Tài liệu Goof-Proof Interviews ppt

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INTERVIEWS
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INTERVIEWS
Felice Primeau Devine
N EW Y ORK
®
Copyright © 2003 Learning Express, LLC.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions.
Published in the United States by Learning Express, LLC, New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Devine, Felice Primeau.
Goof-proof interviews / Felice Primeau Devine. —1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57685-463-9 (paperback : alk. paper)
1. Employment interviewing. 2. Job hunting. I. Title.
HF5549.5.I6D48 2003
650.14—dc21
2002156255

Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
First Edition
ISBN 1-57685-463-9
For more information or to place an order, contact Learning Express at:
55 Broadway
8th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Or visit us at:
www.learnatest.com
Felice Primeau Devine is a writer from Albany, New York. She
has worked in publishing for more than ten years as an editor, pub-
licist, and brand director. She is the author of U.S. Citizenship: A
Step-by-Step Guide, and Pharmacy Technician Career Starter. She
has also authored three other books in the Goof-Proof Series: Goof-
Proof Grammar, Goof-Proof Spelling, and Goof-Proof Resumes and
Cover Letters. Ms. Devine is also the coauthor of Cosmetology
Career Starter, Second Edition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Introduction xi
SECTION ONE
The Goof-Up: Starting Off On the Wrong Foot 1
Rule #1: Be Easy to Schedule 2
Rule #2: Keep All the Scheduling Details Organized 3
Rule #3: Don’t Forget Your Manners 5
Rule #4: Schedule Your Interview with
Plenty of Time to Prepare 6
SECTION TWO
The Goof-Up: Being Unprepared 9

Rule #5: Research the Company 11
Rule #6: Use Your Network as You Research the Company 13
Rule #7: Practice Before Each and Every Interview 15
Rule #8: Choose the Right Thing to Wear 17
CONTENTS
viii
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INTERVIEWS
Rule #9: Make the 12 Hours before the Interview Count 20
Rule #10: First Impressions Are Important 22
Rule #11: Show up on Time 23
SECTION THREE
The Goof-Up: Right Information,
Wrong Interview Format 25
Rule #12: The Informational or Networking Interview 27
Rule #13: The Human Resources Screening Interview 31
Rule #14: The One-on-One Interview 33
Rule #15: The Repeat Performance Interview 36
Rule #16: The Group Interview 38
Rule #17: The Campus or Job Fair Interview 41
Rule #18: The Panel Interview 43
Rule #19: The Second Interview 45
Rule #20: The Off-Site Interview 46
Rule #21: The Phone Interview 48
SECTION FOUR
The Top Ten Interview Goof-Ups . . .
And How to Avoid Them 51
Rule #22: Be Prepared to Describe Your
Experiences in a Compelling Manner 52
Rule #23: Control Your Nervous Habits 54

Rule #24: Tell the Truth 56
Rule #25: Answer Every Question Asked 58
Rule #26: Sell Yourself as You Answer Questions 59
Rule #27: Don’t Speak Ill of, or Belittle
Past Job Experiences 62
Rule #28: Ask Questions about the Company 64
Rule #29: Prepare a List of References 66
Rule #30: Know Your Interview Etiquette 68
Rule #31: Avoid Engaging in Inappropriate Behavior 70
SECTION FIVE
The Ten Most Common Interview Questions. . .
And How to Give a Goof-Proof Answer 71
Rule #32: Tell Me about Yourself 73
Rule #33: How Would the Company Benefit
by Hiring You? 75
Rule #34: What Are You Looking to Achieve
in Your Next Position? 77
Rule #35: Tell Me about a Failure in Your Career 79
Rule #36: What Is the Most Difficult Thing
You Have Ever Accomplished? 81
Rule #37: What Are Your Strengths? 83
Rule #38: What Are Your Weaknesses? 85
Rule #39: Why Have You Chosen This Career Path? 87
Rule #40: Where Do You See Yourself
Five Years from Now? 89
Rule #41: Being Idealistic: What Is the Ideal Company
for You? The Ideal Job? The Ideal Boss? 93
SECTION SIX
The Goof-Up: Failing to Follow Through 97
Rule #42: Always Send a Thank-You Letter 99

Rule #43: Carefully Evaluate the Job Offer 101
Rule #44: Negotiating Tips 104
Rule #45: When and How to Say Yes to the Job Offer 107
Rule #46: Get All the Answers before
Signing on the Dotted Line 109
Rule #47: How to Say No to a Job Offer 111
contents
ix
SECTION SEVEN: RESOURCES 113
Appendix A
Salary and Benefits Considerations 113
Appendix B
Effective Action Words and Power Phrases 116
Appendix C
Online and Print Resources 118
x
goof-proof
INTERVIEWS
You have got your foot in the door by composing
the perfect resume and cover letter—now what? You must begin
to prepare for a goof-proof interview experience. Adequate inter-
view preparation begins long before the day of the interview.
Goof-Proof Interviews will show you all the pieces that make up
the perfect interview, which will help you secure the job you are
reaching for.
Excellent interview techniques, tips, and strategies are tackled
one by one in Goof-Proof Interviews. In this book, you will uncover
the Goof-Proof Rules that will lead you to goof-free interview
experiences. Understanding precisely how to answer questions to
impress your interviewer as well as the logic behind the question

is key to your success. In addition, you will learn how to spin your
experiences into the right words to get the right reaction.
●
HOW THE GOOF-PROOF METHOD WORKS
●
The 47 Goof-Proof Rules are presented in Goof-Up form. You
will read about a common mistake, then learn how to Goof-Proof
INTRODUCTION
yourself, or avoid the mistake. Goof-Proof Interviews covers all the
essential areas for successful interview situation, such as:
• preparing for your job interview.
• conducting yourself professionally during any interview situ-
ation.
• taking the necessary steps before, during, and after each and
every interview.
• becoming the candidate they want to hire.
• evaluating a job offer and determining whether to accept or
reject it, based on your personal criteria.
In addition to the skills needed to fill a specific position, most
employers look for positive character traits, such as honesty,
enthusiasm, leadership ability, and the ability to communicate
well verbally and in writing. It will be during the interview that
the employer will be looking for you to demonstrate these and
other qualities. The Goof-Proof method will instruct you on how
to highlight these traits along with your job-related skills.
The book is divided into seven sections, each with a different
interview perspective:
• Section One: Explains the do’s and don’ts as you gather the
necessary information up to your initial scheduling contact.
• Section Two: Teaches you the importance of preparation,

covers researching the company, using your network as a
researching tool, practicing your responses and questions,
choosing your outfit, grooming concerns, and more.
• Section Three: Explains the different interview types, goes
over the most common interview scenarios and how to con-
duct yourself in each: Human Resources (HR) screening, one-
on-one format, second, group, campus, job fair, panel, lunch,
and phone interviews.
• Section Four: Takes you through the conventional steps in
the actual interview situation, from casual conversation to
questions, responses, etiquette, common mistakes to avoid,
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INTERVIEWS
Introduction
xiii
combating nervous habits, to asking the interviewers the kinds
of questions that show you are paying attention.
• Section Five: Lays out all the most important questions you
will be asked in an interview, with sample answers to the
most common questions asked in an interview. This section
will have you prepared for any question an interview will
throw your way.
• Section Six: Guides you through the in’s and out’s of leaving
a lasting impression that will get you asked back for future
interviews, as well as tips on negotiating job offers, and the
right way to accept and reject them.
• Section Seven: Appendix A: Lists where you can find up-to-
date information on salary and benefits. Appendix B: Lists
power words and phrases to use in interview conversations.

Appendix C: Puts the best print and online interviewing
resources at your fingertips.
As you practice with this book, keep this in mind: Interviewing
takes up a lot of the interviewer’s time. Smart hiring managers go
into each interview hoping to find the right candidate. When it is
your turn, the hiring manager is hoping it’s you. He or she wants
you to succeed, if for no other reason than that it’s one more item
to cross off on the never-ending to-do list. Make that hire be you
by following the Goof-Proof Rules.
After using this book and mastering the Goof-Proof Rules, you
will be able to interview with ease, get the job you are reaching
toward, and embark on a successful career path.
Ready to goof-proof your interviews? Good. Then let’s get
started.
goof-proof
INTERVIEWS
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your eval-
uation begins when you walk into your interview. From the
moment you are asked to meet with a potential employer, you
should consider yourself on the hot seat. This section outlines the
four simple and effective methods used by all successful inter-
viewees for proper pre-interview preparation and actions:
1. being easy to schedule
2. keeping your scheduling details organized
3. remembering your manners
4. scheduling your interview with plenty of time to prepare
Learning the following Goof-Proof Rules is the best way to get
yourself started on the right foot toward a successful interview.

section
ONE
THE GOOF-UP:
STARTING OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT
RULE #1: Be Easy to Schedule
Always try your best to accommodate the interviewer’s schedule.
●
GOOF-PROOF IT!
●
Your “#1” priority for your initial phone conversation with the
interviewer is to schedule a convenient day and time for the inter-
view. The interviewer, or his or her assistant, will likely start off
the scheduling chat with a date. Try to be flexible. If she says next
Thursday at 3:00
P.M., and that’s when your weekly staff meeting
takes place, counter with a better time for you, such as next
Thursday at lunch time. However, watch your phrasing. Don’t be
too precise, such as, “next Thursday at 12:15;” keep “lunchtime”
open to his or her interpretation.
Likewise, if before 9:00
A.M. is the best time for you, go ahead
and say so, but if the interviewer doesn’t accommodate that time
slot, offer another one, such as during your lunch hour or after
5:00
P.M.
●
GOOF-PROOF RULE OF THUMB
●
Never simply respond in the negative; always suggest an alterna-
tive date and time. Remember, many candidates are suitable to fill

any given position in this job market. To secure a meeting, be
easy to schedule and you will already have a point in your favor.
●
Goof-Proof Your Dialogue
Wrong: Um, 3:00 P.M. is no good.
Wrong: I can’t make it.
Wrong: Jeez, that’s my kickboxing class time, and I always spend my lunch
hour in that class on Mondays.
Right: Sorry, I have a staff meeting at that time. How does a bit earlier in
the day work for you? I can come in around lunchtime.
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RULE #2: Keep All the Scheduling Details
Organized
Always wrap up your conversation by confirming the date, time,
place, name to ask for, and items to bring to the interview.
●
GOOF-PROOF IT!
●
Sometimes, when interviewers or their assistants call, one can get
caught off-guard. A person can be so excited, thrilled, or nervous
about getting called for an interview that he or she can forget or
misunderstand the particulars. Don’t let this happen to you. First,
pause and collect yourself. Then, thank the person on the other
end of the phone line for calling, and ask for a moment to grab
a pen and paper along with your planner or personal digital assis-
tant (PDA).
●
GOOF-PROOF CHECKLIST

●
Here is a list of information you need to get during the initial
interview call:
• the name of person conducting the interview (along with title)
• the exact position for which you are interviewing
• the location of the interview
• directions to the location
• the name of the person (such as the executive assistant or
human resources representative) to ask for at the interview
location, as well as that person’s phone number and extension
• what additional materials, if any, to bring (such as a portfo-
lio, sample, or reel)
At the end of the conversation, it is essential to do two things:
• Confirm date, time, place, and materials to bring.
• Say “thank you.”
Starting Off on the Wrong Foot
3
●
GOOF-PROOF RULE OF THUMB
●
If you have more than one interview commitment in a single day,
make sure you leave plenty of time to travel in between appoint-
ments. Always allow ample time for traffic, parking, or delays with
public transportation.
●
Goof-Proof Your Dialogue
Wrong: Uh, okay, see you then. [Click.]
Wrong: Thanks. Bye.
Wrong: I hope to see you then. Ciao.
Right: Next Thursday, November fourteenth at 12:30 sounds perfect. I will

see you at Milford Corporate Park in Human Resources reception, and
I will bring my portfolio. Thanks again. Good-bye.
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INTERVIEWS
RULE #3: Don’t Forget Your Manners
Always be polite to everyone you speak with over the phone or
encounter in person.
●
GOOF-PROOF IT!
●
You never know who will have input in the hiring decision, so
why risk your future by using bad manners? Often, when a poten-
tial employer or human resources representative calls you to talk
about setting up an interview, he or she also is getting a sense of
your personality over the phone.
Ask yourself:
• Are you friendly? Enthusiastic? Clear?
• Are you flustered? Somber? Hard to understand?
• Are you brusque? Rude? Ambiguous in your replies?
●
GOOF-PROOF RULE OF THUMB
●
You can have terrific qualifications, but if you are a poor com-
municator or unfriendly, you automatically lower your chances for
being hired.
●
Goof-Proof Your Dialogue
Wrong: Yeah, I can come in sometime next week, I guess.
Wrong: Who? Oh, right. The marketing job. Uh, I’m not sure what my

day looks like on Tuesday. Where’s my Palm Pilot™? Let me call you
back. . . .
Wrong: Smrrrring. Bhaah . . . [inaudible or mumbled responses]
Right: Thank you for calling, Mr. Peterson. I am very interested in meeting
with you to discuss the open position in the marketing department.
Starting Off on the Wrong Foot
5
RULE #4: Schedule Your Interview with Plenty
of Time to Prepare
Always avoid scheduling an interview for the same day that you
are invited in for that interview. Allow yourself at least one day, or
preferably two, to prepare and do your research.
●
GOOF-PROOF IT!
●
The reaction you hoped for has happened—a great company is
calling you in for an interview. This could be your dream job. You
can’t wait. You want to go down there right now and get the inter-
view process started. Don’t give in to your impulses. Even though
you are anxious to meet and impress them with your winning
personality and fantastic experience, make sure you give yourself
ample time to do the necessary research prior to meeting in-person
for the interview. You may know enough about the company to
know that the position interests you, but before the interview, you
should conduct additional research on the company so that you can
engage in general conversation about this potential employer.
Check the company’s website, go to the library and look at the
company’s annual report, familiarize yourself with their product
line, or ask people in your network what they know about the
company. The effort you give during the days leading up to the

interview is well worth it.
Perhaps you are level-headed during the call, and know that
you need a couple of days to get prepared, but the human
resources representative or recruiter is really pushing you to come
in right away, as in this evening, after work. Don’t get pushed
around. Politely, yet firmly, convey that you are unavailable this
evening, but you would be happy to schedule the interview for
tomorrow evening or any time the following day.
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●
GOOF-PROOF RULE OF THUMB
●
Remain in control of the scheduling, while maintaining a calm and
polite demeanor and a clear communication style. Avoid slang
and informality.
●
Goof-Proof Your Dialogue
Wrong: Wow! Thanks for calling me, Ms. Hanson! I can come in this after-
noon!
Wrong: Um, gee, Ms. Hanson, this afternoon is kinda fast. Plus, I’m wear-
ing jeans. Well, OK, since you put it that way . . . I can leave work at 4:30
and see you at 5:00.
Right: Ms. Hanson, thank you so much for inviting me to come in for an
interview. Unfortunately, I am unavailable today, but I would be happy
to come in after business hours tomorrow. Does around 5:30 work for
you?
Starting Off on the Wrong Foot
7