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Polishing Your Interview Skills

Polishing Your Interview Skills. Marnie Wright Director, Human Resources. Overview. Understanding “the” job Types of Interview Questions Understand how to prepare Building a Development Plan. What motivates you to be here today?. History of the job interview:.

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Polishing Your Interview Skills

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  1. Polishing Your Interview Skills Marnie WrightDirector, Human Resources

  2. Overview • Understanding “the” job • Types of Interview Questions • Understand how to prepare • Building a Development Plan

  3. What motivates you to be here today?

  4. History of the job interview: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56eAUCTLok

  5. “The” Job • Understand the complex or difficult aspects of the job • Main technical requirements • Skills / abilities / competencies

  6. Activity • Index Card • Write 3 most important / complex skills required to do “your desired job”

  7. Warm-up • Questions designed to get to know the candidate • Get insights into their motivation for applying for the job • Let the candidate settle-in

  8. Warming up… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlg3QoqLfOc

  9. Let’s Try • Why did you apply for this position? • What do you know about our organization and why do you want to work for us? 5 minutes

  10. Motivation Typical Response • It’s all about me… Employers look for: • Genuine interest in doing the work • Genuine interest in the organization • Past successes

  11. Behavioural Based Questions • Ask for a specific example of a time when you performed a task / skill The single best predictor of future behaviour is a person’s recent past behaviour.

  12. Examples • Tell me about a time when you had to correct a student’s behaviour in class. Describe the situation and how you handled it. • Describe a time when you had to direct the work of others during an emergency situation.

  13. Five, four, three… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a7C2EtErYQ&feature=related

  14. Let’s Try • Describe a time when you assisted a student or customer, and went above and beyond normal expectations. • 5 minutes

  15. How do you prepare for behavioural questions? • Most difficult interview questions are behavioural questions • Strength of the answer hinges on the examples • Know the job competencies and know your best examples

  16. Two Column Approach

  17. Know your best work • Refine your best examples • Practice, practice, practice • Get feedback on the level of your examples • Bring examples or samples

  18. Know the Job Requirements • Confirm that you understand the job • Make a list of the skills you need • Organize your best examples • Strength of the interview hinges on strength of examples

  19. Negatively Framed Questions • We need to deal with all kinds of situations • Employers look for people who can handle negative and positive situations

  20. Negatively Framed Questions • Can be stressful for the candidate • What to reveal? • Many avoid answering directly • Don’t try the old…my weaknesses are strengths…routine • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W3hzJNSkqs

  21. Let’s Try • Describe a time when you needed to resolve a conflict with a co-worker. What was the issue and how did you handle it? • 6 min

  22. Negatively Framed Questions • You have a million examples: pick one • “I can’t think of anything” is not answering the question • Avoid situations that are too complex • Be honest

  23. Negatively Framed Questions • Does the candidate take responsibility for negative things when they happen • Does the candidate tend to blame others for things that go wrong? Tip: Spend time talking about how you solved the problem, what you did to make a positive outcome.

  24. Two Column Approach

  25. Scenario • Often relate to the specific job • Common occurrence within that job – how would you handle it • Assess your judgement or knowledge

  26. Scenario • Within this position you will be asked to coordinate events during a hectic and busy time. How would you respond to the following: • The phone is ringing, an angry parent is waiting to speak with the Principal and you are photocopying an exam that is needed in 15 minutes. How would you respond?

  27. Technical Questions • Questions that relate specifically to the job you are applying for • Test your specific knowledge and experience • Is a right or wrong answer – often a marked part of the interview

  28. Two Column Approach

  29. Building a Development Plan • Understand the job and the main skills required: • Ask an employee that is successfully doing the job: what is the most difficult aspect of the work • Ask the hiring manager: What do you look for when hiring someone

  30. Build Your Examples… • Seek opportunities to build in areas where you answers are not what you would like. • Gain experience within the workplace and through volunteering and training • Take advantage of learning opportunities to build your skills

  31. Know your strengths • Learn more about your strengths • Try taking a strength finder self-assessment • Build you career based on natural strengths • Be open minded • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJHkwHZCCM

  32. General Tips • Body Language: hands down, shoulders back • Confidence • Be on time • Smile / Use appropriate humour • Dress slightly more formal than the job requires

  33. Questions

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