Neprisstore.blob.core.windows.net



High School Interview processPreparing for the interviewBe PreparedThe more information you have prepared in advance, the better impression you will make on the interviewer. Take the time to get references, before you start looking for a job. Do your research. Learn all you can about the position and the companyChecking out the company website will give you insight into the?company culture, and exactly what they do and aspire to accomplish. Bring the following with you to the interview:Completed job application (if the employer doesn't have it already)Working papers?(if you need them)ReferencesResume?(if you have one)Notepad / penKnow Your ScheduleKnow what days and hours you are available to work. Flexibility is an asset, because the more time you are available, the easier it is for the employer to set?a work schedule. Write an elevator pitch.?An elevator pitch is a 30-second blurb about you: who you are, what you offer, what you can bring to the business. It's self-promotional that captures the important stuff without sounding egotistical. It helps you to focus on your own strengths and skills, which is important.PracticeHave a friend, mentor or parent sit down with you for a practice interview. Give them your elevator pitch. Have them ask you some typical interview questions and give your best answer. When you get to the interview Come with your materialsBring along a copy of your resume, any letters of reference and any other type of material, such as a?portfolio, appropriate for the job interview. Also, don't just bring one copy; often there will be several interviewers and you don't want to have them shareTurn your phone on silentEven if you get away with texting in class, your interview isn't a place to sneak in a few texts. Don't bring food to the interview.Plan ahead and grab a snack before or after your interview, because it isn't professional to eat during your interview.Don't bring friendsYou should go to your interview alone, so don't bring your friends, or your boyfriend or girlfriend. If your parents are around, don't bring them either. If someone gives you a ride to the interview site, have them wait in the car or go and grab a coffee.During the interviewPractice common courtesy"Yes, sir," and "Yes, ma'am" are appropriate unless you are instructed otherwise. Don't interrupt. Shake hands. Pull out those manners and use them.?Maintain good postureStand up straight, walk tall and sit up straight in your chair. Answer questions honestlyJust don't lie. Even if there's something embarrassing or potentially problematic (a failed class, a DUI), when asked, you should answer honestly.Hold back some detailsStop yourself from laying out every single detail of your family history, extenuating circumstances and personal situation. Give the facts as needed and hold the rest for your therapy session. Personal comments are OK, but they just want to know if you can do the job. Make eye contactMaking eye contact tells people you are sincere, confident and trustworthy.?QuestionsBehavioral Interview QuestionsMany interview questions will be?behavioral interview questions. These questions require you to provide an example of a time when you did something work-related in the past. Interviewers ask questions about your past to see what kind of an employee you might be in the future.These kinds of questions require you to think of examples from past experiences.Describe the specific example you are thinking of (it helps to think of examples in advance).Explain the situation, and what you did to either solve the problem or achieve success. Then, describe the result.As a student or recent student, you might not have a lot of work experience. You can draw on experiences as a student, an intern, or even a volunteer. If you participated in any extracurricular activities, you can talk about those experiences too.Situational Interview QuestionsSituational interview questions?ask you to consider a possible future situation at work. Although these are about future situations, you can still answer with an example from a past experience.When you provide examples, try to use examples that are closely related to the job you’re applying for. Think about past work, volunteer, or school experiences that required skills similar to those needed for this job.Questions About Yourself. Some of these will be straightforward questions about your education and?work history. Others will be about your character, such as your?strengths and weaknesses.To prepare for these kinds of questions, be sure to review your resume and cover letter thoroughly. Also look at a list of?common interview questions?to prepare answers for questions about yourself. Questions About the CompanyThe employer might also ask you questions about the company, and why you think you are a good fit for the position.To answer these questions, be sure to?research the company?ahead of time. Get a sense of the?company culture?– its mission, the work environment, and what the company looks for in employees.Actual Questions to PracticeWhy Are You Looking for a Job?Of course, everyone wants to make money at a job, but the reasons you should share with a potential employer should reflect your interest in the field, or in helping to develop your skills sWhy Are You Interested in Working for Our Company?Employers ask this question to gauge your interest in the field. Make sure you check out the company’s website at the very least and familiarize yourself with what the company does, what the work and the work culture are like. How Has School Prepared You For Working at Our Company?Here is your opportunity to talk about the skills you have gained in your education that will make you an ideal candidate for the position. Why Should We Hire You?New hires take time to train, and the company wants to know you are worth it. Let them know about your interest in contributing to the company immediately.What Do You Think It Takes to be Successful in This Position?The job posting can be very helpful in letting you know how they will want you to answer this question. Let them know about the skills you have that they are looking for. How Would You Describe Your Ability To Work as a Team Member? The interviewer will want to hear a specific example of a time you worked successfully in a team situation.What Has Been Your Most Rewarding Accomplishment?You don’t want to brag, but you should share an accomplishment that relates to some of the qualities or experiences required for the job you’re interviewing for.? Tell Me About a Major Problem you Recently Handled.With this question, the interviewer is trying to determine how skilled you are at problem-solving. It’s fine to use an example from school, work, sports or volunteering. Make sure you show a positive resolution. Have You Ever Had Difficulty With a Supervisor or Teacher?The interviewer will ask this question to determine how you relate to authority. Always answer honestly, but make sure that you have a positive outcome. Remember that the most difficult situations are sometimes the best learning experiences.? Typical High School Interview QuestionsWhat are your weaknesses?What subject do you enjoy most? Why?What subject do you like least? Why?How do you like to spend your free time?If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?What have you read recently?What has been your biggest challenge?What is your definition of a good teacher?What would you like to accomplish, academically or in extracurricular activities, during high school?Why did you decide to apply to this school?What has been your biggest achievement at College/School?Focus on an achievement that sets you apart from the other candidates and highlights your potential value to the employer. Answers such as getting your academic qualification are to be avoided as they do not distinguish you from other students, unless you had to overcome exceptional challenges.However the employer is also not looking for super-hero stuff but rather evidence that you have the skills they want in an employee in this job.Look at successes where you used competencies such as your communication skills, initiative, creativity, persuasiveness, organizational skills, resilience and perseverance to achieve a demanding objective.What goals have you set yourself for the next 5 years?This is hard to answer with absolute specifics, so focus on general career objectives rather than job titles and narrowly-defined goals.Good examples include supervisory responsibility, increased skills set, training and learning objectives.Use the company website or LinkedIn profiles to get an idea of the sort of career paths employees have followed. This will help you determine realistic career routes within the organization.How would your professors or teachers describe you?Focus on the characteristics that match the job opportunity. What made you a good student and team member?Competencies that are valued in any employee/employer relationship include hard-work, responsible, conscientious, dependable, adaptable, honest, enthusiastic, organized, disciplined. You can refer to your?references?and recommendations to support your interview answer.What are your strengths and weaknesses?This is all about displaying sufficient insight into yourself to acknowledge your areas of strength and where you can improve. Focus on those strengths that are relevant to the job opportunity. This?list of strengths and weaknesses?will really help you with this question.Why do you want this job?Use your research to highlight the match between this job and your skills and interests. Focus on areas that are critical to the job such as the opportunity to apply your knowledge, to work through complex problems, to improve systems, to be part of a dynamic team, to meet demanding challenges.Relate specific job responsibilities to your education and whatever work experience you may have. Focus on how your personal motivations align with the company's mission and goals.Tell me about a tough challenge you had to overcome.Possible challenges a student has to deal with include balancing multiple demands, meeting deadlines, managing finances, working with other students to achieve group objectives, obtaining the right resources to complete a project.Describe a time when you had to contribute to a team to attain an objectiveMost jobs involve teamwork so be ready for this type of question. What was your role in the group and what did you specifically do to ensure team goals were met?After the interviewSend a thank you email addressed to the interviewers. It does not have to be long, but it should be grammatically correct. Thank the interviewer for their time and reiterate that you are interested in the opportunity. You might not have felt it, but you were also evaluating the company and interviewing them, so let them know you are still interested.? ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download