Career & Job Resources
presentation-linkedinforjobseekers-180418201714.pdf
Interview Expectations and Guidelines
Interview Preparation & Presentation Checklist:
Dress in neat, professional, appropriate clothing
Give yourself plenty of extra time to get to the interview location to account for any issues with the bus/traffic/ finding the location etc. Any extra time can be used to prepare yourself, read over notes, use the restroom. Check-in with a current employee or front desk staff about 5 minutes prior to the interview start time. It is unacceptable to arrive late to an interview.
Do research about the job and company before the interview.
Make sure you can talk about all of the items on your resume.
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. These should be questions that you can’t easily find the answer to online. Think about questions that would help you understand exactly what it is like to work there (daily tasks, work environment, management styles, etc).
Interview Content & Delivery Checklist:
Give the interviewer a firm handshake and smile, with eye contact at beginning and end of the interview.
Keep good eye contact with the interviewer throughout the interview.
Have a good reason for being interested in the job.
You can talk about skills that you have that are relevant to the job.
Bring up examples of times when you used those skills in previous work experiences or other contexts like school, extra-curricular activities or volunteering.
Answer all questions without saying “um” or “like” too much.
Be prepared to talk about your strengths and weaknesses.
Ask the interviewer thoughtful questions about the position or the company (remember, you should not ask questions that you can easily find the answer to online).
Send the interviewer a thank-you letter or email no later than one day after the interview.
Common Interview Questions
1. Tell me about yourself.
Be careful not to give the interviewer your life story here. You don't need to explain everything from birth to present day. Mention relevant facts about your education, previous work experience and future goals.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
Appropriate answers may include wanting to advance your career or an interest in the field. It's not a good idea to mention money here. If you were fired, you'll need a good explanation. Be sure to stay positive.
3. What you know about this company?
Research the company you are applying to before the interview. This will make you look prepared and interested in the company and the job.
4. Why do you want to work at our company?
Similar to the last question, do your research. Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career goals and why you admire the services or products they provide.
5. What relevant experience do you have?
Be sure to read the job description carefully. When reading, think about similar skills you have gained in your previous experience and mention these skills here.
6. If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you?
Think about the positive things they would say. Stay positive and consider having a few specific quotes in mind. "They'd say I was a hard worker because I always finish my work before a deadline."
7. How are you when you're working under pressure?
However you answer, always be positive! You may work well under pressure, you may thrive under pressure, and you may actually PREFER working under pressure. Don’t say you can’t handle it.
8. What motivates you to do a good job?
Do not say money! Appropriate answers include that you want to help people or that you get satisfaction from a job well done.
9. What's your greatest strength(s)?
Don’t be shy when describing your greatest strength. Remember the positive feedback your mentors and Employment Coordinator have given you and consider mentioning this. Remember the six core competencies: communication, collaboration, adaptability, productivity, responsibility/effort, and initiative. Give an example to support why you chose this strength.
10. What's your biggest weakness?
Choose your answer to this carefully. You should be honest in your answer but show that you understand that it is a weakness and that you are working to improve this. For example, “I am shy at first with coworkers, but I am working harder to get to know other people more quickly.”
11. Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for?
Before you apply, research the salary for a good idea of what someone with your specific experience should be paid. You should also think about how much you need to earn in order to support yourself and save for the future. Some employers are flexible with the amount they will offer you and some are not. Employers should not ask you what you currently make, but sometimes they will. You can avoid this by saying “I’m hoping to make…”
12. Are you good at working in a team?
Say YES to this one. It's the only answer. Then talk about a time when you worked on a successful team.
13. Describe a time you experienced conflict at work. How did you handle it?
This question is meant to see how you are as a communicator and a collaborator. Think of a time when a conflict came up at work and describe how you worked to resolve this issue. Employers want people who use their skills to think independently and solve problems.
14. What type of supervisor style are you interested in?
This is a good time to show you are flexible. In general, you should say that you are able to work in groups as well as independently. You should also mention that you are open to feedback from your supervisor in order to improve.
15. Why should I hire you?
This is a time to give the employer a list of your greatest talents that just so happen to match the job description. Focus on yourself, your talents and what you can bring to the employer.
16. Finally, do you have any questions to ask me?
This directly relates to the research you've done on the company and you should always be prepared to ask 3-5 questions. During the interview, the interviewer may answer the questions you have prepared. Sample questions could include asking about the day to day work of an employee or more details about a product or service. You should ALWAYS ask questions at the end of the interview.
References
Employers usually ask for references when they interview you. References are people who can tell a potential employer about your competencies. It is common to provide 2-3 references. Do not send reference information with your resume unless it has been specifically requested.
Who should you ask to be your references?
• Your mentor and Employment Coordinator know about your reliability, initiative, quickness to learn, and teamwork. This type of information is valuable, even if it was a totally different kind of job from the one you’re applying for.
• Teachers may know about your academic ability, productivity and timeliness, honesty, and how you interact with others.
• Advisors and coaches may also share relevant information about you — such as honesty, maturity, initiative, interpersonal skills or leadership qualities.
• Don't list references who only know you socially, unless you are asked for personal references. While family and friends may have nice things to say about you, employers don't place value on these kinds of references.
• Do not offer someone as a reference who would not speak about positively or who does not know you well. This is one of the critical reasons for asking permission from potential references in advance.
Getting permission from your references
• Contact your reference and get permission IN ADVANCE. It will not help you if a prospective employer calls or e-mails a person you have listed as a reference, only to find out the reference is surprised to be contacted.
• When you get permission, verify all details of your references' contact information and the best way to reach them.
• Give each person who agrees to serve as a reference for you a copy of your resume. This lets your references know about your interests, abilities and experiences.
• Tell your references about the employers to whom you’ve given their names. When possible, give them a copy of the job description for the positions for which you are applying. This helps your references be prepared to be contacted.
• DON'T view communicating with your references as bothering them. Communicating makes it easier for your references to help you.
Send your reference a thank you. Being a reference can be a big job, so you want to make sure your reference knows you are grateful for their time.
The format of each reference should be:
NamePosition and organization, company or schoolRelationship to youPhone numberEmail Address
For example:
Joy Wong’s References:
Sean TapleyExecutive Assistant, Department of Public WorksCurrent supervisor as an intern at the Department of Public WorksPhone: (510) 508-6054Email: sean.tapley@sfgov.org
David CooperEnglish Teacher, Mission High SchoolEnglish Teacher for AP EnglishPhone: (415) 737-3060Email: dcooper1970@gmail.comGreg Chiu Head Basketball Coach, Mission High SchoolBasketball coach for the past three yearsPhone: (415) 885-6527Email: coachchiu@gmail.com
First Day Job Tips
Before your first day:
Prepare a short list of questions about your specific jobs and office expectations.
Make sure you have a work-appropriate outgoing voice message, as well as a work-appropriate email address.
Do a practice run and go by your worksite to make sure you know how to get there and how long it takes.
On your first day:
Get there 5-10 minutes early.
Go in with a good attitude and an open mind.
Put your phone on silent before you walk in and get used to keeping it on silent while at work.
Introduce yourself first thing to your mentor/supervisor and other staff.
Use a firm handshake and eye contact when meeting adults for the first time.
Pay attention to your body language when making first impressions.
Speak clearly and speak up.
Be polite, yet assertive.
Ask your mentor/supervisor for the best way to contact them and save it in multiple places!
Figure out a regular schedule with your mentor/supervisor that you know you can stick to. Be realistic! Write this schedule out, save it, and post it at the workplace.
Ask your mentor/supervisor about workplace expectations like how to dress, when you can use your phone, and how much communication they expect.