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Interview Preparation

Interview preparation can help you feel more comfortable in the actual interview, prepare you for curve ball questions, and might help you land the job. If you have specific questions or want to practice interviewing, schedule an appointment with a Career Coach.

Types of Interviews

One-on-One

These interviews are most common, in which the employer interviews a single candidate.

Panel or Committee

In this kind of interview, the applicant is interviewed by several people at the same time. Interviewers will usually take turns asking questions. Address your response to the person asking you the question first, but also shift your eye contact to the other interviewers.

Group

In a group interview, two or more applicants for the same position are interviewed at the same time. At times, you may be the first to respond to a question. Often the interviewers will be observing how you interact with others on a team, and if you can lead as well as listen. However, if you are the last to respond, don't just reiterate what others have said—your response should be personal and unique so that it stands out from the others.Virtual, Skype or Zoom Interviews

Virtual, Zoom, or Teleconferencing Interviews

These interviews are usually conducted via video chat. Companies may substitue this for the initial phone interview. Be sure to be in a quiet room with ensured privacy and face the camera squarely. Make sure you are not backlit, the camera is at eye level, and that your computer is on a stable surface. Dress professionally and make sure that your internet connection and audio quality is good before the interview.

Phone

Phone is usually the initial screening interview. You must communicate your enthusiasm and friendliness completely through tone of voice since the interviewer cannot see your body language or facial expressions.

What to bring to the interview

Copies of your resume and cover letter
Reference sheet (if applicable)
List of questions to ask the employer
Transcripts, portfolio, or any other sample items (if requested)
Briefcase or professional folder to carry your documents
Notebooks and pen
Direction to the interview and parking fare

Before the interview

Research the company

Do your homework before the Interview

Find out about its history, products, services, mission, company culture, competitors, plans for growth, and opportunities for advancement by using Glassdoor, Google news, and the company's website.
Have your interview outfit ready
Review the job description
Prepare for commonly asked questions
Prepare 5 or more success stories
Have examples/stories for behavioral questions
PRACTICE - out loud with someone for several times
Be prepared to discuss how your skills and background will benefit the organization
Prepare questions to ask the employer

First impressions

Show up clean, well-groomed, hair trimmed
Arrive early – 5 to 10 minutes before the interview
Be courteous to everyone you meet including receptionists.
Greet the employer by name with a firm handshake
Show enthusiasm and confidence in your voice and posture
Maintain good eye contact
Avoid fidgeting
Wait to be asked to be seated

During the interview

Listen attentively to the questions
Ask for clarity if you did not understand the question
Use professional language, not slang
Use examples, statistics and testimonials to support your claims
Speak loudly and clearly
Don’t criticize former employers
Avoid mentioning personal problems
Avoid discussing salary unless the interviewer brings it up.
Turn off your cell phone!

Concluding the interview and afterwards

Ask insightful questions
Reaffirm your interest in the position
Thank the interviewer and ask about next steps
Ask for a business card and send the employer a thank you email
Forward any requested materials
Follow up if you don't hear from them in a week

Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions

You'll be asked to provide specific examples highlighting skills that are necessary for the job. Here are some examples of behavioral interview questions:

Behavioral Interviewing

Describe a time when you tried to persuade a person or group to do something they didn't want to do.
Give me an example of a time when you faced a lot of obstacles to achieve a goal.
Talk about a stressful situation you've experienced.
Give me an example of when you worked with a group or team of people to complete a project.
Talk about a time when you were faced with a difficult decision and describe how it turned out.
Describe a time when you had to cope with strict deadlines or time demands.
Give me an example of a time when you were forced to make an important decision without all of the necessary information.
Tell me about a time that you made a presentation at work that received a significant amount of critical feedback, much of it negative. How did you handle the situation?

Career coaches recommend you use the "STAR" method to answer these types of probing questions.

STAR METHOD

S-Situation: set the scene. When and where did the situation take place?

T-Task: What was the task or challenge?

A-Action: What actions did you take to achieve the task or solve the problem?

R-Result: What was the end result? IF not completely positive, what did you learn from the experience?

Common Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself.
Why are you interviewing for this position?
What qualifications do you have that will make you successful?
Why do you think you are a good fit for our company?
How are you going to make a contribution to our company?
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
Why did you pick your major? What class did you like most/least and why?
How has your college experience prepared you for your career?
How does this job fit into your overall career plan?
Give me an example of when you've worked in a team.
Describe a leadership role you've had.
How do you manage your time?
What have you learned from previous jobs?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
What 3 adjectives would your best friend use to describe you?
Why should I hire you?

Dressing for the Interview

General rule: Whatever the office style is, you should dress one level higher for your interview. So, for example, if the office you want to work for primarily dresses in business casual, then dress business formal for your interview. Offices fall under four general styles of attire (listed in ascending order of formality):

Casual
Business Casual
Business Formal
Business Conservative

How can I find out what employees at the company usually dress?

Physically visit the organization and observe what employees are wearing (make sure it is not a “dress down” day for them)
Call the hiring manager or human resources department and ask what the dress code is
Ask recruiters at a job fair

*A good rule: it is best to dress more conservatively if you are unsure.

Casual

A casual work environment has a dress code not too different from what you would see on campus. Casual shoes (sneakers, flip flops) and jeans or shorts with a t-shirt is considered acceptable in a casual workplace. Jewelry and a variety of colors in clothing are also acceptable. Clothes should be clean, pressed without holes.

Business Casual

Business casual is a step up from casual. The expectation for clothing would be slacks/skirts paired with more conservative tops (sweaters, cardigans, polos, button-ups) in subtle colors such as blue, gray, white, or tan with limited patterns. In a business casual workplace hair should be styled and jewelry should not be flashy. Ties are optional.

Business Formal

Business formal dress consists of suits (jacket with matching slacks/skirt) with long-sleeved button-up shirts in subtle colors such as navy, gray, tan, or light blue. Ties and polished shoes are expected. Jewelry should be kept minimal and hair should be out of the face.

Business Conservative

Business conservative dress requires a full suit (with tie) in conservative colors such as black, navy, or dark gray with close-toed black shoes. Hair should be kept out of the face and jewelry should be limited to a ring or watch.

Common Interview Mistakes

Poor Handshake: Limp hand gives the impression of weakness of disinterest. Too strong is like an aggressive salesperson.
Talking too much: Talking too long gives the impression you can't get to the point. Nervous talkers give the impression the candidate is covering up something.
Talking negatively about current or past employers/managers: Always try to say something positive.
Showing up too late or early: Arrive about 10 minutes early.
Treating the receptionist rudely: Often the receptionist is asked their opinion of applicants.
Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary: Wait until you've been made the offer to discuss these issues.
Not preparing for the interview: Always research the company or organization prior to the interview.
Verbal ticks: Practice in advance to reduce or eliminate the “umms,” “like” and “you knows.”
Not enough or too much eye contact: Avoiding eye contact makes you seem shifty or untruthful. Too much eye contact can wear out the interviewer.
Failure to match communication styles: If the interviewer seems all business, be succinct and businesslike. If the interviewer is personable, you can be more informal.

Questions to ask the interviewer

What are you hoping a person in this position will accomplish in the first 6 months?
What will my responsibilities be as far as____________? (Areas not clear from the job description.)
What is the greatest challenge facing your staff (department or organization) right now?
What are some characteristics of your company that make it attractive or different from other companies?
Will I be working on a team or in a group?
Who will my supervisor/supervisors be?
Do you do formal evaluations of your employees? How often are they done?
Is there training provided on the job? How long is the training period? Who will be training me?
What kind of ongoing professional development is available in this position?
When can I expect to hear from you? or When should I check back with you?

QUESTIONS NOT TO ASK IN THE INTERVIEW:

What is the salary? What are the benefits?
How much vacation/sick/holiday time will I get?
Are there educational benefits? How does one qualify for them?
Is overtime required? If so, how much?

*You can ask the above questions when the job offer is made.

After the interview

Follow-up with a thank you

Thank the interviewer and send a thank you note (often by email) within 24 hours. Follow-up with the interviewer a week-10 days after the interview.

If you interview with several people, send a thank you to each one. You can make it similar to each person, but vary at least a sentence or two to individualize the letters in case your recipients compare notes.
Be careful about borrowing a letter from a book or web site. You can borrow the basic structure but not the entire letter. Personalize it.
Reiterate your interest in and qualifications for the job in your letter. “Thank you for meeting with me this morning about the sales position. Our conversation reinforced my strong interest in joining your team." Cite one or two examples of job duties that increased your interest or showed you what skills you could contribute.
Spell-check, proofread, and have someone else read over your letter before you send it!

Mock Interviews

Our Career Coaches conduct simulated “mock” interviews to help you improve your interviewing techniques. You may request a mock interview with or without being video taped. Allowing your interview to be video taped gives you insight about your body language, tone of voice, and presence. Going through a mock interview will help you become more confident, comfortable and prepared to answer those challenging interview questions. Schedule an appointment on Handshake!