Interview Preparation Guide

Interview
Preparation Guide

Gunn & Associates, Inc.
© Courtesy Copy for Individual Use Only

G&A | 131 ARKLOW AVENUE, SUITE C | JUPITER, FLORIDA 33458

http://www.gunnassoc.com | 561.625.9365

Universal Hiring Rule


quot;Any employer
will hire any applicant
as long as they are convinced
that the hiring will bring more value
than it costs.quot;
Tom Jackson
Guerrilla Tactics in the New Job Market,
Bantam Books, March 1991, page 176

2
August 2008 Gunn & Associates, Inc. © 2008

Develop statements of value [accomplishments] for use
in your resume and to score points when you interview.
Accomplished Achieve Acquired
Administered Advised Analyzed
Approved Arrange Assigned
Authorized Bought Budgeted
Built Canceled Closed
Completed Composed Conceived
Conducted Consolidated Contributed
Controlled Converted Coordinated
many more A – Z

Review the entire list and see how many accomplishments
you can list, especially over the past three to five years...

3

Accomplished • achieved • acquired • administered • advised • analyzed • approved • arranged •
assigned • authorized • began • bought • budgeted • built • canceled • closed • completed •
composed • conceived • conducted • consolidated • contributed • controlled • converted •
coordinated • created • decreased • delivered • demonstrated • designed • developed • devised •
directed • displayed • doubled • earned • edited • engineered • eliminated • employed • ended •
established • expanded • evaluated • exhibited • financed • formed • formulated • founded • gained •
generated • graduated • guided • handled • headed • hired • implemented • improved • improvised •
increased • initiated • inspected • installed • innovated • instructed • interviewed • introduced •
invented • judged • launched • led • located • made • maintained • managed • manufactured •
marketed • merged • mobilized • modified • mentored • negotiated • opened • operated • ordered •
organized • originated • packaged • participated • performed • piloted • planned • prepared •
processed • produced • promoted • proposed • provided • published • purchased • raised • ran •
recommended • recruited • redesigned • reduced • reorganized • reported • researched • reviewed •
revised • scheduled • selected • served • serviced • settled • set up • simplified • sold • solved •
sparked • staffed • started • streamlined • strengthened • stretched • structured • submitted •
succeeded • supervised • supplied • taught • terminated • tested • traced • tracked • traded • trained •
transferred • transformed • translated • traveled • trimmed • tripled • uncovered • underwrote •
unified • unraveled • utilized • vacated • verified • vitalized • won • withdrew • worked • wrote •
Zapped ☺

4

What are some of your own special qualities?
Have any of the following traits contributed to your
past success?
Analytical Energetic Perceptive
Confident Enthusiastic Persuasive
Considerate Flexible Positive
Cooperative Inventive Reliable
Creative Loyal Resourceful
Decisive Motivated Responsible
Dedicated Optimistic Team-player
Dependable Organized Tenacious
Determined Patient Versatile

What do employers value? Check out the full list…
5

Interview Elements
An experienced interviewer will want to learn as much about you as
possible and may conduct a structured interview. Be prepared!

Work History and Experience.
 
employment stability • relevance of experience

Job-related Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
 
technical competence • level of sustained performance • accomplishments

Job Interest and Motivation.
 
industry, company/organization, position/profession

Education and Training.
 
formal education • professional training/certifications • continuing education

Personal Characteristics and Strengths.
 
quot;fitquot; for position, department, or organization • quot;corporate culturequot; match
characteristics valued by organizations: adaptability • cooperation • creativity
enthusiasm • high energy • perseverance • collaborative • performance driven

7

Interview Questions #1
Work History/Experience
1.  Why are you in the job market today?
2.  How did you acquire your last three positions?
3.  Which of your past companies would you be
most eager to rejoin? Why?
4.  What would references from previous employers
reveal?
5.  What two work accomplishments have given you
the most satisfaction?
6.  Do you have an employment agreement, a non-
compete or non-solicitation agreement?
.

8

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
1.  Tailor questions for each specific position.
For example, service delivery manager
questions might address:
Customer satisfaction
 
Cost management
 
Decision making and problem solving
 
Productivity and people management
 
Leadership
 
Interpersonal/organizational effectiveness
 
2.  Your questions might be framed as:
–  “Tell me about a time when ...” or
–  “Describe a situation when ...”
9

Motivation for the Job, Department Mission,
company and the Industry.
1.  Why are you in the job market today?
2.  What attracts you to our company?
3.  How were you referred to us?
4.  Why do you feel this job is a good fit for you?
5.  What motivates you to put forth your greatest
effort?

10

Education and Training (life-long-learning)

1.  How do you stay up to date technically?
2.  What has been your most significant
academic achievement?
3.  Why would those who know you best say
that you are committed to lifelong learning?
4.  Are you presently pursuing any certifications
or professional development? Explain.
5.  What development goals have you recently
established for yourself?

11

Personal Strengths and Lominger Skills
1.  What would your past bosses say are some of
your special strengths or characteristics?
2.  How do you stay cool under pressure in very
complex and difficult situations?
3.  Tell me about a time you overcame resistance
inside the organization to get a project done.
4.  Have your team-building skills been
recognized in past performance reviews or
career discussions?
5.  What would your coworkers say is their
biggest challenge working with you?
12

Questions You Can Ask
1.  Why isn't this job being filled from within the company?
2.  Can you draw me an organization chart so I can see where I fit in?
3.  How many people have held this position over the past five years?
4.  Was the last person to hold this position promoted?
5.  What reputation does the department have within the company?
6.  How has this position been filled in the past?
7.  What are some accomplishments produced by past incumbents?
8.  How many people are interviewing for this position?
9.  What do you like most about this company?
10.  May I talk with the person who last held this position?
11.  How do employees like working for the company?
12.  Is turnover an issue?
13.  What qualifications are most important for this position?
14.  Given your priorities what results would you like me to accomplish first?
15.  What is the salary and performance levels of these subordinates?
16.  How would you describe the organization's culture?
17.  What is the biggest problem facing the department right now?
18.  How soon will you decide if you want to make me an offer?

13

Problem Solvers
► Solutions focused, stick to the issues, and persistently strive for the
best solutions given the realities of the situation. ► Open to reason.
► Use good people skills, showing genuine concern for others, treating
people with respect, and making them feel valued. ► Use problem
solving skills, identifying the issues, exploring alternatives, and
agreeing on solutions. ► Willing to own responsibility for their
behavior and to remove their part of the problem. ► Good self-control
and good control over their tongue. ► Good listeners who listen
intently to the opinions of others. ► Peacemakers who are good at
turning conflict into problem solving. ► Stay objective regardless of
what others do or say. ► Straightforward, honest and can be trusted
to present information accurately. ► Willing to confront, level, offer
constructive criticism, or take a stand, but do so by attacking problems
and not people. ► Open to feedback, teachable, and eager to learn and
improve. ► Style facilitates problem solving and increases the
probability of communications, cooperation, and good relations.
Credit to Author Dr. D.D. Warrick Ask about the Harley-Davidson success story!

14

Initiative in Performance
Consider the value you bring to your organization in the day-to-day
working relationship you establish with your manager.

Employee quot;Mode of Operationsquot; Value to Organization *

1. Take Action and Advise Routinely Highest Value
2. Take Action and Advise Immediately Higher Value
3. Recommend and Take Action High Value
_________________________________ ________________________

4. Ask what to do... Low Value
5. Watch, wait… do nothing… No Value

Adapted from:
quot;Management time: Who's got the monkey?
William Oncken, Jr. and Donald L. Wass
Harvard Business Review, November - December 1974.

15

Job Factors Analysis
 at least
What motivational factors are important to you? Check off
seven (7) quot;job factorsquot; that are important to you:
☐ job security ☐having input into performance goals and standards
☐ opportunities for promotion ☐working for a prestigious company
☐ chance to express ideas and suggestions ☐challenging and interesting work
☐respect as an individual ☐entrepreneurial opportunities ☐developing policy
☐ minimal unplanned activities ☐good pay ☐reasonable work hours
☐opportunities for improving knowledge and skills ☐flexible work hours
☐recognition for good work performed ☐responsibility and authority
☐good benefits program ☐pleasant working conditions ☐business travel
☐performance-based promotions from within ☐being kept informed
☐good organizational communications ☐getting along with others
☐having a supervisor I respect ☐leading and developing a staff
☐opportunities to quot;make things happen” and have a major impact
☐ knowing what is expected of me on the job ☐having an important job
☐support from my immediate supervisor ☐working as part of a team
☐high performance standards requiring a quot;stretch“☐ ability to work on my own
☐structured work environment ☐not having to work too hard
☐influence with my supervisor ☐desirable work and living location

16

After the Interview
Post-Interview review and critique.
Did you cover your strengths and accomplishments?
 
What went well? What did not go well?
 
How motivated are you by the position, department priorities, and company?
 
Summarize the interview in writing within an hour for your review and follow-up
 

quot;Thank youquot; Letter.
Up-beat and concise, summary your value.
 
Focus on at least one point made by the interviewer: quot;I enjoyed hearing your
 
views on...quot;
Confirm any action items or quot;next stepsquot; discussed during the interview.
 
Include any strength that you were unable to present during the interview.
 
Position and company appear to be a good fit for you? Ask for an offer!
 

Follow-up. Call back at a specific time.
Demonstrates professionalism, dependability and a sincere interest in the job.
 

17

Regarding References
Most corporations have policies that restrict references due to liability issues.
Limited information like name, job title, and employment dates will usually be
confirmed only by HR staff. But you can still call on former bosses, coworkers,
direct reports, business associates, suppliers, etc.
Your references may be asked questions like these:
1.  How long have they known you?
2.  What was or is their relationship to you?
3.  What do they know of your major accomplishments?
4.  Do they know why you left past positions?
5.  What are your strengths and your development needs?
6.  Did you get along well with others?
7.  Are they able and willing to forecast your future job potential?
It’s okay to “coach” your references.

18

Please provide feedback on all candidate interviews. Rate each of the five areas with whole numbers only.

Comments are valued and requested. Rate each of five categories below with whole numbers:
4 = far exceeds requirements 3 = exceeds requirements 2 = meets requirements 1 = does not meet requirements

Candidate: ______________ Position: _____________________________

1. Work History/Experience — organization and industry relevance, employment stability, commitment, loyalty
Rating: [ ] Comments:
2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities — broad technical knowledge and relevant accomplishments
3. Job Interest and Motivation — job enthusiasm, passion for department mission, interest in industry and CSC
4. Education and Training — undergraduate, graduate, certifications, professional development, life-long learning
5. Personal Strengths/Characteristics — fit for organization culture

Hire Recommendation: [ ]Yes [ ]No Comments: _______________________________________

Interviewer: ________________________________________________ Date: ____________

Note: All interview questions and written evaluation comments must be job-related.

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... one step at a time:
1.  Know your audience and speak their language!
2.  Make your resume a personal advertisement or sales
brochure... keep it interesting, well organized and
concise with lots of quot;white space”
3.  Express value throughout by expressing your skills
and achievements, especially from your most recent
work. State your case!
4.  Use power verbs or action verbs (samples follow).
5.  Eliminate extraneous “ho-hum” information and keep
your resume length to one or two pages.

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