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     SearchAmerica International Search & Executive Recruitment 18511 Heritage Trail Strongsville, OH 44136-7083 Phone: (440) 572-0450 Fax: (440) 572-2000 E-mail: tsnow@searchamericas.com |
DRESS: Dark suit, dark shoes, pressed white shirt, conservative tie, etc. Interviewing can be a stressful situation, so be yourself and be able to show your capabilities. I have some simple suggestions that we have developed that will make interviewing easier. POINT 1: To get off on the right foot, don’t get caught in the "Tell me something about yourself" question. If you are asked that question, set yourself up so that you can answer with qualifications for the position by asking. "I understand you are wanting a ________..., but in order to make sure that we are on the same wavelength, what are the primary duties and responsibilities of the position?" POINT 2: Ask probing questions, such as... what is the #1 priority for this position? The answer to this question will tell you not just whether you can do the job, but will tell you if you really want to do the job. Then answer with a few examples of your accomplishments with this #1 priority. What problems have you had in this area? or How are you currently addressing this problem? POINT 3: Two other important questions to ask are... What would be my first project, or production goals? What obstacles would prevent me from reaching this goal? After these two questions, you can take a minute and talk about yourself having accomplished a tough goal. POINT 4: Don’t forget to ask... "If I perform well, where can I go in the company? Your future goals and the future goals of the company are an important comparison for you to evaluate. POINT 5: Before you interview, write up 10-15 questions you want answered during the interview. This should include everything that is important to you, and don’t forget to take a pen and paper with you on the interview. Have your questions ready, so that you will not forget them, and write down answers and key points for future reference. POINT 6: Avoid compensation and benefits discussions... If the hiring authority asks about your financial requirements, side step it by answering: "Compensation is important, but the opportunity to improve my career path is my #1 priority at this time." The key issue is OPPORTUNITY. At the end of the interview, state that... "If you have an interest in me, I will entertain your strongest offer!" POINT 7: Somewhere in this interview you are going to have to ask for the job. On way to do this is to ask... "As I understand it, you are looking for someone who does _________... and read back the primary duties. Then ask "Do I have the qualifications to fulfill the requirements for this position?... It is CRITICAL that you wait for the answer no matter how long it takes. If the answer is YES, then you can "I am very interested in this position, and I am prepared to accept an offer if you are prepared to extend one." If the hiring authority is not prepared to extend an offer at this interview, your response should be... "I wasn’t sure that you could, but I wanted to let you know what my commitment was." If the hiring authority feels that you are weak in an area, you can reassure them with a past accomplishment in the same area. Another less direct approach would be to say, "I’m interested in pursuing this opportunity. What is the next step?" If the hiring authority is interviewing other candidates that you are currently talking to?’ This may open an additional opportunity to introduce another benefit of your past experience. POINT 8: Be certain to contact me RIGHT AFTER the interview with your feedback. Our client companies normally give us their feedback the same day, or the next day at the latest. This will enable us to evaluate your standing, and determine what the next step in the process will be. Be sure to Fax or Email AND Overnight a thank you letter to the hiring authority (Bullet Point Strengths) with a copy of the letter to us. Our fax # is (440) 572-2000. Questions a candidate may want to ask during an interview! 1. What are the responsibilities of the position and which are the most important? What is the #1 priority of the position? 2. What would be my first project or production goals? What obstacles would prevent me from reaching these goals? 3. What results are expected of this position? 4. What are the limits of my responsibility and authority? 5. What problems and opportunities are associated with this position? How are you currently addressing these problems? In what areas does the position need development? 6. In your opinion, what specific aspects of my background make me right or wrong for this position? 7. What support is available to help me fulfill my charge here? 8. Will I have subordinates? What are their strengths and weaknesses? 9. Who will be my superior, and what are his or her strengths and weaknesses? 10. Are there any projects in motion that I will inherit? What is their history and status? 11. What are the goals of the company and my department? What are the company long and short term objectives? 12. What criteria will be used to evaluate me and my performance? When are evaluations scheduled? 13. What can you tell me about my peers in this company? List some common denominators for successful employees. 14. Why did my predecessor leave this position? 15. What are the characteristics that the company feels are attractive about itself. How can the company market itself to me? 16. Are there any industries or outside influences that affect the company growth? 17. In what areas does the company excel, and in what areas does it have limitations?
EMPLOYER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 1 Flexibility / Change Management: Initiate, implements, and/or adapts to changes in strategic direction, priorities, schedules, and responsibilities. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. In what kind of situation will you cling to your point-of-view no matter what? Explain. 2. How do you handle changing priorities? Describe several situations. 3. Tell me about a specific project you lead that had an impact on changing the overall process or procedures of how things had been done prior. 4. How do you communicate change to others? Cite a specific example. Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Leadership: Is inspired and challenges others and self by setting high "stretch" goals & expectations. Provides leadership informally even when not directly responsible. Drives processes, projects or people through strong communication skills. Able to build internal and external networks which allows them to remove barriers. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. Sometimes you have to take a stand regarding the future of products or services. Have you ever been in a situation where you have had to discontinue or redirect products or services? What did you do? 2. Have you been in a situation in which you were able to have a significant effect on your organization's business direction? What steps did you take? 3. Tell me about a time when you had to gain the commitment of others, either inside or outside your company. What did you do? 4. Based upon your professional/technical expertise, do you see opportunities for improvement in your organization? What have you done (if anything) about these opportunities? (If familiar with Grainger, what opportunities for improvement do you see?) Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Cross Functional Experience: Has proactively sought to broaden business perspective through varied project assignments, functional experiences and participation with external professionals from other organizations. Actively seeks multiple inputs to make sound business decisions. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. How do you stay current on issues impacting your industry? 2. Describe a major project that you were responsible for that involved other areas of your organization. 3. What actions have you taken to gain a broader understanding of the business process outside of your immediate role.? 4. What cross functional experiences have you gained within your current organization? Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Communication/Presentation Skills: Listens effectively to understand audience (individual) need for particular information. Chooses and effectively uses the most appropriate communication medium or audience. Delivers point concisely whether written or oral. Able to build mutual understanding between parties. Is effective in a variety of formal presentation settings; Is effective both inside and outside the organization on both cool data and hot/controversial topics; commands attention and can manage group processes during presentations; can change tactics midstream when something isn't working. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. What approaches have you used in presenting to different audiences? Give a specific example. How did you know you were getting your ideas across? 2. Describe a situation in which you had to turn away a customer/supplier/vendor. How did you communicate that difficult information. 3. Describe a situation in which you had some difficulty establishing rapport with another individual or group of individuals. What did you do? Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments: Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. How have you gotten around obstacles that presented you from completing a project? Describe the project and obstacles and what you did? 2 What has been your most significant accomplishment in your immediate role? To what do you attribute your success? 3. What were your key objectives for this past year? How were they decided upon and measured? How well did you perform against them? 4. What decisions do you usually make quickly? What decisions do you spend more time on? Why? Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Project Management / Flexibility: Strong understanding and/or knowledge of project management process. Ability to adjust to the changes on a daily/weekly basis within the organization/department. Ability to prioritize work according to the changes. Ability to convey the changes/importance to others. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. What tools do you utilize to manage projects? 2. Has your schedule ever been upset by unforeseen circumstances? What did you do then? Give examples. 3. What procedures do you use to organize information in your work area? 4. Have you changed any processes or methods of setting work priorities in your current role? Give examples. 5. What is your procedure for keeping track of items that require attention? Tell me about a time when you used this procedure? 6. Tell me about the time when your work load was heaviest. How did you complete all of your work? 7. Have you ever set up a course of action to accomplish a long-range goal/vision? what was it and how did you set it up? Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Process Management: Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; know how to organize people and activities, understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient work flow; knows what to measure and how to measure it; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can't; can simplify complex processes; gets more out of fewer resource. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. What types of project planning or administration did you do in your job? Tell me about some of these projects. 2. Tell me about a time when you missed a deadline on a project. What were the causes? What did you do? 3. What procedures do you use to organize information in your work area? Tell me about a time when the procedures worked. When they didn't work. 4. Tell me about some challenging situations in which you had to arrange work schedules. Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Business Acumen / Savvy: Knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends and information affecting his/her business and organization; knows the competition; is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace. Has a broad understanding of the business; understands company's key business objectives, customer requirements, marketing strategy and fulfillment processes. Select two or more questions from the following: 1. What have you done to keep current, as well as identify future trends in the business, as it relates to your current position. 2. What role does your department play in achieving the strategic objectives of your company? What are the most significant ways you have contributed to achieving these objectives? 3. What are some major company issues that affect you and other work groups? How do they affect your work group? How do they affect other groups? 4. What competitive challenges does your current organization face? How do you contribute to overcoming those challenges? Overall Assessment: __________ Models for others. (The individual is a role model for this competency.) __________ Consistently Demonstrates. (The individual consistently demonstrates this competency.) __________ Inconsistently Demonstrates. (The individual inconsistently demonstrates this competency.) Comments:
Questions that an employer may ask during an interview. 1. Describe your present job responsibilities. Which are the most difficult and why? Which are the most enjoyable? 2. What accomplishment in your present job are you most proud of? What was your best idea (Regardless of implementation.) 3. What would you have liked to accomplish, but haven’t, in your present job? What prevented you from doing so? 4. What strengths and weaknesses would you bring to this position? 5. What do you know about our company and this position? 6. What would it take to succeed in this position? 7. What elements are important to your job satisfaction and that of your subordinate’s? 8. Describe what qualifications would make an ideal boss in this position? 9. What are your short and long term career objectives? 10. What are the biggest frustrations in your career? 11. What might your present company and department do to become more successful? 12. What are your hobbies and interests? Are they useful to your career or in balancing the rest of your life? 13. How would you describe your associates? How would your associates describe you? 14. How do your spouse and children feel about this possible change? 15. Why are you leaving your present career? 16. Why should we hire you? 17. How good is your health? 18. Can you work under deadlines, pressure, etc... 19. What is your philosophy on management? 20. Do you prefer staff or line work? Why? 21. What features of your previous job did you dislike? COMPETITIVE
INTERVIEWING SKILLS - INTERVIEW BODY: 1. Break the ice! Use humor or flattery as a lead in. KNOW the industry that you are interviewing for! 2. Tell me about yourself question. Allow employer to prioritize how you answer this open ended question. 3. Follow-up lead in with synopsis of self (1-page of all job duties), or dialogue about previous responsibilities. Explore technical job information. Dissect function of particular jobs. 4. BE YOURSELF! Come into the interview with the proper attitude. This is a KEY first impression. 5. Rehearse your interview, and your meeting will flow. By rehearsing important questions, you will stand out based upon what is important to you. This demonstrates listening skills, people skills and sincerity. 6. Allow interviewer to completely finish speaking before you answer a question. DEVISE A "T" ACCOUNT NEW JOB RESPONSIBILITIES SIMILARITIES TO PREVIOUS JOBS ******************************************************************** So, when you are asked a question such as, "What National Accounts are you currently responsible for? You can relate old jobs similarities to new ones. Remember: This is a FEATURE - BENEFIT-FEATURE presentation! The feature of your experience with Home Depot allows you to benefit you new company with immediate results, with the company feature being cash savings and greater sales growth. As simplistic as this seems, a "T" account helps a Phone Interview's progress and allows for a more complete 2-way flow of information. CANDIDATE PREP
- What are your goals? Why do you want to work for us? What do you know about our company? What are you looking for in a job? If you had your life to live over again, what would you do differently? How do you and your family feel about travel? How do you go about evaluating a company as a place to build your future? Why didn’t you do better in college? Are you a good listener? Tell me about your goals. What have you done to reach them. What makes you think you are qualified for this job? What is your management philosophy? Why should we hire you? What have you done that you are most proud of? What would be the ideal job for you? What have you been criticized for in the past? Do you consider yourself a self-starter? Why? Can you work under pressure? Have you had to work in a heavy overtime environment? How did you react? How much do you think you should earn at this job? Where do you want to be 5 years from now? 10 Years? Would you want your bosses job? Why, or why not? Describe your personality. Do you feel you are a numbers or a people person? How did you get along with your boss? How do you feel about your previous employer? What did you like least about your job? Did you ever fire someone? What for? How did you do it? What do you find the most difficult thing you have to do as a Manager? How long would you stay with us? What makes you think you are a good manager? What would people who have worked for you say about you? How much money have you made at any one time? Why have you not made more? Do you prefer line or staff work? Why? Have you considered changing jobs before? Why? Why has it taken you so long to find a job? cdprep SOAR WITH THE BEST! |
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