How to Succeed in Your Job Interview

AGENDA
 Understanding US work culture
 Getting in the door
 Informational Interviews
 Interview roles and structure
 Phone interviews
 Leveraging the recruiter
 In person interviews, how to succeed
 Following up after the interview
 Tips & Tricks (Final thoughts)
 Questions
AMERICAN WORK CULTURE
 Americans work a lot
 Average 2 weeks vacation per year
 Americans work 350 hours more each year than the average
European
 Tend to be informal – sometimes seen as disrespectful by other
cultures
 Interviews however, tend to be more formal then the general work
culture
 Communication style is very direct
 Enjoy debate (in general); expectation that you will speak up but
not be pushy
UNDERSTANDING US WORK CULTURE
Etiquette for Meetings & Greetings:
Greet with firm handshake and make direct eye contact
 This shows sincerity, signals interest, and confidence
Use proper title and name at initial greeting
 They will let you know immediately how they prefer to be addressed
Be prepared to participate in small talk at the beginning of the meeting
 Suitable topics: Weather, sports, travel and food
 Avoid topics: Religion, politics, and personal matters
Americans tend to value their personal space
 Be mindful of spatial boundaries. They may give you a cue by moving further away
from you. Not to be rude, it’s simply a cultural norm in America.
Let’s Practice!
THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD LOOK:
GETTING IN THE DOOR
 Utilize informational interviews
 Network
 Search daily
 Outreach to recruiters
 Post your resume online
 LinkedIn
 Job fairs
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
What is an informational Interview?
 Meeting where you gather information on a particular
company or career with a person who may be able to
help you get a job
 Low key, informal conversation
 2 ways to get one, referral and cold call
 Great practice for the real deal
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobinterviewtypes/
a/informal-interviews.htm
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS STRATEGY
Getting Ready:
Do your research, company, person, jobs
Plan your strategy/questions based on how you
got the interview
Dress your best but remember it’s not a job
interview
Express gratitude first thing, they are doing you
a favor
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS QUESTIONS
Plan for 5 key questions: (what can’t you find out for
yourself on the web)
How did you get into the field?
What advice would you have for someone starting out
in this field?
Who succeeds in this field?
What characteristics are needed?
What do you see happening in this field over the next
few years?
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
Closing:
 Don’t ask for a job, ask for advice: let them know you’d like to
work there and are hoping to get some guidance on how best to do
that
 Bring your resume
 If they don’t give them, ask for referrals: Is there anyone else I
should speak with?
 Whole interview shouldn’t last more than 30 minutes
 Always follow up with a thank you note or email, keep networking
Good article:
 www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/12/11
/how-to-land-and-ace-an-informational-interview/
INTERVIEW ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Interviewer
Has to get information about your knowledge, skills
and abilities, to determine if they think you can do the
job, are a good fit for their team, company culture, or
have potential for future roles/responsibilities
Interviewee
Is expected to research the job and the company
before the interview. Has to give information that
shows they have the knowledge skills and abilities to
do the job, get information about if they WANT to do
the job, then sell the interviewer that they can do the
job, & follow up
TYPICAL INTERVIEW STRUCTURES
 80/20 Rule
 Give, Get, Give
 5/50/5
 10/40/10
 2nd Round interviews are different
The merry-go-round (long)
Double check (short)
Presentations/work samples/show your work
PHONE INTERVIEWS
Recruiters role
• Determine if it’s worth the Manager’s time
Managers role
• Determine if it’s worth other people’s time
Other scenarios
What do they
want to know?
• Group phone interviews
• Recruiter and manager phone interviews
• These are the same as an in person interview
• Can you do the job?
• Will you do the job?
• Can they afford for you to do the job?
PHONE INTERVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS
Don’t answer your
phone if you can’t
talk, have kids in the
car, tv or radio on, etc.
Smile and Relax
Ask about the next
steps, or other
possibilities?
Research the
company, job,
interviewer, before
the call
Follow up
ASK THE RECRUITER
They’ve asked me to come
in for an in person
interview now what?
Company
culture
Dress for the
interview
Background on
the participant(s)
Time frame for
their process
What to expect
from the process
WHAT DO I WEAR?
 Did you ask the recruiter?
 Research company culture on the internet
 Take cues from the pictures on the internet
 Professional attire, what’s that mean?
 Industry norms
 When is a suit not the right thing to wear?
 Hair, make up, shoes and jewelry (conservative)
 No smoking (if you do, be sure to wash hands before the
interview)
 Cover tattoos if needed (know the culture)
HOW DO I ACT?
3 C’s
Calm
Confident in your skills and abilities
Control, of your body, voice, words
Authentic
&
Genuine
We want to know how you’ll be to work with
What you’ll say and how you’ll act
We assume how you are in the interview is how you will
be on the job
AMY CUDDY’S TED TALK
Here’s an expert on body language:
Amy Cuddy TED Talk
AMY CUDDY’S TED TALK
Key take-a-ways for preparing for an interview:
 Interviewers will make sweeping judgment's based on body language
 Interviewees are influenced by their own body language prior to the
interview
 When you pretend to feel confident/powerful you are more likely to feel
that way
 Practice “power posing” 2 minutes before the interview
it influences how you feel about yourself
how the interviewer evaluates you
 Make small adjustments in your body language during the interview, it
can lead to changed outcomes
WHAT TO DO…
Put your arms to the
side or in your lap
Have the tone of your
speech and facial
expressions match your
enthusiasm
Ask if you can take
notes
Have a firm hand shake
Look your interviewer in
the eye, and nod your
head occasionally to
show interest and
enthusiasm
Sit forward
Look the interviewer in
the eye
Cross your feet at the
ankles
Smile
Fidget
Nod your head
too much
Put your hands in
your pockets
Lean back in
your chair
Cross your arms
or legs
Don’t have shifty
eyes
Lift your arms
Point your finger,
or chop the air
with your hand
Don’t stare,
remember to
blink
Play with your
hair
Don’t over share,
keep each
answer to 2-3
minutes
Chew gum
WHAT NOT TO DO…
www.careerbuilder.com/article/cb-746-interview-tipsthe-interview-body-language-dos-and-donts/
WHAT DO THEY WANT TO KNOW?
Behavioral
interview
questions
Past behavior is the best predictor for future behavior
Positive and
negatively
framed
questions
It’s ok to tell us you’ve made a mistake, we want to know you are human
and you’ve learned from mistakes or problems you’ve encountered
STAR Answers
Situation
Action/Task
Result
The Close
They want to know that you want the job and expect that you will try to
sell them on your ability to do the job
They want you to have questions
TALKING TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE?
How to read the signs:
 What is their body language telling you?
 Did they stop writing?
 Is the interview going very fast?
 Is the interviewer looking at their
watch?
HOW TO BE AUTHENTIC
Great Articles:
http://crosswalknc.com/my-bestinterview-advice-be-authentic/
http://www.blueskyresumes.com/freeresume-help/article/interviewingauthentically/
SUGGESTIONS FOR AUTHENTICITY
Your goal is to build trust with the
hiring authority, if you lie to them
you’ll negate that process, we
want the truth, even if it isn’t
pretty
You are human, we all make
mistakes, don’t be afraid to admit
them
Practice before the interview how
you’ll respond to negatively
framed questions
Understand who you are, what
you want, and how to articulate it
We want know what you are good
at and what you are passionate
about, but don’t be arrogant,
share credit where it’s due
Be respectful of our time, be
concise
Be curious about me, my
company and this job, if you are
not, I’ll think your not interested
Be open minded, this job might
not be perfect for you but this
company may be, or maybe I
know some one else who’d be
interested in your background,
keep networking
Don’t show me how desperate
you are for this job, it’s
unattractive
Don’t tell me about your kids,
religion, favorite sports team, or
weekend activities. Most of this
information is against the law for
me to know. Keep the focus on
your ability to do the work and
your why you are a fit for my
organization
CLOSING THE INTERVIEW
Is there anything else
you’d like to share about
your background or
experience as it relates to
this position?
This is your
opportunity to tell
me why you are the
best candidate, I
expect you to “sell”
your skills and
abilities to me or
summarize why you
are the candidate I
should hire
Be sure to tell me
you are interested
in the position
Ask Questions: we expect
you to ask them, and we
never tell you everything,
ask about the interviewer,
company culture, success
factors
Ask what the next
steps are and when
you’ll hear back,
get business cards
from the
participants
Unless it’s a final
interview don’t ask
about benefits or
pay
HOW OFTEN CAN I FOLLOW UP?
 Sending an email thank you the same day as the interview is the
best follow up, but within 24 hours is ok too
 If you send it in writing, make sure your writing is neat and legible
 Send something to everyone you talked to, ask for business cards
so you’ll have the correct email/address
 Don’t send an email 1 week later
 Don’t call more than once every 2 weeks unless you are told it’s
ok
 Do follow up
 Send recruiter and interviewers request to connect on LinkedIn
FINAL TIPS AND THOUGHTS
Greetings
(no kissing!)
Your goal is to move
forward in the process
Questions to ask, is there anything about my background experience that needs
clarification or that would prevent me from moving forward in the process?
It’s ok to ask for clarification if
you didn’t understand a question
It’s ok to think about it for a
minute and compose your answer
Work status authorization, there should be a question on the application
about it, don’t bring it up until after they’ve made you an offer
How to politely refuse to answer a
question, redirect, or ask another question
Insider information
from recruiters
QUESTIONS??
Lisa Franklin, Lead Employment & Recruiting Services
Twitter: Franklin_LisaR
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CaltechEmployment
LinkedIn: Lisa (Mendlen) Franklin
 Invite me to connect
 Thanks to Ilana Smith and Laura Flower Kim for
inviting me to speak with you today!
RESOURCES
Hand Shake Bias Article:
http://www.ere.net/2013/08/05/the-many-perils-of-interview-handshakes-and-why-they-causeyou-to-lose-top-candidates/
Informational Interviews:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobinterviewtypes/a/informal-interviews.htm
www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/12/11/how-to-land-and-ace-an-informationalinterview/
Amy Cuddy TED Talk:
http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en
Interview Body Language:
www.careerbuilder.com/article/cb-746-interview-tips-the-interview-body-language-dos-and-donts/
Authenticity:
http://crosswalknc.com/my-best-interview-advice-be-authentic/
http://www.blueskyresumes.com/free-resume-help/article/interviewing-authentically/