NYU IS UE-MCC 1740-003 Fall 2019 PDF

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New York University The Steinhardt School, Department of Media, Culture and Communication

Interviewing Strategies MCC-UE 1740 Section 3, Fall 2019, Wednesdays 11:00-12:15PM, GCASL, Room 383 (updated 9/3/19) Instructor: Office Location: Contact Info: Office Hours:

Dawn J. Werner 239 Greene Street, East Building, 7-8th Floor, New York, NY 10003-6674 E-mail: [email protected] Department Phone: 212-998-5191 Wednesdays 12:15PM (for more information see “Course Policies/Office Hours” in this syllabus).

Course Description This course focuses on the principles and practices of successful approaches to interviewing. Students are provided with background on the structure of an interview and learn how to analyze success and/or potential problems. Review of case studies and practice in holding interviews enables students to gain experience and to improve their own abilities. Course Objectives The objective of this course is gain insight into effective interpersonal communication in interviews. Our goal is to advance your knowledge of the various approaches used by organizations to evaluate prospective members, and to develop your ability to analyze and apply successful verbal and nonverbal communication strategies in selection interviews. Our studies will focus on traditional and behavioral methods of employment interviewing, though we will also explore conducting informative interviews and feedback in performance appraisal reviews. In addition, we will consider the impact of a variety of interview formats on the communication process including written, group, panel and technology assisted interviews. By the end of this course you will have increased your understanding of interpersonal communication processes in organizational settings which enable you to be interviewed, and to conduct interviews, more effectively. This class emphasizes active learning which includes: class discussions, student presentations, exercises with partners, case studies, role plays and field research. This approach reinforces, and gives you the opportunity to practice, the theories of interpersonal and organizational communication we study in this course. Learning Goals` Throughout the semester this course will develop your knowledge of the theories and practice of interpersonal communication in an interview setting, and by the end of the semester you will: Read, interpret and extend scholarly and popular media texts which offer insight into the approaches and processes of communication in selection interviews;  Analyze contextual factors which contribute to our understanding of communication including organization dynamics and cultural differences;  Investigate communication strategies which offer an effective behavioral approach to interpersonal communication management;  Evaluate ethical concerns which create a context for mutually satisfying and nonviolent communication in the interpersonal communication;  Through critical analysis, apply relevant interpersonal communication theories and concepts to written field research and personal narrative essays;  Articulate ideas through oral presentations and class discussions which enrich our understanding of sources of written information by relating them to our experiences outside the classroom.

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Texts This course uses a variety of readings to support our studies and these texts are detailed throughout this syllabus in Texts, Class Meeting Schedule/Related Readings and Supplemental Readings. In addition, each week students post articles on NYU Classes in Forums/Front Row Articles which we review in our class discussions which are also readings for this course. This material ranges from scholarly articles and material in professional journals to readings in the popular press. This syllabus also contains valuable information about how to approach your studies in this course and therefore is also considered a text. Please read it carefully and see me with questions. The required text is High-Impact Interview Questions, 2nd edition by Victoria Hovemeyer, published in 2017 by AMACOM/American Management Association, and is available at the NYU Bookstore at a cost of approximately $18.95 (or less if purchased used). Course Policies Attendance Attendance at all class and group meetings is a requirement of this communication class. Students are responsible for signing the attendance sheet at each class meeting (this includes noting late arrivals, early departures and each time you step out of class), referencing NYU Classes throughout the semester and staying current with class lecture material. Absences covered by NYU policies, and some special circumstances, will be accommodated with advance notice so we can make appropriate arrangements. Absences not excused by NYU policies will impact the calculation of your final grade. Class Participation This communication course requires listening, responding to others and presenting your own ideas, therefore, thoughtful preparation and engaged participation at all class and group meetings is required. No technology may be used during this class without the explicit permission of the instructor and students may not to engage in private discussions during class. In addition, our classroom will be a safe place for exchanging ideas, which means students are expected to communicate in a manner which reflects mutual respect in a diverse community. Written Assignments All written work must be typed (11 pts, 1 inch margins and published with word count), single-spaced, stapled and carefully proofread for clarity and grammatical errors. Unless otherwise directed, assignments are not accepted by e-mail (and please do not submit assignments in my mailbox, which is not secure and appropriate for graded material) and there are no grading penalties for adding length to written assignments. Please keep copies of all your graded work. Due Dates Course requirements must be completed by the assigned due dates and late work will be accepted only at the discretion of the instructor and for a reduced grade. All late work which is accepted will only be reviewed with the following information handwritten on the top of the first page of the assignment: 1.) the original due date, 2.) the date of submission, 3.) a handwritten note of explanation at the top of the first page, and 4.) my initials. For questions on accommodations and special circumstances, please contact the instructor before the assignment is due. Questions If you have questions regarding our coursework, please ask in class so the entire class may benefit from your inquiries. For more personal concerns, please arrange to meet with me individually. Academic Integrity All coursework must be in accordance with the NYU Steinhardt Statement on Academic Integrity. Please review this policy at: https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/uploads/000/908/Statement %20on%20Academic%20Integrity%209.10.07.pdf

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Students with Disabilities Appropriate accommodations will be made for students registered with the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities. Please follow required protocols for documentation and communication by your first class meeting. For more information: https://www.nyu.edu/students/healthand-wellness/student-health-center/services/students-disabilities.html Office Hours Office hours are held immediately after class (unless otherwise notified) and sign-ups are available in each class meeting on a FCFS (First-Come First-Serve) basis on the back of the attendance sheet. Please confirm any additional appointments with the instructor by email the day before our scheduled meeting. Grading Information This course uses the standard guidelines established for grading for by the NYU Registrar and The Steinhardt School. For more information please reference the grade scale and information below: http://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/registration-records-and-graduation/transcriptscertifications-grades/grades.html#gradepol A AB+ B B-

94-100% 90-93% 87-89% 84-86% 80-83%

Excellent C+ 77-79% Satisfactory D+ 67-69% Unsatisfactory Excellent C 74-76% Satisfactory D 64-66% Minimum Pass Good C- 70-73% Satisfactory F 63% & below Failing Good Good

Required Assignments Classroom Learning (10%) This portion of your final grade evaluates the quality of your preparation for and participation in class discussions and activities. Your informed and active contributions in class meetings are a valuable part of the educational process for yourself as well as others and are critical to the educational goals of this communication course. In addition, students are encouraged to meet with me during the semester to discuss their career goals and for feedback on their resumes, cover letters, thank you notes, etc. Please see me immediately after your enrollment with any questions regarding this important requirement for the course. One way to be a leader in classroom learning is to complete the weekly “Related Reading” for our lecture, select a quote from the article and respond in class discussions in a critical way. In your response you may chose to:  explain why you selected the quote;  share an experience where you observed the idea in action;  ask a question you were prompted you to consider, and offer possible answers;  analyze the usefulness and assumptions of a concept;  continue the debate a classmate has posed by responding to their comment. Excellent contributions to classroom learning will stimulate critical thinking about our readings and studies. NYU Classes Forums: Weekly Responses to FAQ Interview Questions (10%) Before each class meeting, students are asked to consider the “Weekly FAQ” interview question (see Class Meeting Schedule in the syllabus) and to post their response to the question if asked in an interview for their first full-time job following your graduation from NYU. In our class meetings we will analyze various responses to the weekly FAQ so you can compare and self-critique your posted response with the feedback offered in our mock interviews. Our goal is for you to improve, so you will also have the opportunity to practice behavioral responses in class and students are also encouraged to practice their responses outside of class with their research partners. Your

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response should be a minimum of 250 words (not including the question; publish a wordcount) and must be posted in the appropriate forum by 5PM the day before class. “Front Row” Presentation Day (10%) On a pre-assigned date, students will briefly present an article related to the weekly topic on our syllabus and will participate in a mock interview in front of the class. Students should be prepared to lead our class discussion in the following ways:  Self-introduction: Please introduce yourself (name, educational background, career interests and interviewing goals);  Article Hilights and Applications: Select an article in the popular press (share the title, author, source), discuss why you selected it, highlight 1-3 interesting ideas from the article, and discuss how it relates (applies) to your interviewing experience. The article you select must be published in the last year by (quality) sources including: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Financial Times, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Forbes, HBR, etc.;  Mock Interviews: Through role-plays, we examine your responses to questions related to the FAQ on the syllabus (see Class Meeting Schedule). These simulations will be a focus of our class discussion and will enable us to explore ideal responses to these questions, to analyze a variety of answers and to offer feedback on your communication approach. Your self-introduction and article presentation is limited to approximately 3 minutes (1 minute Self-introduction; 2 minutes Article Highlights and Applications) with mock interviews throughout the class session. Please signup for a date no later than our 3rd class meeting on Sep 18 (presentation dates are allotted on a FCFS basis) and post a link to your article in the appropriate forum on NYU Classes (by 5PM) the day before class. Please handin a copy of your article (with your name written on top) on the day of your presentation. Interview Preparation Exercises (Total of 15%) These exercises will prepare you to successfully interview for the ideal position you would like to pursue following graduation. These assignments will be discussed in greater detail in class.  “Dream” Job Profile (5%) 1 page (minimum) due Sep 25.  Behavioral Skills Matrix (10%) 2 pages (minimum) due Oct 9. Informational Interviews Research Project (25%) Working with a partner, students arrange to interview two professionals who are experienced in conducting selection interviews, gather research on their approaches to interviewing and analyze their findings. There is a suggested “Framework” for these informative interviews (it’s also an excellent networking opportunity!) included with this syllabus. Specifically, your project should include the following:  Profile of each person interviewed (name, title/position, a short description of the organization and any interview training they may have received) and their professional experience and the amount and type of interviews they conduct.  Analyze (compare and contrast) their interviewing styles and techniques (format, length, methods, similarities and differences in approach, attributes they explore in a candidate’s profile, how they evaluate candidates, etc.) and support you analysis with specific quotations from informative interviews, and with examples and concepts from our texts).  Recommend specific communication strategies for applicants based on your findings. Each pair should summarize their findings in one paper (jointly written, which compares the findings of your field research) which is approximately 6 pages (minimum of 3000 words) per group paper, due on Oct 30 (and you may also be asked to share your research in a short presentation to the class). Please finalize your partners by writing your names (on form provided with the attendance sheet) by our 5th class meeting on Oct 2, and each project may include a brief cover note which discusses your individual contributions to the project. Please

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note: a goal of this assignment is to develop your networking skills, and therefore you may not select relatives for your interviews. Your paper should reference our texts (and class lectures as relevant) using a “Works Cited” page(s). Self-Assessment (30%) As a culminating paper for this class, students are asked to conduct a critical analysis of their approach to communication in the interview process. Specifically, o using specific examples, please evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in your verbal and nonverbal communication and, o citing our texts, suggest specific communication strategies that strengthen your ability to interview more effectively. This paper will focus on aspects of your interpersonal communication style that are directly related to your interviewing success and you may choose to comment on the following areas: verbal and nonverbal selfpresentation, listening skills, ability to develop rapport, anxiety, ethical and cultural perspectives, written communication, assessing organizations through verbal and nonverbal messaging, ethical challenges, the impact of technology in interviews, negotiation, etc.). You may also choose to comment on additional dimensions of communication and interviewing we discuss in this course including: the clarity of your career goals, your experience with various interviewing approaches and formats, your research methods and goals, interview preparation and practice. Please support your observations using concepts from our class discussions including: specific examples of verbal and nonverbal messaging which support your assessments, citations from our texts (required readings, supplemental readings, student-posted articles and your own research--with a guideline of one citation per paragraph) and at least one example of improved behavioral communication using examples as a result of your work in this course. Your paper should include a “Works Cited” page(s). The self-assessment is approximately 6 pages (minimum 3000 words) due on Dec 4.

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Class Meeting Schedule: Fall 2019 (updated 9/3/19) #1 Sep 4, 2019 Course Introduction: Communication and Selection Interviews Related Reading: “Guess Who Doesn’t Fit In at Work.” By Lauren A. Rivera, New York Times, 5/30/15. https://www.google.com/search?q=Guess+who+doesn %27t+fit+in+at+work+rivera&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS728&oq=Guess+who+doesn %27t+fit+in+at+work+rivera&aqs=chrome..69i57.8015j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 #2 Sep 11, 2019

Career Pathways Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “Why do you want this position?” Related Reading: “Three Steps for Finding Your Perfect Job, Career, And Life” by Louis Efron, Forbes, 11/11/14. http://www.forbes.com/sites/louisefron/2014/11/14/three-steps-for-finding-your-perfectjob-career-and-life/#75e4589b1f10

#3 Sep 18, 2019

Communication Theory and Interviewing Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “What are the strengths and weaknesses in your communication skills?” Related Reading: “Why We Don’t Give Each Other a Break” by Mark Sherman, Psychology Today, 6/20/14. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/real-men-dont-write-blogs/201406/why-we-dontgive-each-other-break Due: Finalize date for your Front Row Presentation (Sign-ups are on a FCFS basis with the instructor). Optional: Please turn in Student Information Form.

#4 Sep 25, 2019

Communication Profiles of “Ideal” Job Applicants Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “Please tell me about yourself.” Related Reading: “What’s Your Story?” by Elizabeth Barnes, Harvard Business School Publishing, 2003. http://www.joseph-sullivan.com/articles/HarvardManagement.pdf Due: Dream Job Profile.

#5 Oct 2, 2019

Behavioral Interviewing (CBBI) Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “Please tell me about the greatest challenge you’ve encountered in an analytic project.” Related Reading: “Ace Behavioral Interviews By Telling Powerful Stories” by Arlene Hirsch, The Wall Street Journal, CareerJournal.com, 2006.

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http://www.rgba.com/article_ace_behavorial.htm Due: Finalize Partners for Informational Interviews Research Project (Required: please write your partner’s name next to yours in the specified column on the attendance sheet). #6 Oct 9, 2019

Building Rapport through Research Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “Please give me an example of something you’ve done which prepares you for this position.” Related Reading: “The Ultimate Guide to Researching a Company Pre-Interview” by Lily Zhang, The Muse, December 2016. https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-ultimateguide-to-researching-a-company-preinterview Due: Behavioral Skills Matrix

#7 Oct 16, 2019

Written Communication: Resumes, Cover Letters and Follow-up Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “What is your greatest academic success—and failure?” Related Reading: “6 Tips for Avoiding the Resume Black Hole” by Jacquelyn Smith, Forbes, 2/5/2013. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/05/6-tips-for-avoiding-the-resumeblack-hole/#106e1d9e2d5e

#8 Oct 23, 2019

Analyzing Your Interpersonal Communication Style Weekly FAQ Question: “How would your peers describe you?” Related Reading: “Hiring for Emotional Intelligence” by Christina Bielaszka-DuVernay, Harvard Business Publishing Newsletters, 10/31/08. https://hbr.org/2008/11/hiring-for-emotional-intellige

#9 Oct 30, 2019

Networking: Navigating Relationship Development in Professional Settings Weekly FAQ on NYU Classes: “Do you prefer to work alone or in teams?” Related Reading: “How Not to Be a Networking Leech: Tips for Seeking Professional Advice” by Margaret Mumford, The New York Times, 9/26/15. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/jobs/how-not-to-be-a-networking-leech-tips-forseeking-professional-advice.html?_r=0 Due: Informational Interviews Research Project

#10 Nov 6, 2019
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