Business and Administrative Communication 10th Edition by Kitty Locker,Donna Kienzler

Exercise 14

Talk to someone who regularly interviews candidates for entry-level jobs. Possible questions to ask include the following:
How long have you been interviewing for your organization Does everyone on the management ladder at your company do some interviewing, or do people specialize in it
Do you follow a set structure for interviews What are some of the standard questions you ask
What are you looking for How important are (1) good grades, (2) leadership roles in extracurricular groups, or (3) relevant work experience What advice would you give to someone who lacks one or more of these
What are the things you see students do that create a poor impression Think about the worst candidate you've interviewed. What did he or she do (or not do) to create such a negative impression
What are the things that make a good impression Recall the best student you've ever interviewed. Why did he or she impress you so much
How does your employer evaluate and reward your success as an interviewer
What advice would you have for someone who still has a year or so before the job hunt begins
As your instructor directs,
a. Summarize your findings in an e-mail to your instructor.
b. Report your findings orally to the class.
c. Join with a small group of students to write a group report describing the results of your interviews.
d. Write to the interviewer thanking him or her for taking the time to talk to you.