| Why in the job interview is it a winning strategy not to | | | | a member of a team or did you have others working |
| simply answer the questions? | | | | for you on the Task. R. will be the results. Be specific, |
| You're looking for a job. You've polished up our | | | | you saved, for example $15,000 or completed the task |
| resume. After writing your resume the next step | | | | under budget or you accomplished the task sooner |
| should be to prepare for the phone interview and then | | | | than planned. |
| more detailed preparation for the face to face | | | | How do you do this? Take out a blank sheet of paper |
| interview. Do you panic or are you prepared to pass | | | | and write out personal stories and your experiences |
| the first test? If you get through the phone interview, | | | | that you will use to answer the employer's questions. |
| next you'll be called in for the first face to face job | | | | These small stories using the S.T.A.R. method will allow |
| interview. | | | | you to take the initiative in the interview and will permit |
| Was your interview preparation reading and studying | | | | your personality to come through. Don't go into a long |
| the latest interview book like, "85 Great answers to 85 | | | | involved recitation but keep each story to less than 20 |
| Tough Interview questions," or something similar? | | | | seconds and not longer than 45 seconds or so. |
| Memorizing possible answers you get from a book | | | | To get a more complete picture concerning the |
| because they sound "good" to interview questions will | | | | candidate the employer will be looking for abilities and |
| not show the real you. You will come across as | | | | skills in the following areas: (1) Bottom line impact: made |
| memorized and stilted. Both things you do not want | | | | money, saved money, improved sales, improved |
| and both are guaranteed to knock you quickly out of | | | | quality, improved service; (2) Leadership skills; (3) |
| contention. | | | | Worked with a team, your contribution and results; (4) |
| There is another more effective approach to consider. | | | | Failure or disappointments on the job and how you |
| First, let's think about what the employer wants. The | | | | overcame them; (5) Greatest stress on the job and |
| employer wants answers to the following general | | | | what did you do to resolve; and (6) Any career |
| questions. Do you have the skills and ability to do the | | | | changes, how did you come to the decision and the |
| job and make money for the company? How well will | | | | results. |
| you work with the corporate team-will you be an | | | | There are surely other areas where you'll be |
| asset or liability? And finally, will you fit in the corporate | | | | questioned but this list of six should get you started |
| culture? | | | | drafting your stories. Stories that will highlight your |
| Which of the following is the best answer to the | | | | expertise and experience and tell the interviewer |
| question, "How well do you take direction?" Answer #1 | | | | something about your approach to your previous jobs, |
| "I think I take direction well." Or Answer #2, "When I | | | | how well you work in a team, and if you would fit into |
| started at XYZ we had a staff meeting every | | | | their view of the ideal candidate for the vacancy. |
| Monday. We were formed in teams for an assigned | | | | Many job candidates lose out because they were |
| task and sometime I was the lead other times others | | | | nervous and tight in the interview, they gave canned |
| were assigned to lead the team. I worked well with | | | | answers, or long rambling answers, and they are just |
| everybody. In fact my boss complimented me about | | | | not themselves. You on the other hand will come |
| this several times and he even made note of it in my | | | | prepared with your "little stories." There is nothing to |
| last performance review." | | | | memorize, so you'll come across as relaxed and as |
| If you were the interviewer, I think you would give the | | | | close as possible to be natural and "yourself." |
| candidate who gave answer #2 higher marks than the | | | | The interview will now be more of a conversation than |
| first answer. Why? Well, the candidate with the | | | | an interrogation. This is vital because not all |
| second answer was telling a story. A story that not | | | | interviewers are skilled. They may have a list of pet |
| only answered the question by provided other vital | | | | questions that many times are lacking in helping them |
| information about the candidate. The candidate told the | | | | discover your competencies that are critical in the |
| interviewer about their skills that they were business | | | | effective performance of the job. With your answers |
| (bottom line) orientated and they worked will within the | | | | in the story format following the S.T.A.R. procedure |
| team concept. All are important questions the | | | | you'll go a long way toward overcoming this deficiency. |
| employer wants answered. | | | | So don't come to the interview to answer questions. |
| It's valuable to use a shorthand format in setting up | | | | Use your well thought out "little stories" to engage in a |
| your stories. Using the S.T.A.R. procedure will produce | | | | conversation with the interviewer that will highlight your |
| the best results. S. stands for situation, did you initiate | | | | abilities and fitness for the job. You'll be more |
| or define the problem or was it identified by someone | | | | comfortable with the interview process, your skills will |
| else. T. stands for what task were you asked to | | | | be properly showcased, and you'll be in a better |
| perform. A. means what action did you take, were you | | | | position to get an early job offer. |