Post on 25-Dec-2015
Communicating for Results
9e
8Key Ideas
•Methods for successful job hunting•Interview preparation•Phases of an interview•Suggestions for interviewers
The Employment Interview
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Consider this . . .Consider this . . .
Interviews are one of the least Interviews are one of the least efficient forms of professional efficient forms of professional communication available . . . communication available . . . However, most professionals are However, most professionals are willing to rely on such an willing to rely on such an admittedly inefficient form of admittedly inefficient form of communication because it is communication because it is potentially one of the most potentially one of the most efficient forms available. efficient forms available.
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Skopec, Situational Interviewing, Harper & Row, 1986, p. 5
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RadioShack’s Resume WoesRadioShack’s Resume Woes
What future policies could Radio Shack implement to ensure resume inaccuracies don’t occur in the future?What are two advantages and disadvantages of a Radio Shack company blog?Why do you think Edmondson falsified information on his resume?
Chris Gardner/Associated Press
CEO Case StudyCEO Case Study
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Preparing for the job HuntPreparing for the job Hunt
Investigate the employment marketLocate specific jobs of interestPrepare a resumeCheck resume for accuracy and
honestyPrepare a letter of applicationPrepare for the interview
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Investigate Employment MarketInvestigate Employment MarketJob-hunting success rates (in percentages) . . .Job-hunting success rates (in percentages) . . .
*10-20% in finance, health care, engineering, or IT
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Locate specific jobs of interestLocate specific jobs of interest
NetworkingThe most successful job-hunting method
Before a job interview, conduct 10-40 information interviews
Information interviews provide: Specific information Feedback Referrals
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Prepare a quality resumePrepare a quality resume
Conventional Paper resumeScannable ResumeE-mail resumeWeb Resume
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Types of resumes include . . .Types of resumes include . . .
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The conventional paper resumeThe conventional paper resume
Name, address, phone numbersObjective or position desiredEducationAreas of knowledgeJob experience
Other information if shows character & is job-related
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Types of paper resumesTypes of paper resumes
Chronological Emphasizes work experience Chronological order
FunctionalEmphasizes skills rather than work
experienceDownplays dates
CombinationEmphasizes specific skillsChronological orderBrief look at education
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Scannable resumeScannable resume
Traditional resume Altered to be computer-friendlyUsed for online job-sites that
electronically scan resumesDiffers from conventional resume
Must be plainer and easier to be read by OCR scanners
Add keyword summary of skills and qualifications
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E-Mail resumeE-Mail resume
Also called an e-resumePlain-text bare bones Designed to be pasted into an email
messageSome companies don’t receive them
because of possibility of virusesDoes not take the place of a paper
resume
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Web resumeWeb resumeAlso called a web portfolioIncludes the following:
Name, e-mail address & objective/goal
A link to your professionally formatted resume
A link to multimedia (video clip or PowerPoint)
Links to information that showcases qualifications & abilities
Only job-related informationCopyright Cengage © 2011 12
Check resume for accuracy and honestyCheck resume for accuracy and honesty
Distorting content is unethicalLying is illegalAvoid the following:
Exaggeration - overstating factsDistortion – misrepresenting facts
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Prepare a letter of applicationPrepare a letter of applicationAddress to a specific person
Begin with greeting & position sought
Provide personal information and that would be of interest to the employer
End by requesting interviewGive phone number and availabilityUse correct grammar and style
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Prepare for the interviewPrepare for the interview
Have a positive attitudeCreate a positive impressionEngage in Impression Management
Communicate using impression-management verbal comments
Manage verbal and nonverbal communication
Dress for the occasion
Copyright Cengage © 2011 15
Impression Management techniquesImpression Management techniques
Describe self in a positive mannerDescribe past events with positive
personal storiesExpress opinions that agree with the
interviewerClaim personal responsibility for
successful past eventsMake statements that complement
company or interviewer
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Verbal communicationVerbal communication
Variety in pitch, tempo and volumePleasant-sounding voiceSpeak rapidly and confidently
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Nonverbal communicationNonverbal communication
Gesture and smile oftenLook directly at the interviewerNod head in a positive mannerLean forward while maintaining a
natural comfortable posture
Copyright Cengage © 2010 18
Dress for the occasionDress for the occasion
Men Women
1. Clothes that don’t fit properly or are wrinkled or dirty
1. Clothes that are ill fitting or wrinkled
2. Shirts that fit too snugly at the collar or around the waist
2. Clothing that is inappropriate especially when too short or too revealing
3. Hands, hair, or nails that are dirty
3. Too much perfume; too much or too little makeup
4. Scuffed or the wrong color shoes; white socks
4. Scuffed or inappropriate shoes
5. Cheap-looking tie or tie that is too short
5. Inappropriate or too much jewelry
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Source: R. J. Ilkka, 1995, “Applicant Appearance and Selection Decision Making: Revitalizing Employment Interview Education,” Business Communication Quarterly, 58(3), pp. 11–18; Martin Yate, 2008, “Knock ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2009,” pp. 123-136.
Table 8.1 Table 8.1 Five common mistakes men and women make in dress and appearanceFive common mistakes men and women make in dress and appearance
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Types of InterviewsTypes of Interviews
The non-structured interview The structured interview The hostile or stress interview The group interview
The video or virtual interview
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Planning answers to questionsPlanning answers to questions
Use technical jargon common in their field.
Use active, positive, and concrete language.
Support answers with specific examples,
Use humor when appropriateDescribe job weaknesses or physical
disabilities in a positive manner.21Copyright Cengage © 2011
Types of questions interviewers askTypes of questions interviewers ask
Standard questionsBehavioral questions
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Sample Standard questionsSample Standard questions
What do you know about our company?Why do you want to leave your current
job?What salary are you expecting?Where do you want to be five years from
now?Describe yourself in three adjectives.Why should we hire you over others
applying for this position?23Copyright Cengage © 2011
Sample Behavioral questionsSample Behavioral questionsSuppose you were given a project that
required you to interact with employees at all levels of the organization. Select three levels and explain specifically how you would communicate with each level.
Tell me about a situation where you benefited from a personal mistake.
Explain how you saw a new project through to completion.
Suppose you had an important decision to make, but the information to base it on was conflicting. How would you handle the situation?
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Sample Questions to ask the interviewerSample Questions to ask the interviewer
How creative am I allowed to be on this job? Would the company support me if I went back to
school? What is the typical career path of an individual
entering the organization at this level? What could I do or read while you are considering
my application that might help me on the job if I’m hired?
How will my performance be measured by you and by higher-ups?
It’s been a pleasure meeting with you. Now that we’ve talked, I really want this job. Can you tell me what the next step will be?
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After the interviewAfter the interview
Be prepared to follow-upSend Thank-You Card and email
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Conducting an interviewConducting an interview
Show high levels of nonverbal immediacy behaviors (discussed in Chapter 5), such as eye contact and an open body posture.
Listen to interviewee answers and limit the number of interruptions.
Ask open questions and allow sufficient time to answer them.
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Conducting an interviewConducting an interview
Get to know interviewee ahead of time
Plan the environmentOrganize interview carefully
Plan each phaseAsk only lawful questionsListen carefully to the intervieweeClarify and verify verbal responses
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