This document provides guidance on effective interview techniques. It discusses preparing for an interview by researching the company and job, practicing common interview questions, and following up after the interview. The key steps are presented as the 4Rs (research, relate, rehearse, refine) to prepare and the 4Cs (connect, confirm, convince, close) during the interview. Effective preparation, clear communication, and following up respectfully are emphasized as critical success factors.

1. Effective Interviewing Techniques
- in a competitive job market
Yatman Lai
EE/CE/SE/AM597
ITU Summer session 2003 (Updated 10/2013)
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2. How Competitive ?
August 2013 Unemployment Rate
7.3% US
8.9% California
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3. The Reality
Only hire if
Strategic - Critical skills
Tactical - Customer commitments
Otherwise
Contract
Outsource
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4. Agenda
Corporate Hiring Process
Before the Interview – 4Rs
During the Interview – 4Cs
After the Interview
Key success factors
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5. The Corporate Hiring Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Initial resume screening by HR
Hiring manager will select qualified candidates for
interview
Manager, team members, internal clients will form
an interview team
HR will schedule candidate for a series of
interviews (one on one or team)
Interview team will compare notes and send
recommendation to the hiring manager
Hiring manager will make the final decision
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6. Why Job Interviews?
For the employer
Verify claims on resume
Check the intangibles – communications skills,
teamwork, initiatives, etc.
Sell the candidate on the job
For you
Is the job as advertised ?
Can I be successful?
What is the organization culture?
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7. Setting Realistic Goals
Interview is not an event but a process
Understand the difference between the
elimination round vs the selection round
and plan accordingly
You are amongst many competitors
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8. Before the Interview
Develop a winning plan
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9. Developing a Game Plan
What is the purpose of the interview?
HR Screening
Technical interview
Final interview
How many people will I be interviewing with?
What kind of setting?
In person, phone, videoconference
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10. The 4 Rs
Research
Relate
Rehearse
Refine
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11. 4 Rs - Research
The industry
The company
The job requirements
The interviewer (s)
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13. 4 Rs - Relate
How my education, exposure and
experience benefits the job, the
company and the interviewer
Create lists of questions you may have
for a candidate if you were the
interviewer (ask your mentor)
Play the tough interviewer
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14. Be prepared to answer (1)….
Why do you want to work here?
What makes you think you’re qualified for this
job?
Why did you leave your last job?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your career and personal goals?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
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15. Be Prepared to answer (2)….
What did you like or dislike about your
previous job?
How would you characterize your work and
management styles?
Have you ever had to deal with a difficult
boss or subordinate?
What are your greatest personal and
professional accomplishments?
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16. 4 Rs - Rehearse
Practice answering the questions
you’ve created
Write down your answers
Check it against your resume
Role play with another person
Ask for feedback
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17. 4 Rs - Refine
Your answer must be concise and
factual
Link it to your resume (if they are not,
rework your resume)
Gather samples of work, project, paper
etc. to support your answers
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18. During the Interview
Make the right impression
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19. The 4 Cs
Connect – establish rapport
Confirm – ask questions
Convince – provide answers
Close – wrap up & look forward
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20. 4 Cs - Connect
Be punctual but not too early
Be friendly and professional to people in the
area
Be observant of the environment
Offer a copy of your resume (especially if you
have updated it recently)
Open with a comment about company news
Industry awards, new contracts, etc.
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21. 4 Cs - Confirm
The job you are interviewing for
The role of the interviewer
The expectation of the candidate in this
person’s own words
Major Responsibilities / Objectives
Reporting and team structure
Type of Projects
Critical skills and traits
Biggest challenge facing the new hire
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22. 4 Cs - Convince
How does your education, exposure
and experience relate to the needs as
expressed by the interviewer?
Show diplomas, work products and stories
When ask how you would tackle a
hypothetical situation, tell them how you
have handled a similar, not identical,
situation in the past
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23. 4 Cs - Close
Ask if there are any additional topics to
discuss? (10 minutes) if no
Ask what kind of people are successful
in this company / department ?
Ask what is the next step? (5 minutes)
Confirm any follow-up action items? –
reports, references, etc.
Thank you for their time and leave
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24. After the interview
How to Follow-up?
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25. Meaningful Follow-up
Notify the person who arranged the interview
Provide your impression of how things went
Ask any questions you may have
Send a brief follow-up note (ONLY to the key
decision maker) reiterating the critical
success factors for the position and remind
the interviewer your qualifications to excel in
the job, send any follow-up materials
promised at this time
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26. Key success factors
Be prepared
Be consistent
Be communicative
Be courteous
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27. What is Luck?
Preparation meets Opportunities
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