Customer Reviews

Competency-Based Interviews: Master the Tough New Interview Style And Give Them the Answers That Will Win You the Job

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a Columbia MBA student, I found Kessler's book really helpful. I've found interviewing at business school very difficult because I'm surrounded by amazingly well-qualified competition! Interviews are one of my weakest points and I've read a bunch of interview guides in the hopes of finding out what I'm doing wrong. Until this book, I found these guides kind of useless and a waste of money (e.g. the Vault Guide to Finance Interviews). But this book was great. It has changed the way I view interviews and has made interviews considerably less scary. While other books talk about what and what not to say, she focuses more on the approach to your answers. I found this more applicable and practical.

Instead of focusing on you, Kessler focuses on the interviewer. She gives the interviewer's perspective and examples of what the interviewer might have in front of him or her during the interview. This gave me a better idea of what interviewers are looking for and how I should structure my answers. Building answers around competencies has made my answers more strong and concise.

Kessler also has a section of interview examples and her critiques of the candidate's answers. I recognized a bunch of mistakes I made when I was interviewing for jobs after college. I wish I had this book back then! I'm sure it would have opened a lot more windows of opportunity (or at least ended the job search sooner).

These kinds of books tend to stress me out. Kessler's writing is clear and the pacing was just right for someone like me. It was easy to absorb the main points and see how I could apply them to myself. I still got a panic-y feel in my stomach, but much less than I usually get. The summary tables at the end of each chapter were great because they helped me make sure I got what I was supposed to get out of each chapter.

I highly recommend this book. It's helped me get a better idea of why I haven't received offers for jobs I know I was well qualified for. Now instead of just being frustrated about it, I have a way to deal with it!

Everyone is afraid of the dreaded job interview. Correctly prepare and you can put your mind at ease. I know because I am a former sweaty-palm interviewee. Through this book ---Competency-Based Interviews---I've found the not-so-common-sense skills that are essential to landing that perfect job, or that first job. Clear, concise, and step-by-step this leads the job candidate through the modern day interview that is assessing your skill set more than your diploma. I've learned how to identify the competency questions that I will be asked in relationship to the job duties and the company culture. During interviews, I can give examples of my winning experiences using the right, active language. And, I can answer the follow up questions that delve deeper. This is a must-keep reference text with easy to use summary tables that allow the reader to quickly locate key questions and answers. ->Paul Urban in Cleveland, Ohio.

I loaned my copy to two friends going to interviews for big jobs.
Both of them raved about how this book put them in to a fame of mind that made them very comfortable going into and during their actual interviews. It makes you think about questions and areas of your past work expereinces that you should and should not talk about and how to talk about them. Great buy.

All the other books I tried were nothing like the interviews I was actually having. Instead of having to memorize rote answers, this book helps you to understand what the interviewer is looking for and why. It is not only helping me prepare for interviews; it is helping me understand how I can improve my on-the-job skills so that I am even more appealing in the future for jobs or promotions.

Competency-Based Interviews, who would have thought that the world of interviewing had changed so much and that no one had told me or the career services counselors at my school. Well for those how don't know, it has. I should know, I had been looking for a job and going to interviews for sometime before I found Ms. Kessler's book and began employing her tactics in my interviews.

Ms. Kessler's book casts a new light on the interviewing process. It provided insights that I had not seen in any of the materials I looked at previously. It provides the tools and the guidance to effectively approach and answer those difficult questions we all face in an interview. Ms. Kessler takes the reader through the entire process from the start of the interview to how you can best maximize your return when you get the offer for the perfect job. This book also provides the reader with those little known tips and nuances that help turn a good interview into a great one.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is preparing for an interview. Whether you are a recent graduate or an experienced professional, the insights to be gleamed are worth your time.

I like it get to the point quickly and didn't much introductions (e.g. entry level stuffs for beginners) I used it to write down the important points to present myself during interview. I also used it together with "Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You the Job"

Using these 2 books, I organized good notes for the interviews, presented myself clearly and got a job. I originally though these kind of books are for people with no experiences, I was wrong. They are actually helpful, you will find a lot of things you haven't paid attention before and the concepts they have are pretty updated.

I live in Houston and initially talked to the author, Robin Kessler, about doing some practice interviews before an important interview. Because I was temping at the time and couldn't afford it, she suggested I read this book to prepare myself. I wasn't too excited about reading a book, but was very glad that I did. I have never studied so hard for an interview before and didn't really understand the need to prepare myself in such a thorough way. However, it was well worth it-this book was a quick read-broken down into bite size pieces and really helped me come up with a way to take my experience, write it down in an outline, and be able to speak it clearly in an interview setting. I also liked the fact that she suggested looking at the job description to pull key/buzz words out and turn those into competencies to be focused on. I took those competencies and found 2 or 3 examples from my experience and had those examples in mind while in the interview. It worked and I felt prepared. Definitely worth the read and price for any interview setting. Thanks, Robin!

The author carefully gives you the information to help you prepare for your next interview, even if the employer is not conducting a competency based interview. I have had three interviews in the last two weeks and two of three employers used competency based interviewing techniques. I was fully prepared and unsurprised. The book is also simple to read and provides you with summaries that help bring it all together. Additionally, the book gets to the point. I was examining my competencies in the first chapter. The book is also helpful in that it provides case studies that help improve your responses.

Ms. Kessler's book is so clear and readable that in just two days it prepared me for three critical interviews. Most people interview only every several years, and this book helps knock off the rust quickly and completely! Now I know I can be ready whenever opportunity knocks--a good feeling.

This book may be even more valuable for interviewers than interviewees. Using the techniques Ms. Kessler so clearly explains will yield you much more and much better information about the suitability for the job of every person you interview!

Ed Overtree
New York

This book is a must if you have a targeted selection or competency-based interview in the near future or if you are planning to change jobs in the near future. In fact, even if you don't plan on searching for a new job within a year, I still recommend this book due to the planning advice it gives.

This is by far the best all-in-one book for targeted selection or competency-based interviews. Ms. Kessler is an excellent author and she breaks down the process on how to prepare, how to perform during the interview, and how to follow up after the interview.