Getting the Job You Want

The Interview

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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A woman brought her large dog to the interview. A man interrupted the interview to phone his therapist for advice on how to answer one of the questions. A man pulled out a camera and took a picture of the interviewer. He said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Impress upon you the preparation of yourself, and for hire or promotion. Giving you some important suggesting some strategies edge during your interview.

importance of your application information and to give you an

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

100+ Resumes

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When you reach the interview stage of your job search, you are one step away from a job offer.

Maybe 5 people interviewed.

People usually underestimate how much preparation and practice it takes to have a really great interview.

The Job Offer An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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The Agency’s own web site. The work the Unit does. The job specifications. Conduct a self-assessment of your own competencies, skills, and accomplishments.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

What’s a competency?

…a specific skill necessary to do a job.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Initiative Utilization of Computer Skills Impact and Influence Integrity Communication Analytical Thinking Problem Solving

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Achievement/Results Orientation Initiative Impact and Influence Customer Service Orientation-if the position has contact with the public. Interpersonal Understanding Organizational Awareness Analytical Thinking Conceptual Thinking Information Seeking Integrity

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

What are they looking for: ● 3 years management/supervisory experience

What you bring: ●

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● Experience working with CORE CT Programs ●

● Proven ability to complete projects on time. ●

● Supervisory experience An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Develop your success stories focusing on what they’re looking for:

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Dress appropriately for the interview. When in doubt, go conservative. Personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable. Keep cologne or perfume to a minimum. Pay particular attention to hands and fingernails. Arrive 10 minutes early. Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, and find a restroom to freshen up. Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during the hiring/promotion process. Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by the interviewer. Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer’s name and the correct pronunciation.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Treat the interview seriously and show interest in the employer and the opportunity presented and respond to questions in a positive manner. Watch the tone of your voice. Answer the question and use professional experiences or descriptive information to demonstrate how you would react or respond to a situation. Make sure answers have a definite flow. In the beginning state major points you want to make; in the middle expand upon those points or ideas, and in the end reinforce your key points and end on a positive note. Make sure you understand the employer’s next step in the hiring/promotion process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Maintain good eye contact during the interview. Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching. Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question; and be thorough in your responses while being concise in your wording. Use good grammar and good diction. Say “yes”, not “yeah.” Don’t fill pauses with “um,” uh” or “ah”. Don’t punctuate sentences with “you know”, “like”, “see” or “okay”.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

As soon as they are convinced that you can do the job, the degree to which the interviewer feels comfortable with you is probably the single most important determinant of your acceptability as a applicant or candidate to be selected for the position.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

√ Can and will you do the job. (do you have the required experience and competencies) √ How will you fit in the organization. An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Teamwork Strengths Weaknesses Career Goals Salary Stress Anger Leadership Ethics Project Management Creativity Specific skills

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Tell me about yourself?

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They don’t want your life story. Prepare a tight, well-rehearsed two minute commercial about why you are the right person for the job. Your response to this first question will set the tone for the entire interview. Finish your response with a question for them.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Them: Tell me about yourself

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You: Answer and pause at the end and ask, “From your experience, what are the two or three most important things you’re looking for in the ideal candidate.”

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Them: Someone with A, B, and C

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You: “Interesting. Those are all areas I regard as strengths. Could I take a minute or two and tell you about myself in regard to those things?” An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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What is the most important thing you want them to know about you? What is the second most important thing I want them to know about me? What are the key selling points/accomplishments that prove the first two statements? What separates you from the competition? What are some other selling points? What objections might they have and how are you going to overcome them? An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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A kind of show and tell about the things you’ve done relevant to the position: certificates, samples of your writing, brochures you developed, formal letters of commendation, notes thanking you for something you did, etc… Done in a quality manner Use it during the interview and/or leave it behind when you leave Reduces your nervousness

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Writing Samples Training certificates MS Project spreadsheets Letters of Recommendation Detailed Project Descriptions Performance Appraisal Excerpts Examples of Best Work performed Graphs or Charts documenting success Awards and Certificates of Achievement Commendations by customers or direct reports

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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These are questions designed to draw out how you are likely to respond to situations once you are on the job, i.e. do you have the requisite competency

“Tell me about a time when…”; “What would you do if…”

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

 S/T- Situation and/or Task (paint a

picture for the interviewer)  A- Action (what did you actually do)  R- Result (what was the outcome

of your actions) ► Tell me about a time when you demonstrated superior leadership skills? ► Can you give me an example of your problem solving skills?

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Interviewer: Can you tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with you supervisor? (How did you resolve it?) You: My supervisor and I disagreed about a completion date of a project that was assigned to me. Together we went over the tasks that had to be accomplished and determined I needed to have estimates from our financial dept. that would take about three days for them to complete before I received them. By communication we both determined we needed to add three days to the project to be completed and my supervisor will contact the manager in the financial dept., so that I would receive the information needed in time. An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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On what basis will you be making your decision? Could you talk a little bit about what it will take to be successful in this position? What are the key responsibilities of this position? What’s the most important things I can do in the first 90 days? What do you enjoy most about working here? Could you describe a typical day in the office for the position you are hiring for. An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The last person interviewed gets the job 58% of the time.

The first person, 14% of the time.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Avoid one word answers. Anticipate reasons why they might feel that you’re not the exact person they want ; be prepared to tell them something that overcomes their reservations. What about illegal questions? Have questions to ask them-go to google.com and use as the keyword.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

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Be sure to write a thank you note. You not only want to thank them for the interview, but also want to restate the case for why you’re the right person. You have the additional knowledge you gained through the interview. Put it to work.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

 Practice  Practice

 Practice

An Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer