MNB 11 Mar 2013

•To tailor your resume for a specific job
•To be prepared before a scheduled interview
•To present yourself effectively at interviews
•To close an interview and follow up after
an interview
•GETTING THE JOB YOU WANT

•Job Interview
•Writing an Effective Resume
•Types of Interview
•Preparation Techniques
•Introduction Techniques
•Interview Techniques
•Interviewing Mistakes
•After Interview

A structured meeting between you and a
prospective employer.
If asked to be interviewed, it
means that your resume has
been met with a degree of
approval.

THE CONTENT OF YOUR RESUME:
Name
Address, telephone number, e-mail address
Objective
Education
Experience
Achievements and awards
Skills
Character References

REMEMBER:
•Resume should have a clean, professional format
with a little style.
•Font size should not be too large/too small.
•Don’t choose non-standard fonts like Comic Sans
or Lucida Handwriting.
•Use more lists than sentences.
•Avoid going more than 1 or 2 pages.

• Employers are attempting to
determine if you are an
appropriate fit for the job.
• You decide if the
environment is right for you.

• Phone
• One-on-one
• Panel or group
• Meal
• On-site interview

Create a professional
portfolio which will
include:
A few extra copies of your
resume
Certificates, special
certifications
Samples of relevant
papers/projects, and letter of
recommendation

Decide what to wear days
before the interview.
Being well-groomed and
having a good appearance is
very essential.

• Necktie should be silk with a
conservative pattern
• Dark shoes
• Dark socks
• Get a haircut, short hair
always fares best in
interviews
• No beards
• No rings other than
wedding rings/college rings
• No earrings

• Always wear a suit with
blazer
• Shoes with conservative
heels
• Neutral bags
• If you should wear nail
polish, use clear/
conservative color
• Minimal use of make up
• No more than one ring on
each hand
• One set of earrings only

• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Clean, trimmed finger nails
• Minimal cologne or
perfume
• Empty pockets- no bulges
or tinkling coins
• No gums, candy, or
cigarettes
• Light briefcase or
portfolio case
• No visible body piercing

BE ON TIME.
• Make sure where the interview
will be held.
• Always leave enough time
for the journey.
• Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early.
Late arrival for the job interview is never excusable.

BE YOUR BEST SELF.
• Review your
background/accomplishments that may
fit the needs of the company.
• Don’t rely on your application/resume
doing the selling for you. No matter
how qualified you are for the
position, you will need to sell yourself
to the interviewer.

BE PROACTIVE.
Do research on the company
by reviewing its corporate profile
and by reading some relevant
information through websites/
print materials. Find out the
specifics of the job you are
applying for.

• You only have once chance
to make a good impression.
• Smile!
• Do greet the interviewer by
title and last name if you are
sure of the pronunciation.
• Do wait until you are
offered a chair before
sitting.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Firm handshake.

POSITIVE SIGNALS
Leaning forward – interest
Smiling – friendly
Nodding – attentive and alert
Eye contact – curious and
focused
NEGATIVE SIGNALS
Crossed arms – defensive
Tapping feet – nervous/bored
Lack of eye contact
– untrustworthy
Leaning back - discomfort

STANDARD/TRADITIONAL QUESTIONS
-Targeting your education, work experience,
and career goals
BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
-These focus on you actions and behaviors in
a previous setting

• Turn off your cell phone before the start!
• Relax and be yourself
• Remember: FIRM handshake, eye contact, good
posture and a confident introduction of self
• If there are 2 or more interviewers, be sure to address
all the interviewers in the room when answering the
questions
• Smile when appropriate
• Be honest

• Use concrete experiences to illustrate important
information about yourself
• Give complete answers and if you do not understand the
question, ask for clarification
• Avoid slang words during to impress the interviewer
• Strike a good balance
between speaking and listening
• Show understanding
with facial expressions

• When asked about your weaknesses or failures, mention
how you were able to handle the difficult situation, share
the lessons learned, and the improvement you would
take.
• Don’t ask about the salary or benefits. Let the employer
begin the salary negotiation
• Don’t act desperate by telling the
interviewer that you are willing to
accept any job offered
• Before leaving an interview, ask what
the next steps would be.

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why are you interested in working for this company?
• What are your short and long range career goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why should we hire you?

• Thinking like a job hunter
– Don’t try to control the entire interview
– Do not behave in a desperate manner
– Do not act self-centered: I want..I need..
I’m looking for..
– Do not sound like a job description
• Don’t go on it alone
– Tap networks/ask friends for some tips
– Mock interviews

• Be prepared to talk about yourself and your
experiences
• Master the art of storytelling
• Avoid filler words:
um, uh, yeah, yup, y’know, like, okay
• Avoid indecisive phrases:
I think, I guess, probably, pretty good
• Avoid long verbose answers
• Jingle pocket change, tap feet or finger, play
with hair, fold arms, use limp
handshake, mumble , interrupt, speak too fast or
too slow

• People decide about you in
the first 10 seconds
• You have to make a good
first impression
• Always ask insightful
questions
• They’ll probably ask
questions designed to trip
you up
• Try to focus on the message
you are conveying – not
how well you are doing

• Thank the interviewer for the time spent with
you
• Make some notes regarding some things
you’ve learned from the company
• Do try and get business cards from the
person you interviewed with
• Make a follow up call to know your status
• Take some time to reflect:
– How well did I do?
– What went well?
– What steps can I take next time to
improve?

Whether you think you can or think you can't
-you are right.
~Henry Ford