In the capstone project, you will combine the skills you’ve learned in the prior four courses of the specialization to polish your elevator speeches, complete your resumes - including multiple versions for different targets - complete your story file, identify possible jobs or careers, perform the research you have learned to do, write suitable cover letters, and ideally land a job! You will: 1. Develop a personal marketing plan and campaign for getting interviews. 2. Identify at least three organizations with open positions for which you want to apply. 3. Research those organizations and positions. 4. Prepare pitch sheets and J.I.S.T. cards (mini-resumes) targeting those positions. 5. Complete your resume, and if necessary complete multiple versions to target each position. 6. Write appropriate cover letters for the positions. 7. Record and evaluate responses to a set of standard interview questions. 8. Record and evaluate responses to a set of predictable behavioral interview questions. 9. Record and evaluate a response to one situational interview question. 10. Record and evaluate a response to one wild-card question. As the specialization has focused throughout on the real-world skills you need to research yourself, the market, and a company and has given you strategies and tools to prepare for and succeed in an interview, the capstone project should align with what you have been trained for and position you to land the job you want!
Using the Pro-Con Response Strategy
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來自 University of Maryland, College Park 的課程
How To Land the Job You Want (Capstone Project)
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Responding to Advanced Interview Questions
This week you practice behavioral, situational and wild-card interview questions. Your responses should align with the competencies you've identified for the positions you have targeted.
與講師見面
Charles DuquetteLecturer/Marketing Coordinator
Maryland English Institute
[MUSIC]
In our last lesson, you learned about the point recent example point strategy
by answering situational interview questions.
In this lesson, you're going to learn about John's next strategy for
answering these what if questions.
John, can you walk us through this strategy?
>> Happy to.
This is a pros versus cons strategy.
You start off by framing the issue, then you talk about the benefits, and
then talk about the drawbacks.
Finally you conclude with your recommendation.
>> What's your thinking behind the strategy?
>> Well, remember, one of the reasons a hiring manager poses these
what if questions is to draw out your analytical and problem solving skills.
Using the pros vs cons reasoning strategy is a great way to highlight these skills,
especially your analytical skills.
>> Why is that?
>> You start by identifying the key issue.
That in itself demonstrates your ability to zero in on what's important.
Then, you weigh the arguments for one case of action.
The pros, against the counter arguments, the cons.
Which side outweighs the other?
That pro versus con approach leads you through reasoning and
analysis to a conclusion.
How does that compare to using PREP?
>> The P-R-E-P strategy also let's you demonstrate your powers of reasoning.
There, it's the way you explain your reasons and offer examples.
But offering arguments both for and against, shows you as more even handed,
more neutral.
And that translates into more trustworthy.
You can look at issues from different points of view.
You're not married to one or the other.
That's important for almost any position.
>> Can you give us an example?
>> Sure.
Again, I'm thinking of the United Health position.
Innovation, they've got big name competitors.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Care Mark, The Kaiser Foundation, Aetna.
These are all big companies who are competing for innovative solutions.
So let's take a what if question that is tailored for companies that compete for
leading innovative solutions.
This is health care, but it could be a big tech company or even a small startup.
The question is, you have reason to believe that a fellow manager is preparing
to divulge company secrets to a rival corporation,
and these secrets have the potential to really damage the company.
How would you deal with this situation?
>> Okay, corporate espionage.
So now, are you going to play James Bond?
>> [LAUGH] Maybe, but what would Mr. Bond think?
Country first.
Same thing for me.
I've got to think company first.
Well, what's the issue?
>> What is the issue?
The interviewer says I have reason to believe.
Well, what are those reasons?
So to me, that's a key question.
Do I have actual proof?
Do I have hard evidence?
So I would probably open with, if I know that the fellow is preparing to divulge
secrets then I would act to protect the company.
But if I don't have actual proof,
then I would act to protect the relationship with the man.
That's how I would frame the issue.
>> That way you demonstrate your reasoning.
Your not just willing to accept the assumption.
>> Right.
>> Great, and to frame the discussion, let's use this question.
What would you do if you believe strongly in a recommendation you made in a meeting
but most of your coworkers shot it down.
>> Yeah.
That is great question to use the pro versus con strategy.
With this strategy, first we need to identify the issue.
Next we talk about the benefits, the pro's.
Then we talk about the drawbacks, the cons.
And then we conclude with our recommendation.
So far, so good.
Can we see it in action?
>> Let's go for it.
As before, I'll use a story that I've identified from my professional past to
respond to this question.
I can't emphasize enough how crucial
it is to have these stories prepared ahead of time.
In this case, we'll use the same story as before, but
I'll repurpose it to fit this strategy.
Interesting.
So you've come up with stories from your experience that can be used in
multiple ways?
>> Definitely.
This is a key point.
Having specific stories that can be used to answer multiple behavior or
situational interview questions is a key component to successful interviewing.
>> That's great advice.
>> Absolutely >> Okay, so as before I've made
the recommendation to centralize workflow through a centralized system.
However, in this case there is some pushback from coworkers.
Here's how I approach this question at this point.
First, I establish the issue.
My response would start like this.
This is something I've dealt with before.
In my case, I asked to present my argument at our next meeting.
My first step was to present the issue.
We were having quality control issues on deliverables to our client.
So I framed the larger issue in terms of client satisfaction and quality control.
Then I have to present the pros and cons.
During the presentation, I talked about the improved quality that would come from
a manager's review, as well as the improved relationship with our client.
The negative impact is that for employees it's an extra layer of bureaucracy and
we might run the risk of project delays.
Finally, I need to give a recommendation.
So in this case I said, I think we should try out this system for three months.
We can analyze whether or not it's working and then tweak the system, or
scrap it if it's not effective.
And this was accepted as a good compromise and
we implemented the quality control system.
I'm happy to report that it's still in use today.
>> Wow, excellent answer.
I like how you included the update on its status today.
>> Yeah, if you happen to know that information,
that's a natural thing to include.
>> Thanks for helping out today John.
We'll see you next time.
>> Thanks, happy to be here.
[MUSIC]
