Interview and Salary Advice
Interview Preparation
Look for continuity and commonality in your past experiences to make connections between you and your target job. Think of it as building interview bridges.
To schedule a mock interview/interview strategies appointment please call 971-722-5600.
PCC also has software Interviewprep for individualized video-recorded mock interviewing.
www.pcc.edu/resources/careers/job-coach/interview-practice.html
Here is how to navigate with images
- LinkedIn has an AI-powered interview recording tool: www.linkedin.com/interview-prep
- Yoodli is even more powerful and I know the University of Washington-Foster team has been using it: www.app.yoodli.ai
The key to a strong interview is understanding the employer’s agenda behind their questioning. Learn to predict their problems and needs.
Bring in work samples to your interview. You can create a notebook with written samples of your work, transcripts, recommendations, awards, etc. I suggest you organize the materials in a way that allows you to look “together” and that you can reference easily while talking to the interviewer/s
Science of People presents how to talk about yourself without bragging
Tanya’s Tips
All work environments and roles can be analyzed and divided into four categories – People, Data, Things, and Ideas. Breaking it down in this way will help you predict corresponding tasks, skills, and personalities that are necessary to perform the job. This is a useful process to do prior to interviewing to predict “roughly” the employer’s needs and the questions you can expect to be asked.
View Tanya’s Tips
- Interview Checklist
- Pre-Interview Preparation www.Job-Hunt.org
- What Hiring Managers look for
- Do’s and Dont’s Video from The Vault
- Job Dig Article – 10 Things You Must Do Before that Successful Interview
- Article from Glass Door Pre-Interview Preparation – Company Research
- Glassdoor – Interview Tips and 50 Questions
- Nice Info. graphic on interview answers
- Evaluating the job offer Article from The Balance
- Ace McKinsey “fit” tips – The Vault
- Interview Mistakes
- Behavioral Interview – common areas – Linkedin Training
- Questions and Answers
- DACA Rights and Interviewing
- Making a Good Impression – The Science of People
- 10 Behavior-Based Questions (Interview Strategy) The Science of People
- Answering – Why did you choose your major
- Interviewing Tips for People with ADHD
Video and Phone Interviewing
A few things I have noticed with my students
- Set up a neutral background even a sheet thumb-tacked to the ceiling will work.
- Check out your lighting and adjust (as much as you can) so you are not in the dark
- If you tape cheater notes to the screen – the interviewer may notice that you are reading your answers. So glance at your note and then look directly into the camera.
- Wear a complete interview outfit from head to toe
- If you can minimize noise pollution or interruptions (pets, spouses, kids, housemates…)
- Sometimes a park bench or your car is the best place to “meet”. Let your interviewer know this is your best place.
- All the rules of a face-to-face interview are still at play except the handshake
Video
- 10 Tips from sparkHire – Video interview platform (sparkHire)
- 1-Way Video Interviewing – (sparkHire)
- Description of various “remote/video” interviews – (Rambling Recruiter)
- Video interviewing – www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQwanxQmFnc
- Video – Distance Interview (SKYPE)
- How to Look Good on Skype
- www.Recruiter.com – Video Interview Pt. 1
- Tips for Video Interviewing
- More Tips – Youtube
- and More Video Interview Tips
- Preparing for a video interview – www.Recruiter.com
- Harvard Business School – Video Tips
- Home Photo Shoot (Science of People)
- 50+ Blogger (Hot and Flashy) Setting Up a Video Call Lighting
Phone
Body Language
- TED Talk – by Amy Cuddy on Body Language – www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html
- INC – article on body language
- National Autistic Society Video Shows What Job Interviews Can Be Like for People With Autism
- Interview Tips & Decoding the Questions: A Guide to Job Interviews for Students With Asperger’s and ASD
- The Complete Guide to Getting a Job for People with Asperger’s Syndrome by Barbara Bissonnette who’s done great work in this area.
- The Job Interview Employment Tool Kit From Autism Speaks
- Interviewing Tips for Applicants With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Interview Mistakes
www.careerealism.com/interview-mistakes-getting-offer
A Bit of Humor to Lighten the Mood
- Steven Colbert as career coach to President Obama
- What You Say – What They Hear YouTube video
- This is a video interview from the employer side – with a twist (bet it makes you cry – happy tears) shared by a PCC student and mom
Quick Interview Tip Video Clips (Homemade)
Interview Preparation “Tools”
- Interview One Sheeter – Your Personal Cliffs Notes from Career Services (QR Updated)
- Interview Cheat Sheet
- Cheat sheet 2
- Interview Critique form
- Top 10 with agenda
- Behavior-Based Interview
- Interview Strategies
- Before the Interview
- During the Interview
- After the Interview
- Telephone Interview
Interview Articles
Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
- 20 Questions to ask in your interview from Anthony Graziano (Blog)
- 8 Questions to Ask in Your Interview – Work it Daily
- Questions to ask the Interviewer
- The Muse – 51 Questions to Ask
- Questions to ask – to ascertain culture
- Questions to ascertain Diversity Equity and Inclusion
- Questions for an Internship Interview
Related Articles
- How to answer From Glassdoor – Slide show with answers
- Difficult Questions
- DEI Questions
- How to Answer – Were You Fired
- Preparing for 2nd Interview
- Video Interview Tips
- Article on Group Interviewing
- Disclosing Recovery at Work
- Disclosing a Disability
- Disclosing a Disability (NACE article)
- Ability Summit 2020 – Is Disclosure Right for You?
- 10 Questions and Answer Strategy (Compliments of the Balance)
- Answer strategy – Forbes magazine article
- Amazon Interview Tips
- Job – Hunt.org Article – Interview Preparation
- Developing Interview Skill Stories
- Interview Stories – Amazon CEO Tips
- Handling – Why Were You Fired?
- Answering Difficult Questions – The Balance
- Ted Talk Handling Rejection
- Waiting for the Job Offer
- Interview Nerves – www.workitdaily.com/stay-confident-during-job-interviews?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2
- Group Interviews
- Making a Good Impression (Indeed.com)
Salary and Benefit Negotiation
Negotiate Your Salary
- Assessing offers and how to decline/renege – Shared from USC
- Mac’s List – Podcast: You Mush Ask These Questions
- What to do if you change your mind about an offer
- What Reneging is & Why You Should Avoid it – Video from Georgetown University
- Salary Offers – Recruiter Perspective
- The Muse – Negotiating and the Hiring Process
- The American Association of University Women (AAUW) website – www.aauw.org or www.salary.aauw.org has some great information and resources regarding women and salary negotiation.
- AAUW Work Smart” Worksheet to help you assess your value to an organization
- Forbes article Negotiation mistakes that women need to avoid
- When and when not to negotiate
- Negotiating Parental Leave
- Negotiation Skills – The Science of People
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) drills down into salary data by state and occupation.
- PayScale can provide salary averages by employer, job, degree/major, certifications, relevant skills, industry, location, or even which school you attended.
- Salary.com lets you pop in a job title and location to get a salary estimate. You can also do comparisons between jobs and get additional insights into employment benefits.
- AngelList has a salary tool for job seekers who are navigating the startup scene. Startups frequently offer different types of compensation than more established companies and AngelList can help when you’re considering packages that might include a combination of salary and equity, for example.
Salary Negotiation Videos/Podcasts
- From Mac’s List – 10 Myths about Salary Negotiation
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSsJ1O7l8nQ
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSsJ1O7l8nQ
Salary Calculator
Interviewing After a Firing or Layoff
It may be hard to imagine that you can move your career forward after a negative experience but you can.
Take time to feel your feelings and make peace. Examine what happened and what you learned from this. Decide your focus and make a new game plan to move on. Talk to a career counselor and work out how you will handle this change and keep at least a neutral attitude about the past employer.
- Handling Interviewing after a termination
- www.macslist.org/networking/survive-bad-professional-reference
- Article from Careerealism
- Job Search Mental Health – Self-Care
Industry-Specific Questions
- Accounting & Finance
- Addiction Counseling or Addiction Counseling 2
- CJA (Probation and Security)
- Fire – Entry-Level or Fire Mock Interview Questions.pdf
- Another Fire What was a time you came up against a problem and how did you overcome it? What are some beliefs you hold and how can they be beneficial to the job?
- NW Fire Diversity Council Mock Oral Board
- Apprentice Fire (Pre-chief’s interview)
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Paralegal
- Paralegal Situational and Common Questions
- Teacher – from The Muse
- Physician Assistant School Interview
Clothing
Follow PK Gardner (University Career Professional) on Pinterest for non-binary clothing ideas
- Article from National Assoc. Careers & Employers www.community.naceweb.org/blogs/melena-postolowski/2017/10/10/gender-inclusive-professional-dress-guidelines
- www.pinterest.com/pk_gardner/professional-attire-beyond-the-binary
- www.thebalancecareers.com/gender-neutral-interview-and-business-clothing-2061166
- www.huffpost.com/entry/genderqueer-professional_b_5476239
- www.theprofessorisin.com/2011/11/07/how-to-dress-for-an-interview-as-a-butch-dyke
- www.them.us/story/clothes-shopping-gender-nonconforming
Female-identifying with information regarding pregnancy office attire
Female Business Clothing
Male-identifying information
Male Business Clothing
- GQ Magazine
- Gents Guide to Men’s Business Casual
- Advice on men’s attire – there is a picture diagram of Windsor and half Windsor knots
Additional Clothing Resources
- List of local re-sale/thrift stores
- www.Suitableattire.com
- Elevate Him Now (male attire and haircuts). This non-profit is also a resource for suicide prevention and mental health. We are by appointment only, which can be done by email at elevate.everyday@yahoo.com or through phone at (503) 810-1607. They can schedule appointments and do a quick intake, come in to get fitted with professional clothing. We are located in the Beaverton/ Portland area by Beaverton DMV off of Highway 26 and the Sunset Transit Center. www.elevatehimnow.org
- Acey’s Closet – for Dress For Success. Google Acey’s closet or call Dress for Success for the event dates. The most expensive item is a suit or Coat for $20.00, casual to business attire for women.
- Goodwill – employment services if you sign up as a job seeker you get a $20 voucher for clothing
- Students Guide to Business Casual – LinkedIn