Preparing For a

Job Interview
Presenter :Rowaida Al-khalil
BSN-Senior nursing tutor –
IBCLC

Rowaida Al-Khalil/Senior Nursing

Tutor/UAE/2006 1
 At the end of this presentation the
audience will be able to:
• Perceive the value of confidence and positive attitude in establishing rapport at the
beginning of the interview.
• Use various techniques that assist the interviewee to gain and show confidence
during an interview .
• Use his/her nonverbal communication skills or body language to relay an impression
of confidence ,openness, and warmth.
• Dress appropriately for the interview.
• Prepare and practice for the full spectrum of interview questions that may be asked.
• Avoid major interview behaviors and answers that would effect the interviewee
chance of getting the job offer.
• Utilize the top ten critical success factors to enhance the interviewee’s chance of
getting the job offer.
• Develop an appropriate strategy that can enhance and show the interviewee
abilities ,strength and uniqueness to the interviewer.
• Follow two important post interview activities that can make a final positive
impression.

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Interviewing is not a science. Nor is it an art
form. It is simply an imperfect form of
human communication designed to
increase the predictive validity of potential
employer-employee relationships. And it is
very imperfect.

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the interview consists of three distinct steps:

Close

Gather
information
Establish
rapport

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 Attitude is everything

“To be a great champion, you must

believe that you are the best.
If you're not, pretend you are."
- Muhammad Ali –

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First impressions count.
Often for far more than
logical

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 So don't worry if you are not
“superstar" quality. If you can show
me, in your words and actions, that
you are ready to put forth your very
best effort toward achieving
excellence, you will be chosen over
the superstar.

If you can show me, by words and

examples, your "can do" attitude,
it is you I will hire, while all of the
superstars will receive polite
rejection letters to add to their
growing

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 The Most Important Interview
Nonverbals

Following are the top five nonverbals,

ranked in order of importance
Eye Contact
Facial Expressions
Posture
Gestures
Space
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 Winning The Body Language
Game

o Openness and Warmth: open-lipped

smiling, open hands with palms visible,
unbuttoning coat upon being seated.
o Confidence: leaning forward in chair,
chin up, putting tips of fingers of one hand
against the tips of fingers of other hand in
"praying" or "steepling" position, hands
joined behind back when standing.
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 Winning The Body Language
Game
Nervousness: smoking, whistling, pinching
skin, fidgeting, jiggling pocket contents,
running tongue along front of teeth,
clearing throat, hands touching the face or
covering part of the face, pulling at skin or
ear, running fingers through hair, wringing
hands, biting on pens or other objects,
twiddling thumbs, biting fingernails (action
itself or evidence of), tongue clicking.

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Winning The Body Language
Game
Untrustworthy/Defensive: frowning,
squinting eyes, tight-lipped grin, arms
crossed in front of chest, pulling away,
chin down, touching nose or face, darting
eyes, looking down when speaking,
clenched hands, gestures with fist,
pointing with fingers, chopping one hand
into the open palm of the other, rubbing
back of neck, clasping hands behind head
while leaning back in the chair.
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 How do you gain this
confidence?

If you show Through preparation. Knowing

confidence, it will who you are and what you
cover for a
multitude of
can do. And practicing. Over
shortcomings in and over. Until you are not
other areas only confident in yourself,
but also able to project that
confidence to others. I must
also be confident in your
ability to do the work.

Then, and only then, will I be

willing to invest in you.
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 Dress For Interview Success
Men and Women
 Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is
best)
 Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next
best)
 Clean, polished conservative shoes
 Well-groomed hairstyle
 Clean, trimmed fingernails
 Minimal cologne or perfume
 Empty pockets--no bulges or tinkling coins
 No gum, candy or cigarettes
 Light briefcase or portfolio case
 No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.)

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 Dress For Interview Success
Men
• Necktie should be silk with a
conservative pattern
• Dark shoes (black lace-ups are
best)
• Dark socks (black is best)
• Get a haircut; short hair always
fares best in interviews
• No beards
• Mustaches are a possible
negative, but if you must, make
sure it is neat and trimmed
• No rings other than wedding
ring
Rowaida Al-Khalil/Senior Nursing
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Women
• Always wear a suit with a jacket;
no dresses
• Shoes with conservative heels
• Conservative hosiery at or near
skin color
• No purses, small or large; carry a
briefcase instead
• If you wear nail polish (not
required), use clear or a
conservative colour
• Minimal use of makeup (it should
not be too noticeable)
• No more than one ring on each
hand
• One set of earrings only
14
The One Thing You Must Do
Before Your First Interview
Prepare your homework
Search Information
The very best thing you can do to prepare for an
interview with a specific company is to interview
someone who is already on the inside. If you don't have
anyone on your first level who works at the
company.Check with the Alumni Office .The ideal is an
individual who went straight out of your college into the
company--the more recent, the better.

itit will
will give
give you
you insider
insider
information
information that
that can
can make
make you
you
aa standout
Rowaida in
in the
the interview.
Al-Khalil/Senior
standoutTutor/UAE/2006
Nursing
interview. 15
The One Thing You Must Do
Before Your First Interview
Prepare your homework
Practice
go through a mock interview . This is not
the time to talk to yourself in the mirror.
You need to master your ability to present
the very best you.

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the interview consists of three
distinct steps:

Close

Gather
information

Establish
rapport

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The Eight Types of Interview
Questions

Credential verification questions

Experience verification questions
Opinion questions
Dumb questions
Math questions
Case questions
Behavioral questions
Competency questions

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 Ten Commonly-asked Interview
Questions
 Tell me about yourself.
 Why should I hire you?
 What is your long-range
objective? Where do you
want to be 10 or 15 years
from now?
 How has your education
prepared you for your
career?
 Have you ever had a conflict
with a boss or professor?
How was it resolved?
 Are you a team player?
 What is your greatest
weakness?
 If I were to ask your
manager to describe you,
what would they say?
 What qualities do you feel
a successful manager
should have?
 If you had to live your life
over again, what would
you change?

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 To avoid Commiting One Of
The Worst Interview Sins

speak in specifics rather than generalities

give a specific example
An important aspect of being specific is to use
the quantitative approach

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Top Ten Critical Success Factors

every employer is seeking:

Confidence
Flexibility
Interpersonal skills
Self-motivation
Positive attitude toward work
Leadership
Proficiency in field of study
Teamwork
Communication skills (oral and written)
Critical thinking and problem solving skills

Show your competence in as many of the above critical

success factors as possible and you will rise above
the competition.

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 The One Question To Ask Every
Interviewer
• Find the strategic opportunity to inject this
question as early as possible during the course
of the interview: "Can you tell me about the
position and the type of person you are
seeking?“
• this question can provide you with your single
greatest opportunity for understanding more
about the job and your ability to fill the role.
• frame your answers around what they are
seeking in the person to fill the position
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The Money Response Technique

• If asked early in the interview (as it often is),

the best response is: "What would a person with
my background and qualifications typically earn
in this position with your company?"
• If asked late in the interview the best response
is: "I am ready to consider your very best offer."
This
This isis one
one time
time you you don't
don't
want
want to to be
be specific.
specific. IfIf you you
give
give specifics,
specifics, you you lose--you
lose--you
will
will either
either bebe tootoo lowlow or or too
too
high,
Rowaida Al-Khalil/Senior Nursing
high,
Tutor/UAE/2006 23
the interview consists of three
distinct steps:

Close

Gather
information

Establish
rapport

Rowaida Al-Khalil/Senior Nursing

Tutor/UAE/2006 24
 The Two Most Important Post-
Interview Activities
 Call the interviewer to thank them for
their time. Do it the same day.
to
tomake
makeaa
lasting
lasting
 immediately write the interviewer a short impression
impression
note, thanking them for their time and and
reemphasizing your interest in the andaa
positive
positive
position. Then do your best to get it to impact
them as quickly as possible. E-mail it, fax impactafter
after
your
your
it, hand deliver it, messenger it, use
interview,
interview,
overnight mail, whatever. But be sure
they have it before the end of the and
andgreatly
greatly
following day. increase
increaseyour your
odds
oddsof of
success.
success.
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Rowaida Al-Khalil/Senior Nursing
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