New York University The Steinhardt School, Department of Media, Culture and Communication

Interviewing Strategies

E !"#$%& Section , 'all (&#), *ednesdays #(+)&,#+% -M, .C/S0, 1oom (2!

(updated 9/30/13)

Instructor: Dawn 3" *erner Office Location: ()! .reene Street, East 4uildin5, $,6th 'loor, New York, NY #&&&),22$% Contact Info: E,mail+ d7w 8nyu"edu Department -hone+ (#(,!!6, #!# Office Hours: *ednesdays (,)-M9 please arran5e an appointment time and location with the instructor"

Statement of Goals and O !ecti"es The 5oal of this course is to 5ain insi5ht into effective interpersonal communication in an interview settin5" :ur studies will focus on understandin5 and developin5 successful ver;al and nonver;al communication strate5ies in selection interviews" *e e<plore a variety of interviewin5 formats includin5 traditional and ;ehavior,;ased interviewin5 practices with dyads, small 5roups, panels and technolo5y,assisted interviews" =n addition, we e<amine the impact of various aspects of the 7o; search process on interviewin5 success includin5+ career 5oals, the profile of >ideal? candidates, ethics, research on career fields and specific or5ani@ations, unusual Aand difficultBC interview Duestions and responses, networkin5, resumes Aand additional written communicationC, standard and unusual interview formats, evaluatin5 or5ani@ations, ille5al Duestions, ne5otiatin5 an offer and the role of technolo5y in a 7o; search" *e will also study ver;al and nonver;al communication theories that ena;le you to ;e interviewed, and to conduct interviews, more effectively" This course emphasi@es >active learnin5? which includes+ class discussions, student presentations, case studies, role plays, 5roup research and e<ercises with partners" These learnin5 opportunities reinforce, and 5ive you the opportunity to practice, the theories of interpersonal communication we study in this course" #e$ts The required te<t+ Ei5h,=mpact =nterview Fuestions ;y Gictoria Eovemeyer, pu;lished in (&&2 ;y /M/C:MH/merican Mana5ement /ssociation Aat a cost of appro<imately I#$"! C" Selected articles from Earvard 4usiness School -u;lishin5, availa;le online Adownloada;le formatC at www"h;sp"or5 for a small fee" The reDuired Eovemeyer te<t is availa;le online or at the NYU ;ookstore" Course %olicies This course reDuires listenin5, respondin5 to others and presentin5 your own ideas, therefore, thoughtful participation at all class and 5roup meetin5s is reDuired" -lease complete assi5ned >1elated 1eadin5s? and >-ractice Fuestions? before class meetings" Students are responsi;le for si5nin5 the attendance sheet, referencin5 NYU Classes throu5hout the semester and stayin5 current with class lecture material" *ritten assi5nments must ;e typed A##,#( pts, # inch mar5insC, single-spaced, stapled and carefully proofread for clarity and 5rammatical errors" Unless otherwise Dawn J. Werner - 1 -

directed, assignments are not accepted by e-mail" Please keep copies of all your graded work. Course reDuirements must ;e completed ;y the assi5ned dates9 late work will ;e accepted at the discretion of the instructor and reviewed only with the date and a handwritten note of explanation at the top of the late assignment. Grades will be reduced for late assignments for religious observances! please communicate with the instructor before the assignment is due". #ttendance at all class meetin5s is essential9 a;sences not e<cused ;y NYU policy will lower your 5rade" /ll coursework must adhere to NYU policies re5ardin5 academic integrity" =f you have Duestions re5ardin5 our coursework, please ask in class so the entire class may ;enefit from your inDuiries" 'or Duestions or concerns that cannot ;e discussed in class, please see me individually"

Dawn J. Werner - 2 -

&e'uired (ssi)nments 1*) Class %articipation (30+) These e<ercises are desi5ned to tailor this course to your individual interestsJand to ;e short, easy and funB *e will discuss these assi5nments in 5reater depth durin5 class" $%& 'lasses (esponses ,ac- .ee/ students prepare a written response to a Duestion that they are likely to encounter in interviews" These Duestions are posted on the >Discussion 4oard? on NYU Classes9 please post your 1 para)rap- response to the Duestion ;y #&-M the evenin5 ;efore class" )ront (ow Presentations On a pre0assi)ned date, students present an article which is related to the topic we are studyin5 in class that day" -resentations are appro<imately 103 minutes and include+ a self,introduction, hi5hli5hts of the article you selected Aincludin5 title, author and sourceC and insi5hts from your interviewin5 e<perience which relate the article" /rticles should ;e pu;lished in the last year ;y Ahi5hly credi;leC sources includin5+ The New York Times, *all Street 3ournal, *ashin5ton -ost, 'inancial Times, Newsweek, 4usiness*eek, 'or;es, etc" -resenters will also lead the class discussion that day" -lease si5n,up for a presentation date ;y our )rd class meetin5 on Septem er 12 post 3our article on 456 Classes ( 3 10%7) t-e ni)-t efore class and hand,in a cop3 of 3our article on t-e da3 of 3our presentation* Student Info )orm /vaila;le on NYU Classes9 1 pa)e due Septem er 11* *ob Profile /vaila;le on NYU Classes9 1 pa)e due Septem er 12* +thics (esponse #vailable on NYU Classes9 1 pa)e due Octo er 1* Skills ,atrix /vaila;le on NYU Classes9 101 pa)es due Octo er 9* 1*) &esume8 Co"er Letter 9 #-an/ 5ou 4ote(s) (10+) Each student will prepare a resume, letter of introduction and thank you notes Ae,mail and ;usiness letter formatsC that relate to your >3o; -rofile"? You are reDuired to meet with me individually Aon the day of your front row presentationC for feed;ack on these assi5nments and weKll also discuss your career o;7ectives and 7o; search" Eowever, you will have the opportunity to meet with me more often if you would like to make more e<tensive revisions to your materials" The cover letter, resume and thank you notes Aone ;rief e,mail format, one full,len5th formal thank youC should ;e appro<imately # pa5e Asin5le,spacedC in len5th AeachC and are due on Octo er 13" ANote+ E<tra credit is availa;le for students who would like to revise and resu;mit this work, assumin5 it shows improvement and responsiveness to our review" -lease su;mit a copy of the ori5inal and improved versions ;y the last day of class"C 3*) &esearc- %ro!ect (12+) *orkin5 with a partner, students conduct interviews with professionals who are e<perienced with selection interviews" Specifically, students must interview at least two professionals Aone interview per 5roup mem;erC and 5ather information on their approach to interviewin5 candidates" =n your paper, please compare, contrast and hi5hli5ht commonalities 5athered from your research and su55est effective communication strate5ies for applicants ;ased on what you learn" / su55ested >'ramework? for this pro7ect is outlined on the last pa5e of this sylla;us and please cite our te<ts" The specific num;er of 5roup mem;ers will depend on course enrollment and partners must ;e finali:ed 3 our ;t- class meetin) on Septem er 12* Each 5roup will su;mit one paper that is appro<imately 2 pa)es in len5th due on 4o"em er <" You should also ;e prepared to make a short presentation to the class, Dawn J. Werner - 3 -

which summari@es your findin5s" You may include a ;rief cover letter, which discusses how your 5roup approached the pro7ect, and indicate your individual student contri;utions" ;*) Self0(ssessment (32+) 'or this assi5nment, students are asked to prepare a critical analysis of their performance in the interviewin5 process" -lease discuss your personal approach to interviewin5, identify areas that reflect your stren5ths and weaknesses, and su55est strate5ies to interview more effectively" -lease reference our te<ts Aincludin5 su55ested readin5s and additional sources9 one citation per para5raphC and class discussions in your analysis" =deas for topics include+ career 5oals, research Aon 5eneral fields and specific or5ani@ationsC, ;ehavior,;ased interviewin5 techniDues, resumes, cover letters, follow,up activities, phone skills, interview preparation practiceC, interpersonal rapport, listenin5 skills, assessin5 or5ani@ations, ne5otiatin5 an offer, unusual interview formats and ethics" The self,assessment is appro<imately 3 pa)es in len5th and is due on 4o"em er 1=*

Dawn J. Werner - 4 -

>ee/l3 Sc-edule and #opics for Class 7eetin)s: ?all 1013 (updated 9/30/13) @1 Sep ;8 1013 Course Introduction: Communication and Selection Inter"ie.s @1 Sep 118 1013 Ae"elopin) a Career Strate)3 Related Reading+ Hovemeyer Ch. 1; White, Ch. 1 NYU Classes Question: >*hy do you want this 7o;? !lease note: "tudents may u#date their res#onse to this $uestion a%ter &om#leting their '(o) !ro%ile assignment. -ue. Student Information )orm @3 Sep 1B8 1013 Inter"ie.in) from a #-eoretical %erspecti"e Related Readings: htt#:**+++.dartmouth.edu*,om)uds*resour&es*&ommuni&ation.html htt#:**+++.e-aminer.&om*arti&le*the.im#ortan&e.o%.nonver)al. &ommuni&ation./o).intervie+s NYU Classes Question+ >-lease 5ive me an e<ample of a time when your listenin5 skills were challen5ed, and tell me how you met the challen5e"? -ue. Student Information )orm for late registrants" @; Sep 128 1013 CIdealD Eo (pplicants: Fualities #-at (ll ,mplo3ers Loo/ ?or Related Reading+ H0"!, Re#rint 1 R23214 'What5s Your "tory? White Ch. 6 7 3 NYU Classes Question 89uidelines on NYU Classes:: '-lease tell me a;out yourself"? -ue. *ob Profile and )inali/e dates for 0)ront (ow1 Presentations. @2 Oct 18 1013 Competenc30Gased Ge-a"ioral Inter"ie.in) (CGGI) Related Reading+ Hovemeyer Ch. ; 7 <; White, Ch. ; 7 < NYU Classes Question: >*hat are the stren5ths and weaknesses in your communication skillsL? =dditional Questions: Communi&ation ">ills in Hovemeyer, Ch. <: Communi&ation 8oral: #. 6? Communi&ation 8+ritten: #. 6@ Con%li&t Aanagement #. 31 Bn%luen&ing*!ersuading #. ?1 Bnter#ersonal ">ills #. ?6 Cistening #. ?D !resentation ">ills #. @@ -ue. +thics (esponse and )inali/e Partners for (esearch Pro2ect. #-e %o.er of &esearcRelated Reading+ Hovemeyer Ch. D 7 ? NYU &lasses Question: '-lease 5ive me an e<ample of somethin5 youKve done that prepares you for this position"? =dditional Questions: Resear&h*Enthusiasm in Hovemeyer Ch. <: 0usiness =&umen #. 66 Career =m)ition #. 66 Dawn J. Werner - 5 -

@< Oct 98 1013

Bn%ormation 9athering #. ?; -ue. Skills ,atrix. @= Oct 1<8 1013 &esumes #-at Get Inter"ie.s Bn.Class Handouts: Werner*Written Communi&ation !a&>et NYU Classes Question9 >*hat is your 5reatest academic successJand failureL? =dditional Questions: Re&ord o% "u&&ess in Hovemeyer Ch. <: =nalyti&al ">ills #. 6< Creativity #. 33 4un&tional*Fe&hni&al (o) ">ills #. D? !ro)lem "olving #. @@ Results Grientation #. H; @B Oct 138 1013 (nal3:in) 5our Interpersonal St3le Related Reading+ White, !ost.=ssessment =&tivity #gs. H?.HH. NYU Classes Question: >Eow would your peers descri;e youL? !ra&ti&e Questions: !ersonal "tyle in Hovemeyer Ch. <: =&tion Grientation #. 6; 'When you en&ounter a #ro)lem, ho+ do you res#ond? Customer 4o&us #. 3D 'Ho+ +ould you deal +ith a rude &ustomer? Fime Aanagement #. 121 'Ho+ do you manage your time? Bn.Class E-er&ise: "imulated Bntervie+s in&luding 9reeting and Closing -ue. (esume with 'over 3etter 4 5hank %ou $ote s" @9 Oct 308 1013 4et.or/in) #-at Gets Eo s NYU Classes Question+ >Do you prefer to work alone or in teamsL? =dditional Questions: =)ility to Wor> in Feams in Hovemeyer Ch. <: Iiversity #. D1 !artnershi# #. @1 !eer Relations #. @< Feams*Ceadershi# #. H@ Feams*Feam !layer #. 122 @10 4o" <8 1013 (ssessin) Or)ani:ations: #-e Fuestions %ou 4eed to (s/ Related Reading+ White, Ch. ? NYU Classes Question: >Do you have any Duestions for meL? !ra&ti&e Questions: Rational Fhought !ro&ess in Hovemeyer Ch. <: =m)iguity #. 6; Bnitiative #. ?< Aotivation #. ?@ !ers#e&tive #. @3 -ue. (esearch Pro2ects @11 4o" 138 1013 C-allen)in) Situations: 6nusual Structures8 #actics and Fuestions Related Reading: Hovemeyer, Ch. 3; White, Ch. D NYU Classes Question: >Eow many 5as stations are there in /mericaL? =dditional Questions: Rea&tion to !ressure in Hovemeyer Ch. <: Com#osure #. 32 Dawn J. Werner - 6 -

!ersonal Ievelo#ment #. @6 !oliti&al =+areness #. @? "tress Aanagement #. HD @11 4o" 108 1013 ,t-ics: Ille)al Fuestions8 %arallel Inter"ie.in) 9 ,t-ical C-allen)es NYU Classes Question: '*hat other firms are you interviewin5 withL? =dditional Questions: !ro%essional Aaturity, Hovemeyer Ch. <: Ethi&s #. D6 Aeasuring Wor> !er%orman&e #. ?? @13 4o" 1=8 1013 4e)otiatin): Ho. to Optimi:e a Eo Offer 9 Launc- 5our Career Related Reading+ Hovemeyer, Ch. @; White, Ch. @ NYU Classes Question: >*e hope youKll accept our offer" ? =dditional Questions: !lanning and GrganiJation ">ills in Hovemeyer Ch. <: Continuous Bm#rovement #. 3< Ietail Grientation #. 3H 4le-i)ility*=da#ta)ility #. DD 9oals*=&&om#lishments #. DH Negotiation #. ?H -ue. Self-#ssessment @1; Aec ;8 1013 (ssessments Course &e"ie.: Aiscussion of &esearc- %ro!ects and Self0

Supplemental &eadin): Inter"ie.in) 3 4ational Gusiness ,mplo3ment >ee/l3 4y Eirsch, /" S" -u;lished ;y 3ohn *iley M Sons, =nc", New York, #!!%" Inter"ie. St3les 9 Strate)ies ;y *hite, /55ie" -u;lished ;y Southwestern Thompson 0earnin5, (&&)" 7onster Careers: Ho. to Land t-e Eo of 5our Life 4y 3eff Taylor with Dou5 Eardy" -u;lished ;y -en5uin 4ooks, New York, (&&%" %o.er Inter"ie.s 4y Yea5er, N" and Eou5h, 0" -u;lished ;y 3ohn *iley M Sons, =nc", New York, #!!6" >omen and 7en Communicatin) C-allen)es and C-an)es8 1 nd ,d" 4y /rliss, 0"-", 4orisoff, D"3" -u;lished ;y *aveland -ress, =nc" 0on5 .rove, =0, (&&#" Chapter ## >=ntersections of .ender and Employment =nterviewin5"?

Dawn J. Werner - 7 -

4e. 5or/ 6ni"ersit3 #-e Stein-ardt Sc-ool of ,ducation8 Aepartment of 7edia8 Culture and Communication Inter"ie.in) Strate)ies: ,29*1=;08 %rofessor >erner Informati"e Inter"ie.: ?rame.or/ for &esearc- %ro!ect .it- a %artner(s) 'or this assi5nment each 5roup will ;e reDuired to interview two professionals with e<perience in conductin5 selection interviews to 5ather research on topics su55ested in the >'ramework? ;elow" This assi5nment uses an informative interview protocol to conduct fieldwork" / professional approach, 5eneral research a;out the career field and specific knowled5e of the interview process is reDuired for this assi5nment" .roups are encoura5ed Anot reDuiredC to meet with me to discuss your strate5ies and 5uide your approach" Your paper should include specific references to our te<ts and address the followin5 5eneral areas+ #"C 4ack5round of :r5ani@ations =nterviewed Data+ name, location, related entities, si@e, etc" 1elationship to .roup+ Eow did you decide to interview this sourceL :r5ani@ational Cultures+ history, or5" chart, culture, stereotypes ("C 4ack5round of Euman 1esources 1epresentative Career path and current roleL )"C .eneral -rofile of 1ecruits *hat Dualities do they look forL 1eDuired education, e<perience, personal Dualities %"C /pproach to =nterviewin5 Eow do they find employeesL :n,campus, off,campus, sources of leads, internships, annual calendar for recruitment and hirin5, len5th, networkin5 opportunities, trainin5 "C =nterviewer Structure and Fuestions *hat are interviews likeL Specifics of interviews+ 5eneral e<pectations, len5th, Duestions, first impressions, etc" 2"C Evaluations Eow are applicants assessedL 'ormal or informal, assessment forms, follow,up from applicant, timeframes, how Duickly are decisions made $"C 1eview the >=nterview -rocess? for /dditional =nformation /sk for additional information on key areas that relate to+ knowled5e of career 5oals, conductin5 research on fields and specific or5ani@ations, networkin5, phone skills, interview preparation, cover letters, resumes, thank you notes M follow,up, interpersonal rapport, listenin5 skills, respondin5 to various interview structures M Duestions, ne5otiatin5 an offer and future chan 5es" 6"C .eneral /dvice for =nterviewees *hat impacts the interview in a ne5ative or positive wayL *hat is the ;est way for applicants to prepare for an interviewL *hat Duestions do interviewees ask that impact the interviewL *hat is important for interviewees to know as they assess or5ani@ationsL Dawn J. Werner - 8 -

!"C =s there anythin5 else you would su55est = askL Note+ These are 5eneral su55estions for a framework for this assi5nment" =ndividual 5roups will ;e directed to modify this framework for their individual fieldAsC of interest and pro7ect" Contact =nformation for -artnerAsC+

Dawn J. Werner - 9 -