Effective Communication & Character Building
Overview
· Preparing for interviews
· The interview experience
· Questions to expect and to ask
· Different types of interview
· Assessment Centers
· Psychometric Tests
· Interview resources
· Preparing for interviews
· The interview experience
· Questions to expect and to ask
· Different types of interview
· Assessment Centers
· Psychometric Tests
· Interview resources
Interviews
· Interview = A meeting with an objective
· Employer's objective is to find the best person for the job
· Employer: reviews candidate's experience and abilities
· Can you do the job? (skills, abilities, qualifications)
· Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation)
· How will you fit into the organisation? (personality)
· You: impress employer and assess position on offer
· What does this position offer me?
· How does it fit with my career plans?
· Congratulations - you have passed the first hurdle
· You must prove that you are the most suitable candidate for this position
· Interview = A meeting with an objective
· Employer's objective is to find the best person for the job
· Employer: reviews candidate's experience and abilities
· Can you do the job? (skills, abilities, qualifications)
· Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation)
· How will you fit into the organisation? (personality)
· You: impress employer and assess position on offer
· What does this position offer me?
· How does it fit with my career plans?
· Congratulations - you have passed the first hurdle
· You must prove that you are the most suitable candidate for this position
Preparation is the key to success!
· Review own skills, experience and qualities
· Check CV
· Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples
· Prepare key selling points
· Review own skills, experience and qualities
· Check CV
· Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples
· Prepare key selling points
· Research organisation
· Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc
· Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector
· Relevant articles in the press
· Personal visit or telephone call
· Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc
· Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector
· Relevant articles in the press
· Personal visit or telephone call
· Research job and occupational area
· Job description - or similar
· Current issues
· Job description - or similar
· Current issues
· Prepare your questions
· Practice
· Practice
Watch the Body Language
· First impressions are very powerful
· You either Make it or Break It
· Allow time to relax (don't be late!)
· Dress appropriately
· Entrance, introductions & handshake
· Smile and make eye contact
· Be aware of own body movements
· Watch body language of interviewer
· First impressions are very powerful
· You either Make it or Break It
· Allow time to relax (don't be late!)
· Dress appropriately
· Entrance, introductions & handshake
· Smile and make eye contact
· Be aware of own body movements
· Watch body language of interviewer
Typical Questions
· About you
· Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV?
· Why did choose that particular degree programme?
· What experience have you had that is relevant to this post?
· What would you consider your major achievements to date?
· About you
· Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV?
· Why did choose that particular degree programme?
· What experience have you had that is relevant to this post?
· What would you consider your major achievements to date?
· About the job
· What interests you about this job?
· What do you know about this organisation?
· What other options are you considering?
· How do you see your career developing - 5 years?
· If you were Head of Department, what would be your priorities?
· What interests you about this job?
· What do you know about this organisation?
· What other options are you considering?
· How do you see your career developing - 5 years?
· If you were Head of Department, what would be your priorities?
· General knowledge
· What do you think of the Government's policy on college fees?
· What's your opinion of the natural disaster in Japan last year?
· What do you think of the Government's policy on college fees?
· What's your opinion of the natural disaster in Japan last year?
Other Type of Questions
· "What if" Questions
· If you have no experience - how are you likely to respond to a situation?
· "What if" Questions
· If you have no experience - how are you likely to respond to a situation?
· Probing Questions
· How exactly did you deal with the situation?
· How did you know it worked?
· How did you feel about the outcome?
· How exactly did you deal with the situation?
· How did you know it worked?
· How did you feel about the outcome?
· Could you have handled it differently?
Competency-based Interviews
· Company identifies key skills required for job
· Designs questions to elicit evidence of skills
· Emphasis on past behaviour as predictor of success
· Teamwork: Describe a team project you worked on. What problems arose? How did you deal with them?
· Communication Skills: Describe situation when you had to persuade others to support your view. Give an example of any reports you've written which illustrate your writing skills
· Interpersonal skills: What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work with? How do you handle those situations?
· Taking Responsibility: Describe a time when you took responsibility to achieve a challenging goal.
· Problem-solving: Tell about a time when you had several tasks to manage at one time with conflicting deadlines:
· Company identifies key skills required for job
· Designs questions to elicit evidence of skills
· Emphasis on past behaviour as predictor of success
· Teamwork: Describe a team project you worked on. What problems arose? How did you deal with them?
· Communication Skills: Describe situation when you had to persuade others to support your view. Give an example of any reports you've written which illustrate your writing skills
· Interpersonal skills: What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work with? How do you handle those situations?
· Taking Responsibility: Describe a time when you took responsibility to achieve a challenging goal.
· Problem-solving: Tell about a time when you had several tasks to manage at one time with conflicting deadlines:
Preparing for a Competency Interview
· Identify the competencies required for job
· Research job description or ask for information
· Define each competency in behavioural terms
· Prepare examples for each competency
· Practice talking about your experience
· Try to give a complete answer - STAR
· Identify the competencies required for job
· Research job description or ask for information
· Define each competency in behavioural terms
· Prepare examples for each competency
· Practice talking about your experience
· Try to give a complete answer - STAR
What's a STAR Answer?
S - Situation
T - Task
A - Action
R - Results
S - Situation
T - Task
A - Action
R - Results
Situation
Detail the background. Provide a context. Where? When?
Task
Describe the challenge and expectations. What needed to be done? Why?
Describe the challenge and expectations. What needed to be done? Why?
Action
Elaborate your specific action. What did you do? How? What tools did you use?
Elaborate your specific action. What did you do? How? What tools did you use?
Results
Explain the results: accomplishments, recognition, savings, etc. Quantify.
Explain the results: accomplishments, recognition, savings, etc. Quantify.
Responding to Competency Q
· Q: Give me an example of a problem you encountered.
· How did you approach it?
· What was the outcome?
· Q: Give me an example of a problem you encountered.
· How did you approach it?
· What was the outcome?
· STAR response
· S: Describe the situation
· T: Explain the task/problem that arose
· A: What action did you take
· R: What was the result or outcome?
· What did you learn from this experience?
· S: Describe the situation
· T: Explain the task/problem that arose
· A: What action did you take
· R: What was the result or outcome?
· What did you learn from this experience?
Matching Skills to Requirements
Employer needs
Communication
Team work
Leadership
Initiative
Customer Care
IT / Technology
Commercial Awareness
Communication
Team work
Leadership
Initiative
Customer Care
IT / Technology
Commercial Awareness
Your evidence
Presentation to class
Example from Co-op
Class rep,Committee
Fundraising for charity
Working in Tesco
Designed website
Business pages
Presentation to class
Example from Co-op
Class rep,Committee
Fundraising for charity
Working in Tesco
Designed website
Business pages
Your Answers
· Listen carefully, seek clarification
· Illustrate answers with real examples and evidence
· Be positive -- constructive criticism
· Keep answers specific and succinct
· Take time to respond
· Be alert to interviewer's body language
· Speak clearly, smile and show enthusiasm
· Know what you want to say, and find the opportunity
· Listen carefully, seek clarification
· Illustrate answers with real examples and evidence
· Be positive -- constructive criticism
· Keep answers specific and succinct
· Take time to respond
· Be alert to interviewer's body language
· Speak clearly, smile and show enthusiasm
· Know what you want to say, and find the opportunity
Qualities Employer's Seek
· Good all-round intelligence
· Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation
· Good communication skills
· Team work ability
· Ability to solve problems
· Capacity to work hard
· Initiative and self-reliance
· Balanced personality
· Good all-round intelligence
· Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation
· Good communication skills
· Team work ability
· Ability to solve problems
· Capacity to work hard
· Initiative and self-reliance
· Balanced personality
Competencies required by Most Companies
· Adaptability
· Integrity
· Innovation
· Teamwork
· Initiative
· Drive for Results
· Know the Business
· Open Exchange of Information
· Not Fearful to Make Difficult Decisions
· Adaptability
· Integrity
· Innovation
· Teamwork
· Initiative
· Drive for Results
· Know the Business
· Open Exchange of Information
· Not Fearful to Make Difficult Decisions
Your Questions
· Training programmes
· Career development opportunities
· Types of projects & responsibilities
· Reporting structure
· Performance appraisal
· Profile of the actual job being offered
· Questions about topics raised in interview
· What happens next?
· Training programmes
· Career development opportunities
· Types of projects & responsibilities
· Reporting structure
· Performance appraisal
· Profile of the actual job being offered
· Questions about topics raised in interview
· What happens next?
What the Interview Rating Scale Might Look Like
· Rating: 0-5; 0=no response; 5=excellent
· Selection Criteria
· Intelligence - Academic performance, Questions
· Responsibility - Work roles, external activities
· Appearance & poise - First impressions
· Interpersonal all relations - Interests, team-roles
· Integrity - no inconsistencies
· Self-confidence - Relaxed manner, responsible
· Communication skills - Articulate, coherent, grammar, responsive
· Interests - External interests, involvement
· Leadership potential - Elective offices, initiative
· Interviewing skills - Logical thinking, knows priorities
· Rating: 0-5; 0=no response; 5=excellent
· Selection Criteria
· Intelligence - Academic performance, Questions
· Responsibility - Work roles, external activities
· Appearance & poise - First impressions
· Interpersonal all relations - Interests, team-roles
· Integrity - no inconsistencies
· Self-confidence - Relaxed manner, responsible
· Communication skills - Articulate, coherent, grammar, responsive
· Interests - External interests, involvement
· Leadership potential - Elective offices, initiative
· Interviewing skills - Logical thinking, knows priorities
Why Creates a Bad Impression?
· Unprepared for questions
· Poor command of language (BM, English)
· Poor personal grooming / appearance
· Negative attitude (evasive, using excuses)
· Lack of interest and enthusiasm
· Lack of preparation
· Poor knowledge of role
· Failure to give concrete examples of skills
· Over emphasis on money/rewards
· Lack of career plan
· Bad body odour
· Unprepared for questions
· Poor command of language (BM, English)
· Poor personal grooming / appearance
· Negative attitude (evasive, using excuses)
· Lack of interest and enthusiasm
· Lack of preparation
· Poor knowledge of role
· Failure to give concrete examples of skills
· Over emphasis on money/rewards
· Lack of career plan
· Bad body odour
After the Interview
· Review own performance
· What went well
· What went badly
· What you wished you had said
· Prepare for the next stage
· Invitation to 2nd /Final Round of Interviews
· Assessment centre
· Psychometric testing
· Panel interview
· Rejection letter / Email
· If you can, request constructive feedback to improve yourself for the next opportunity
· Review own performance
· What went well
· What went badly
· What you wished you had said
· Prepare for the next stage
· Invitation to 2nd /Final Round of Interviews
· Assessment centre
· Psychometric testing
· Panel interview
· Rejection letter / Email
· If you can, request constructive feedback to improve yourself for the next opportunity
Telephone Interviews
· Prepare as thoroughly as for 'real' interview
· Select a comfortable, private and quiet place
· Advise family friends that you are expecting an interview phone call
· Have copy of CV and the company information
· Have a pen that works and paper at hand
· Prepare for the usual interview questions
· Practice on phone
· Record answers
· Try standing
· Smile and use gestures
· Avoid monotones
· Be yourself
· Prepare as thoroughly as for 'real' interview
· Select a comfortable, private and quiet place
· Advise family friends that you are expecting an interview phone call
· Have copy of CV and the company information
· Have a pen that works and paper at hand
· Prepare for the usual interview questions
· Practice on phone
· Record answers
· Try standing
· Smile and use gestures
· Avoid monotones
· Be yourself
Other Types Of Interviews
· Rotating
· Like one-to-one with different interviewers
· Group
· 6-8 candidate's
· Group observed while discussing topic
· Be aware of group interaction
· Panel
· 2-5 interviewer, include others through eye contact
· Try to identify different roles
Respond to interviewer, include others through eye contact
· May involve you doing a presentation
· Rotating
· Like one-to-one with different interviewers
· Group
· 6-8 candidate's
· Group observed while discussing topic
· Be aware of group interaction
· Panel
· 2-5 interviewer, include others through eye contact
· Try to identify different roles
Respond to interviewer, include others through eye contact
· May involve you doing a presentation
Assessment Centres
· Company premises or neutral venue
· Includes social or informal events
· Meeting with recent graduates or managers
· Activities include:
· Group exercises
· Practical tasks and exercises
· Report writing
· Oral Presentations
· Psychometric assessments
· Interviews
· Simulates real work environment
· Company premises or neutral venue
· Includes social or informal events
· Meeting with recent graduates or managers
· Activities include:
· Group exercises
· Practical tasks and exercises
· Report writing
· Oral Presentations
· Psychometric assessments
· Interviews
· Simulates real work environment
Psychometric Tests
· Aptitude Tests - measure skills relevant to position
· Verbal comprehension - evaluate logic of text
· Numerical reasoning - recognise patterns
· Diagrammatic reasoning - recognise patterns
· Watch timing - complete as many as possible
· Aptitude Tests - measure skills relevant to position
· Verbal comprehension - evaluate logic of text
· Numerical reasoning - recognise patterns
· Diagrammatic reasoning - recognise patterns
· Watch timing - complete as many as possible
· Personality Questionnaires
· Look at personality style
· No right or wrong answers
· Be spontaneous, don't try to second guess
· Tests include built-in checks
· Employer's may be looking for different personality profiles
· Practice using online tests on www.ul.ie/careers
· Look at personality style
· No right or wrong answers
· Be spontaneous, don't try to second guess
· Tests include built-in checks
· Employer's may be looking for different personality profiles
· Practice using online tests on www.ul.ie/careers
Web Resources for Interviewers
· UL Career website: www.ul.ie/careers
· Gradireland website: www.Graceland.com
· Careers4graduates: www.careers4graduates.org
· Doctor Job: www.doctoring.com (Virtual Interview)
· Prospects: www.prospects.ac.uk
· Real-world: www.realworldmagazine.com
· Virtual Career Coach: www.windmillsprogramme.com
· BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/work
· UL Career website: www.ul.ie/careers
· Gradireland website: www.Graceland.com
· Careers4graduates: www.careers4graduates.org
· Doctor Job: www.doctoring.com (Virtual Interview)
· Prospects: www.prospects.ac.uk
· Real-world: www.realworldmagazine.com
· Virtual Career Coach: www.windmillsprogramme.com
· BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/work
Questions Please
Thank You & We Wish You All the Best with Your Future Employment
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