manufacturing to a service and information-oriented society.

The best positions in the future will go to those who understand and are prepared for the selection process.

You must know yourself, the position, and the organization to be selected for a job.

The job search must be extensive. Interviewing skills are increasingly important.