The Job Interview
Cliff Ogleby
What to expect, and how to get the job…
At the End of this Session
• You will know:
How to prepare for a job interview What to expect during the interview Appropriate questions and responses Your personal presence and body language
The Interview Process
• Gives the employer the chance to find out
things about you that cannot be expressed in a CV
The Interview Process
• You have already passed Stage 1 – your CV
and letter have created interest • Now your potential employer wants to see whether you will:
Be able to do the job Fit in with the organisation Understand the responsibilities associated with the job Have any questions for them
The Interview Process
• You will be called into the interview room • Then you will be introduced to the panel • Often some general banter will be used to put
you at ease • Panel members will ask questions of you, sometimes off a prepared sheet • You will be given every opportunity to present yourself well
Winning First Impressions
• Most people will form an impression of you
within the first few seconds of meeting • Good impressions are easy to maintain • Bad ones are hard to recover from!
Appropriate Attire
• If you know your employer, you will have an
idea of their dress requirements • In any case, wear a suit to an interview
It shows you take the process seriously It shows some respect for the interviewers They are generally universally accepted, even where normal attire is quite different
• Generally in dark colours for men, either light
• • • • •
or dark for women Ensure it fits well, tags removed A belt to match If wearing socks, they should not show any leg when you are seated Skirts should be an appropriate length Shoes should be polished
How to tie a Tie
• The size of the knot should fit the shirt collar
opening • The length should just cover the belt buckle • Full Windsor, Half Windsor • Four-in-hand, Pratt
Tattoos and Piercings
• Generally not liked in the hospitality industry • Call-centres don’t care • The Geomatics industry is generally
conservative, especially the surveying component
What Not To Wear
• Revealing cleavages, very short skirts, bare
midriff • Strong perfumes – scent is a very strong emotion • Cargo pants, shorts, baseball caps • Anything that reveals your underwear
General Tips
• Look people in the eye when being
• • • •
introduced Shake hands firmly (see Handshakes) Be seated when directed Appear confident not arrogant Look at the speaker or questioner when replying Be aware of your Body Language
•
General Tips
• Consider the answers to the questions • Take time if needed • You will be given the opportunity to ask your
own questions, it is not compulsory to have one • Have copies of any relevant documents ready • Be positive, be yourself
Body Language
Body Language
• Says a lot about your unconscious, but can
• • • •
be ‘moderated’ to a certain extent. Hands, legs, arms, knees – posture Eyes, face, hands – gesture There are cultural differences Somebody will be watching…
The Handshake
• It is appropriate for both men and women to
shake hands with others • The accepted form of formal greeting in the ‘Western’ world
The Handshake
• • • • • • •
The The The The The The The Knuckle Crusher Turn Over Dead Fish Contagious Disease Pumper Condolence Wai
The Lunch or Dinner
• Don’t be fooled, this is still part of the
• • • •
interview process You need to know how to use the utensils You need to know how to behave at the table Don’t drink, don’t belch Different cultures have different customs
Find out beforehand
Appropriate Questions
Inappropriate Questions
• When are you planning to have children? • What country do you come from?
Know your Employer
• Google them, read their annual report • Do they work in a discipline with which you
are familiar?
Referees
• If you are the likely candidate, the employer
WILL contact your referees • Sometimes this is done by another person in the organisation, or a Personnel Company • The referee process is different from having copies of references attached to your CV
Links
• http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/ • • • •
a/wininterview.htm http://content.mycareer.com.au/adviceresearch/interview/interview-commonquestions.aspx?s_cid=215964&ads=0 http://www.tie-a-tie.net/windsor.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQQr09Ja1zY http://www.csuohio.edu/career/services/etiquette.ht m