Employment Interviews

1. Welcome to COMM 202
T26 & T33
Tutorial 8
Interviews
Austin Smith Disconnect from technology please

2. Breathing Exercise

3. “Accept the things to which fate
binds you, and love the people
with whom fate brings you
together, but do so with all your
heart. “
Marcus Aurelius
Opening Lesson

4. Today’s Key Learning's
Agenda
Employment Interview Assignment
Interview Questions
Closing
Words of Wisdom
Action Items

5. Employment Interview
When: Apr 4th, Apr.5th and Apr 7th
What do you need to bring?
 Resume
 Cover Letter
 Job Description
 Padfolio
 Pen

6. Employment Interview
Things to Remember
 Check in with reception at Birmingham Career Center
(BCC)
 Be Early! – ideally about 10 minutes, if you are not
there when the interviewer comes out, you will receive
an automatic 0
 Interview is approximately 20 minutes long
 Please bring your cover letter, resume, and job posting
 Worth 10%

7. Dress to Impress

8. Common Questions
Tell me about YOURSELF!#1
What are your STRENGTHS?#2
What are your WEAKNESSES?#3
Tell me about A TIME WHEN…#4
*WILD CARD* Question!#5
Do YOU have any QUESTIONS?#6

9. The most common question you will get in an interview. (It
can be asked in different ways)
 Keep it 2 minutes or less
 Brand yourself – give them something to remember you
by
 Sound natural, not like you’re reading off a script!
 Speak to your skills and accomplishments
 Show passion
 Provide a well-rounded picture
*PRACTICE!
Question 1: Tell me about yourself?

10. Your Story
The Beginning
Growing Interest
The Spark
Your Future
Why you are here
Introduction – quick background
Realization that this was the career for you
Your formula that makes you perfect for the job!
Where you see yourself
How this position ties into it all

11. Your Story – What is your Formula
? + ? ?+
THE GOAL: Tell them a story that no one else can replicate and
impress them in the first 2 minutes

12. Studied Marketing
and Human
Resources,
Sustainability
concentration in
University
+ +
=
Interned for
Marketing Agency in
Account Services
Interned for Tier II
CPG Company in
Brand Management
Division
+
Setting goals
on my bike
translates in
my work
Aspirations to
become a brand
manager fit
perfectly into a
fast-paced
environment at
L’Oreal

13. I would hire you on
the spot (2 points)
I would like to interview
you again (1 point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
TELL ME
ABOUT
YOURSE
LF
Student provides a
relevant,
chronological “story”
highlighting their
beginning, spark,
growing interest,
goals and fit to the
organization in a
concise manner (2
minute max)
The student provides a
chronological “story”
highlighting most but not
all of the 5 aspects listed
in the first column in a
concise manner and/or
answer was longer than 2
minutes
Student provided
“story” that is neither
concise (more than
2 minutes) nor
chronological/logical
Grading Rubric: Tell Me About Yourself

14. Activity

15. Grab a partner and share “tell me about yourself” stories
-2.5 minutes
Give some feedback!
-1 minute
Goal: Convey the elements of the story in a logical way and
and experiment with finding your formula
Activity

16. Question 2: What are your strengths
 Relevant to the position
 Links experience to job or position
 There is no perfect answer

17. Grading Rubric: What Are Your Strengths
I would hire you
on the spot (2
points)
I would like to
interview you again (1
point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
STRENGT
HS
Student is able to
choose strengths
relevant to the
position, give a
strong example with
proof of execution
and links the
experience to the
job opportunity
Student is able to
choose strengths
relevant to the position,
gives a strong example
of execution, but may
lack a link to the
position
Student’s strength
may be irrelevant
to the position
and/or lacks proof
of execution or link
to job opportunity

18. Do not flip weaknesses into strengths
Question 3: What are your weaknesses?

19. Question 3: What are your weaknesses?
✘ “I’m such a perfectionist”
✘ “Too detail-oriented”
✘ “Over-achiever”
✘ “I work too hard sometimes”
 Weakness wouldn’t impair you from
doing the job
 Show you are actively trying to improve
these weaknesses
 Show the “lesson learned”

20. Grading Rubric: What Are Your Weaknesses
I would hire you on
the spot (2 points)
I would like to interview
you again (1 point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
WEAKNESS
ES
Student is able to
choose a
developmental area
not key to the function
of the position and
share how they
overcame the
situation, the lesson
learned and action
plan moving forward,
while demonstrating
self reflection and
resilience
Student is able to choose a
developmental area not key
to the function of the
position and share how
they overcame the
situation, however is not
able to articulate the lesson
learned or action plan
moving forward and/or
student choose cliché
answer ex. “My greatest
weakness is my greatest
strength”
Student either chose
a skill essential to the
position or was not
able to clearly convey
the lesson and/or
action plan moving
forward; student was
unable to provide a
weakness

21. Question 4: Tell me about a time…?
S T A R
SITUATION ACTIONTASK RESULT
What position
and where
were you?
What was the
challenge you
faced?
What did YOU
do and how did
you do it?
What was the
accomplishment
and the impact?
+ LINK back to job and why the story is relevant

22. • A way for the interviewer to gauge your interest and knowledge of
the position and industry
• Test your ability to communicate clearly
• Shows the interviewer how you think
• TESTS BUSINESS ACUMEN: news, trends, etc.
INDUSTRY/JOB SPECIFIC OR… A SURPRISE!
THE GOAL
 Walk them through
your thought process
 Stay calm and
provide a clear answer

23. Wild card question

24. Grading Rubric: Wild Card Questions
I would hire you on the
spot (2 points)
I would like to
interview you again
(1 point)
I would not hire you (0
points)
CREATIVE/
STUMPER
QUESTION
S
Student “aces” every
opportunity to differentiate
themselves during the
interview: e.g., they offer a
credible, logically-organized,
and concise answer for
every question. If on the rare
occasion, they don’t know
the answer, they then
respond by asking clarifying
questions and/or outlining
the problem-solving
approach they would use.
Maintains composure.
Student “handles” some
opportunities to
differentiate themselves
during the interview: e.g.,
they offer credible and/or
logically-organized and/or
concise answers for many
questions. They
sometimes respond by
asking clarifying questions
and/or outlining the
problem-solving approach
they would use
They “miss” too many
opportunities to differentiate
themselves during interview:
e.g., they offer widely varying
answers in terms of credibility
and/or logical organization
and/or conciseness. If they
don’t know the answer, they
often don’t seem to know
how to respond by asking
clarifying questions and/or
outlining a problem-solving
approach

25. FINANCE PITCH ME A STOCK
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS VS DOWNSIDES OF USING DEBT VS EQUITY FINANCING?
HOW WOULD VALUE A PERPETUAL ZERO COUPON BOND?
DO YOU THINK THE FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE EFFICIENT?
ACCOUNTING WHY DO YOU WANT TO PURSUE A CPA?
WHY THIS FIRM?
WALK ME THROUGH THE MAJOR LINES OF A CASH FLOW STATEMENT?
MANAGEMENT
CONSULTING
HOW MANY WORDS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NY TIMES?
TELL ME YOUR 5 WEAKNESSES… AND ANOTHER… ANOTHER
DESCRIBE A PROJECT YOU HAVE WORKED ON THAT CHALLENGED YOU?
CASE-BASED QUESTIONS…
MARKETING HOW WOULD YOU INCREASE SALES OF X PRODUCT BY X%?
SELL ME THIS PEN,
HOW DO YOU THINK OUR BLOG IS DOING? WHAT CAN BE DONE BETTER?
WHAT”S YOUR FAVORITE AD AND WHY?
TLOG HOW COULD YOU IMPROVE THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTIVITY?
HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT FACTORY WORKER?
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU IMPROVED SOMETHING WHERE YOU WORKED?
HR TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHERE YOU HAD TO MOTIVATE A TEAM
ASSUMING YOU ARE SELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE?
RANDOM WHAT IS 3/16 IN DECIMAL?
TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE NEWS, HOW IT RELATES TO THIS JOB?
WHY ARE MANHOLES ROUND?
TEACH ME SOMETHING YOU LEARNED IN SCHOOL?
Examples

26. • Always have at least 2 questions
• Avoid asking questions you could find the answer to on
Google.
• Never ask a question like, “What do look for in candidates?” –
probably should have asked this before the interview
• Do not ask something that has already been addressed in the
interview
• Always safe to get them talking about themselves – maybe ask
something directly related to their job/industry or some career
advice.
Question 6: Do you have any questions?

27. Closing the interview
THANK them
Reiterate your INTEREST
End with a HANDSHAKE
Ask for their BUSINESS CARD
Ask if you can CALL to follow-up
Use their NAME

28. Follow up!
 Send an email or handwritten card
 Reference the interview – something you want to emphasize or
something unsaid that you want them to know
 Reiterate your interest in the position
 Thank them for the opportunity again
 Reference an answer they gave you to one of your end of interview
questions
 If you interviewed with multiple people make sure the follow-up is
personalized to each person

29. Hi Richard,
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for taking the time
to interview me. I really enjoyed our conversation,
particularly your college experience in varsity golf. Good
luck with your future at Campbells, hopefully the
transition continues to be a smooth one for you.
Best Regards,
Austin Smith
Example

30. General Tips
GUIDE THE CONVERSATION TO WHERE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE
SMILE AND NOD
ANSWER THE DARN QUESTION
DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF
BRING ENERGY INTO THE ROOM

31. Words of Wisdom
When an opportunity presents itself, just go for it!
Seek mentorship and provide it
If you are not willing to take risks, how can you expect someone to take a
risk on you
Make yourself into a person that people want to invest in!

32. If you believe, you will achieve.
Never compare yourself to others.
You are capable of anything with the right mindset.

33. BCC News 202 Reminders
 Interview Stream due
April 3rd at 11:59 PM
(est)
 Employment Interviews
April 4th, 5th, and 7th
 Informational
Interview due April
14th at 11:59 pm
 Nex week is.. Lecture
 JDC West Applications
due April 4th, check
facebook!

34. Thank you