Microsoft



HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT INTERVIEW INFORMATIONThere are many types of interview questions, some which are “easier” than others. The type of questions you will most likely be asked include:Resume/Experience verification questions These types of questions include "What is your GPA?" and "What did you learn in that class?" The purpose is to verify the your background information.Opinion questions This type of question includes "What would you do in this situation?" and "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" The purpose is to analyze how you would respond in a series of scenarios. Competency questions This type of question includes "Can you give me a specific example of your leadership skills?" The purpose is to align your past behaviors with specific skills and abilities which are required for the position.Behavioral questions This type of question includes "Describe a time when you were given an assignment but were uncertain how to complete it." The purpose is to measure past behaviors as a predictor of future petency and behavioral questions are commonly used by companies as part of the selection process and can be a bit tricky if you aren’t prepared for them. As a result, this is where you should invest significant preparation time. As a high school student, you may not have extensive work experience, but there are other examples that will give you the opportunity to describe your background and skills, such as sports and club participation. Behavioral Interview Model The interviewer is looking for a specific event or situation you have encountered and it is your job to provide a detailed picture. Use the SBO (Situation/Task, Behavior, Outcome) or STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to answer your questions. When you answer, there are several pieces of information the interviewer will collect for each behavioral example: S = Situation. First, frame the situation or task that you are going to use for an example. Be as specific as possible to ensure the interviewer is clear on the scenario you are going to be using. B = Behavior. After you have set up the situation, describe the action that you took as an individual to overcome the situation. Be as specific as possible telling the interviewer what you did and how you did it. Even if the example provided was a team project, focus on your behavior.O = Outcome. Be sure to end your response with the final outcome of the situation. Again, be as specific as possible, even if the end result of the example was negative. Example: Can you tell me about a time where you effectively handled a customer complaint? Situation: There was one time when a customer was upset because the ATM machine wasn’t working. The customer needed to check her account balance and the ATM was under repair. Behavior (or Task/Action): I saw that the customer was upset, so I asked her if I could help. After finding out that she was interested in checking her account balance, I walked her over to our phone kiosk and let her know that she could obtain her balance by calling our toll-free number. Outcome (or Result): The customer thanked me and two weeks later my manager received a letter of appreciation from her. Additional Interview TipsPrepare for the interview by making a list of potential examples you could use to demonstrate your skills. Refer to the job posting (job description) for ideas about the types of the things you might be asked about. Some examples might be: Initiative, Attention to Detail, Problem Solving, Teamwork, etc.You can take notes during the interview and can bring in any notes that you may have prepared prior to the meeting. Be aware that the interviewers will be taking a lot of notes during the meeting about your responses. The interviewers will be looking for specific examples of experiences that you have had in the past as an individual, so answer questions with “I” and “me” responses (rather than “us” and “we” responses) and focus your descriptions on what you specifically did.Use different and specific examples for each question whenever possible.During the interview, it is expected that you will need some time to think back to specific experiences. Don’t feel pressured to answer the question quickly or feel uncomfortable asking the interviewer to repeat the question.If you are unable to think of a specific experience in the past, let the interviewer know that you may need to come back to that question, or that you haven’t had that situation happen to you. Remember that you may be asked to give an example of a situation which had a negative outcome. (I often ask, “Describe a time when you made a mistake.”) Prepare and practice your responses so they become second nature. Recruit friends and family to practice interviewing with. Be sure to come with questions of your own as well. You want to make sure the company is a good fit for you, just as the company wants to make sure you are the right fit for them! Research the company so you are aware of their priorities, values, culture and current events/news. The interviewer should leave time at the end of the interview for you to ask questions such as:How will I be trained for the role? What will my first tasks be?How will my performance be assessed?What is the make-up of the team I’ll be working on?What is your management style? (If interviewing with the manager.)How does the company support the community? The environment? What are the next steps in the hiring process?Most importantly, relax and enjoy the conversation. Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and speak with confidence and enthusiasm. Even if the job doesn’t work out this time, leaving a positive impression may lead to an opportunity with them in the future! ................
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