Discussion board | Applied Sciences homework help
- Will you fit with the organization’s culture and get along with your colleagues?31
No matter how the question is worded, these are potential employers’ key concerns. A smart candidate will answer in ways that address them. Background research will pay off here: If you have spent time learning about what the employer needs, you will be in a good position to show you are motivated and can satisfy the company’s needs and concerns. Consider an example: Interviewer: What was your major in college?
Poor Answer:
I was a communication major.
Better Answer:
I was a communication major. I’m glad I studied that subject because the skills I learned in school could help me in this job in so many ways: dealing with customers from many cultures, working in the department teams, and creating presentations for the external contractors who are part of the job…. Interviewer: Tell me about your last job as a sales rep.
Poor Answer:
I handled outside sales. I called on about 35 customers. My job was to keep them supplied and show them new products.
Better Answer:
(elaborating on previous answer) As part of that job, I learned how important it is to provide outstanding customer service. I know the competitive edge comes from making sure the customers get what they want, when they need it. I know this company has a reputation for good service, so I’m really excited about working here. Just because you respond to the employer’s needs, that does not mean you should ignore your own goals. Even so, during an interview, you need to demonstrate how you can help the organization or you will not have a job offer to consider. 352 Because most employers have had poor experiences with some of the people they have hired, they are likely to be concerned about what might go wrong if they hire you. In Richard Bolles’s words, employers worry you will not be able to do the job; you lack the skills; you will not work full days regularly; you will quit unexpectedly; it will take you a long time to master the job; you will not get along with others; you will do the minimum; you will need constant supervision; you will be dishonest, irresponsible, negative, a substance abuser, or incompetent; and you will discredit the organization or cost it a lot of money.32 You can allay these fears without ever addressing them directly by answering questions in a way that showcases your good work habits: Interviewer: What were the biggest challenges in your last job? Answer: The work always seemed to come in spurts. When it was busy, we had to work especially hard to stay caught up. I can remember some weeks when we never seemed to leave the office. It was hard, but we did whatever it took to get the job done. Interviewer: How did you get along with your last boss? Answer: My last manager had a very hands-off approach. That was a little scary at times, but it taught me I can solve problems without a lot of supervision. I was always glad to get guidance, but when it didn’t come, I learned I can figure out things for myself. 169 Be honest Whatever else an employer may be seeking, honesty is a mandatory job requirement. If an interviewer finds out you have misrepresented yourself by lying or exaggerating about even one answer, then everything else you say will be suspect.33 Being honest does not mean you have to confess to every self-doubt and shortcoming. As in almost every type of situation, both parties in an employment interview try to create desirable impressions. In fact, some ethicists have noted the ability to “sell” yourself honestly but persuasively 353 is a desirable attribute since it shows you can represent an employer well after being hired.34 During the interview, then, you should highlight your strengths and downplay your weaknesses, but always be honest. Emphasize the positive Although you should always be honest, it is also wise to phrase your answers in a way that casts you in the most positive light. Consider the difference between the positive and negative responses to this question: Interviewer: I notice you’ve held several jobs, but you haven’t had any experience in the field you’ve applied for.
Negative Answer:
Uh, that’s right. I decided I wanted to go into this field only last year. I wish I had known that earlier.
Positive Answer:
That’s right. I’ve worked in a number of fields, and I’ve been successful in learning each one quickly. I’d like to think this kind of adaptability will help me learn this job and grow with it as technology changes the way the company does business. Notice how the second answer converted a potential negative into a positive answer. If you anticipate questions that have the ability to harm you, you can compose honest answers that present you favorably. Even if you are confronted with comments that cast you in a negative, you can reframe yourself more positively. In the following list, notice how each negative trait could be reframed as a positive attribute:35 Negative Trait Positive Attribute Overly detailed Thorough, reliable Cautious Careful, accurate Intense Focused Slow Methodical, careful Naive Open, honest Aggressive Assertive 354 Do not misunderstand: Arguing with the interviewer or claiming you have no faults is not likely to win you a job offer. In contrast, reframing shortcomings as strengths can shift the employer’s view of you. Employer: If I were to ask your colleagues to describe your biggest weaknesses, what do you think they’d say? Candidate: Well, some might say that I could work faster, especially when things get frantic. But I think they would agree I’m very careful about my work and I don’t make careless errors. Another important rule is to avoid criticizing others in an employment interview. Consider the difference between these answers: 170 Interviewer: From your transcript, I notice you graduated with a 2.3 grade-point average. Isn’t that a little low?
Negative Answer:
Sure, but it wasn’t my fault. I had some terrible teachers during my first two years of college. We had to memorize a lot of useless information that didn’t have anything to do with the real world. Besides, professors give you high grades if they like you. If you don’t play their game, they grade you down.
Positive Answer:
My low grade-point average came mostly from very bad freshman and sophomore years. I wasn’t serious about school then, but you can see my later grades are much higher. I’ve grown a lot in the past few years, and I’d like to think I can use what I’ve learned in this job. Most job candidates have been raised to regard modesty as a virtue, which makes it hard to toot their own horns. Excessive boasting certainly may put off an interviewer, but experts flatly state that showcasing your strengths is essential if you want to win out as a job candidate. Florida State University management professor Michele Kacmar found that job- seekers who talked about their good qualities were rated higher than those 355 who focused on the interviewer.36 Pre-interview rehearsals will help you find ways of saying positive things about yourself in a confident, nonboastful manner. Back up your answers with evidence As you read earlier, behavioral interviewers figure the best predictor of a potential employee’s performance is what he or she has done in the past. Even if you are not engaged in a behavioral interview, it is usually effective to back up any claims you make with evidence of your performance. One good framework for answering questions is the “PAR” approach. This acronym denotes the three parts of a good answer: identifying the problem, describing the action you took, and stating the results your actions produced. You can see the value of this approach by comparing the two answers to this interviewer’s question: Interviewer: Which strengths would you bring to this job?
Weak Answer:
I am a self-starter who can work without close supervision [unsupported claim].
Stronger Answer:
I am a self-starter who can work without close supervision [claim]. For example, in my last job, my immediate supervisor was away from the office off and on for three months because of some health issues [problem]. We were switching over to a new accounting system during that time, and I worked with the software company to make the change [action]. We made the changeover without losing a single day’s work, and without any loss of data [results]. Keep your answers brief It is easy to rattle on in an interview out of enthusiasm, a desire to show off your knowledge, or nervousness, but in most cases highly detailed answers are not a good idea. The interviewer probably has a lot of ground to cover, and long-winded answers will not help. A general rule is to keep your responses to less than 2 minutes. An interviewer who wants additional information can always ask for it. 171 356 ETHICAL challenge Demonstrating Your Ethical Standards Employers often use behavioral interviews to assess whether a candidate’s individual ethics match the values of their company. Using what you have learned in this chapter about emphasizing the positive and backing your answers up with evidence, construct an answer to the following interview prompt: Tell me about a time when you were challenged ethically. Be enthusiastic If you are applying for jobs that genuinely excite you, the challenge is not to manufacture enthusiasm but rather to show it. This can be difficult when you are nervous during what feels like a make-or-break session. Just remember that the interviewer wants to know how you really feel about the job and the organization. Sharing your interest and excitement can give you a competitive edge. Career center director Gregory D. Hayes says, “If I talk to five deadbeat people and have one who is upbeat, that’s the one I’m going to hire.”37 Correct any misunderstandings Being human, interviewers sometimes misinterpret comments. Interviewees, for their part, want to ensure the messages they send have been received accurately. Obviously, you cannot ask the interviewer, “Were you listening carefully?” but two strategies can help get your message across. First, you can orally restate your message in either the body or the conclusion phase of the interview. For instance, in the body phase, while reporting on a list of exhibit preparations, the interviewee might mention the brochures will have to be hand-carried. The following exchange could then come later in the body phase or at the conclusion: Interviewer: So if we hire you, everything will be at the exhibit booth when we get to the convention, and all we have to do is set up the exhibit? 357 Interviewee: Not quite. The brochures won’t be ready in time to ship to the convention, so you’ll have to carry them with you on the plane. Second, you can put your ideas in writing. It is sometimes wise to summarize important ideas in an e-mail after the interview so both the recipient and you will have a permanent record of your message. Have your own questions answered After you have answered the interviewer’s questions, be prepared to ask a few of your own. Realize that your questions make indirect statements about you, just as your answers to the interviewer’s inquiries did. Be sure your questions are not all greedy ones that focus on salary, vacation time, benefits, and so on. Table 6-3 lists some questions to consider asking when you are invited to do so. Table 6-3 Questions to Consider Asking the Interviewer during an Employment Interview Why is this position open? How often has this position been filled during the past five years? What have been the reasons for people leaving in the past? Why did the person who most recently held this position leave? What would you like the next person who holds this job to do differently? What are the most pressing issues and problems in this position? What kind of support does this position have (e.g., people, budget, equipment)? What are the criteria for success in this position? What might be the next career steps for a person who does well in this position? What do you see as the future of this position? This organization? What are the most important qualities you will look for in the person who will occupy this position? Rehearsing an Interview No athlete would expect to win without practicing, and no performer would face an audience without rehearsing. The same principle holds when you are facing an important employment interview. Effective practicing involves several steps: 358