T19 & T20

THE REST OF COMM 202
 Today: Tutorial on Interview Prep
 Next Week: Lecture about When You Get the
Offer!
 The Following Week: Closing Tutorial

THE REST OF COMM 202
 Today: Tutorial on Interview Prep
 Next Week: Lecture about When You Get the
Offer!
 The Following Week: Closing Tutorial
Easter Monday

WELCOME: TO DO LIST
 Employment Interview Assessment
 Look the Part
 Interview Prep
 Adios
 Need to Knows

EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW ASSESSMENT
When: April 7th, 8th, & 9th
(Select Interview Time by April 1st)
10%
THE INTERVIEW:
You will check-in with “reception” in Birmingham and your
interviewer will come to waiting area to get you when they are
ready.
The interview will last 20 minutes with 1-2 Commerce 202 team
members and consist of behavioral questions.
Please bring your pen, resume, job posting, and cover letter in a
pad folio

LOOK THE PART

LOOK THE PART
• Dry Cleaned/Pressed Suits, Dresses, Skirts, Shirts, and
Slacks
• Clean and Polished Shoes
• Don’t go overboard on “Pops of Colour”
• Appropriate Jewelry
• Mind Hemlines (Flood Pants or Mini Skirts)

“Dress shabbily and they
remember the [clothes]; dress
impeccably and they remember
the [person].”
-- Coco Chanel

INTERVIEW PREP
“So, tell me about yourself.”
• Most Common Interview Question
• Can be asked in different ways
• Opportunity to highlight skills and experiences
• Chance show personality and be likeable
How else can this question be asked?

INTERVIEW PREP
“So, tell me about yourself.”
• Keep it 2 minutes or less
• Brand Yourself : give them something to remember you
by
• Speak to your skills and accomplishments
• Show passion
• Provide a well-rounded picture

INTERVIEW PREP
“So, tell me about yourself.”
The
Beginning
The
Spark
Growing
Interest
Your
Future
Why you
are here?

INTERVIEW PREP
Introduction
Realization that this is the right career for
you
Your formula and how it has helped lead
you to this role
Where you see yourself
How this position ties into it all
Growing Interest
The Spark
Your Future
The Beginning
Why you are
here

INTERVIEW PREP
Introduction
Realization that this is the right career for
you
Your formula and how it has helped lead
you to this role
Where you see yourself
How this position ties into it all
Growing Interest
The Spark
Your Future
The Beginning
Why you are
here

INTERVIEW PREP
Formula for Showing Growing Interest
Education Entrepreneurship
Community
Involvement
KINSEY
POWELL
Passion &
Commitment
Comprehensive
Business
Knowledge
Teamwork &
Collaboration

INTERVIEW PREP
“So, tell me about yourself.”
The
Beginning
The
Spark
Growing
Interest
Your
Future
Why you
are here?

I would hire you on
the spot (2 points)
I would like to interview
you again (1 point)
I would not hire you
(0 points)
TELL ME
ABOUT
YOURSELF
Student provides a
relevant,
chronological “story”
highlighting their
beginning, spark,
growing interest,
goals and fit to the
organization in a
concise manner (2
minute max)
The student provides a
chronological “story”
highlighting most but not
all of the 5 aspects listed
in the first column in a
concise manner and/or
answer was longer than 2
minutes
Student provided
“story” that is neither
concise (more than 2
minutes) nor
chronological/logical

INTERVIEW PREP
“So, tell me about yourself.”
Grab a partner and tell them about
yourself!
2 Minutes Each + 1 Minute Feedback

INTERVIEW PREP
“What are your Strengths?”
• Show your self-awareness
• Relevance to the Job
• Showing the Can in the CAN-WANT-FIT
How else can this question be asked?

I would hire you on
the spot (2 points)
I would like to
interview you again (1
point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
STRENGTHS Student is able to
choose strengths
relevant to the
position, give a
strong example with
proof of execution
and links the
experience to the job
opportunity
Student is able to choose
strengths relevant to the
position, gives a strong
example of execution,
but may lack a link to the
position
Student’s strength
may be irrelevant to
the position and/or
lacks proof of
execution or link to
job opportunity

INTERVIEW PREP
“What are your Weaknesses?”
• Mention a weakness that will not impact your performance
in this job and identify your plan for improvement
• Show your self-awareness and plan for improvement
• Plan for improvement
• PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT
How else can this question be asked?

I would hire you on
the spot (2 points)
I would like to interview
you again (1 point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
WEAKNESSES Student is able to
choose a
developmental area not
key to the function of
the position and share
how they overcame the
situation, the lesson
learned and action plan
moving forward, while
demonstrating self
reflection and
resilience
Student is able to choose a
developmental area not key
to the function of the
position and share how they
overcame the situation,
however is not able to
articulate the lesson learned
or action plan moving
forward and/or student
choose cliché answer ex.
“My greatest weakness is
my greatest strength”
Student either chose a
skill essential to the
position or was not
able to clearly convey
the lesson and/or
action plan moving
forward; student was
unable to provide a
weakness

INTERVIEW PREP
“Tell me about a time when…”
• Highlighting the Job Posting Skills
• STAR Format Answer (Skills Matrix)
• Link it back to the Company and/or the Job (Why do they
care)

INTERVIEW PREP
Wild Cars & Stumpers
• Test your industry acumen
• Show your ability to communicate/think on your feet
• Show your interest/passion for the industry

FINANCE
WHAT ARE THE THREE WAYS TO VALUE A COMPANY?
PITCH ME A STOCK.
HOW WOULD YOU EVALUATE AN ORGANIZATION’S ABILITY FOR GROWTH?
ACCOUNTING
WHY DO YOU WANT TO PURSUE YOUR CPA?
WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR X FIRM?
MANAGEMENT
CONSULTING
HOW MANY WORDS ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES?
HOW MANY SURF BOARDS ARE SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA EVERY YEAR?
DEFINE COMP. ADV. AND IDENTIFY ALL YOUR ASSUMPTIONS.
MARKETING – BRAND
MANAGEMENT
HOW WOULD YOU INCREASE SALES OF X PRODUCT BY X%?
SELL ME THIS PEN
TLOG
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO INCREASE OUR PRODUCTIVITY?
HOW MANY CHAIRS ARE IN SAUDER?
HUMAN RESOURCES
HOW SHOULD WE CHANGE OUR HIRING PROCESS?
HOW WOULD YOU FIRE ME IF YOU HAD TO DO IT RIGHT NOW?
RANDOM QUESTIONS
OR SCENARIOS
WOULD YOU RATHER GO SKY DIVING OR SCUBA DIVING AND WHY?
TELL ME ABOUT SOME NEWS YOU HAVE READ RECENTLY AND HOW IT
RELATES TO THIS JOB?
IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?

I would hire you on the
spot (2 points)
I would like to
interview you again
(1 point)
I would not hire you (0
points)
CREATIVE/
STUMPER
QUESTION
S
Student “aces” every
opportunity to differentiate
themselves during the
interview: e.g., they offer a
credible, logically-organized,
and concise answer for
every question. If on the rare
occasion, they don’t know
the answer, they then
respond by asking clarifying
questions and/or outlining
the problem-solving
approach they would use.
Maintains composure.
Student “handles” some
opportunities to
differentiate themselves
during the interview: e.g.,
they offer credible and/or
logically-organized and/or
concise answers for many
questions. They
sometimes respond by
asking clarifying questions
and/or outlining the
problem-solving approach
they would use
They “miss” too many
opportunities to differentiate
themselves during interview:
e.g., they offer widely varying
answers in terms of credibility
and/or logical organization
and/or conciseness. If they
don’t know the answer, they
often don’t seem to know
how to respond by asking
clarifying questions and/or
outlining a problem-solving
approach

INTERVIEW PREP
Closing the Interview
• Thank You!
• Reiterate Interest
• Ask for Contact Info & Follow-Up
• Shake Hands
• Use their Name

INTERVIEW PREP
Following Up
• Send an email or handwritten card
• Reference the interview – something you want to emphasize or
something unsaid that you want them to know
• Reiterate your interest in the position
• Thank them for the opportunity again
• Reference an answer they gave you to one of your end of interview
questions
• If you interviewed with multiple people make sure the follow-up is
personalized to each person

INTERVIEW PREP
Pro Tips
• Shoulders Back, Make Eye Contact, & Smile
• Match Energy
• Blow Your Nose and Brush Your Teeth
• “Do you have any questions for me?”
• Water is better than Coffee

“Every battle is won long
before it is fought. ”
-- Sun Tzu

ADIOS
• Perspective: “The love of family and the admiration of friends is much
more important than wealth and privilege.” – Charles Kuralt, American
Journalist
• Humility: “If you get a seat on a rocket ship, you don’t ask which seat.”
– Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook
• Confidence: “To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when no
one else will.” – Sugar Ray Robinson, Professional Boxer
THANK YOU.
KEEP IN TOUCH.

NEED TO KNOWS
• Cover Letter & Resume FINAL Due: Friday, March 27th @
1:59 p.m. on Turnitin & COOL
• Look out for your Interview Email
LECTURE
NEXT WEEK