Learning Objective: Examine and practice the skillset of delivering a great interview Job interviews are stressful enough without having to establish a positive and professional self-representation during the interview process. Recruiters are looking for the ideal candidate while you are trying to come across as friendly and trustworthy while explaining how you’re the perfect candidate, so practice makes perfect. The competition is tough, so it’s no wonder your confidence should be your focus. That’s why you need to be in this seminar. We will deliver practical, step-by-step, proven strategies and interview tips to help you build confidence, become persuasive, and walk into a room locked and loaded, ready to formulate impressive answers to common interview questions. Along with the answers and swagger to pull it off, we will give you the opportunity to perfect your skills before your interview. This session will begin with the knowledge of how to impress recruiters, while the second half will pull it all together in the practice mock interview sessions. Remember, practice makes perfect. You will have the opportunity to sit face to face with professional interviewers in order to prepare effectively for your real interviews. At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to answer these questions: a. What are the common interview questions and how do I prepare my answers? b. What information do I need to know for every interview? c. How do I answer difficult questions? d. What are good questions to ask my interviewer? e. How do I answer “So tell me about yourself’? f. What do I do after the interview? g. What are common interview mistakes? h. What does my body language say about me? i. What information do I need to know before I have my interview? j. How can I ace my interview from beginning to end? k. What can I do after the interview to gain an edge on the competition?

1. Interview
Success!
Practical Approaches to Persuading
the Recruiter

2. • What are common interview questions and how do I prepare my
answers?
• What information do I need to know for every interview?
• How do I answer difficult questions?
• What are good questions to ask my interviewer?
• How do I answer the question: “So tell me about yourself?”
• What do I do after the interview?
• What are some common interview mistakes?
Workshop Objectives

3. Module 1:
What Are The Common
Interview Questions And
How Do I Prepare My
Answers?

4. Interviewers often ask a question that starts with the phrase: “Tell
me about a time when….” Here are some examples:
Tell me about a time when:
- You had to deal with an angry or irate customer
- You had to come up with a solution to solve a problem your
company was facing
- You had to juggle your priorities to meet a deadline
- You had to work with a difficult co-worker
“Tell Me About a Time
When…”

5. • Create a list of examples and skills you
can mentally refer back to
• Pick examples that have a positive
outcome
• Be specific
• Focus your response on the process you
used and the resulting outcome
Tips For Answering
Questions Starting With
“Tell Me About a Time
When…”
WB p43

6. • Why do you want this job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your strengths and
weaknesses?
• What is your greatest professional
achievement?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• What are your career goals?
Other Common Interview
Questions
WB p43

7. • What motivates you?
• Have you worked with someone you didn’t like? How did you
handle the situation?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• What are your hours of availability?
• Do you have any questions for us?
Other Common Interview
Questions WB p43

8. • Do your homework
• Be positive
• Prepare a list of questions you are likely to be asked
• Clearly identify what the organization’s needs are
• Practice by interviewing yourself for the position
• Learn from previous interviews
Tips For Answering
Common Interview
Questions

9. Module 2:
What Information Do I
Need To Know For
Every Interview?

10. Information you should know going into any interview:
• The name of the company
• Detailed information about the position you are interviewing
for
• The names of the people conducting the interview
• The company’s culture, mission, and values
Planning For The
Interview

11. • Gather as much information about the company as possible
• Familiarize yourself with the company’s website
• Check for news articles about the company
• Understand the different types of questions you may be asked
• Know your resume and/or portfolio so you can answer
questions if needed
How To Plan For The
Interview WB p44

12. Module 3:
How Do I
Answer Difficult
Questions?

13. • What is your greatest weakness?
• Why is there a gap in your employment history?
• Why didn’t you leave your old job sooner if you weren’t happy
with the company?
• Have you ever been fired from a job?
Examples of Difficult
Questions
WB p44

14. • What is your dream job?
• What didn’t you like about your old job?
• If you were hiring someone for this position, what qualities
would you look for?
• Why weren’t you ever promoted at your old job?
Examples of Difficult
Questions
WB p45

15. • Keep it positive, even when discussing your weaknesses
• Be honest
• Keep the focus on your strengths
• Don’t trash your old job/boss
• Try to connect your responses to the job you are seeking
• Highlight your successes
• Discuss plans for personal improvement
Tips For Responding to
Difficult Interview
Questions

16. Module 4:
What Are Good
Questions to Ask
Your Interviewer?

17. You should always prepare a list of questions to ask the
person/people interviewing you. This shows that you have done
your research and you are very interested in working for the
company.
What Ask Questions to
Your Interviewer?

18. • What skills and experiences would make an ideal candidate?
• What kind of training would be provided for a new person
coming into this role?
• How does this role relate to the overall structure of the
organization?
• What have you enjoyed most about working here?
Some Common
Questions
to Ask the Interviewer
WB p46

19. • What would you say are the biggest challenges for this
industry?
• What would be some of the first projects for a new person
coming into this role?
• What is staff turnover like for this position? What about the
organization as a whole?
• What area of business needs the most attention?
Some Common
Questions
to Ask the Interviewer
WB p47

20. If you are having trouble finding a way to ask questions, you can
use one of the following lead-ins:
• “I found an article on your website that talked about….”
• “When I read your annual report I noticed that…”
• “ I see that your company is planning on ________. Can you
tell me about that?”
Tips on Framing Your
Questions to the
Interviewer
WB p47

21. Module 5:
How Do I Answer
The Question,
“Tell Me About
Yourself?

22. Interviewers often ask you to tell them about yourself.
Interviewers like this questions because it is open-ended and
unstructured. This requires the job candidate to determine
what information is important enough to share. Additionally,
the interviewer likely wants to know how articulate and
confident you are.
“Tell Me About Yourself”WB p47

23. • Prepare a script for this question
• Avoid revealing too much personal information – keep it
professional
• Talk about where you are right now, then about your past
experiences, then about where you want to be in the future
• Focus on your professional strengths and accomplishments
“Tell Me About Yourself”
– Tips to Help You
Respond

24. • Be confident and articulate
• Keep your answer brief; they don’t want your entire life
story
• Include your educational background
• Get their attention with your response
• Practice!
“Tell Me About Yourself”
– Tips to Help You
Respond

25. Module 6:
What Do I Do
After the
Interview?

26. • Send a formal thank you note to the company that
interviewed you
• Follow up with the company if you do not receive any
response after a reasonable amount of time
• Be prepared for a second interview or pre-employment
testing
• Don’t resign from your current position until you receive a
formal offer
After the Interview

27. If You Get the Job
• Negotiate your
salary before you
sign a formal offer
• Determine your
starting date and
time
If You Don’t Get the Job
• Ask for feedback
• Write down the
feedback so you can
refer to back to it
for future
interviews
After the Interview

28. Module 7:
What Are Some
Common
Interview
Mistakes?

29. • Arrive early
• Be enthusiastic
• Be professional and courteous
• Dress appropriately
• Keep the focus on the employer’s needs
• Have a copy of your resume and/or portfolio on hand
Tips to Avoid Common
Interview Mistakes

30. • Familiarize yourself with the company
• Use a strong handshake
• Be aware of your body language
• Maintain good eye contact
• Use a strong and confident voice
• Say “thank you” at the end of the interview
Tips to Avoid Common
Interview Mistakes

31. • What are the common interview questions and how do I
prepare my answers?
• What information do I need to know for every interview?
• How do I answer difficult questions?
• What are good questions to ask my interviewer?
• How do I answer the question: “So tell me about yourself?”
• What do I do after the interview?
• What are some common interview mistakes?
Review: Workshop
Objectives
WB p50