The Job Application ProcessInterviews and Follow-Ups

1. The Job Application Process
Interviews and Follow-Ups
Successful Preparation for Interview
A. Prior to the Interview
B. Chronology of the Interview
C. Activity During the Interview
D. Answering or Asking Questions During the
Interview

2. Interview Preparation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Know yourself
Know your resume
Know the company
Know the position
Know some questions and answers
Know your nonverbal appearance communicates
loudly.
7. Know that your oral delivery also communicates.
8. Know the meeting place, time, and other details.
9. Know some basic salary ranges.
10. Know that you must rehearse.

3. Interview Preparation
1. Know Yourself
 Review the self-assessment documents you
created based on your:




Skills
Accomplishments
Interests, and
Personal values.

4. Interview Preparation
2. Know Your Resume
 Take at least two copies of your resume with
you; and know its content well.

5. Interview Preparation
3. Know the Company
 Do some research about the company
where you are going for an interview.
 Information may be available from
professional or industry journals.
 The best source of information, nowadays,
is company websites.

6. Interview Preparation
4. Know the Position
 Prepare with the strongest qualification if the
job position is known.
 If the position is general, come with your
personal qualifications, well-rehearsed and
known.

7. Interview Preparation
5. Know Some Questions and Answers
 Prepare some of your questions in advance.
 Try to anticipate some of your interviewer’s
questions-and your answers.

8. Interview Preparation
6. Know that Your Nonverbal
Appearance Communicates Loudly.
 It suggests that your clothing, your shoes,
your jewelry, your lotion, your colour choice,
your grooming-all say something about you.
 When in doubt, be conservative in dress.

9. Interview Preparation
7. Know that Your Oral Delivery Also
Communicates.
 A monotone rarely holds attention.
 Oral variety is pitch, rate, and volume will
help

10. Interview Preparation
8. Know the Meeting Place, Time and
Other Details.
 Arrive early, know the name of your
interviewer.

11. Interview Preparation
9. Know Some Basic Salary Ranges.
 Avoid locked-in-stone positions on salary;
initial interviews are not the place for
negotiation sessions.
 However, knowing possible salary ranges is
advisable.

12. Interview Preparation
10. Know that You Must Rehearse.
 Mock interviews-with video playback are
recommended.
 Take the advantage of placement office of
your educational institute to rehearse for oral
and nonverbal appearance.

13. Chronology of Interview
As with most communication instances, an
interview also has:
 An introductory period
 A middle assessment period, and
 A concluding period

14. Chronology of Interview
 There is no consistent pattern for job
interview.
 Many first interviews are done to screen
candidates for a possible second interview.
 A typical interview pattern is as follows:
 Introduction
Company Information
Candidate assessment
Conclusion.

15. Chronology of Interview
Introduction (about 2 to 5 minutes)
 Interviewers seeks to put candidate at ease.
 Chitchat, causal talk about personal information on
resume.
 Candidate tries to make positive up-front
impression: smile, handshake, sense of
enthusiasm.

16. Chronology of Interview
Company Information ( about 5 to 10 minutes)
 Interviews may indicate type of positions
available, some information about the company.
 Candidates suggest a high degree of interest in
company, in the position.

17. Chronology of Interview
Candidate Assessment (about 10 to 20 minutes)
 Interviewer tries to assess the qualification of the
candidates
 His or her strengths and weaknesses
 Candidates employs data, evidence: via goals, skills,
accomplishments, interests, and personal values.
 Questions: during this period a variety of questions,
challenges testing of candidate occurs.

18. Chronology of Interview
Conclusion (about 1 to 2 minutes)
 Interviewers determine the ending of the
interview: suggests when an answer will be
forthcoming.
 Candidate tries to summarize his or her
qualifications, reaffirm interest in the company
and position, and express appreciation for the
interview.

19. Positive and Negative Behaviour
During an Interview
Positive, Desirable Behaviour
1.
Show Enthusiasm, vitality, interest:
You can do so by the alert way:




2.
You sit and look
By your facial expressions
The questions you ask, and
The answer you give.
Be Honest
 State your data clearly, without exaggeration.
2.
Listen Attentively, Concentrate
 Do not interrupt. Let the interviewer finish. Then try to link
your achievements with your answer.

20. Positive and Negative Behaviour
During an Interview
Positive, Desirable Behaviour
4.
Keep Answers Brief

5.
Show Interest in the Company

6.
The more answers you provide, the more varied the
information you can give about yourself.
Here, too, tactfully relate your achievements to your future
employer’s need.
Show Analytical Skills

Organize your answers, take time to comment on both pros
and cons, short-and-long-term benefits.

21. Positive and Negative Behaviour
During an Interview
Negative Factors to Avoid
1.
Discourtesy:

1.
Avoid first names, doodling, disinterest.
Jargon, slang

1.
This is not the time to project an image that you are tuned
into jargon of youth.
Overaggressive or cynical attitude

Avoid the superiority complex and “know-it-all” attitude.

22. Positive and Negative Behaviour
During an Interview
Negative Factors to Avoid
4.
Unfavourable Comments

4.
Focus on positive. Omit criticisms of former colleagues or
other employees.
Disregard for Positive Factors

If you put the word “failure to” before each of the six
suggestions for positive behaviour, you will have a total of 11
in this list of negatives to avoid.

23. Answering or Asking
Questions During the Interview
 It is hard to predict which question will occur in your
interview.
 Each interviewer has a set of favorite questions and the
time of day according to the convenience of the
company.
 Regardless of your preparation, there will be some
unexpected questions.
 Pause, try to organize your answers, and offer it with a
high degree of confidence.
 During interview, you could also refer to your resume,
using it as a support for your comments.

24. Answering or Asking
Questions During the Interview
 Here is the list of favorite and a bit difficult
questions that are usually asked by the
interviewers:
 Where do you expect to be in five years?
 Give me list of your strengths and weaknesses?
 When have you successfully motivated others over
whom you had no authority or power?
 What do you think it takes to be successful in this
position?
 Why should we hire you?

25. Answering or Asking
Questions During the Interview
 Tell me about your work experience. What did you
accomplish?
 Give me three reasons why you are interested in our
company.
 How well do you do you work with teams and other
people; what evidence do you have for that statement?
 How is the job search going? Who else have you spoken
with?
 Which course did you like best? Least? Why?
 If you were starting your schooling over, which courses
would you add to your program? Why?

26. Answering or Asking
Questions During the Interview
 Describe the kind of boss you prefer?
 What personal characteristics are necessary for success
in your field?
 Give me an example of a situation which upset you in
either your school or your place of work.
 What do you know about our company?
 Do you prefer working alone or with others?
 Which of your college years was the most difficult?
 Can you get recommendations from all your previous
employers?
 Do you like routine work?

27. Answering or Asking
Questions During the Interview





Define cooperation for me.
Give me an example of analytical mind?
What was the last book you read?
What is your major weakness?
What are the disadvantages of your chosen field?
END