Page 76 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 3: Interview Skills

Notes
14. Close the interview by asking the candidate if there is anything he/she regretted
saying, any answer they would like to change, or anything he/she would like to add
to his/her previous statements.
15. Spend at least 30 minutes reviewing your notes after the interview and identifying
any key qualities that you feel you have not adequately tested. These become
objectives for subsequent interviews or for assessment experiences.

3.4 Preparation for Interviews

Understand that interviewing is a skill; as with all skills, preparation and practice enhance the
quality of that skill. Preparation can make the difference between getting an offer and getting
rejected. There is no one ‘best’ way to prepare for an interview. Every interview is a learning
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experience. Initial preparation requires recent assessment of skills, interest, values, and
accomplishments; a re-assessment and updating of one’s résumé; and research on the targeted
company/organization and position. Preparation also includes actual practice of typical and
targeted interview questions. Final preparation includes details of dress and appearance,
knowledge of the location of the interview, what to expect, and protocols for follow-up.
1. Self-assessment: When one is unemployed or fearing lay-off, the time is right for
reassessing current skills, talents, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and work
values. In addition, it is clearly time to re-examine accomplishments and achievements,
particularly those that may be relevant to a prospective employer.
2. Track and leverage your accomplishments: You have been instructed to list your career
accomplishments. Accomplishments are the points that really help sell you to an
employer—much more so than everyday job duties, and you can leverage your
accomplishments for job search at all stages of the process: resume, cover letter, and
interview. Use the following prompts to brainstorm all those remarkable things you did.
Try to list some accomplishments that set you apart from other job candidates.

(a) In each job, what special things did you do to set yourself apart? How did you do the
job better than anyone else did or could have done?
(b) How did you take initiative?
(c) How should you prepared well for this interview?

(d) Were you promoted? Rapid and/or frequent promotions can be especially
noteworthy.
(e) How did you leave your employers better off than before you worked for them?
(f) Did you win any awards, such as ‘Employee of the month’?

(g) What are you most proud of in each job?
(h) Is there any material you can use from your annual performance reviews? Did you
consistently receive high ratings?
(i) Have you received any complimentary memos or letters from employers or
customers?
(j) What tangible evidence do you have of accomplishments—publications you have
produced, products you have developed, or software applications you have written?
(k) Think of the ‘PEP Formula—profitability efficiency, and productivity How did you
contribute to profitability, such as through sales increase percentages? How did you
contribute to efficiency, such as through cost reduction percentages? How did you
contribute to productivity, such as through successfully motivating your team?

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