Quick
Job Interview
Guide
Seven Steps
1. Learn the Basics and Make a
Positive Impression
2. Know Who You Are and What You
Can Do
3. Do Your Homework and Come
Prepared
4. Answer Key Interview Questions
with Ease
5. Handle Tough Interview Situations
with Confidence
6. Follow Up
Making a Good
Impression
Show up on time Pay attention to
Check your your voice and
appearance your habits Give
Use appropriate a firm
waiting room handshake
behavior Use the
Be conscious of interviewer’s
your dress and name
appearance Make small talk
Act alert and Ask opening
interested questions
The Three-Step Process for
Answering Interview Questions
1. Understand what is really being
asked.
2. Answer the question briefly in a
non-damaging way.
3. Answer the real question by
presenting your related skills.
The Prove-It Technique
Present concrete
examples
Quantify your
achievements
Emphasize results
Link your experience to
the job
Answer Questions with a
STAR Approach
S ituation
T ask
A ction
R esults
STAR provides an outline for answers
The Three Types of Skills
Adaptive
Transferable
Job Related
Adaptive Skills
Adaptive skills are the skills
you use every day to survive
and function. Some of them
could even be considered
part of your basic
personality. Such skills
include getting to work on
time, honesty, enthusiasm,
and getting along with
Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are
general skills that can be
useful in a wide variety of
jobs, like the ability to write
clearly or to prioritize tasks.
Job-Related Skills
Most job-related skills are specific
to an occupation, such as knowing
how to fly an airplane. Job-related
skills are most often gained
through work experience,
education and training, and
hobbies.
The Skills Employers
Want
Learning to learn
Basic academic skills in reading,
writing,
and computation
Good communication skills
Creative thinking and problem solving
Self-esteem, motivation, and goal
setting
Personal and career development
skills
Interpersonal/negotiation skills and
teamwork
Organizational effectiveness and
leadership
Preparing for the
Interview
Research the industry
Research the careers that
interest you
Research the company
Research the job itself
Research the interviewer
Important Questions to
Answer in Your Research
Who is the employer and what
does it do?
Who is its main competition?
What has the organization
accomplished in the last three
years?
What is the job description and
salary range for the job I’m
interested in?
What skills and training does the
job require?
The Ten Most Frequently
Asked Interview Questions
1. Why don’t you tell me about
yourself?
2. Why should I hire you?
3. What are your major strengths?
4. What are your major weaknesses?
5. What sort of pay do you expect to
receive?
6. How does your previous
experience relate to the job we
have here?
The Ten Questions
(Cont.)
7. What are your plans for the
future?
8. What will your former
employers say about you?
9. Why are you looking for this
sort of position, and why
here?
[Link] don’t you tell me about
your personal situation?
The “Turtling Technique”
Turn a perceived disadvantage into an
advantage by showing how it can
benefit the employer (turning it
around)
Example: Too Old…
“I am a very stable worker requiring very
little training. I have been dependable all my
life, and I am at a point in my career where I
don’t plan on changing jobs. I still have 10
years of working until I plan on retiring.”
Following Up After the
Interview
Make notes on the
interview
Schedule your follow-
up
Send your thank-you
note
Call when you said you
would
Final Tips
Know yourself
Know the employer
Turn negatives into positives
Don’t forget to follow up
Remember, no matter what
questions interviewers ask, the
underlying question is always,
“Why should I hire you?”