Deck 17: Mastering the Interview Process: Types, Structure, and Strategies

Question 1

Describe the structure of an interview from beginning to end. What are the roles of the interviewer in each specific stage of the interview? What are the interviewer's responsibilities before and after the interview?

Answer 1

Ideal answers will incorporate the following ideas: •Prior to the interview, the interviewer should anticipate barriers to the interview functioning effectively and take proactive action to overcome these barriers. During this time, the interviewer would be identifying the goal of the interview and structuring the interview to ensure success. •Opening-The interviewer communicates the task of the interview, establishes a relationship with the interviewee, and specifies the motivation for the interview. During this time, the interviewer should take steps to ensure the interviewee feels comfortable. •Questions-During this time the interviewer will ask primary and secondary questions to elicit the desired information. He or she must listen carefully and respond appropriately. The interviewer is responsible for asking ethical and appropriate primary and secondary questions. Questions should be clear and easy to understand, they should be neutral rather than directed, and they should be short and to the point. Ultimately, the interviewer is responsible for structuring the interview and should make sure it's organized effectively, considering the objective of the interview and in response to any anticipated barriers. •Closing-In the conclusion of the interview, the interviewer should signal that the interview is coming to a close, summarize the conclusions provided by the interview, express satisfaction with the process, and tell the interviewee what will come next.

Question 2

Alvaro graduated a month ago and is currently in the job market looking for his first professional position. Despite the fact that Alvaro has a strong GPA, is a member of a fraternity for students in his field, and has recently finished an internship, he hasn't had any luck, so far, landing an interview, and he's beginning to feel frustrated. He has focused on applying for jobs through HYPERLINK "http://monster.com"monster.com, and he's just not sure what to do next. Is Alvaro making any mistakes in his job search? What advice do you have for Alvaro to help him land a great interview?

Answer 2

Ideal answers will acknowledge that Alvaro's expectations may be unrealistic-he's only been applying for jobs for a short time, and he probably needs to be patient. He's probably experiencing what the authors of the text have referred to as rejection shock. Second, Alvaro is not availing himself of valuable opportunities to network through his fraternity and the connections he made during his internship. In addition to using monster.com, he should be using resources such as the school's placement center, other Web sites, and newspapers. Finally, if Alvaro really isn't having much luck, he may need to revisit his cover letter and résumé to ensure they are selling him and his skills the way they ought to be.

Question 3

Explain the interviewee's role in the interview process. What steps should an employment interviewee take to ensure he or she is adequately prepared to fill these roles and communicate effectively during the interview? What advice would you have to help the interviewee communicate effectively during and after the interview?

Answer 3

Prior to the interview, the interviewee should be considering and clarifying his or her personal goals-what does the interviewee want to accomplish? Doing so helps him or her seek out opportunities during the interview to share relevant information. The interviewee should also responsibly prepare for the interview by creating a résumé and cover letter. In addition, the interviewee should prepare to get to the interview location on time, dress appropriately, get plenty of rest, and prepare mentally and physically for the process. The interviewee should anticipate the types of questions he or she will be asked, and prepare to answer them by reviewing relevant experiences and skills. During the interview, the interviewee must listen and respond appropriately so that the requested information is shared. The interviewee should adapt to the interviewer and the situation both verbally and nonverbally. Interviewees should also be prepared to respond to difficult and even unethical questions-listening carefully can help the interviewee understand what is being asked and ensure not to provide information that might thwart his or her goals. At the close of the interview, the interviewee should be prepared to ask a couple of questions of the interviewer as well. Following an employment interview, the interviewee should thank the interviewer for the opportunity, and then follow up by sending a note of thanks and appropriate supporting materials.

Question 4

Compare and contrast the different types of interviews, and provide at least one example of a context in which the manager of a store might use each type of interview.

Question 5

How do the principles and skills you have learned about public speaking in Chapters 12-15 relate to your competence as an employment interviewee? How can you use these skills to improve your effectiveness in the role of an interviewee?
Answer Key

Question 6

How does interviewing compare to interpersonal communication, group communication, and public speaking? In what ways is it similar? In what ways is it a distinctly different form of communication?