For many college students, the employment selection interview poses the greatest uncertainty. As noted in the chapter, a little preparation before the interview can ensure greater success. This Issues in Communication narrative is designed to provoke individual thought or discussion about concepts raised in the chapter. In particular, notice the types of questions asked by Kim, the interviewee, as well as the answers provided by Corell.

Corell had worked at SuperBuy for two years now. He enjoyed his job but wanted to find a position that paid more and offered greater opportunity for advancement. His adviser told him about an opening at a company called Creative Computer Solutions, and Corell decided to apply. He found the job listing and was also able to learn about the company by browsing the company’s Web page. After sending his résumé and cover letter, Corell was invited for an interview.

Kim walked up to the young man sitting in the lobby. “Hello, my name is Kim Lang and I am the sales manager here. You must be Corell?”

“Hello. Yes, I am Corell Johnson. Thank you for seeing me today.” Kim thought Corell seemed a little unsure of himself—he did not look her in the eye when saying hello. “You’re welcome, Corell,” said Kim: “Let’s step into the meeting room and get started.” As they walked into the conference room, Kim continued speaking: “Today I will be asking you a few questions about your background and telling you a little about Creative Computer Solutions. Please, have a seat.”

Corell was starting to calm down a little now. He had been in interviews before, but this interview seemed more formal. Everyone he saw was wearing suits, and Corell knew that this was a big step from his current job at a retail store.

“Corell, I see that you are currently employed at a local retail store. Does your job involve selling computers?” Corell nodded, “Yes, I have worked as a computer sales associate since I started working there two years ago.” Kim jotted some notes down and continued, “Good, as you know, our company does not just sell computers; we try to solve problems for clients. Can you tell me about a time that you helped a customer solve a problem related to his computer needs?”

This question caught Corell a little off guard. He was not sure what she exactly meant by solving problems, but he thought of an example that seemed to fit the question. “Well, the majority of my sales are to customers who really don’t know what they are looking for in a computer. I remember one couple—they must have been in their late 60’s—who came into the store looking for a computer that they could use for Internet access. I asked them a few questions to find out what they wanted to use the computer for and was able to show them a computer that would let them use it for that purpose—one that was cheaper than what they were initially looking at. I guess it solved their problem—they came back to the store a few weeks later and showed me a picture of their granddaughter that they received through e-mail.”

Kim smiled in response to his answer: “Well Corell, that is exactly what we try to do at CCS—sell the right service and save clients money. We might do it on a larger scale, but the idea is the same.” The interview went on for several minutes. Kim asked Corell about his education and his technical knowledge. “Well Corell, that about wraps the interview up,” Kim concluded: “We will interview three other applicants and let you know our decision on Thursday. Before we end, do you have any questions for me?”

“Yes, I do,” said Corell. “I noticed in the job description that this position pays through commission. Is there also a salary associated with the position, or is it entirely based on commission?” Kim looked at the job description and could see that the salary information was not entirely clear. “That is a good question, Corell. We do offer a salary for the first year of the job. During that year you will make your salary plus a

a 21_2 percent commission. After the first year, you will no longer receive a salary, but you will get 7 percent commission. We do that because so much of your first year is spent in training.”

Corell asked a few more questions about the training offered by the company. After the interview was completed, Corell went home and prepared a thank-you letter to send to Ms. Long.

As you read the interview, notice the basic format of the interview. Do you see a distinct opening, body, and closing? Also, what types of questions did Kim ask Corell? Did Corell’s answers make the best possible case for him during the interview? Were there other things that Corell did effectively or ineffectively based on suggestions offered in the chapter?