Interviewer types, the interview process, common questions and the do's and dont's from one hiring professional's point of view!

1. Don’t Blow Your Interview Phillip Bergquist, Michigan Primary Care Association pbergquist@mpca.net 517-827-0472

2. First Things First Your resume, cover letter and initial correspondence with anyone looking to hire will get you an interview or a trip to the trash can Your interview and references will get you a job or a rejection Your interview follow-up will “seal the deal” or make the hiring professional think twice

3. The Types of Interviewers Gut Instinct Interviewers Personal and Feeling Interviewers Conversational Interviewers Behavior-Based Interviewers www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zIQruPEDmg

4. Gut Instinct Interviewers They are quick to make a decision about you They don’t speak much about the job requirements They want to know if they like you and if you’ll fit in They will finish interview quickly if they don’t like you Perfect Your Appearance Be Confident Make an Excellent First Impression

5. Personal & Feeling Interviewers They want to know more… your values, your feelings, how you think and how you react to situations They will probe your character and ask a lot of questions on your personal qualities They want to know if your values and personality fit with the company and the team Know Your Values Know How They Can Contribute

6. Conversational Interviewers They move from topic to topic quickly They are easy going, conversational and informal They will ask general questions about your career and background They will make the interview sound like an easy going conversation Think Quickly on Your Feet Don’t Drop Your Guard

7. Behavior-Based Interviewers They will ask detailed questions and take notes They will use assessment tools to They are objective and fact-oriented They want to know how your experience and skills will directly help the company Know Your Competencies / Skills Communicate How they Will Benefit the Company

8. Interviewer Awkwardness Group Activity- Understanding the People Asking the Questions Your Best Friend The Interrogator The One Who Has Better Things to Do The Inappropriate One The Rule Follower The Joker The Weirdo The No-Nonsense One The Blank Slate The Mafia www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/02/17/cb.types.of.interviews/index.html

9. Interview Teams You’re very likely to get interview with a team of professionals Size them up just as they are sizing you up Answer their questions in a manner consistent with the type of interviewer they are Address and make eye contact with everyone in the room, even if some are only listening or taking notes

10. Key Steps Interview Scheduling Interview Preparation The Waiting Room The Interview Room The Interview Interview Follow-Up

11. Interview Scheduling Check your email and phone often Respond promptly If at all humanly possible accommodate the interviewer’s schedule, not your own Don’t use lack of transportation or child care issues as reasons you can’t make an interview time, those are major red flags Don’t use your current job as a reason either, use a sick day or vacation time to be there when the interviewer requests

12. Interview Preparation Review the company’s website in detail Mission/Vision Programs and Services Two Most Recent Annual Reports Recent Press Releases Key Staff (especially those in the job department, team or program) Virtually memorize the position description and job responsibilities Map out how your experience and skills fit the job in advance Write down questions to ask the interviewers in advance Bring extra copies of anything you’ve provided including your resume and references Anticipate and have answers mentally prepared for common interview questions

13. Questions Types Most interviews have a mix of several varieties of questions, recognize the type and provide an appropriate answer Open-Ended- Give more than a yes or no answer Close-Ended- Provide brief and specific information Hypothetical- Ask follow-ups before answering, show your problem solving skills Leading- Give a positive, unassuming answer that points out how you match their needs Multi-Barreled- Make quick notes so that you can quickly remember to hit all facets Behavioral- Describe the situation, the problem, the action you took and the result- be honest (STAR)

14. Interview Questions Group Activity- Coming Up With Good Answers I’m going to ask many of you a question, you’ll have one minute to answer- get ready! http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org/questions/general-questions.asp http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org/questions/sample-questions.asp http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org/questions/job-specific-questions.asp

15. The Waiting Room Arrive 10 minutes early Don’t arrive too early, interviewers are busy Arriving late is virtually a guarantee you won’t get the job- no matter what the excuse Look Impeccable! Fill out the forms they ask you to complete politely, no matter how annoying or redundant Don’t make phone calls or text and make sure your devices are in silent mode Read something about the company that is sitting around in the waiting area Have your “shaking hand” free and ready

16. The Interview Room Pay attention to how the room is laid out and sit in the appropriate place Make sure you are sitting in a seat that allows for comfortable eye contact with the interviewers Politely accept their offer of something to drink You’ll be happy you have a glass of water later Have copies of your materials, paper, penand schedule organized and readily accessible Don’t fidget, tap or chew and sit up straight

17. The Interview Remember or write down and use the interviewer’s names in conversation Remember that most initial interviews are scheduled for 30 minutes or less Make sure your answers are complete but keep them concise, no exchange should last longer than 3-4 minutes You have to be yourself under pressure, “diagnose” your anxiety and work through it before you’re in the room Use examples that illustrate your strengths at work and personally Speak about things that you feel really strongly about, if you feel strongly about it you will sound enthusiastic, authenticand engaged

18. Interview Follow-Up Send a follow-up email the day after your interview Most of us think of clever things to say after the fact, include one or two of those, referring to something specific from the interview Send a hand-written interview thank you note as well Since snail mail will take several days to arrive it will give you another chance to make a good impression, often as they are making important decisions Monitor your email and phone closely, answer follow-ups promptly One follow-up phone call is allowable, but never more than one and never less than a week from the interview

19. The Biggest Don’ts Some of the Worst… Being Late Not Being Dressed Appropriately (Glitter, Flip Flops, Overbearing Perfume…You Name It!) Failing to Research the Company Asking No Questions Being Unprepared for Standard Questions Answers More than 3 Minutes Long “You Know”, “Like”, “I Guess”, “Um” Oversharing (Personal or Previous Professional) Chewing Bringing Along Someone Else (Mother, Kid, “Ride”) Asking about Salary/Benefits Upfront Bluetooth Ridiculous Email Addresses

20. Even More On Twitter http://twitter.com/InterviewGoofs

21. Final Thoughts You've got through the door. They want it to be you. The job is yours to lose… the process you're in now is a test Their starting point will be this: "Well, it all looks good on paper, let's get them in and see how they do in person.” Be the right person! http://www.impactfactory.com/gate/new_job_interview_skills_hints_and_tips/fungate_174-1103-91240.html