Speech Appendix A Homework Sometimes Life Have Second Chance Make Impression

Appendix A

Job Interviews

A

APPENDIX OUTLINE

APPENDIX INTRODUCTION

• Appendix A opens with a story about Ned, a recently graduated student who returned home to

live with his mother while looking for a job. He hoped to find a job and his own place soon.

Although he worked part-time throughout college, he had never interviewed for a full-time

position before. Ned knew there were a lot of factors to consider for the interview, including

PREPARING FOR YOUR JOB INTERVIEW

• Preparing for the interview during your job search is critical.

• Practicing interview techniques that work (while avoiding those that don’t) can help you come out of the

interview with a real chance at getting the job.

• Finally, knowing what you should do after your interview can enhance your chances for getting the job

and provide you with some takeaways for potential future interviews.

• General Questions

 Before you apply for a job and interview for it, consider some basic questions:

• What matters most to you in a job?

• Take Stock

 In preparing for your job hunt, you should take stock of your own motives, qualifications,

strengths, and weaknesses. Use the following questions as a starting place:

• Why do you want this specific job?

• What makes you qualified for this job?

• Why should this employer want you?

• Résumé

• Social Media

 Most interviewing opportunities occur because of networking—reaching out to people in the field

that you know, going on informational interviews, and making it clear to all your contacts

(perhaps through social media sites) that you are hunting for a job in your field.

• Homework

 Do some research before your interview.

 Depending on the type of work this employer does and how large it is, you can look through the

company’s website and Twitter feed and enter the organization’s name in a search engine to find

industry-specific news involving the company.

• Practice

 Because interviewers often ask the same types of questions (you can find them in a job book or

• Attire and Appearance

 First impressions are lasting impressions.

 For men, an interview outfit usually means a suit and tie:

• A business casual wardrobe should include a dark blue or gray suit, a blue blazer, two

pairs of good-quality slacks (brown, tan, or gray), several dress shirts, several ties, and at

least one pair of polished black leather shoes.

DURING THE JOB INTERVIEW

• Here are some guidelines to help you advance your application for the job and avoid sabotaging your

chances for a job offer.

• Levels of Interviews

 In many companies, the human resources (HR) manager will do phone interviews to screen out

most candidates immediately.

• During this phone interview, it’s necessary to sound lively and relaxed, so be sure to call

from a quiet and uninterrupted place.

 On a subsequent interview, you might meet other people in the group.

• Be Prepared.

 Being punctual leaves a positive first impression.

 Most common interview questions boil down to the following questions:

• Tell me about yourself.

• What interests you about this job?

• What do you know about our company so far?

 Also, take extra copies of your résumé in case you have to meet with several people.

 Bring a professional portfolio of your work if you’re applying for a creative job.

• Act Confident.

 With more information about the position and the work environment, you will be better

equipped to evaluate whether this job is a good fit for you.

• Wrapping Up

 Toward the end of the interview, you likely will be asked if you have any questions.

 Here are some questions you could ask your interviewer:

• What to Avoid

 Avoid falling into the trap of bragging or overselling yourself.

 Avoid bad-mouthing any former employers.

 Avoid answering inappropriate or illegal questions. (You do not have to answer every question.)

 Do not raise the subject of your salary in the first interview.

 Avoid making inappropriate jokes or comments.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• After the interview is over, the interview process is not yet complete.

• Exercise Patience.

 It can take from twenty-four hours to two weeks for a company to respond to a job seeker after

a job interview.

• Send Thank-You Notes.

 In the modern era, you can send a note of thanks to each of your interviewers via an e-mail

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. “First impressions are last impressions.” How does this concept apply to interviews, and what are

some examples of attire you should wear for a position in a corporate environment? (Students might

benefit from receiving a copy of the “Professional Attire and Appearance Checklist” that appears at

the end of this chapter in the instructor’s manual.)

• Sometimes in life we have a second chance to make an impression, but we typically get one

shot to make a lasting favorable impression in an interview setting. Students who are new to

the interviewing world usually appreciate guidance regarding appropriate attire for the big

day.

2. What information should you include on your résumé? How is a LinkedIn account similar to a

résumé? How is a LinkedIn account different from a résumé?

• Your résumé should include your contact information in an aesthetically appealing header.

Also include a summary of yourself in a few sentences, your educational background,

relevant employment experience, specific job skills, volunteer experience, organizational

involvement, and awards and honors. All information should be presented in reverse

chronological order.

A

APPLY YOUR SKILLS

1. Review the illustration “From Initial Questions …” on page A-1 in the text, and conduct a cost-

of-living activity. Have students research the salary for a high school teaching position in two

cities—San Francisco, California, and Indianapolis, Indiana. What is the difference in salary? Now

have them research the cost of a 1,500-square foot home in both locations. What is the difference in

price? Have them research the population per square foot in each city and determine how that can

PERSONAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

1. Have students think of a time where they had an interview where they either bombed or aced it. If

they had a bad experience, have them identify what went wrong and list some key takeaways from

that experience. Conversely, if they had a great experience, have them identify what went right and

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

1. Have students pretend they just left an interview for a position related to their field of interest.

Have them take a sheet of paper and write a hypothetical message (e-mail) thanking the members of

2. Have students form groups of four or five students, and give them 10 minutes to complete this

activity. Have each group research some questions to ask their potential employer toward the end of

A

ADDITIONAL MEDIA RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

1. Search for and watch the two-minute video titled “How to Dress for Your Next Job Interview—

Forbes.” How does the passage that says “dress for the job you want, not for the job you have”

apply to you? (Students might benefit from receiving a copy of the “Professional Attire and

2. Watch in class the 15-minute video by National Elevator Pitch Champion Chris Westfall titled

“The Art of the Elevator Pitch: Chris Westfall” (2011). Using the strategies that Westfall discusses,

H

HANDOUTS AND READY–TO–PRINT ACTIVITIES

What’s Your Story?

Write your story in the space below. Think about how your story is different

from everyone else’s. How did you become interested in a certain major? Did a

specific incident lead you to where you are? Brainstorm all of your unique

qualities and accomplishments. Following the advice of National Elevator Pitch

Champion Chris Westfall, ask yourself “So what?” after noting your

accomplishments.

Background: _______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Unique characteristics: ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Key accomplishments (“So what?”): ___________________________________

Professional Attire and Appearance Checklist

MALES

_____ Professional suit (gray, black, or navy)

_____ Buttoned, collared shirt (solid color; use a color that contrasts with your suit)

FEMALES

_____ Professional suit (jacket with skirt or pants; gray, black, navy, or tan)

_____ Professional dress (with appropriate coverage of the neck and shoulders; length at or below the

knee; black, gray, navy, or tan)

MALES AND FEMALES

_____ Padfolio (for keeping copies of your résumé and the business cards received at the

interview)

Appendix B

Sample Speeches

A

AP P E N D I X O U T L I N E

SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH

Extra Credit You Can Live Without

Anna Martinez

California State University–Fresno

• Anna Martinez selected student credit card debt as the topic of her persuasive speech. Based on

her survey of the audience, she determined that it would not be feasible to argue that students

should not use credit cards. She selected a different thesis that was within their latitude of

SAMPLE INFORMATIVE SPEECH

Freeganism: More Than a Free Lunch

DJ

• In this speech about an idea, DJ uses a categorical pattern to cover three elements of the topic—

SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH

Preventing Cyberbullying

Elijah

• In this speech, Elijah addresses cyberbullying, a growing problem in society. His first main point

establishes the nature and extent of the problem, and his next two points address solutions—

SAMPLE PERSUASIVE SPEECH

Child Slavery and the Production of Chocolate

David Kruckenberg

Santiago Canyon College

• Student David Kruckenberg presented this speech in the finals of the Phi Rho Pi National

• He uses diverse reasoning strategies and consistently documents his claims with evidence.

David’s speech is well organized, with a clear preview and transitions between each main point.

His audience-centered solution demonstrates how each of us can be personally involved in

addressing the problem.