Valuing Diversity
Valuing diversity: Utilizing the strengths of different kinds of people.
Politically astute: Reading and responding to a groups Political Astuteness
emotional currents and power relationships.
Interviewers typically assume that the best predictor of
future actions is past actions, so always try to support any
statement with examples, illustrations or true-life stories.
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The Job Interview Workbook
Step 2: Prepare Questions to Ask
If you show up at an interview and have absolutely no
questions to ask the interviewer, it looks like you’re so
Having no questions is
desperate for a job that you’ll take any job.
a sign of desperation.
Paradoxically, that may prevent you from getting any
job. As a job candidate, you need to ask questions to
find out the information that will help you make an
informed decision about the position.
The questions must be natural to you, so in the
Use your own words.
following section, write out as many questions as you
can think to ask about the indicated subject matters.
You may only use a few of these questions in the
interview, but the practice of writing them out will get
you in the proper investigative frame of mind.
Remember this important fact: studies have shown that
the most effective people are those who listen more
Questions let you
demonstrate your
than they talk. That implies that they ask good
listening skills.
questions and then keep quiet and really listen while
the other person answers them.
The general subject matters we should be prepared to
cover include:
A.
First Tasks
B.
Performance Measurement & Career
Advancement
C.
Immediate Supervisor
D.
Corporate Values
E.
Compensation Package
F.
Fringe Benefits
G.
Quality‐of‐Life Factors
H.
Asking for The Job
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The Job Interview Workbook
A. First Tasks
Asking questions about the specifics of what the
Early on in the
successful applicant will first be working on, and what
interview, do market
the employer would be hoping to gain by filling the
research on what
specific job or problem
position provides ammunition you can use in other
the successful
responses or questions to highlight your specific skills,
applicant will be
expected to tackle.
talents and contributions.
You should ask these questions early and then
Really listen to the
really listen with all of your attention to the answers.
answer and use it to
They tell you what “skill sets” the interviewer is
your advantage.
looking for, and that lets you tell precisely how you
would be a great fit. These questions are essentially
the market research you will be basing your sales
Use the interview as an
opportunity to
approach on for the balance of the interview. Also, one
demonstrate your
of the keys to manageability is whether people even
communication skills –
listen to other people and whether they can use the
asking and listening as
well as telling.
information they are given. You can demonstrate this
important skill right in the interview.
Practice: Write out questions that will elicit the following types of information:
The most immediate problem that needs to be
solved as soon as the job is filled.
The cost of not solving that problem.
The amount of time the interviewer is spending on
interviewing, and whether he or she would rather
be doing something else.
The person who is currently covering the job.
The reason the job is vacant.
Isn’t it a nice change of pace to be thinking of
questions rather than answers?
? Just remember that
your questions can be as important as your answers.
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The Job Interview Workbook
Who was it that said an inquiring mind is more
important than mere intelligence? Keep Inquiring!!
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The Job Interview Workbook
B. Performance Measurement
& Career Advancement
When you’re making a decision on whether or not to
accept an offer, you ought to know how your work will
Chances for
be measured or graded, and what kind of career
advancement are fully