first and lasting impressions : preparing for the interview presented by robert l. belle, jr., ed.d....

First and Lasting Impressions : Preparing for the Interview

Presented by

Robert L. Belle, Jr., Ed.D.

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“Proverbs are the daughters of

experience.”

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PROVERB

“When a needle falls into a well many people will look into the well, but few will be ready to go down after it.”

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“You do not teach the paths of a forest to an old gorilla.”

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“You can’t build a house for last year’s summer.”

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Acknowledgements James F. Clark Associates, Inc. Career

Advancement Strategy Track Spencer Johnson Who Moved My Cheese Farrah Gray Reallionaire http://www.blackamericaweb.com Career &

Finance Section http://www.quotemeonit.com

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THOUGHTS TO PONDER

“If you don’t change you will become extinct.”

“When you change what you believe, you change what you do.”

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THOUGHTS TO PONDER

“What would you do if you were not afraid?” “When you can’t change the people around

you, change the people around you.”

Interview Settings

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Interview Settings

Interview Settings

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Behavioral Interview What is a behavioral interview? Behavioral based interviewing is

interviewing based on discovering how the interviewee acted or behaved in specific employment or comparable related situations.

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Behavioral Interview The logic is that how you behaved in the

past will predict how you will behave in the future i.e. past performance predicts future performance.

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Traditional vs. Behavioral In a traditional interview, you will be asked

a series of questions which typically have straight forward answers like "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" or

"What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?" or

"Describe a typical work week."

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Behavioral Interview Explanation In a behavioral interview, an employer has

decided what skills are needed in the person they hire and will ask questions to find out if the candidate has those skills.

Instead of asking how you would behave, they will ask how did you behave?

The interviewer will want to know how you handled a situation, instead of what you might do in the future.

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Behavioral Interview Questions Behavioral interview questions will be more

pointed, more probing and more specific than traditional interview questions:

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Sample Behavioral Interview Questions

Have you gone above and beyond the call of duty? If so, how?

What did you do when your schedule was interrupted? Give an example of how you handle it.

Tell me about a time when you had to convince a team to work on a project they weren't thrilled about. How did you do it?

Tell me about a difficult situation you had with a co-worker and how you handled it?

Tell me about a couple of instances when you had to work under pressure.

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Additional behavioral type ???? Give an example of an occasion when you

used logic to solve a problem. Give an example of a goal you reached and

tell me how you achieved it. Describe a decision you made that was

unpopular and how you handled implementing it.

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Briefly tell me about yourself and what is really important to

you. If you were going to do it all over again what would you

change in your educational career? What are your immediate and long range professional

goals? Or what goals have you achieved thus far? Give me a few examples to illustrate how you worked

effectively with your classmates or coworkers. Tell me about the most difficult thing you had to handle in

graduate school/last position? What do you believe is the common thing that has

contributed to your success?

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Tell me about a time when you felt ill at ease in

your educational career and how you handled the situation?

Give me an example of what you did to solve a unique problem?

What was it about this position that interested you to the point that you applied?

Give me two reasons that might convince me that you should be hired for this position or admitted to graduate school?

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Give me a couple of examples of how

your education has prepared you for this position or graduate school?

You are just starting out in the profession. You have very little experience. There are others who may have more experience than you. Give me three specific reasons why I should consider you further for this position. Or admit you to this department.

Verbal Tics Huh Ahh Hmm And huh You know Like

You know what I’m saying

Like so Huh huh Exact same

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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH “CAB’S”

A powerful communication vehicle called the “CAB” was created to help people in the job interview.

If used properly the CAB can be a multi-dimensional method for enhancing the value of a personal skill, characteristic or capability.

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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH “CAB’S”

The CAB can be an effective “neutralizer” for alleviating career liabilities or other negative perceptions.

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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH “CAB’S”

CAB is an acronym which stands for: Condition…Action…Benefit. When used properly, it permits an individual to tell a short, impactive action story that enhances the value of a personal ability.

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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH “CAB’S”

It meets the requirement parameters of being “logical” and “sounding good.”

It satisfies a need or wants and, in doing so, adds strength to the “credibility.”

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CAB’s are your personal “success” stories.

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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH “CAB’S”

In order to properly strategize your CAB’s you will need to formulate power phrases that best exemplify your most marketable skills, capabilities and talents within these CAB stories.

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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY THROUGH “CAB’S”

You don’t want to tell your life story. The goal is simply to “value sell” yourself. Honed them into “90 second commercials.”

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PERSONAL POWER PHRASES

Problem Solver Perform against deadlines Found new alternatives Versatile and not rigid Sensitive to people Motivate others Action oriented Determined and capable Strong people person

Team player Perform …not procrastinate Bright and goal oriented Handle change easily Good communicator Ability to get things done Good teacher and comfortable

in the classroom Accept a challenge and

produce positive results

Self Manager Work well with people Finish my assignments Punctual Pretty considerate Outgoing Take initiative Self motivated Support other people

Detail schedule Good communicator Realistic Good organizer Set priorities Help others succeed Work well under pressure A positive person

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PREPARATION OF THE CAB’S

CONDITION: (Describe the condition (problem), cause and effect…and scope)

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PREPARATION OF THE CAB’S

ACTIONS: (What you did to correct the problem…But, not how! Here you’re adding credence to the capability example in the power phrase.)

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PREPARATION OF THE CAB’S

BENEFITS: (Quantify benefits where possible.)

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Try to begin and end each CAB with your Power PhraseThese CAB stories should be put on the ruled side of a 3 X 5 index card.

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ADDRESSING CAREER LIABILITIES

Murphy’s Law of Perception, “If it can be perceived negatively…it will be…usually prevails.”

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Some Commonly Perceived Liabilities . . .

Unemployed Too young Too old Had only one job Fired from last position Had too many jobs Too much of a generalist Too much of a specialist Haven’t shown much leadership Experience is very narrow Demonstrated no results oriented

activities

Poor references Short time in current position Lack of teaching experience Lack of publishing articles/papers/ Lack a particular job requirement Attempting to switch careers Attempting a geographic

relocation Switching from education to the

private sector Switching from the private sector

to education

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Some Commonly Perceived Liabilities . . .

Short work history with few achievements Lack writing experience To technical background Education is unrelated to industry/position Achievements cannot be quantified

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OVERCOMING LIABILITIES“UTILIZING THE ARQS TECHNIQUE”

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ARQS is an acronym

Acknowledge

Redirect

Qualify

Satisfy

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THE INTERVIEW You must prepare yourself for the interview. Never try to “wing it.” You will not be credible. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse your responses. Use a small tape recorder to listen to yourself. Pay attention to basic attending skills; (Eye contact, body

language, and vocal qualities) Video/audio tape yourself and look critically for ways to

improve.

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THE INTERVIEW Take a view book or samples of some of

your work. (Flyers, articles, pictures, bibliography, letters, recognition) Make sure the items are labeled accurately.

Tell the truth…Tell the whole truth….but, not necessarily all the truth. Sometimes all the truth may get you into trouble.

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THE INTERVIEW Our natural tendency as honest

professionals is to full disclose in response to any situation. However, in the instance of responding to the pointed questions asked by some interviewers…this natural tendency must be tempered by good judgment.

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THE INTERVIEW Your mission is to satisfy the question…not

to justify the response.

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Basically six categories for interview questions

Questions about employment history, past jobs, etc.

Questions about job skills, strengths and weaknesses.

Questions concerning your attitudes about working conditions.

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Basically six categories for interview questions

Questions about your goals, attitudes, philosophies and accomplishments.

Questions about your family, attitudes and personal affairs.

Questions about your education.

A cow that has no tail can not chase away flies.

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“Always believe that what you do today helps to prepare you for something better tomorrow.”

Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor