The interviewer will try to
determine whether you with all of these attributes, will be an asset to
the organization. Your goal is to present yourself as the best candidate
for the position and also to learn more about the position and the
employer. You also want to determine whether the organization and the
position is well suited for you and your career goals. Thus, the
interview is a two-way discussion rather than an interrogation as it is
often perceived to be.
The interview is a vital
step to getting a career position and consequently deserves more than casual preparation.
You need to be ready to answer questions about your career goals and background.
You will also want to develop intelligent questions that will help you make an
informed job choice decision. Furthermore, preparation helps build your
self-confidence in your interview skills. Most importantly, preparation is the key
to successful interviewing.
The following information
will give you an overview of how to prepare for an interview and what to expect during an
interview.
Preparing For the
Interview
Know
Yourself
Most interviews include
questions regarding your qualifications, education, campus and community activities, prior
work experience, personal characteristics, skills, career interests and goals. To
prepare for answering questions about yourself, think about the following questions:
Which skills and
personality characteristics do I want to talk about?
What are my strengths?
How did I develop them (in what activities?)
What are my weaknesses?
How am I improving them?
What job experiences are
most relevant to this position?
What did I gain from my
college education and college experience?
What are my short and
long range career goals? How does this position and employer relate to those goals?
Focus on those experiences
that best sell you for the position for which you are interviewing. If you are
unsure or undecided about which jobs or career fields best match your skills, interests
and background, take the time NOW to assess yourself and explore various career fields.
For assistance with self-assessment and career exploration, refer to our web page or schedule an appointment with Career Services staff.
In addition, identify your
key strengths related to the position and be able to cite examples of these strengths.
You also should be prepared to state the reasons why you should be hired, what you
have to offer the employer, and your interests in the position. Thus, knowing
yourself and how you can relate to the employer's needs will strengthen your interview
presentation.
Know Your Career Field
and the Specific Position
Before interviewing for
positions complete thorough research of various career options of interest to you.
Gain as much information as possible about the career field(s) including nature
of work, job responsibilities, skills, education and other qualifications required, and
entry level salary ranges.
In addition to researching
the career field, you need to analyze the specific job description and how your
background, skills and experience apply to each position. Prepare a list of pertinent
functions of the position and the skills needed to get the job done. Then make a
list of your experiences and accomplishments and assess how you have developed and applied
these skills. In addition, evaluate your interest in this position/career field and
be able to articulate it. If the job description is limited, research similar jobs
in similar organizations and look up the job title/career area in various career information resources.
Know the Employer and
Industry
It is also important to
learn as much as you can about the employer before your interview. By adequately
researching the organization, you will have a much better chance of creating a positive
impression. The following questions can help guide your research.
What is the size and
structure of the organization?
What are the
organization's products and services?
What is the organization
known for?
What are the
geographical locations of its plants, divisions, subsidiaries, stores or sales outlets?
How well is the
organization doing? (growth patterns, financial history)
Who are the
organization's clientele or customers, and major competitors?
What are the
organization's entry level positions, career paths?
What type of training
does the organization offer its employees?
To obtain information
about the employer, read company annual reports, recruiting literature, promotional
materials, organization WWW page, job descriptions, employer directories, newspaper
business sections, trade journals, and other related business publications. Some of
this information is available in the Career Resource Library, Philadelphia House.
However, you will probably also want to use large university libraries, public
libraries, the employer's public or investor relations department, local chambers of
commerce and the Internet to access these information resources. Faculty, alumni,
friends and current employees can also be helpful resources of information.
Practice Your Interview
Skills
Many interview questions
are predictable and can be anticipated prior to the interview. Questions that are
frequently asked during most interviews are listed on the Interview
Questions web page. You can also predict 'job specific' questions by analyzing
the job description (i.e. duties, responsibilities and skills of the position.)
Consider the kinds of questions you can expect during the interview and prepare
thorough and concise answers to each question. Do not memorize your responses, but
instead outline the key points that you want to stress. Role playing of the
interview situation can be extremely helpful. Role playing can be done with a friend
or a roommate or by signing up for a Mock or Practice Interview in the Career Office.
Role playing and practicing for an interview provides you with an opportunity to
refine your interview techniques; to have a smoother, spontaneous flow of words; and to
become aware of your non-verbal communication (i.e. body posture, eye contact, voice
quality).
Get
References
Speak directly with the
people who you are planning to name as references (prior supervisors, faculty members,
etc.) Let them know the kinds of jobs you are applying for and what specific kinds
of experience and abilities you hope they can vouch for. Give them a copy of your
resume which they can refer to.
During the Interview
First
Impressions/Greeting
First impressions count!
The employer begins to evaluate you as soon as you are identified. Arrive
10-15 minutes early and dress professionally. Greet the interviewer by name, with a
smile and a firm handshake.
Interview
Format
Introduction.
The first few minutes of the interview is used to establish rapport and to help the
job candidate feel more at ease. The interviewer may engage in small talk or ask
questions about your interests. These first few minutes is where you make a first
and lasting impression. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your communication
skills.
Information Exchange.
The next portion of the interview is spent in an exchange of information to
determine whether a good match exists between the employer's needs and your skills and
career objectives. The interviewer will ask questions about your qualifications,
background and career goals and will present additional information about the position and
organization. You will be expected to ask questions about the position and
organization that will help you decided whether the opportunity is right for you.
Conclusion.
The interviewer will usually close by telling you what the next step will be.
Answering
Questions
Listen carefully to the
questions and be sure you understand them. Answer the questions thoroughly by
backing up your statements with specific examples of your skills, experiences and
accomplishments. However, do not give more information than what the interviewer is
asking for. In addition, emphasize your strong points at every appropriate
opportunity in the interview. Furthermore, you want to avoid negatives/weaknesses
and avoid using phrases such as: 'I only" or "I really don't have much
experience in that area.' Show confidence in yourself and your ability to perform
the job! Finally, establish good eye contact with the interviewer and take an active
part in the interview.
A list of typical
questions asked by employers is provided on the Interview
Questions WWW page. Be sure to practice answering these questions prior to your
interviews.
Asking
Questions
At some point in the
interview, the interviewer will usually ask if you have any questions. Prepare in
advance the questions you want to ask during the interview. Your questions should
demonstrate your prior research and interest in the position. Ask questions that
will help you decide whether the organization and position are right for you. Avoid
asking questions for which answers you could have obtained in researching the employer and
preparing for the interview. Do not ask questions about salary or most
benefits during the initial screening interview. Let the interviewer introduce the
subject of salary. If salary is discussed, be prepared to indicate a range figure
that you would expect to receive.
A list of sample
application questions is provided on the applicant
question web page; however, make sure your list of questions are related to your
career field and the employer.
Concluding
the Interview
Towards the end of the
interview, the interviewer may ask if you have anything else you would like to say or add.
Respond by summarizing your qualifications and reiterate your interest in the
position. The employer will typically initiate the end of the interview by
explaining the next step in the process. Thank the employer for the opportunity to
interview for the position.
Follow-up After
the Interview
Take
Notes
The first 30 minutes after
your interview is a critical time. Before your interview becomes a fuzzy memory, jot down
notes about your meeting. This will help you be more prepared for subsequent interviews
with the employer, and will force you to reflect on both the positive aspects of the
interview, as well as areas for improvement. In your notes, include information
about what the employer stressed as important applicant qualifications, any concerns or
further questions you have about the position or organization, follow-up steps, and any
questions that were unexpected or challenging for you to answer. Keep a log of all
your interviews, including interview dates, contacts, addresses, phone numbers, names of
referrals, etc.
Thank
You Letters
Within 48 hours of the
interview, write a thank you letter to the interviewer. Thank you letters are not only
common courtesy, but because most people do not write them, your letter will set you apart
from most applicants. Tell the interviewer you appreciate him/her taking time to meet with
you and restate your interest in the position. For more information about thank you
letters, refer to the Thank you letter web page.
Follow-up
Phone Calls
If you do not hear
from the employer within the specified time period, follow-up with a phone call.
Remind the employer who you are and the position for which you interviewed.
Reinforce the positive aspects of your candidacy for the position by talking about
your qualifications, accomplishments and background that will help solve the employer's
problems. Arrange the next step in the selection process.
Types of
Interviews/Interview Styles
Phone
Screening
Many employers use phone
interviews for their initial screening of job applicants who do not live within a close
geographical range of their organization's facilities. If you plan to interview with
an organization that is not in the southern California area, be prepared to engage in a
30-minute phone interview with the employer's representatives. Your voice quality
and choice of words will be especially important during this type of interview. If
you are successful in your phone interview, the employer will normally invite you to visit
their facilities for more in-depth interview(s).
Structured
and Non-Structured Interviews
Many interviewers are well
trained to interview prospective employees, and others are not very skilled.
Regardless of the interviewer's skills and experience, always remain professional
and use effective interview techniques to positively present yourself as a candidate.
Interviewers adopt different techniques or styles for interviewing for different
positions. Some interviewers use a structured approach where the interviewer has a
definite agenda and a list of specific questions. On the other hand, some
interviewers may ask broad general questions and may not take charge of the interview.
In non-structured interviews, job candidates are often indirectly encouraged to
present their qualifications.
Group
Interview
A group interview
occurs when several job candidates are interviewed at the same time. This style is
often used to determine how candidates interact as team members, or may be used if the
employer needs to hire in large numbers.
Panel
Interview
A panel interview
consists of more than one interviewer questioning a candidate. During panel
interviews it is important to establish eye contact and rapport with each interviewer.
Behavioral
Interviewing
Behavioral interviewing, a
relatively new style of interviewing is based on the premise that The most accurate
predictor of future performance is past performance in similar situations.
Typically, employers predetermine which skills are necessary for the available
position and ask the candidates to describe particular situations that relate to those
skill areas. To prepare for this type of interview, you need to assess which skills
the employer is seeking, as well as be able to describe situations or tell stories
illustrating examples of how you successfully used these desired skills/behaviors. A
sample format for answering these questions might be as follows: 1) briefly describe
a situation, 2) give examples of the action taken, and 3) describe the positive result or
outcome.
Behavioral interview
questions are often difficult to answer without careful preparation. Some examples
of Behavioral Interview Questions include:
Describe a situation in
which you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Tell me about a time
when you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to accept your
ideas.
Give me some examples
that demonstrate that you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and
environments.
Provide me with an
example of an important goal which you set and tell me about your success in reaching it.
For additional information
about Behavioral Interviewing, consult the following Internet site:
Stress Interview
A stress-styled interview
is not very common. It is used to determine how a job candidate handles pressure.
Stress interviews may include questions that attack your weak areas, or may involve
timed and problem solving tasks.
Second and Subsequent
Interviews
For information about
preparing for second and subsequent interviews, refer to the Second
Interview Web Page.
Additional Interview
Tips
Arrive
early. Plan to arrive for your interview 10-15 minutes early. If
you arrive earlier than that, go for a walk, get a cup of coffee, drive around the
bock, or sit in the lobby. Arriving too early may create an awkward situation and
arriving late definitely creates a bad first impression. Be sure to ask for
directions when making arrangements for the interview and always allow enough time for bad
traffic.
Dress
professionally. Your interview attire should be appropriate for the
position for which you are applying. If you are unsure, choose conservative dress.
In most cases, business suits are appropriate for both men and women. Carry a
briefcase, portfolio notepad or manila folder. Bring extra resumes, list of
references and a list of questions you need to ask.
Be
yourself. Your personality and background may appeal to some employers
and not to others. It is to your advantage to be yourself, rather than try to mold
yourself to fit an image you think will appeal to an employer. After all, you want
to find a position and employer that is compatible with 'who you are' and your career
objectives.
Sell
yourself! Six out of ten people don't get the job they want because
they don't sell themselves. Be prepared to market your skills and experiences as
they relate to the job described. Be self-confident and positive in describing
your abilities to do the job. Convince the employer that you are the right person
for the job and that you can help the employer solve some of their problems.
Answering
the Tell me about yourself question. Eight out of ten interviews
begin with this question. Respond by illustrating how your interests and skills relate to
the position and how your experiences and background would enable you to contribute to the
position and organization. Spend about 90 seconds to two minutes highlighting your
experiences while providing a focused answer. You may want to start out with personal
information, then focus on academic experiences and professional experiences, and conclude
with the reasons why you are interested in the position.
Use
examples whenever possible. Just stating your skills and strengths is not
enough. You must demonstrate how you have successfully applied them. Be sure
to give complete answers to questions. A typical answer may take 30 seconds to two
minutes to explain.
Communicate
effectively. Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences. Listen carefully in order to effectively and appropriately answer
the questions being asked and to learn as much as possible about the position. Be
positive about prior experiences, employers, former supervisors, college experiences,
even your weaknesses. When describing a bad experience focus on the facts (not your
feelings) and be brief.
Silence
is okay. Those pauses may seem longer to you than to the interviewer.
A pause before answering a question enables you to organize your thoughts and
present a concise answer. If you are unsure about a question, always ask for
clarification before answering the question. When you have finished answering a
question, stop, don't ramble on endlessly.
Watch
your body language and nonverbal communication. Maintain good eye
contact, don't slouch, appear interested--not bored and control any nervous habits
(fidgeting, drumming fingers, etc.) Your voice quality also demonstrates your
confidence--speak clearly. Have good personal hygiene, do not wear too much make-up,
jewelry or cologne/perfume. Pay attention to the details--polished shoes,
professional hair style, clean nails, fresh breath, etc.
Social
etiquette and small talk skills are important. Be prepared to engage in
small talk at the beginning of the interview. Your conversational skills are part of
that first impression. Also, you may be invited to lunch or dinner as part of the
interview. The meal is a significant part of the interview especially if your social
skills are being evaluated as part of the hiring decision.
Expect
the unexpected. During the interview, you may be asked some unusual
questions. Often times the employer is simply seeing how you react to the question.
Qualities
Employers Seek in Job Candidates. Employers typically are looking for
individuals who possess a pattern of success (academic accomplishments, leadership
qualities, activities;) strong grades, written and oral communication skills; related work
experience; interpersonal skills; leadership potential; decision making and problem
solving skills; creativity and intelligence; flexibility; initiative/innovation;
enthusiasm and positive outlook; self-confidence; polished personal style, honesty
and integrity; ability to get along with others--a teamplayer; and good work ethic.
Evaluating Job Offers
For detailed information
regarding factors to consider in reviewing and evaluating job offers, refer to our Job Offer Web Page.
Negotiating Salaries
and Benefits
For information regarding
negotiating salaries and benefits, refer to our Salary Negotiation
Web page.
Career Services
Interviewing Resources
Mock or
Practice Interview Sessions
Throughout the academic
year, the Career Services Office offers Interview Skills workshops to assist students in
preparing for interviews and understanding what to expect in an interview. A
schedule of the Interview Skills workshops is available on our
Event/Workshop Web Page, or a printed flyer is available in the Career Services office.
Additionally, students are encouraged to participate in practice or mock interviews
that are videotaped. Mock interviews offer an excellent opportunity to gain feedback on
your verbal content answers as well as your non verbal behavior. To schedule a one
hour mock interview with the Career Services Director, contact Career Services, 907-4230.
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