Page 43 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

36 Nail the Job Interview!

illustrations of past behavior.
Practice tallung about the experiences in ways that support the point
you are trying to make. Don’t memorize responses. When most people
give memorized responses, they sound “canned.” After all, you don’t want
your response to sound as if you have practiced it getting ready for the
interview! You want your response to sound thoughtful and intelligent
and as if you are formulating it for the first time - which you are! Talk
through possible responses by telling the story that sets up the situation,
explains what you did, suggests why you took the action you did, and
then concludes by explicitly tying your response back to the question you
were asked.

Examination/Testing

Some interviews will include elements of testing or examination. For some
types of jobs, such as clerical or mechanical, you may be tested on the
actual equipment you will be using. Teachers may be asked to conduct a
one-hour classroom session where their performance will be observed and
evaluated by both faculty and students. Certain questions, similar to
those outlined in the section on indirect questions, may be asked to
ascertain your level of knowledge, decision-malung capabilities, analytic
capabilities, and competence.
“What zf’ questions that begin with “What would you do i$ . .” are
designed to test your ability to relate your past experience to the em-
ployer’s current situation and needs. Using questions designed to test you,
interviewers are loolung for thoughtful answers that demonstrate your
competence.

Interview Structure

Each interview will be different simply because the different combination
of people involved and their goals produce different dynamics. However,
there is a basic structure that approximates what one can expect in most
interview situations. The actual conversation and amount of time spent
in each phase will vary, but the progression from one phase to another
will normally follow a predictable pattern. This structure is evident from
the moment you arrive at the interview site to when you learn whether or
not you are right for the job.