1. Interview to
Win a Job
Offer
Lynn Hazan
President
Lynn Hazan & Associates
www.lhazan.com

2. Click here to watch movie clip
Just like the ants in
this humorous
advertisement, we
all need proper
preparation, careful
coordination, a
strong support
system to achieve
our goals.
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

3. Lynn’s Mantra:
Repeat after me…
 If you look like…
 Walk like…
 Talk like…
 Sound like…
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

4. A Duck!
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

5. What is the purpose of
the interview?
Let’s brainstorm…
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

6. What is the purpose of an
interview?
The interview is between you, the
interviewer, and the company.
 3 R’s: Resume, Rapport and Relationship
 Determine candidate’s fit for job
 Determine job’s fit for candidate
 Connect with corporate culture
 Progress to next steps to get hired
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

7. A Timeline in Chocolate
PRESENT PAST FUTURE
The job The resume The interview
descriptions & is about the is about the
specs are about past future
the present
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

8. In hiring, past performance is a good
indicator of future performance.
PRESENT PAST FUTURE
The job The resume The interview
descriptions & is about the is about the
specs are about past future
the present
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

9. How well do you match the job?
 Does your service address a critical need?
 Can you explain what you do easily?
 Do you have a niche in the market?
 Are you the “go to” person?
 Can you make money?
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

10. Do you mirror the Or not?
job specs?
The more duck-like you are,
the better your chances of success!
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

11. Why Should I
Hire YOU?
Write down your answers.
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan &
Associates

12. Unique Positioning Statement
Why employer should hire you
Summary statement for resume
Lead off for a successful interview
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

13. How to Create Your UPS
What makes you unique?
What makes you special? ??
What’s your story? ?
??
? ?
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

14. Elevator Speech
 30-60 second speech
 Reasons why employer should hire you
 What can you bring to the employer?
 Make it interesting!
 Practice! Practice! Practice!
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

15. Try it out: Paired Share
 Why you should hire me?
 Make it interesting!
 Time: 1 minute each
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

16. The Interview
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

17. Before the interview:
Research the company
n Use the web and social media tools
n Look for recent articles
n Check out their competition
n What is company known for?
n What is their culture?
How do you fit?
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

18. Interview Protocol
 Have correct directions
 Know title and name of person interviewing you
 Be in professional dress
 Mirror interviewer
 followthe lead
 give and take
 Progressionfrom past
performance to future
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

19. Do’s and Don'ts of Interviewing
Do:
 Arrive on time!
 Bring extra resumes & samples
 Establish rapport
 Demonstrate by work & deed your fit for the job
 Show enthusiasm
 Know the points that you want to make!
 Send thank you note or email within 24 hours
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

20. Do’s and Don’ts of Interviewing
Don’t:
 Oversell yourself
 Undersell yourself
 Be haughty or
arrogant
 Be too casual
 Go to an interview
hungry
It was a mistake for Eric to wear a t-shirt to his job
interview, and it was a bigger mistake to wear that
particular t-shirt.
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

21. Don’t Lie!
Tell the TRUTH about:
 Dates of past employment/graduation
 Money
 Layoffs / breaks in employment
 Budget cuts
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

22. True Life Stories You Won’t Believe!
One candidate…
 asked for food.
 took off shoes.
 was sloppily dressed.
 swore 3x.
 wore perfume so strong,
I almost passed out.
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

23. Tough Questions? Not really
*Real interview questions*
Practice your answers!
 “How do you resolve conflict?”
 “Describe a time when you had to work as part of a team.
What was your role and what was the outcome?”
 “Why should we hire you?”
 “Describe your work ethic.”
 “Do you have any questions for me?”
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

24. Role Playing in the Interview
 May be asked to answer real life questions
 How would you handle…?
 Hypothetical questions / scenarios are on the rise!
 Sell me this pen.
 How many tennis balls could fit into a school bus?
 Why are man hole covers round?
 How many baseballs are sold in Chicago per year?
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

25. Frame the Process:
Storytelling at its Best
1. Problem or need
2. Opportunity or challenge
3. Strategies and tactics
4. Results
5. What you did with results
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

26. What was a difficult
scenario you encountered
and how did you handle it?
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

27. Conversation & Dialogue
The interview should be a two-sided conversation.
 Be actively engaged
 Ask probing questions
 Yes/No answers = Conversation Killers
 No Shy Talk
 Be aware of dialog cues / turn-taking
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

28. Beware of bad habits and sloppy
speech!
Pitch, tone, speed, and word choice can eliminate you
from an interview process. It happens!
 Up-talking/Down-talking
 Speaking too fast
 Speaking too slow
 Colloquialisms/Dialects/Jargon
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

29. Beware of bad habits and sloppy
speech!
Examples:
 One candidate started each sentence with
“No…”
 One spoke so fast the interviewer couldn’t
find time to speak
Recently discussed in the New York Times!
“They’re, Like, Way Ahead of the Linguistic Currrrve”
 Douglas Quenqua, New York Times, February 27, 2012
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

30. Video Interviews:
The new phone screen
 Focus on the interview
 Do not check email or look things up while in the call
 Good audio and lighting
 Be aware of things in the background
 Beaware of your
body language!
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

31. Portfolios
 Examples of your work
 Not just for creative
 Work you did as part of a team
 Gives context and tells story of the
project.
 Digital formats may be more useful
 Electronicfiles on a USB key
 VisualCV, About.me, etc.
 blogs (Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr)
or personal websites
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

32. Wow Project
 Candidates who are
dazzled by a job
opportunity should
“dazzle employers back”
with a “Wow!” project.
 Shows initiative and
capability
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

33. Money, money, money…
 Be prepared to answer questions about salary
 Know salary range for position
 Salary.com, Payscale.com, Monster, Glassdoor
 beware of salary surveys skewed by demographics
 Consider stalling tactics:
 “What range were you considering?”
 “I feel it’s too early to discuss. I’d like to learn more.”
 “I’m flexible and I’d like to hear more.”
 Don’t get defensive
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

34. To sign up for Lynn’s E-jobs, the free,
confidential listserv from Lynn Hazan &
Associates:
Clearly print your name and
email address on the sign up
sheet!
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates

35. Proper interviewing technique
CAN help you to win a job offer!
Lynn Hazan
lynn@lhazan.com
www.lhazan.com
312.863.5401
Follow me on Connect with me on
Twitter: Linkedin:
lynnhazan Lynn Hazan
Copyright 2012, Lynn Hazan & Associates