Workshop I put together on effective Interviewing and Networking.

1. Interviewing and Networking
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

2. Agenda
• Interviewing
– Preparation and General Overview
– Tips and suggestions
– Different Kinds of Interviews
• Networking
– What it is and how it works
– Alumni and Mentoring
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

3. Interviewing
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

4. Interviewing
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

5. In hopes that you don’t answer questions like this…
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

6. Interviewing
• An interview…
– Offers you and the employer the opportunity
to learn whether or not there is a fit between
you and the organization
– Is a two way street
– Indicates general qualifications as
demonstrated on your resume
– Takes time and preparation
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

7. Interviewing
• Regardless of Industry, employers are interested
in…
– Communication Skills
– Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills
– Leadership Qualities/Potential
– Business Acumen
– Organizational Skills
– Analytical and Problem-Solving Ability
– Maturity
– Pose
– Other competencies as necessary
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

8. Interviewing
• Preparation for the Interview
– Careful Systematic Preparation
• Calmer, more organized and articulate
– Four Critical Areas of Preparation
1. Know Yourself and Your Career Objectives
2. Gather information about the organization and
position you seek
3. Anticipating probable questions and formulated
responses to those questions
4. Come to the interview ready to ask informed
questions
Process of Effective
Interviewing Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

9. Interviewing – Areas of Preparation
• Know Yourself
– Results of Self-Assessment
– Goal Setting
– Exercises from orientation/summer
(translating outcomes into action)
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

10. Interviewing – Areas of Preparation
• Knowing the Company
– Handout from orientation
– Web tools
– Talk to people!
– What should you know?
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

11. Interviewing – Areas of Preparation
• Process of Effective Interviewing
– Reading the Interviewer exercise (page 9)
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

12. Interviewing – Preparation Points to
Consider
• Practice makes perfect!
– Recording yourself answering questions, etc.
– Watch for filler words and habits
• Interview Attire
• Non-Verbal Body Language
• First two steps review from Self-Assessment –
Knowing your goals and what makes you, you
• Prepare PSR’s, questions and answers
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

13. Interviewing
• Day of the Interview
– Environmental and Logistical Factors
– Personal Preparation
– Upon arrival and before you meet your
interviewer
• Receptionist
• Waiting Room Behavior
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

14. Interviewing
• Stages of an interview
– Getting started
– The Body of the Interview
• Down to Business
– Can you do the job? Will you fit in here?
• Answering Interview Questions
– Closing the Interview
– After the Interview
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

15. Interviewing
• Getting Started
– The importance of “informal openings”
– Remember to smile! Be confident!
– Pace yourself and listen. Take time to
respond
– Focus on establishing a relaxed, social
atmosphere
– Remain professional at all times
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

16. Interviewing
• Down To Business
– The interviewer describes the position and
organization
– Interviewer’s questions address concerns in several
critical areas:
• Can you do the job?
• Will you “fit” in here?
• Are you willing to take the extra step?
• What is it like to supervise you?
• How do you deal with conflict?
• Etc…
– Recognize the “real” question behind the many
questions that are asked
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

17. Interviewing
• Answering Interview Questions
– Listen Carefully to the questions being asked!
– Focus on what is really being asked
– Answer questions briefly and always as an
advantage/credit to yourself
– Answer the real question by presenting your
related skills and track record
– Practice answering sample interviewing
questions
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

18. Interviewing
Tell me about yourself (Bad)| What are your weaknesses (Bad)
Tell me about yourself (Good)| What are your weaknesses (Good)
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

19. Interviewing
• Closing the Interview
– Ask any appropriate job-related questions
– Summarize the key points of the interview
– If a problem came up, address it again
– Thank the interviewer by name
– Express interest
– Ask about next steps
– Say “thank you” and “goodbye”
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

20. Interviewing
• Closing the Interview continued…
– Do
• Leave the interviewer with a positive image of you
being confident, enthusiastic and courteous
• Ask the recruiter when you can expect to be
contacted
• Re-emphasize your interest in the position
• Ask for a business card
• Shake the recruiter’s hand, and thank him/her for
considering you
• Send a thank you letter within 24 hours
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

21. Interviewing
• Closing the Interview continued…
– Don’t
• Apologize if you think you may have interviewed
badly
• Ask for feedback on your interviewing style
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

22. Interviewing
• After the Interview
– Immediately following the interview, make
notes:
• Whom did you meet? Include names and titles
• What does the job involve?
• What went well? Why?
• What went poorly? Why?
• What are the next steps? For the interviewer? For
you?
• Etc..
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

23. Interviewing
• After the interview continued…
– Schedule follow up times on your calendar
– Follow up notes, letters are critical
• Common courtesy
• Make a favorable impression
• Reiterate certain points that came up in the
interview
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

24. Interviewing
• The Different Kinds and Types of Interviews
– Screening Interviews
– Selection (or one-on-one) Interviews
– Group Interviews
– Lunch Interviews
– Committee Interviews
– Stress Interviews
– Telephone Interviews
– Career Fairs
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

25. Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

26. Interviewing
• Types of Interview Questions
– Traditional Interview Questions
– Behavioral Interview Questions
– Case Interview Questions
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

27. Interviewing
• Traditional Interview Questions
– Insight into who you are
– Your experience (educational, work and
leadership)
– How you fit in the job and the organization
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

28. Interviewing
• Behavioral Interview Questions
– Based on the theory that your past behavior is a key
indicator of future performance
– Review your background! Look for examples of:
• Class projects
• Work experience
• Leadership activities and community service
– Key is to identify your talents, problem solving
abilities, communication and leadership skills and
professional demeanor.
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

29. Interviewing
• Case Interview Questions
– Given a complex question and asked to find a
solution
– Expected to think aloud guiding the recruiter
through your thought process
• Example: How many gas stations are there in the
United States?
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

30. Interviewing
• In closing
– Review information packet for samples and
additional tips
– Remember the four most important things in
preparing for an interview
• Know yourself and your career objective
• Know the company and the position
• Be ready to answer and ask questions
informatively
– PRACTICE!
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

31. Networking
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

32. Networking
“Networking is a universally recognized
means of exchanging information with
other people and establishing professional
contacts.”
- Networking, by Meg Heenehan
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

33. Networking
“Think of Networking as a method of
forming professional relationships and
exchanging information with people with
whom you share vocational and
professional interests.”
- Quincareers.com
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

34. Networking
• What is it?
– Strategic vs. Serendipity Networking
– For job hunters, networking is the best
method for identifying possible sources of
employment (article on page 91)
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

35. Networking
• Why Network?
– Many desirable positions not advertised
– 80% of desirable jobs filled through Hidden
Job Market (HJM)
– Connections last longer than initial job search
– Mentorship, relationships
– One day you might be “the person” to know!
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

36. Hidden Job Market
Stage 4: Job
Opening publicly Stage 3:
announced Knowledge of
opening
grows,
inquiries made
of potential
candidates
Stage 2: Shift of Balance-
Additional Personnel
Needed
Stage 1: No Opening
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

37. Networking
• How to begin
– Start with people you know
– Ask questions regarding
• People in your field
• Their work and the organizations they work for
– Contact as many as you can- build your
foundation.
– Think broad when beginning list of contacts.
For example….
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

38. Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

39. Networking
• You can contact…
– Business Colleagues
and co-workers
– Alumni!
– Friends
– Social Acquaintances
– Professional Acquaintances
– Former classmates
and teachers
– Relatives, etc.!
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

40. Networking
• Networking Summary
– Prepared “speech” for those you network with
– Networking Chain Exercise
– Informational Interviewing
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

41. Networking
• Introverted people and Networking
• Review of Page 105 in your workbook
• Page 79
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

42. Online Networking
• Web 2.0 (article in book, page 100)
• Social Networking
• Professional Networking Sites
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

43. Networking
• Follow up
– Send thank you note
– Keep notes on important information when
you network
– Share successes and stories with friends and
colleagues
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

44. Networking
• In Closing
– Networking is not begging for a job
– Focus should be not on your need for
employment, but on competencies and what
you bring to an organization
– Continuously build your network!
– If you consider yourself “networking nervous”,
read through Networking myths and articles
provided in handout
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series

45. Any
Questions?
Graduate Career Services Fall Workshop Series