8.1: Part I- Career Interviews- Preparation

Job interviews are like a first date – you try to impress, strategically reveal only the best parts of yourself, and desperately hope they call you back for a second round. – Unknown.

The job interview is an opportunity to demonstrate your skills, your passion, and your commitment. Remember, it's not just about getting the job; it's about contributing to something greater than yourself.
– Unknown.

For most people, a job interview is a scary process, partly because it is a crucial step in landing the position you seek, and partly because it involves unfamiliar territory and the pressure to perform. We are often unsure exactly what an interviewer is looking for, and the weight of making a good impression can feel overwhelming. .

This module equips you with the tools and strategies to navigate the interview process with confidence and leave a lasting impression. We will review effective preparation techniques, explore common interview questions and how to answer them effectively, and guide you through the art of confident body language and communication.We will also explore the importance of following up after the interview and crafting a professional thank-you letter that reinforces your interest and qualifications. By preparing for both the interview itself and the crucial follow-up stage, you will position yourself to stand out from the competition.

Purpose of the Job Interview

Job interviews benefit both the interviewee and the company. Interviewers usually share details about the job and its main responsibilities, so the interviewee learns more about the available position. Candidates have the opportunity to observe the surroundings, notice how employees dress and interact, and ask the interviewer directly about the company culture, such as dress code, advancement, and flexible work hours.

Interviewers often wish to learn more about a candidate’s personality, and the face-to-face interview is the chance to get to know the interviewee better. While relevant skills and experience may be outlined in the resume and other application materials, the interview allows for expanding on the nature of these skills and the experience using them. Responding to interview questions allows candidates to emphasize the skills that align with the job description and connect past jobs and responsibilities to the available position.

Interview Preparation

Why should you prepare for a job interview? You already know about the company and job you’re applying for, right? Don’t you already know what background you included in your resume? Won’t your answers sound more genuine if you give them spontaneously? You don’t want to sound rehearsed, do you? Well, no, not really. In this part of Module 12, you will review researching a company and identifying and appreciating your own skills. You will prepare responses to common interview questions and practice face-to-face interviewing.

Research. Some research preparation for an interview is the same as preparing to write your resume, which we covered in Module 11. Researching the hiring company will give you information you need in order to demonstrate genuine interest and align your qualifications with the company's needs. Reviewing the company's mission, culture, and goals so they are fresh in your mind will help you recognize opportunities to showcase how you can contribute to the firm’s success. Knowing about the company’s achievements, reputation, and operations will help you think of relevant questions to ask during or at the end of the interview, as well as to make a compelling case for why you are the right choice for the position.

Practice. Practicing answers to common interview questions beforehand helps you articulate your thoughts more clearly, demonstrate confidence, and highlight relevant skills and experiences effectively. By preparing responses in advance, you can anticipate potential curveball questions and strategize how to address them with poise and accuracy. This approach boosts interview performance and minimizes the likelihood of stumbling over answers or becoming flustered during the interview, ultimately increasing the chances of making a positive impression on the interviewer and securing the desired position.

To prepare for a job interview, do the following:

1. Research the employer, including culture and equity
2. Research the position and salary ranges
3. Identify your strengths and write at least two strength stories
4. List several questions to ask the interviewer
5. Practice answering common interview questions

Research the Employer and Salary Ranges

Prepare to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of the company–it shows that you care enough about the position to do your homework. Learning details of the business allows you to answer questions more effectively and ask thoughtful questions of your own at the end of the interview.

The previous module discussed what information you should research about the company to which you are applying. Review that module and the research that you conducted. You want this information to be fresh in your mind for the interview. As a reminder, the topics included the following:

• Company history, goals, and mission statement
• Company plans for the future
• Profile of business type, size, age, organization
• Company differentiation from other firms
• Company diversity, culture, and equitable treatment of employees
• Key personnel and their background
• Primary client base
• Reviews from customers / the public
• Strengths and accomplishments
• Weaknesses or gaps (areas where you can help)
• Sometimes, financial position

Also, prior to the interview, you want to look into the typical salary range $$ for this type of position in the industry of interest.

Research the Position and Salary Levels

If you identify the responsibilities and the salary range for positions such as the one you are interviewing for, you will be in a much better position to interview and to negotiate. (Note, however, that salary negotiation rarely occurs at the time of the first interview.) You may even learn that the compensation is not sufficient for your needs and decide to forego this particular opening.

If the position you seek is a government position (see Module 3) in California, use the website for Transparent California (https://transparentcalifornia.com) or the Civil Service Pay Scale (https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Pay%20Scales%20Library/PS_Sec_15.pdf.)

Here are a few examples from the Civil Service Pay Scale:

PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS) $5,940.00 - $7,436.00

SUPERVISING AUDITOR I, DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE $6,891.00 - $8,989.00

SENIOR REAL ESTATE OFFICER (SPECIALIST) $6,995.00 - $8,691.00

SENIOR REAL ESTATE OFFICER (SUPERVISORY) $7,204.00 - $8,950.00

For non-public positions, other resources are abundantly available. See, for example, ZipRecruiter.com, Glassdoor.com, and onetonline.org.

ZipRecruiter indicates the five top-paying real estate positions in California:

Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Real-Estate-Agent-Salary--in-California

The same site provides data on individual California cities as well as the top five agent salaries in the state:

See other sites for positions in other areas of real estate. For example, Salary.com and Indeed.com will give you information for title officers, examiners, property managers, appraisers, or agents; escrow officers. See Module 1, 2 and 3 for information on other positions.

Practice Zone

Visit two of the sites mentioned in the previous section, such as Salary.com, Glassdoor.com, or Indeed.com. Determine the salary range for a position that interests you.

Know Your Strengths

An important assignment the authors ask students to complete when preparing for an interview is to write at least two “strength stories.” Why? Interviewers remember stories, and you want to be remembered. Also, you can use your stories to answer any number of different questions that might come your way … in addition to providing examples of your strengths. Consider the following:

When asked “What are your strengths?” JW responded “Communicating and honesty.” But AG responded like this: “One of my greatest strengths is my ability to communicate well with others. For example, when the equipment broke down at my last job, I was able to get it up and running again because I knew how to communicate information about the problem and guide the solution. We could have lost 140 man hours that day.”

Clearly, the response that included the example and its significance to the company would stand out and was more likely to be remembered by the interviewer.

How do you identify your strengths? Module 5 provided various approaches for doing this, such as the personal SWOT that you completed. Also, various resources on the internet will help you identify your strengths. Look for a list of generic characteristics and then select some that describe you. Select ones that you may have used in particular situations. You can also use a strengths finder, such as the one at https://brainmanager.io/tests/career. For other strengths finders, use Google or another search engine to search “free strengths finder.” Review the work you did in Module 5.

Practice Zone

Write two Strength Stories Begin by identifying several strengths that you believe characterize you. Create your strength story as if you are answering this question: Tell me about a time that you used your [communication or other strength] to solve a problem at your work/for your company. Strength stories often follow this pattern: Statement of the problem Statement of what you did about it Statement about the outcome Example Statement of the problem: I was working as an escrow assistant at ABC Escrow Company, and one of my tasks was to review the closing documents for accuracy and completeness. One day, I noticed a discrepancy in the loan amount and the purchase price of a property that was about to close. The loan amount was $10,000 higher than the purchase price, which could have resulted in a significant loss for the lender and the buyer. Statement of what you did: I immediately contacted the loan officer and the real estate agent to inform them of the error and request a correction. I also verified the other details of the transaction, such as the title report, the appraisal, the insurance, and the taxes, to make sure there were no other issues. I followed up with the parties until I received the revised documents and confirmed that they matched the original contract. Statement of the Outcome: Because of my attention to detail, I was able to prevent a costly mistake and ensure a smooth closing for the buyer and the seller. The loan officer and the real estate agent thanked me for catching the error and praised me for my professionalism and diligence. My supervisor also recognized me for my outstanding performance and gave me a bonus. This experience showed me that being detail-oriented is essential for an escrow officer, as it can make a difference between a successful and a failed transaction.

Questions From You

Many interviewers will end an interview session by asking the candidates if they have any questions. Do not miss this opportunity to show your knowledge and expertise! When possible, base questions on your research. Here are a few examples:

1. Do you plan to expand in the near future? Or, What is the future direction of the company?
2. What do you consider to be the company’s greatest achievement?
3. What do you consider to be the best measure of your company’s success?
4. What are the areas of greatest need in your company?
5. Ask about points from your research that you found interesting, such as, “I noticed on your website that you plan to open a new office in Modesto. What are your plans for that office?”

Also, ask questions that are related to you personally:

1. How would I be evaluated?
2. What opportunities for advancement will I have? (This one demonstrates you are looking for a career not just a job.)
3. What are the greatest challenges I would face?

Practice Zone

Identify a job and a company that you are considering or might consider working for in the future. Write three to five questions to ask an interviewer at the end of an interview.

Answering Interview Questions

The research that you have done is, indeed, an important part of preparing to answer questions in the interview. So are your strength stories. Practicing your responses to probable interview questions will give you even more confidence and improve your interview outcomes. Three interview questions that are likely to be asked are shown below, along with a few suggestions for responding.

1. “What are your Strengths?”

A question about a candidate’s strengths is almost invariably included in the face-to-face interview. Have in mind several of the strengths you identified above for your strength story. Avoid giving just a single word or a list of strengths. Add a quick example, as in “One of my greatest strengths at work is negotiating. In my last position, I arbitrated various misunderstandings that arose in the office.” You may wish to tell one of your strength stories at this point.

Use this opportunity to point out how your strengths relate to the available position and the organization in general.

Note: you may also be asked to name your weaknesses. Some weaknesses can also be strengths depending on one’s point of view, such as “workaholic” or “perfectionist.” Another approach is to shape the weakness as something you wish to improve, such as “I’d like to improve my second language,” or “I’d like to improve my PowerPoint skills.”

2. “How Have You Resolved a Workplace Problem?”

Your Strength Story has prepared you for the question, “How have you resolved a workplace problem?” In recounting the story, try to include a comment on how this might relate to the open position or the company. Describe how you used your strengths to solve the issue with a positive outcome and how the company benefited from the outcome.

3. “Tell Us About Yourself”

This question, “Tell us about yourself,” is posed frequently, and it may be one of the scariest for most people. Interviewers want to get to know you, your experience, and your values. A brief summary of your background and experience is a good place to start. You can mention your education, previous jobs, skills, and achievements that are relevant to the position.

In this response, again focus on your strengths and how they can benefit the team or company. You can highlight whatever you think will make you stand out from other candidates. You can also mention your career goals and how they align with the company’s vision and mission.

Keep the response concise and professional. You do not need to share your personal life story or irrelevant details. Give the interviewer a clear and positive impression of who you are and what you can offer. Practice your answer beforehand and time yourself to make sure it is not too long or short.

Example:

I have been working as a property manager for over five years, managing residential and commercial properties in the San Clemente area. I have a degree in business administration and a license from the California Bureau of Real Estate. I am also a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers and the Institute of Real Estate Management.

As a property manager, I am responsible for overseeing all aspects of property operations, including tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, marketing, budgeting, and reporting. I have a proven track record of increasing occupancy rates, reducing expenses, and ensuring tenant satisfaction. I have also successfully handled several evictions, lease renewals, and property inspections.

I enjoy working as a property manager because I love interacting with people and solving problems. I have excellent communication, negotiation, and customer service skills. I am also proficient in using various property management software and tools, such as Yardi, AppFolio, and ButterflyMX.

I am interested in working for your company because you have a strong reputation and positive values. I want to work with a company that provides high-quality and affordable housing to the community.

I believe I can contribute to your success and growth with my skills and experience.

In summary, be prepared to answer the most likely interview questions; become familiar with the industry in which you are applying; get to know the organization and its strengths and weaknesses. Know yourself and be confident!

Many websites will provide you with additional questions. See, for example, https://hbr.org/2021/11/10-common-job-interview-questions-and-how-to-answer-them from the Harvard Business Review.

Practice Zone

Select one of the three questions above and develop a response for it. If possible, practice your response with a classmate, friend, or family member.

Power Pose

Have you heard of the “power pose?” In 2012 and later in 2022, Amy Cuddy and her colleagues conducted studies that showed positive effects of implementing a power pose on “high-stakes social evaluations,” such as job interviews. So what is power pose? The simplest example is to hold your head up high and stretch your arms out to the side; breathe deeply; hold the position (not the breathing) for two minutes. Doing this at various times during the day before or the morning before your interview will reduce your anxiety and increase your confidence.

ABSTRACT

The Benefit of Power Posing Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation Amy J. C. Cuddy & Caroline A. Wilmuth, Harvard University Dana R. Carney, University of California at Berkeley

The current experiment tested whether changing one‘s nonverbal behavior prior to a high-stakes social evaluation could improve performance in the evaluated task. Participants adopted expansive, open (high-power) poses, or contractive, closed (low-power) poses, and then prepared and delivered a speech to two evaluators as part of a mock job interview, a prototypical social evaluation. All speeches were videotaped and coded for overall performance and hireability, and the potential mediators of speech quality (e.g., content, structure) and presentation quality (e.g., captivating, confident). As predicted, high power posers performed better and were more likely to be chosen for hire, and this relationship was mediated only by presentation quality, not speech quality. Power pose condition had no effect on body posture during the social evaluation, thus highlighting the relationship between preparatory nonverbal behavior and subsequent performance.

Harvard Library Permanent link: https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/9547823

Citation

Cuddy, Amy J.C., Caroline A. Wilmuth, and Dana R. Carney. "The Benefit of Power Posing Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 13-027, September 2012.

Amy Cuddy delivered a well-known TED talk on body language. View it here:
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?hasProgress=true&language=en

RESOURCE: Power Poses: https://poisedandprofessional.com/2019/02/5-power-poses-to-kickstart-your-confidence/

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