Profession Comm. 7

Unit VII

Lesson 2: Interviewing

Introduction

An employee may apply for a job or a promotion, be called for an interview, or have to conduct

an interview many times during a working career. From the time a resume is submitted, the

candidate should begin preparing for an interview.

During an interview, the interviewee is given an opportunity to present his or her experience and

skills in an oral dialogue with people who are going to judge the candidate and decide if he or

she will be a good fit for the organization. During such a meeting, the interviewee will also have

an opportunity to determine if the organization will be a good place to further a career.

Preparing for a Job Interview

Every applicant should do some research about the organization before submitting a resume.

Then, once the application has been submitted, it is an excellent idea to do more research. The

applicant should find out about the organization in general and, more specifically, about the area,

field, or position in which he or she is interested.

After you receive an invitation to an interview, investigate the site where the interview will be

held. Note where convenient parking is located and how busy the traffic is at the time of day

when the interview is scheduled. If the area is very busy, look for places to park that are closest

to the site, and, if anything, arrive early.

Depending on the time of year and prevailing weather, check the weather forecast for the day of

the interview. If it is a rainy day, be sure to take an umbrella or raincoat so that you can get to the

building, especially if you have to park away from the site. Be sure you are not late for the

interview, and arrive in a presentable way no matter what the weather conditions might be. Be

confident that all clothing is in good order and that, in general, every aspect of your appearance

is professional.

Finally, practice how you will enter the interview room, how you will sit, how you will answer

questions, and even the types of questions you will be asked and even perhaps those you might

want to ask yourself should the opportunity arise. Also, practice your handshake. Practice with

friends to ensure you have a firm, positive handshake, and practice having confident eye contact

as you initially shake hands with your interviewer.

During the Job Interview

An interview might be held in person, online, by telephone, or through video conferencing. From

the time the interview begins, you will be under scrutiny.

If you attend the interview in person or through video conferencing, your nonverbal

communication habits are noted as soon as you enter the room. Your appearance, gestures, body

language, and even nervous tics will be analyzed. Bastille

If the interview is in person, the interviewee should always wait for an invitation to be seated. If

the interview is online, the interviewee must be conscious of how every word is presented. If the

interview is by telephone, the interviewee must be aware of the tone of voice, pronunciation, and

articulation because more is being judged on these items in the absence of body language.

If the interview is conducted in a more social setting, the interviewee will be under scrutiny from

the time he or she appears at the meeting place. Unless invited to do so, never presume to bring

another person to such an interview. As you approach the table or other setting, always wait for

an invitation to be seated. Sometimes in a military-style interview, part of the process is to have

the interviewee stand during at least a part of the interview. Never smoke, even if your interview

is carried on in a business social setting.

Once seated, do not fidget with a briefcase, handbag, or other handheld device. Always place

them nearby on the floor or a chair immediately next to you. Be certain to turn off your cell

phone and any other communication devices during the interview.

Make eye contact with each of your interviewers as you greet them. When asked a question, look

directly at the person as you respond.

Throughout an interview, always sit up straight. Although you want to appear comfortable and

relaxed, never slump in the chair or cross your arms.

Whether the interview is held in person, online, by telephone, or through video conferencing,

never assume that the interviewer has read your resume. Be sure to mention specific parts of

your resume that you consider very important skills or experience as you answer specific

questions.

Never refer to your personal life during an interview. For example, if asked if you can work

overtime if needed, do not respond by saying that you can do so and will have someone pick up

your children from school. Simply respond whether you can or cannot do so. Leave out personal

matters unconditionally.

Answering and Asking Questions

When answering questions, do not hesitate to show a full understanding of the issue. Provide the

required information clearly, and use familiar words. Avoid acronyms unless certain that the

interviewers know exactly what they mean. Answers should never be lengthy and should always

convey enough information to show your knowledge of the issue.

If asked a question about a previous job, never speak negatively about your previous employer or

coworkers. If you were fired, be honest about the details. If your former employer did not

provide opportunities for growth, however, you do not have to say so—and probably should not.

Certainly point out things in the job description that attracted you to the organization with which

you are interviewing.

It is not unusual to be asked questions that sound simple but are considered illegal. For example,

if asked any questions about race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, or religion, the

interviewer may be in violation of federal and state laws. However, many employers have found

ways to ask such questions legally. Here are a few common examples:

 The interviewer cannot ask you about the religious holidays that you celebrate. However, you can be asked if you can work on Saturdays or Sundays. So, be careful to answer that

question directly without adding information about why you can or cannot work on those

days.

 Interviewers cannot ask in which country you were born. However, they can ask if you are authorized to work in a certain country.

 The interviewer cannot ask you if you drink when you go out socially. Doing so would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 because an alcoholic is a person with

a disability (Giang, 2013). They can, however, ask if you can attend social gatherings as

part of your job function. Be sure to speak to the availability of time and skills in social

situations without bringing up alcohol.

 The interview cannot ask your age, but they can ask if you can furnish proof that you are 18 or older if hired. You can simply confirm that you can provide proof without handing

over that proof in the interview or without stating when you were born.

Prepare beforehand should the interview pose any illegal or potentially controversial questions.

Never get emotional. Take a moment and ask for clarification about any question that could

potentially be a topic to avoid. For example, if asked about your marital status, you could quite

sincerely ask if marriage is somehow related to the job you applied for. You can always choose

to refuse to answer an illegal question, stating clearly why you think it should not be asked.

It is not unusual at all to be asked to tell the interviewers about yourself because interviewers

want to get to know you beyond what is in your resume. In such a case, always try to provide

information that is relevant to the job. For example, explain how your experience and/or skills

make you an ideal candidate for the job. Under no circumstances should you be required to

answer any questions about your family.

Example of how NOT to start a response:

 Interviewer: Now, tell us a little bit about yourself.

 You: I am married and have two children.

Example of how to start a response:

 Interviewer: Now, tell us a little bit about yourself.

 You: I feel I am a good candidate for this job because, in addition to my degree, I really like using new techniques to conduct research into disease and environmental

surveillance.

Expect at the end of an interview to be asked if you have any questions for the interviewer. You

should be prepared to ask at least one question about the organization and perhaps one question

about the job itself. By doing so, you communicate both your interest in and knowledge of the

organization and the job. Feel free to ask questions about job expectations. Doing so will show

that you are interested in and knowledgeable about the organization and the job. You can ask

what previous employees did to be successful, or you can ask about the managers with whom

you would be working. If you are not prepared to ask questions, you could be viewed as

uninterested or lacking sufficient knowledge to fill the position. When the interview is coming to

an end, if you are not told so, you can ask when you might expect to hear from the organization.

After the Job Interview

After you leave the job interview, send a message thanking the interviewer(s) for the opportunity

to interview. This prompt action has two potentially positive outcomes:

 You will remain in the interviewers’ memory.

 You show continued interest in the job.

Some people even prepare a thank you letter and drop it in the organization’s mailbox as they

leave the building. Others wait a day or a week before sending the message. Either way, a very

important point is to be on the minds of those who fill the position, and everything else being

equal, this small step might be the one that gets you the job. If you do not hear from the

organization within two weeks after the interview, it is standard operating procedure to call and

make enquiries.

Conducting Interviews

Your job may require you to interview potential candidates for positions in your organization,

especially if you are a supervisor. Prepare for each interview, keeping the position and

candidates in mind. Your goal is to find someone who will be a good fit in the organization and

who is qualified to undertake a specific job.

Read each resume so that you get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate.

Visualize the candidate as you read his or her interests, successes, goals, and so on. Go to social

media, and research the candidates. LinkedIn is a good place to start.

Be certain to read the job description thoroughly, and ensure you fully understand what qualities

you will be looking for as you interview candidates. While you have to consider specific

accomplishments and the different skill sets that candidates have, you also have to think about

differences in culture.

When the interview process begins, you have to ensure you provide the same information to each

candidate. Explain the interview process to every candidate; provide sufficient information for

each candidate to understand that there will be no trick questions, no illegal questions, but that

you will ask questions relevant to the job.

Converse with candidates rather than conduct a question/answer interrogation. Make candidates

feel comfortable through your nonverbal communication such as body language and gestures.

Keep a positive attitude, and you will encourage candidates to speak up when they know the

interview is not just a question/answer period.

Listen carefully to all that the candidate says. If your mind keeps drifting off to other tasks in the

organization, you may lose some important information that candidates are explaining. You

demonstrate that you are listening when you ask follow-up questions. For example, if a candidate

refers to a situation in which he or she created a new prototype, ask salient questions about the

prototype and any future plans.

Encourage candidates to ask questions about the organization and the job. Remember that

candidates are assessing whether they want to work with the organization at the same time that

they are seeking employment. You can provide sufficient information in your answers for them

to make that decision.

As the interview comes to an end, let the candidates know what to expect. Explain when they

will hear from you or the organization and what they can do if they do not hear anything within a

specific time frame.

Although interviews have objectives and many goals and steps that are widely similar, each

interview is unique in its own way, and the opportunity is there for both parties to fulfill their

roles and achieve their purpose—on the one had to find employment and on the other to find the

best employee possible for the organization.

Check for Understanding

1. A job interview is most successful when the applicant shows up and “goes for it” with no particular preparation.

a) True b) False

2. Always dress down for an interview to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed. a) True b) False

3. In answering questions, try to give brief, direct answers with little conversation. a) True b) False

4. During an interview, be certain to bring out things about your family and personal life, and show you are a human being as well as a potential employee.

a) True b) False

5. After the conclusion of an interview, the best practice is to be patient and wait for a response.

a) True b) False

Review

1. If you are called for an interview, you are given an opportunity to present your experience and skills in an oral dialogue with people who are going to judge you and

potentially help your career.

2. Both your appearance and body language are carefully examined by the interviewer or group responsible for the interview.

3. Prepare beforehand should the interview pose any illegal or potentially controversial questions.

4. After you leave the job interview, send a message thanking the interviewer(s) for the opportunity to interview.

5. As the interview comes to an end, let the candidates know what to expect: Explain when they will hear from you or the organization and what they can do if they do not hear

anything within a specific time frame.

Answer Key

1. False - Good preparation for an interview must include research about the place of

employment, knowing what to wear and how to use body language and eye contact, even

knowing in advance where you will park or what protection you might need if inclement weather

is a factor.

2. False - Even though being relaxed is certainly helpful in an interview, the context is formal,

and your dress, speech, and manners must be absolutely formal and represent you to the highest

degree of your ability at this critical moment in the hiring process.

3. True - Most questions during an interview are designed to allow the interviewee to extrapolate

and demonstrate not only knowledge but communication skills as well.

4. False - Never introduce topics about family or personal life by choice or direction during an

interview. The very introduction of family matters or personal issues by a candidate will turn

many employers off, and it is illegal for the employer to introduce.

5. False - Yes, it would be foolish to miss the opportunity to let the employer know that you are

the most interested candidate for the position. Many are hired because of a reminder thank you

note or telephone call that brings back to mind a particular candidate.

References

Giang, V. (2013). 11 common interview questions that are actually illegal. Retrieved from

http://www.businessinsider.com/11-illegal-interview-questions-2013-7