Interview 101(1) PDF

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INTERVIEW 101 Your interview preparation is an opportunity to further influence the hiring process in your favor.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW Self-assessment  Define your transferable skills, personal attributes, work values, and future goals.  If you don’t know the product (you), selling it is difficult.  Why are you interested in this position? How do your experiences and qualifications fit the requirements of the job? Be able to discuss your experience and what you can bring to the position. Write down your accomplishments and prepare concrete examples as evidence.  Prepare yourself to answer the all-important questions: “Tell me about yourself” & “Why are you interested in this position?”  Know your resume by heart, know your range of experience.  Make the connection between your qualifications and the role clear for the interviewer. Make it easy for them to see you in the position and invite you back. Research the employer  Visit their website to gain an understanding of the clients they serve, their products/services, culture, competitors (if applicable), and other key information.  Search for news articles and publications about the organization.  Use Google, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Reuters.  Identify people in your network that work at the company/organization in order to gain first-hand information about the organization and the position.  The interview is as much about their needs as yours. The research and the interview will help you to determine if this is the best fit for you. Research the interviewers  When you are contacted about an interview you may be given the names of the individual(s) you will interview with. If you are not given their names, it is appropriate to ask whom you will be meeting with.  It is helpful to know the background of the interviewers and prepare appropriate questions to ask them. Research their background using:  Company website  LinkedIn  Google

Graduate and Professional School Interviews Research the college or university and the specific program you’re applying to. Familiarize yourself with the mission statement of the institution and the mission of the academic department. Carefully prepare your application materials, including your resume and personal statement. Seek feedback on your writing from the Career Services, faculty members, and the Writing Center. Be sure to share your reasons for choosing the graduate program and the university. Discuss your areas of interest for research; know the research studies and projects of the faculty members in your department and ask about research opportunities. Be ready to answer questions about your career goals, their relevance to the graduate degree, and how your background adds to the student body. Prepare questions to ask that will help you determine if the program will meet your objectives.

_________________________________________________________________________________________ Career Services [email protected] Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 617-274-3395

Research the job  Analyze the job description and connect your experiences, skills, and interests to the job.  Know the salary range for the position so that you can better negotiate when you have an offer. See The Salary Question below for more information. The Salary Question  Do not ask the salary for the position until you are offered the position.  You may be asked your salary range during a screening interview. Ahead of time you should research the salary range for the geographic location. For U.S. cost of living: https://www.bestplaces.net/costof-living/  Ask questions about benefits including vacation, personal, and sick, time, tuition reimbursement, retirement plans, health insurance, stock options, etc.  You can ask if there is flexibility in the salary but be realistic as most entry-level jobs do not have much room for negotiation.  Go to mcphs.blackboard.com > Career Services tab > Job Search Resources > Salary Information for a list of salary research sites Prepare your References  References should be on a separate document with your contact information formatted identically to your resume.  Include the name, title, organization, address, phone number, and e-mail of each reference. It is helpful to provide how the reference person knows you.  Make sure that you ask permission before including someone as a reference. Ask your potential references if they are able to provide you with a positive reference.  Update them on your progress. Send them a copy of the job description, cover letter, resume for any positon you interview for so they can prepare what to say if called.

INTERVIEW

Need a quiet space for an interview?

Types of Interviews There are various interview formats and sometimes the interview process may involve multiple interviews and multiple types of interviews. In addition to asking whom you will be meeting with, it is acceptable to ask the format of the interview, list of people you will meet with, and the length of the interview.

When possible, the Career Services can offer office space with a phone that you can use for interviews. For Skype/ HireVue interviews you must have your own computer, tablet, or cell phone.

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Screening: Often the initial interview is conducted by phone, Zoom, Skype, or pre-assessment tools like HireVue. The purpose is to screen candidates in or out of further interviews. Applicants may be asked questions about their interest in the position, applicable experience, and salary requirements. This is the opportunity to demonstrate your ability and to be invited to an in-person interview. o Make sure that you are in a quiet place where you can focus and that has good cell or WIFI reception. If technology is involved, test your sound, webcam, microphone in advance. o HireVue, online screening: Talent acquisition departments and recruiters are increasingly using technology for pre-hire assessment. Preparation ideas: https://www.hirevue.com/candidates/interview-tips o Skype or Zoom: This can be an initial screening interview or because of distance, the entire interview process may be conducted using virtual tools. Tips for conducting a Skype interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQwanxQmFnc

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Career Services [email protected] Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 617-274-3395

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Telephone or Video Conferencing: This is similar to the screening interview but generally more in-depth. o Have a copy of your resume and the job description in front of you with notes about your skills and experience and how it relates to the position. o If using Zoom or other video meeting tools, be sure to have the instructions and log into the meeting on time. Like using Skype, make sure you and space behind you appear professional. In Person: When possible, employers would like to meet and form an impression of who you are, your qualifications, communication skills, and the fit within the team. Check out the Interview Rubric at the end of this guide for what hiring managers consider in interviews. Panel/Group: Since many offices work as part of a team, offices often want several staff members to participate in the hiring process. This allows staff to offer insight on the role and the capabilities of each candidate. Be prepared to answer questions from each person and when answering, make eye contact with everyone. Lunch/Dinner: In this situation you will be having a meal with one or more members of the office. Although you are in a less formal setting, you are still interviewing. The hiring manager would like to see if you socially fit in the team. It is important to be aware of body language, stories or discussions that are inappropriate, and don’t drink alcohol, even if the interviewers are drinking.

Types of Interview Questions  Traditional: This type of interview involves broad and general questions and is the opportunity to sell yourself and your qualifications. The interviewer asks open-ended questions in order to learn specific information.  Behavior-based: The format of this interview encourages you to talk about how you dealt with past experiences, since past behavior is the best predictor of future performance. Prepare a few examples to showcase your background and its relevance to the role. o Designed to ask questions about a candidate’s past performance - “Describe a time when...” or “Give me an example ...,” o Interviewers wants specific details and examples of your experience. The answers should give information on the impact of your experience. Questions to Ask the Employer Prepare to ask questions and demonstrate your level of interest in the position.  Develop questions based on your research of the company and the position. Don’t ask questions that are easily found on the company web site.  Prepare ten questions and write them down  Examples of questions might include: o Can you describe a typical day? o To whom would I report? What is their supervisory style? o What are the strategic priorities of the team this fiscal year? Practice, Practice, Practice Interviewing takes practice. You can:  Review “Interview Questions Everyone Should Know” How-to Guide from Career Services Blackboard.  Record yourself using your phone, practice verbalizing your qualifications and accomplishments.  Use Big Interview – a platform Career Services subscribes for students and alumni. It offers prerecorded interview questions so you can practice with your webcam and review your performance with a peer, Career advisor, or professor. https://mcphs.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp? course_id=_18970_1&content_id=_561104_1&mode=reset _______________________________________________________________________________________ Career Services [email protected] Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 617-274-3395

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Schedule a mock interview with the Career Services

Body Language and Communication       

Special note: Due to the pandemic, people probably will not expect to shake hands. If your interviewer greets you with a handshake and you are uncomfortable with it, politely say something like, “Very nice to meet you.” Respond with a nod, wave, or smile, and maintain eye contact. The goal: to convey confidence and project a positive image. When speaking, keep your head up so your voice naturally projects. It is okay to pause and think for a short moment as you prepare to answer a question. Avoid using filler words such as ‘you know,’ ‘like,’ or ‘um.’ Provide upbeat non-verbal feedback to interviewer: nod in agreement, smile, maintain eye contact. Nervous? Take a few deep breathes or a sip of water to focus. 65% of your “message” is conveyed through non-verbal behavior: o Eye Contact = listening o Gestures o Smile/Facial Expressions o Tone of voice o Appearance o Professional interactions with o Posture/how you sit EVERYONE, in-person or virtual

Interview Attire  Professional dress – always better to be over dressed then underdressed.  Try your outfit on well before the interview to ensure it fits. Prepare the outfit the night before.  Choose conservative colors and traditional styles.  Avoid wearing strong perfumes/colognes –many are sensitive or allergic to them; it can be distracting.  Hair (and facial hair) should be neat and clean.

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If attending in-person interview, arrive early at least 15 minutes early. You may want to do a practice drive to the location ahead of time so that you know where you are going, where to park, or the public transportation route. Smile and maintain eye contact when greeting your interviewer. Bring copies of your resume and supporting materials including reference sheet – it is acceptable to bring a portfolio with you. Ask questions – write them down ahead of time and bring them in your portfolio. Collect business cards from each interviewer – for thank you notes.

POST-INTERVIEW Follow-up  At the end of the interview you can ask about their hiring timeline and the next steps.  Collect business cards from each interviewer.  Send a thank you note to each interviewer within 48 hours. This is an opportunity to not only thank them for meeting with you but to highlight your interests, qualifications, and briefly expand on the topics discussed during the interview.  After the interview, identify where you felt you were strong and where you struggled with questions. Ask Career Services for assistance with areas that you want to improve for the next interview.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Interview Question Samples: Common Interview Questions

https://www.glassdoor.com/Interview/index.htm https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-the-31-most-commoninterview-questions

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Career Services [email protected] Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 617-274-3395

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj7CBPui5XY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np4cIeX6u8Y

INTERVIEW RUBRIC

EXCELLENT INTERVIEW: YOU SHOULD GET A JOB OFFER!

AVERAGE INTERVIEW: YOU COULD GET CALLED BACK, BUT IT IS NOT CERTAIN.

INTERVIEWING SKILLS NEED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT: YOU WOULD NOT GET THIS JOB.

Your appearance is professional; you are wearing a business suit. You FIRST greet and shake IMPRESSIO hands with your NS interviewer correctly. Your conversation is enthusiastic and engaging.

You look nice, but you do not wear a suit. Your greeting is appropriate, but you forget to shake hands with your interviewer. Your conversation is enthusiastic and engaging.

Your attire is unprofessional: You wear jeans or shorts to the interview. You do not greet or shake hands with your interviewer. Your conversation is not energetic.

You are knowledgeable about the organization and INTERVIEW position. You CONTENT display poise and confidence. You relate your skills to the job very well.

You are knowledgeable about the position, but not about the organization. You display adequate confidence in your answers. You state your skills, but do not adequately relate them to the job.

You are not knowledgeable about the position or organization. You are not confident in answering questions about yourself. You do not state the skills you have to do the job.

You have excellent eye contact with your interviewer (without staring). INTERVIEW Your language and SKILLS / grammar are TECHNIQUE appropriate. (No S use of "um".) You speak at the correct speed.

You have adequate eye contact with your interviewer. Your language and grammar are adequate. You use "um" and other inappropriate terms, but not enough to disrupt the interview. You speak a little too quickly or too slowly.

You look at the floor or ceiling when speaking. Your grammar and language are inappropriate. You speak too quickly or too slowly.

You convey some interest in the position. You are not

You do not show any interest in the position. You do not

CLOSING

You successfully convey your interest in the

_______________________________________________________________________________________ [email protected] Career Services Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 617-274-3395

position. You ask appropriate questions. You thank the interviewer.

prepared to ask questions. You thank the interviewer.

ask any questions. You do not thank the interviewer.

by Amy Diepenbrock. Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Career Services [email protected] Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 617-274-3395...