Chapter 8:  Job Interviewing Skills

Don’t Go to an Interview Like This!

The suit I’m wearing is a Pac-man suit (if you magnify it you can see all the Pac-men and ghosts) that I wore for Halloween a few years ago.  Wearing a suit or some level of professional looking dress is an important step when it comes to preparing for an interview.  Another bonus is that it helps boost confidence.  The more confident we feel, the better we tend to interview.  What are some of the best dressing tips when it comes to interviews?  This video I found helpful

At College of DuPage, we have a wonderful Career Services Center. Their website https://cod.edu/careerservices   Check it out! Here is a helpful video about them:

Communication Exercise:  Practicing Interview Questions

One of the best ways to get better at interviewing skills is to practice answering questions.  Here are some helpful basic ones that come out in most any interview:

1. Tell me about yourself
2. Tell me about your strengths and what you’re good at
3. Tell me how a previous employer or past instructor would describe yourself
4. Tell me what you think you could improve upon about yourself
5. Tell me where you see yourself in five years

Here are some more advanced ones you may see depending on the position you are interviewing for:

1. Why do you want to leave your current company?
2. Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?
3. What can you offer us that someone else can not?
4. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?
5. Are you willing to relocate?
6. Are you willing to travel?
7. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
8. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
9. What is your dream job?
10. How did you hear about this position?
11. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
12. Discuss your resume.
13. Discuss your educational background.
14. Describe yourself.
15. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.
16. Why should we hire you?
17. Why are you looking for a new job?
18. Would you work holidays/weekends?
19. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
20. What are your salary requirements?
21. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.
22. Who are our competitors?
23. What was your biggest failure?
24. What motivates you?
25. What’s your availability?
26. Who’s your mentor?
27. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.
28. How do you handle pressure?
29. What is the name of our CEO?
30. What are your career goals?
31. What gets you up in the morning?
32. What would your direct reports say about you?
33. What were your bosses’ strengths/weaknesses?
34. If I called your boss right now & asked what is an area that you could improve on, what would they say?
35. Are you a leader or a follower?
36. What was the last book you’ve read for fun?
37. What are your co-worker pet peeves?
38. What are your hobbies?
39. What is your favorite website?
40. What makes you uncomfortable?
41. What are some of your leadership experiences?
42. How would you fire someone?
43. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?
44. Would you work 40+ hours a week?
45. What questions haven’t I asked you?
46. What questions do you have for me?

Do all of the first five most common questions and then choose 5 more from the second list and practice doing them with a partner.  Then switch off and do the same with them reversing roles.  Give each other feedback.  How did you each do?

Building a Resume

Now what about a resume.  Do you have one?  How about trying to make one out?  Below is a nice video from Melissa Schertz of COD’s own Career Services on how to do so.

Communication Exercise:  Sharing your Resume with Others

Just as you shared you practiced your interview skills with a partner, after you’ve created a resume share this with a partner as well and give each other feedback.

Worksheet #6

A new trend in interviewing is called Behavioral Interviewing.  In behavioral interviews, people are asked to give examples of different behaviors they have demonstrated in their past.  Take a look at each of the questions, and give an example of each.

1. Example of being flexible–
2. Example of having a good work ethic–
3. Example of being a leader (NOT necessarily being a manager)–
4. Example of being assertive–
5. Example of being a team player—