Peer Corner

Phone Interviews: Piece of cake right???

For some students, phone interviews can initially seem to be a load off your shoulders if you are worried about what nervous habits you might display during an in-person interview. Twiddling your thumbs or staring off into space is something that you definitely don’t have to worry about.  However, a phone interview carries the same weight as an in-person interview and all of the same “rules” apply. You still should spend time preparing for the phone interview ahead of time and be ready to provide specific examples of HOW and WHY you are qualified for the position. Remember, the sound of your voice is also very important. I remember when my co-worker and I conducted a phone interview for the first round screening for new peer advisor applicants. This person sounded very unenthusiastic, like they had just rolled out of bed. Their lack of excitement and professionalism gave us the impression that they did not have much interest in the job.

In order to be successful in a phone interview, one must be aware of how they are sounding to the other person. Here are a few tips to help you ace the phone interview!

1) Make sure you are awake, prepared, and focused for the phone interview. Schedule the talk for a time when you will be free of interruptions.

2) Be sure to use a land line because cell phone service can be spotty – and it would be very unprofessional to have a dropped call during an interview!

3) It can help to dress in business or business casual attire to help you get into a professional mode.

4) Stand up straight to maintain a good posture so that it will reflect in your voice. Also be sure to smile as you talk!

5) Have copies of your resume and the job description in front of you.

Just like an in-person interview, you want to leave them with a good impression of you and your abilities and talents. Be smart! Be enthused! And Prepare! Follow these tips and you will have a better shot of making a great first impression that will help you nail that phone interview! Also check out these tips from the Career Center website: CLICK HERE

by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American Studies

Job and Internship Interviews: Preparation Should Go Beyond Just Behavioral Questions

If you’ve ever prepared for an interview, you have probably rehearsed responses to the inevitable inquiries: “What’s your greatest strength?” or “Tell me about a time when...”. When I interviewed for an internship with an interactive advertising agency in San Francisco last year, I did just that.  I had well-constructed answers with specific examples and measurable successes. I abided by C.A.R.E. (Context, Action, Result, Experience) and used every response to explain why I felt I was perfect for this particular position.

When I arrived at the red brick office for my final interview, however, all of my preparation went out the window (along with my chances of landing the internship). The interview was nothing like I expected! The receptionist put me in an office, which is where I spent the next two hours talking to four different Account Managers. Not one Account Manager asked me about my “greatest strength”—I was horrified! Instead, three of them struck up normal conversation with me. They asked me what I did in my spare time, what I knew and liked about the online marketing industry, and how I was enjoying my coursework at Cal. Caught off guard by their lack of formality, I gave brief, stiff answers and did not demonstrate my passion for the industry. I told them that I eventually wanted to start a magazine, but I did not tell them that I knew the basic principles of search engine marketing. Two weeks later, I got word that I didn’t get the position.

So, how do you prepare for interviews of this nature, i.e. ones that are more unstructured and casual?? In this particular case, the company initially conducted a phone interview to screen me as an applicant. It was during the phone interview that the recruiter posed the typical behavioral questions. The next round (in-person) interview was merely to see if my personality was a match for their company culture. They knew that I was qualified for the position, based on my resume, cover letter, and phone interview. Therefore, the goal for the final, in-person interview was to see if I was mature and confident, a good communicator, and knowledgeable about and genuinely interested in their industry. The way I look at it, in that stage, I was applying for the position based solely on my personality.

Having used that first interview as a great learning experience, I applied to the same company six months later. I prepped myself to be friendly, to make the interviewers feel comfortable, and to be talkative and open. I also: (1) learned the specific functions of the different departments of the company, (2) familiarized myself with the work they completed for their clients, and (3) studied the latest trends of the search engine marketing industry. As a result, I was able to ask intelligent questions and helped the conversations to thrive. My natural, genuine personality showed through and they loved me! This time around I got the position, just be being prepared to be myself.

by Peer: Danielle Leslie: 5th Year, Rhetoric

Second Round Interviews at the Googleplex

It was 7:30 on a Friday morning when we piled into the Google shuttle and were off to its headquarters in Mountain View for the second round of interviews. This was extremely convenient given that it’s quite a way from UC Berkeley campus, and their shuttle service takes all of its employees to and from work from all around the Bay Area. After the comfortable ride and dozens of worried and chatting hopeful students discussing their strategies for successful interviewing, we arrived. The day basically consisted of some presentations about the company, its benefits, specific position details, a round of interviews, and a great lunch.

In the past Google has been famous for an extremely grueling interview process, consisting of upwards to 16 interviews! Luckily, these days they have cut it down quite a bit, to around 4. Honestly, having to have to get up at 6:30 in the morning for the first time in 4 years, I was extremely happy about this development! I was interviewing for a People Operations Associate position, so the interviews were behavioral. In these types of interviews be prepared to talk about your experiences, professional and academic, and site specific examples of situations that demonstrate the qualities that the position demands. It was very similar to the first interview I had on campus, and the people were extremely friendly, open, and easy going.

To top off the day we had one of those famous Google meals, and it was simply delicious. But more importantly, at each of our tables were recent Google employees who were there to answer any of our questions and give us insights into the company we couldn’t get anywhere else. In fact, any time you have a meal in a professional setting, especially with recently hired representatives, it’s a great opportunity to network and get all your questions answered at the same time. After the meal and a tour of the Googleplex, which includes kitchens on every floor, a volleyball court in the courtyard, pool tables and video games spread out conveniently around every corner, it was time to head back.

The important thing to remember is to always ask when you will be hearing about the results of your application, and feel free to contact the employer after a period of time they specified. After a couple of weeks and no word, I contacted the recruiter and was happy to learn that I was offered a position!

My top 3 tips for preparing for behavioral interviews:

1) Do your research: Know the company, their culture, the position & its requirements, how your experiences match them and be prepared with specific examples.
2) The whole process is an interview: all of your interactions with recruiters, from greetings to conversations about the position to the actual interviews, should be considered part of the interview process. Always put your best foot forward accordingly.
3) Ask a lot of questions: The interview process goes both ways, you must evaluate the employer just as you are being evaluated by them. Get a really good impression of what working for a company will actually be like, day to day-if you get the position it will be a big part of your life for its duration, so you want to make sure you will enjoy it.

by Peer: Andrew Neginskiy: 4th Year, Psychology 

Internships: What a perfect time to conduct informational interviews!!!!

Informational interviews can be conducted anywhere, anytime, and with anyone.  Yes it’s true! They can happen at your very own convenience without the jitters and nervousness that you may get in a formal job interview.

Informational interviews serve to help you get more information through asking all the questions(This can be link to the career center website info interview questions) that you search endlessly for on the internet. An informational interview is an informal conversation with someone working in an area of interest to you who will give you information and advice. It is an effective research tool in addition to reading books, exploring the Internet and examining job descriptions. It is not a job interview, and the objective is not to find job openings.  “Interview can be a scary word, but don’t fret! With a little research and preparation ahead of time, you can set the stage for a fun and beneficial interaction with a key contact in your targeted field.  You only have to ask the questions that you want and that would be beneficial to you. What better place to do this than in your current place of work or internship/volunteer setting! Hopefully you will be working in a setting that you’re interested in, but if not then you have the freedom to contact anyone that is working in a field or organization that you’re curious about.

In my case, a hospital was the perfect place. There were so many different positions to learn about and explore; sometimes positions that I wouldn’t have even thought existed in a clinical setting.  There, I was able to conduct informational interviews with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, and public health educator.  Through conducting these interviews I was able to find out all the information that I ever wanted to ask a doctor or pharmacist to gain a better understanding of their responsibilities, educational paths, and the pros and cons of their career.  And as a result, I was able to find a path that is well-suited for my interests – working as a public health educators in the clinical health setting.

Looking to connect with individuals in a field of interest, or seeking opportunities to explore career options?  Then consider applying for a Winter Break Externship!  Externships are a perfect opportunity to network and conduct informational interviews.

Read more about this great opportunity here:  http://career.berkeley.edu/Externships/Externships.stm

by Peer: Erica McClanahan: 3rd Year, American Studies