Interview.doc

Interviewing for Success B. What Employers Evaluate Employers usually evaluate three skill sets: Content skills:业务能力Related to performing a job in a particular field, profession, or occupation; acquired through reading, specialized training, internships, academic degrees, and on-the-job training. Examples include programming computers, word processing, teaching, and bookkeeping.Functional skills:综合素质Characteristic ways of working with people, information (data), or things; often referred to as transferable skills; applicable to a wide variety of jobs or situations and may be acquired almost anywhere. Examples include managing, operating, informing, calculating, coordinating, building, and reading.Adaptive skills:个人秉性Rooted in temperament（气质/性情） and personality; acquired during ones early years among family, friends, and peers（同学）; often referred to as self-management skills since they describe how you operate as a person. Examples include being assertive（果断的）, careful, dependable, honest, introspective（自省的）, industrious, open-minded, punctual, and tolerant. C. Preparing for the Interview 1. Analyze the type of positions for which youre applying. What skills does the employer require? 2. Analyze your own background. What skills do you have (content, functional, and adaptive) that relate to your job objective? 3. Identify examples from your experience where you demonstrated these skills. What stories can you tell about your use of particular skills or knowledge? 4. Before starting the interview process, identify two or three of your top selling points and determine how you can illustrate them during the interview. A) You are not expected to know every detail about the organization, but you should know about the organizations product or service; the size of the organization; where its headquarters and major offices are; the names and titles of its top officers; its growth potential; its major competitors; career paths available in the organization; what the organizational culture is like; what its mission statement says about its philosophy and values; and recent developments in the organization or profession. B）It is a good idea to call the employer before the interview to Confirm the date and time of the interview Get directions to the office if your interview is on site Confirm travel arrangements if applicable Obtain the correct pronunciation and spelling of your interviewers name (for later follow-up). Confirm what additional materials the employer may require (e.g. reference names, etc.)D. Questions Typically Asked by Employers Anticipate questions you will be asked and prepare responses. The following are common questions used by employers: （pair work） What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Why did you select Ball State University? Why did you choose your major? Why did you choose your career field? What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years? Describe your most rewarding accomplishment. How has your college experience prepared you for your career? What qualifications do you have that will make you successful in this position? Describe a challenge you encountered and how you dealt with it. Why are you interested in working for our organization? What do you know about our organization? Tell me a little bit about yourself. How would you describe yourself? What two or three things are most important to you in your job? Why should I hire you? A）Tips for Clear Communication Have clear beginnings and endings. Avoid using vocal pauses and slang like um, uh, like, and you know. Plan what you want to communicate to the interviewer. (For example, before speaking to an employer on the telephone or in person, practice your introduction and greeting.) Answer the question asked and volunteer relevant information. Answer the question behind the question: What is the interviewer really asking? Dont ramble (离题). Dont use slang and other forms of poor English. Beware of using too much industry jargonE. Questions to Ask in an Interview Be prepared to ask the interviewer questions.Never go to an interview without preparing questions beforehand. Your knowledge of the profession and the information you gather through research and networking will help you formulate questions of high quality. The following are examples of the types of questions you may ask in an interview. What is the philosophy of the organization? What do you consider to be the organizations strengths and weaknesses? What are the organizations plans and goals? Describe the work environment. What attracted you to this organization? Why do you enjoy working for this organization? Describe the typical responsibilities of the position. What are the challenging facets(aspects) of the position? Describe the opportunities for training and professional development. Are there opportunities for advancement within the organizationF. Predictors of Success Employers who interview Ball State students and alumni list these as important candidate characteristics: Ability to communicate clearly and concisely Demonstrated teamwork skills Demonstrated leadership skills Demonstrated problem-solving skills Career-related work experience Involvemen