University:
Kentucky State University
Course:
BUA 204 | Business Communication
Academic year:

2020
Views:

319

Pages:

22
Author:

Athena Harrison

Interviews Skills Lecture 6 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 Preparation for the interview – Review own skills, experiences 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 organization or sector • Relevant articles in the press • Personal visit or telephone call – Research job and occupational area • Job description – or similar • Current issues – Prepare your questions – Practice Watch for the first impression ✶ First impressions very powerful ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ – Halo effect or Devil effect Allow time to relax Dress appropriately Entrance, introductions & handshake Smile and make eye contact Be aware of own movements Watch body language of interviewer Typical questions ✶ About you – Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV? – Why did you 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 organization? – 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 XXX company bid for Desert road? Other types of questions ✶ “What if” Questions – 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? – 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. Preparing for competency interviews ✶ Identify the competencies required for job ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ – Review job description or ask for information Define each competency in behavioural terms Identify past experience to illustrate how you demonstrated that behaviour Prepare examples for each competency Practice talking about your experience Try to give a complete answer Responding to competency questions ✶ Q Give me an example of a problem you encountered. How did you approach it. What was the outcome? ✶ Response – Describe the situation – Explain the task/problem that arose – What action did you take? – What was the result or outcome? – What did you learn from this experience? Matching your skills requirements Employer needs Your evidence • Communication • Team work • Leadership • Initiative • Customer Care • IT • Commercial awareness Presentation to class Example from your class work Class representative, Committee Fundraising for charity Working experience 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 brief 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 employers 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 Competencies required by any company ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Adaptability Integrity Innovation Teamwork Initiative Drive for Results Know the Business Open Exchange of Information Makes Difficult Decisions Your questions ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Training programmes Career development opportunities Types of projects & responsibilities Reporting structure Performance appraisal Profile of staff Questions about topics raised in interview What happens next? Interview marking sheet (Example) Name Ghost Communication Skills Max 30 Problem Solving Max 20 Team Fit Max 20 Relevant Experience Max 20 Project Management Max 10 Total Marks Max 100 Interview rating scale ✶ Rating: 0-5; 0=no response; 5=excellent ✶ Selection Criteria – – – – – – – – – – Intelligence – Academic performance, Questions Responsibility – Work roles, external activities Appearance & poise – First impressions Interpersonal 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 What creates a bad impression ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Poor personal appearance Negative attitude – evasive (go around the bush), 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 After the interview • Review own performance 1. what went well 2. what went badly 3. what you wished you had said 4. prepare for next stage • Invitation to second / final round interviews 1. assessment centre 2. psychometric testing 3. panel interview • Rejection letter / email o if you can request feedback - use it Telephone interviews ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Prepare as thoroughly as for ‘real’ interview Select comfortable, private, quiet place Have copy of CV and company information Have pen and paper at hand Prepare for 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 candidates – Group observed while discussing topic – Be aware of group interaction ✶ Panel – 2-5 interviewers, or as many as 13!! – Try to identify different roles – Respond to interviewer, include others through eye contact – May involve presentation Assessment centers ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ 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 - interpret statistical data – Diagrammatic reasoning - recognize 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 – Employers may be looking for different personality profiles ✶ Practice using online tests

Interviews Skills Lecture 6

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