Acing Your Interview

Acing Your Interview

with Valerie Sutton

 


Join author Valerie Sutton, as she shows how to ace your interview and land the job you want. Discover the different types of interview questions and styles you might expect, and how to prepare for them by researching the company and practicing your answers. Uncover the best ways to create a good first impression, navigate the interview, and ask smart questions. Finally, the course covers how to assess your performance, thank the company for their time, and follow up on a decision.
Topics include:
  • Understanding interview formats
  • Anticipating questions and preparing answers
  • Researching potential employers
  • Establishing good body language in the interview
  • Reviewing your performance

show more

author
Valerie Sutton
subject
Business, Business Skills, Career Development
level
Appropriate for all
duration
24m 25s
released
Sep 20, 2012

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Introduction
Welcome
00:04The interview is one of the most important parts of the job search and
00:08your chance to shine.
00:10If you're lucky to have gotten an interview, you've gotten past the screening stage
00:13and you may have beaten out hundreds of other candidates to get to this point.
00:18This is your opportunity to show the value you will bring to the organization
00:22and land the job.
00:25We'll begin with preparation where I'll discuss the various types of interview formats
00:29and help you anticipate questions.
00:31I'll give you techniques that you can use to practice and best prepare for the interview.
00:37Next, we'll talk about how to confidently approach the actual interview;
00:42making a good first impression;
00:44navigating difficult interviews;
00:46and getting your message across using effective body language.
00:51Finally, we'll talk about follow-up, where you assess your own performance,
00:56send thank yous, and respond appropriately to the employer's decision.
01:02You want to be the final candidate, and having a successful interview is one of
01:06the most crucial steps to finding your next job.
01:09So let's get started with Acing Your Interview.
Collapse this transcript
Using the exercise files
00:01We've provided free Exercise Files that are available to all Lynda.com members
00:06to help you get the most from this course.
00:08These files include an Interview Tracking Worksheet and a template for assessing
00:13your Interview Performance.
00:15Now, let's get started.
Collapse this transcript
1. Preparing for the Interview
Understanding interview formats
00:01The first place to start in preparing for interviews is to understand the
00:04potential formats that employers will use to determine your fit within the organization.
00:11There are four common interview formats and it often depends on the industry and
00:16function for which you are applying.
00:17The first format often used is the phone interview.
00:22This allows the employer to screen the candidate at a low cost and
00:26time-effective manner.
00:28This technique is often used to narrow the pool of candidates for
00:32in-person interviews.
00:34It is also one of the more challenging formats, because you can't see the
00:38reactions to your answers and you can be easily distracted.
00:43To be most successful in the phone interview, you should be sure to follow these five steps.
00:48Use a land-line, as they are less likely to be dropped.
00:52Turn off call-waiting as a call coming in may distract you in the middle of an answer.
00:57Interview in a quiet space with limited distractions.
01:01Without visual clues you will have to be careful to focus on the questions
01:06they are asking you.
01:07Enunciate and speak clearly.
01:10You may want to try smiling as you answer your questions, your answers will come
01:15across more positively.
01:17Clarify any questions that you aren't sure of the meaning.
01:20You don't have the body language to tell you when you are going in the wrong direction,
01:23so be sure to ask the interviewer if you've approached the question
01:28in the way they were looking for.
01:29The second format is the traditional in-person, one-to-one interview.
01:35This allows employers to get to know you on an individual level and ask
01:40pertinent questions to their area of work.
01:43To be most successful in the in-person one-to-one interview, you need to focus
01:48on the non-verbal behaviors, like eye contact, tone of voice, and body language.
01:55One study shows that 93% of your message is conveyed this way and not in words,
02:01so it is very important in the interview.
02:04Body language will vary based on the country that you are interviewing in.
02:09For example, in some countries eye contact is direct;
02:12in others it is not.
02:14Also, remember to dress the part.
02:17You want them to see you as a potential co-worker.
02:21The third format is the panel or group interview.
02:24This format allows the employer to save time and also get multiple opinions that
02:30can lead to more valid and fair decisions about candidates.
02:34To be most successful in panel interviews, body language is still important.
02:39A few key points to remember include:
02:42make your introductions count, make eye contact, and use their names.
02:47Include quieter people into the conversation by asking their opinion.
02:52Remember, they are evaluating your interaction so be sure to listen and
02:56engage where appropriate.
02:59You will want to make eye contact again with everyone at some point in the conversation.
03:04Finally, ask for business cards from everyone on the panel for proper follow-up.
03:11The final type of interview is the online video interview.
03:14It is similar to the in-person interview, but it allows the employer to cut
03:18down on travel and cost.
03:21You will want to follow the same advice and in addition these three steps.
03:26Test run the equipment before the interview.
03:30Arrive on video early, so you can make any adjustments to lighting and
03:34appearance prior to the interviewer coming online.
03:38Use the In Picture Mode so you know how you appear.
03:42Make sure your environment looks clean, professional, and there are no immediate
03:47distractions in the area.
03:50Now that you have a good understanding of the interview formats, you should
03:53check out the next movie to gain an understanding of the question types and how
03:58to prepare for them.
Collapse this transcript
Understanding types of interview questions
00:01How often have you been to an interview and been surprised by the questions you were asked?
00:06By understanding the three basic types of questions employers use, you can
00:10actually prepare for the interview and take away much of the anticipation.
00:14The first and most common are Behavioral Questions.
00:18The concept is to use your past behavior to predict future behavior.
00:23It will often take the form of, "Tell me about a time..." or "Give me an example..."
00:28to allow you to draw upon your past experiences to show your skills and knowledge.
00:34The second type of question is the Case or Situational.
00:38The purpose is to evaluate problem solving and analytical abilities.
00:43It will often take the form of, "How would you..." or "What would you do...".
00:48Your answer shows how you would approach a problem or a work situation and
00:52allows them to see how you think on your feet.
00:55The third type is a Resume-based Question.
00:58The purpose is to gain more information on experiences you have highlighted and
01:03confirm the depth of your skills and knowledge.
01:06They will ask you to direct questions from your resume so you will need to be
01:11able to expand on it in detail.
01:13Knowing how questions will be asked is important as you prepare for the interview.
01:18In the next movie we will discuss anticipating what questions they will ask.
Collapse this transcript
Anticipating questions and preparing answers
00:01It is now time to prepare specific questions for your interview.
00:05Remember the purpose of the interview for the organization is twofold;
00:09to assess your skills and knowledge;
00:11and also determine the cultural fit.
00:13We will analyze the job description and develop a list of specific questions you
00:18may get in the interview.
00:20The first step is to start by analyzing the job description for primary
00:24skills and knowledge.
00:26Look at the Responsibilities and Qualifications sections to analyze this information.
00:32Let's take a look at an example Project Manager description.
00:36The four items that would be most important to prepare for include:
00:40Leading multiple software development and integration projects in Agile.
00:45Scoping projects and managing risk.
00:47Estimates projects using multiple techniques.
00:51Delivering them on time and on budget.
00:54Mentors and guides people.
00:56The second step is more elusive in that you have to determine the culture and desired fit.
01:02Look for descriptive words related to culture.
01:05In this example it would be "can-do" attitude, take charge of conference
01:10room, and unflappable.
01:12If there are not words related to culture in the description, then you may want
01:16to schedule an informational interview.
01:19You can now create sample questions based on the three types.
01:23Let's begin with the knowledge and skills.
01:25For example, a Behavioral Question would be, "Give me an example of a project you
01:30have scoped and how have you managed the risk."
01:33A Situation Question would be, "Walk us through how you would scope the project
01:38and manage the risk."
01:39And finally, a Resume-based Question, "Your resume states you managed the Agile
01:44projects successfully; tell us more about it."
01:48You can also prepare questions for the cultural fit.
01:51In our example they are looking for a "can-do" attitude and someone that is unflappable.
01:56They may ask a Behavioral Question like, "Give us an example of where you have
02:01pushed through an idea."
02:02Or a Situational Question like, "How would you push through an idea at this organization?"
02:08Or a Resume-based Question, "You mentioned on your resume that you initiated a
02:12project, how did you do this?"
02:15Now it is time to prepare answers for your sample questions.
02:19It's important to have good examples lined up to showcase your skills and
02:23knowledge for each of the responsibilities.
02:26Remember to be detailed in your answer.
02:29Use SAR as a way to prepare and make your answers stronger.
02:34Describe the Situation, explain your Action, and let them know the Results.
02:39Although you can't anticipate every question, this will give you a strong
02:44starting point to prepare.
02:46In the next movie, we'll talk about effective techniques that you can use
02:50to practice.
Collapse this transcript
Practicing your answers
00:01Practicing for the interview helps you feel confident and focused on the interviewer,
00:05not stressed out about what you're going to say.
00:08There are several options for you;
00:10from do-it-yourself, to fee-based services.
00:13If you choose to do this on your own, you'll want to mirror an actual interview
00:17as closely as possible.
00:19Set up a space that is conducive to interviews, dress the part, and have a
00:23friend or family member play the part of the interviewer.
00:27You can also create flashcards that will allow you to shuffle them and be
00:31comfortable answering in any order.
00:33Be sure to record yourself so that you assess your body language and confidence
00:38as you answer the questions.
00:40This technique takes time and effort, but your practice will be designed
00:43specifically for your desired job.
00:46You may also want to consider the many online fee-based interview practice programs.
00:51They provide a pressure free environment that will give you randomized questions
00:56with little work on your part.
00:58If you decide to go this route, you will want to find a program that can provide
01:02you questions based on your industry and role of interest.
01:06For example, jobjuice.com provides specific questions for the MBA market and
01:12recommends frameworks for responses.
01:14The disadvantage of fee-based services is that they don't provide you with
01:18specific questions based on the job you're after.
01:22Regardless of the method you choose, the more you practice, the better prepared
01:26you will be for the interview.
01:29Next, we will focus on the appropriate questions you will ask to help convey
01:33your interest and suitability for the job.
Collapse this transcript
Researching companies
00:00Up until now we've been preparing for questions that the interviewer will be asking you.
00:05However, you'll also want to interview the company to make sure that it is the
00:10right organization and role for you.
00:12Asking questions not only confirms your interest in the company, but also can be
00:17used to make you stand out in the interview process.
00:20You want to demonstrate your knowledge of the organization and interest in the position.
00:25To develop your own list of questions, you should derive them from research
00:30you have done on the organization.
00:31You can start with their website, but go beyond this and find recent articles,
00:36talk to people in the organization, and check out profiles on LinkedIn for
00:40organizational structure.
00:42While you are researching, you'll want to prepare your questions.
00:46There are five categories of questions that I recommend you prepare.
00:50First, you should prepare a question to ask about the company.
00:53You want to demonstrate your interest, but you also want to confirm what you've
00:58learned about the company in your research.
01:00Second, you should have a question about the history of the position.
01:05By asking why the position is vacant, you will gain insight into the
01:09organization and the potential for advancement.
01:12Third, you should ask a question about the job responsibilities.
01:16This will allow them to see you in that role and help you gain a solid
01:20understanding of the position.
01:22Fourth, you'll want to ask about the expectations of the position.
01:26This will allow you to see how you'll be evaluated.
01:28Finally, you'll want to ask what the next steps are in the process.
01:33This is important so you know when to follow-up.
01:37Once you have prepared, you're ready to go into the interview, which we
01:41will discuss next.
Collapse this transcript
2. Interviewing
Making a first impression
00:01Impressions are set within the first few minutes of the interview, so it is
00:05important to arrive with confidence and a friendly manner.
00:09The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and
00:13what you're wearing.
00:15It is key that they see you as a potential employee, so dressing the part is important.
00:20This will mean different things for different organizations.
00:24Be sure to note their dress code and dress to it, or slightly above it.
00:28Being on time is essential.
00:31Don't be too late and don't be too early.
00:33This can put the interviewer in an uncomfortable position.
00:37You should show up 5-10 minutes early.
00:39If you do arrive earlier than this, find a place to wait.
00:42As you are arriving, be nice to everyone you encounter;
00:46receptionists and administrative assistants often play a significant role in the
00:51interviewing process and provide feedback to the people interviewing you.
00:56When you finally meet your interviewer, greet them enthusiastically and extend
01:00your hand to give a firm handshake.
01:02Much of the interviewer's impression of you is determined by the rapport or
01:06chemistry that you establish.
01:08Use the research you've done to start small talk.
01:12Be prepared with a copy of your resume.
01:15You should be ready to offer it in case the interviewer has misplaced their copy.
01:19As you go through the interview process, you may find that there are
01:23uncomfortable situations that you'll have to navigate.
01:27In the next movie, we'll cover some of these and how to handle them.
Collapse this transcript
Navigating difficult interviews
00:01Although you have prepared well for the interview and enter confidently, there
00:05are uncomfortable situations that can turn into a bad interview.
00:09A common situation you might encounter is drawing a blank to a question you're asked.
00:14In this case you'll want to ask for a minute to think.
00:17This will allow you the opportunity to collect your thoughts and
00:21answer effectively.
00:22If you've prepared well, the more common situation you'll run into is facing a bad interviewer.
00:29A bad interviewer might be unfocused, disinterested, and unprepared.
00:34If this is the case, you'll want to take charge and say something like, here is
00:39the most recent copy of my resume, let me tell you about some highlights.
00:44This allows you to focus on your strong points as they pertain to the position.
00:49A bad interviewer may also dominate the interview by doing all the talking.
00:53In this situation you'll want to be an attentive listener and take notes.
00:58If you want to break into the conversation, lean forward and try to get
01:02your message across.
01:03If that doesn't work, they will eventually ask you if you have any questions.
01:08This is where the questions you've prepared will show your critical thinking
01:12skills and match for the job.
01:15A bad interviewer might also ask inappropriate and illegal questions.
01:20In the U.S., this can be personal questions about age, ethnic background, or religion.
01:26In most cases the interviewer is not aware that the question is illegal, so it
01:30will be up to you on how to handle it.
01:33You'll want to think through what they are asking for and then rephrase it so it is appropriate.
01:39For instance, the illegal question would be, "What is your native tongue?"
01:44You would rephrase to, "I can fluently speak English, Spanish, and Chinese."
01:50If the question is truly offensive, you should state, "This is a question that I
01:55haven't gotten before, why do you ask?"
01:58If you aren't familiar with what types of questions might be illegal, then check
02:02with your local laws.
02:04In the U.S. you can find this information at the Equal Employment
02:08Opportunity Commission website.
02:11Remember, it's not always your fault if things don't work out.
02:14You should give your best shot in each interview, even if things go bad.
02:19In the next movie, we'll discuss the importance and perception of body language.
Collapse this transcript
Understanding the importance of body language
00:01Beyond practicing interview questions and navigating difficult situations, body
00:06language is essential to a successful interview.
00:09As we mentioned, studies actually show that 93% of communication occurs
00:14through body language.
00:16In the interview process there are three key areas you'll want to focus on.
00:20First, you'll want to have proper posture;
00:24relaxed and lean slightly forward, towards your interviewer.
00:27This gives the impression that you're interested versus leaning back, which will
00:32make you appear too relaxed.
00:35You can also try mirroring your interviewer.
00:37Sometimes you can establish rapport by adopting the same posture.
00:41Second, you'll want to maintain proper eye contact.
00:45To avoid appearing aggressive, you should blink at regular intervals and nod
00:50your head now and then.
00:51If this feels uncomfortable for you, practice with a friend.
00:56Third, you'll want to be aware of the tone and pitch of your voice.
01:00Speaking in a clear and controlled voice will show that you are confident.
01:05You should remember the body language is specific to cultures, so if you're
01:10interviewing in countries outside of the U.S., you'll want to research proper
01:14body language for that country.
01:17Once you complete the interview, your final steps will be follow-up, which we'll
01:21cover in the next chapter.
Collapse this transcript
3. Following Up
Assessing your performance
00:01Once you've completed the interview, you're in the final stage, follow-up.
00:04A crucial step is to assess your performance;
00:08how well did you do?
00:10I think this is one of the most important steps.
00:13You want to think about what went well and what didn't.
00:16You can use this information to highlight your strengths and improve your
00:20performance for future interviews.
00:22An excellent way to assess yourself is through performance-based techniques.
00:27Interviewers often use this in their own process to analyze candidates.
00:32To do this we've provided an Interview Performance Template in the Exercise Files.
00:37To analyze your performance, you'll first want to outline the factors that will
00:42make a successful candidate in their organization.
00:46Start with what the interviewer focused on and list these first.
00:49Then go back to the job description and identify areas that came up in the
00:54interview and that you feel are important.
00:57Put these in the first column.
00:59Next, for each of these factors, put an example you used in the interview.
01:05Take the time to reflect on your answers to determine how strong they matched up with each need.
01:12Third, rate how you performed on a scale of 1-5;
01:151 being unqualified and 5 meaning exceeds qualifications.
01:21Think of yourself as the employer, what score would you give yourself for
01:25each of these factors?
01:27If you didn't perform well in certain areas, take this opportunity to go back to
01:33develop sample questions and practice them.
01:36At this point you may decide that this isn't the right organization or role for you.
01:42If you feel this way, you should write a note thanking them for their time and
01:46explain that the position isn't right for you.
01:49If this is the right organization for you, you'll want to write your thank you
01:53notes so that they emphasize your strengths, which I'll demonstrate in the
01:57next video.
Collapse this transcript
Saying thanks
00:01Now that you've analyzed your performance, you need to write your thank you noted.
00:06You'd be surprised at how many people do not do this step and how crucial it is
00:10to making you the candidate of choice.
00:13A thank you note does not need to be hard, it's usually only 5-10 sentences in
00:18length, but has to have a powerful punch to it.
00:22In the first part you want to thank them for their time.
00:25In the second part you want to reiterate your strength to the position.
00:28This should be easy since you'll be able to refer back to your Interview
00:32Performance Worksheet and pick out your strengths to highlight.
00:36This should be specific to the interview you had with this particular person.
00:41Finally, you want to let them know that you want the position and are looking
00:45forward to hearing from them soon.
00:47Also, if by chance you do not bring something up in the interview that you feel
00:53would make you a strong candidate;
00:55you can add a few sentences to highlight this experience.
00:59You'll want your letters to arrive within 48 hours of the interview, so email is appropriate.
01:05However, if you really want to stand out, you can do both an email thank you and
01:10a handwritten thank you sent out the next day.
01:13If you choose both, the handwritten note can be short and to the point.
01:18If you interviewed with more than one person, you should send each person an
01:22individual thank you note.
01:24Again, this will make you stand out from everyone else.
01:28This could be the tiebreaker between two candidates.
01:32You should always proofread the drafts before sending.
01:35You don't want any last-minute mistakes to ruin your chances.
01:40As a final note, keep track of your interviews;
01:43this includes the date of the interview, the contact, as well as any other
01:48comments you would like to make.
01:50We've provide a worksheet to help you manage this.
01:52No matter how well you did in the interview process, you'll want to respond
01:57appropriately to their decision, which we'll go over in the next movie.
Collapse this transcript
Responding to the decision
00:01You should expect to hear a response approximately two weeks after the interview process.
00:06There are several potential outcomes from your interview.
00:09In the best case, the hiring manager will call you to extend an offer.
00:13In this case you want to let them know you're excited to get the offer and ask for details.
00:18Then ask them for time to think about the offer.
00:21This allows you to collect your thoughts prior to going into negotiations.
00:27If the hiring manager has not gotten back to you and it has been more than two
00:31weeks, there can be many reasons for this, but it is reasonable to follow-up
00:35with a short email, checking in and expressing your interest.
00:40You may still be in the running.
00:42The third scenario would be that you don't get the position.
00:45At this point you don't know how close you came, so you want to keep the door open.
00:50You should send a thank you note to the hiring manager.
00:53Try to connect at future conferences or events to stay in touch.
00:57You need to continue to network.
01:00Remember, just because you didn't get this job, doesn't mean you won't get the next one.
01:05Finally, no response.
01:08Unfortunately, employers don't always deliver the bad news.
01:12Many people who are hiring somebody don't get back to the candidates who
01:16didn't get the job.
01:17Although not a professional practice, it does happen.
01:20If it has been more than a month, send a second note reiterating your interest
01:25in the position and your hope to hear from them about future positions.
01:30No matter the response you got from the interview, congratulations on making it
01:35to the candidate pool!
01:36If you got the offer, fantastic!
01:39If you didn't, take some time to reflect and improve for the next time.
01:44Just because you don't get the first job you interview for, don't give up,
01:48landing a job isn't easy.
01:51My hope is that you learned some valuable tools that you can use in your
01:55interviews and that you find the job that is right for you.
Collapse this transcript


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