The OC AMA event last week also included a session at the beginning for those who are in transition. Mark Steiman, with Kinecta Federal Credit Union was nice enough to provide the group with tips for interviewing from an HR Officer’s perspective.
If you weren’t able to attend, here are some key points from the session with Mark:
• The business environment today has caused a change in people’s actions — more people stay put and are less likely to take risks because of economic uncertainty.
• Collaboration has increased because people have to find different and cost effective ways to solve a problem.
• The interview– What are they (HR, the person interviewing you) thinking: Am I making the good hiring decision? I can’t afford to mess up… It wastes time and money. Can I get this person with my budget? How can this person help me? How quickly can they execute results? Is this person compatible with my team?
• A recent Gallup poll showed that only 29% of people say they are engaged in their organization. The others are not engaged or are actively disengaged.
• By age 42, the average American will change jobs 11 times (Source: Wall Street Journal, 12/08)
• You must be responsive to change and have resiliency in order to be successful
• When it comes to you and the interview:
- You get out of it what you put into it
- Do your homework: Be prepared! Spend a minimum of 10 hours of homework for any interview that you do. Maybe 1% will spend more than 4-5 hours
- Be realistic- this is one of many interviews you may have
• It is generally appropriate to ask the salary when they ask what you want to make.
• What NOT to do on an interview –
- Nervous habits- drumming fingers, cracking knuckles, shaking foot, clicking pen
- Be a motor mouth: This tends to say to the interviewer that you are concerned with yourself & not a team player. Instead, be succinct!
- Have a dead fish handshake: Show confidence before and after the interview (giving a great first and last impression).
- Joke around about inappropriate things
- Ask to get a tour unless you are a final candidate
• Why people do things–
1. Save time
2. Save money
3. Make money
4. Added piece of mind or security
5. Because it feels good
Anything you talk about should link up to one of those five things!
• Focus on profit generating activities:
Reduce operating expenses
Head off rising employment risks (retention)
Upgrade your workforce
Capitalize on new opportunities
Make use of incentive compensation plans
Make the most of your training – how have you learned and applied it
Improve communication on the team
Improve peace of mind
Lastly, remember that persistence is critical!
Thanks, Mark for sharing these tips! You can catch the next career development session with the OC AMA at its event on October 19. More details to come, which will be on their website soon.
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