Setting Yourself Apart
Once you’ve gotten through the application process, the interview is where you can determine fit, ask thought-provoking questions, and showcase your abilities and personality. This page is dedicated to tips that will ensure you handle the whole process with professionalism!
Preparing for the Interview
Interviews are how employers evaluate you as a fit for their organization and determine if you possess the needed skills to perform in each position. They are also how you communicate your interest in the position and that your skills and personal traits align with the organization’s needs.
Before Your Interview
- Research the company/position to which you are applying
- Think about how to leverage your strengths, accomplishments, and interests to the position
- Prepare specific examples to use when answering questions
- Prepare an appropriate, professional outfit to wear
- Plan to arrive early
- Bring a folder/portfolio to hold resume copies and a pen
During the Interview
Think about how you impress the following to the recruiter:
- Presentation: Soft smile, good eye contact, firm handshake, etc.
- Preparation: Did your research on the company, understood the expectations, showed preparedness for the job, etc.
- Verbal Communication: Persuasive and passionate, presented ideas logically, did not ramble, etc.
- Direction: Demonstrated personal and professional goals, showed confidence, seemed self-motivated, etc.
- Leadership: Came across as a leader who can move others to action, gave the impression you could set and follow through on goals, etc.
- Sincerity: Communicated with a genuine attitude that seemed honest and was not embellished, etc.
- Interpersonal Skills: Enthusiastic, energetic, motivated, mature, good listener, etc.
- Flexibility: Able to achieve goals in the face of adversity, able to develop effective alternatives to achieve goals, etc.
- Problem Solving: Uses a logical approach to arrive at reasonable conclusions with common sense, etc.
- Productivity: Thrive under high pressure, successful in managing multiple priorities, etc.
- Teamwork: Able to work well on a team, inform, inspire, and influence others, etc.
Preparing for Employer Questions
Employers want to know if you have the skill set needed to perform successfully on the job and contribute positively to their company/organization. Understanding the job description provides insight into what type of questions you might hear.
Before you begin interviewing, rehearse possible responses, and discuss them with the Office of Career Development. Practice to be sure you can communicate clear, unrehearsed answers to interviewers.
Behavioral Interview Questions
Recruiters typically use behavioral-based questions to probe your past behavior in jobs, classrooms, group projects and activities. Listen to the question to identify what quality or attribute they are evaluating.
- STAR Method: an effective strategy to answer behavioral-based questions. When asked this type of question, utilize the following steps:
- Situation: Briefly outline background information to frame the situation.
- Task: Briefly narrate what you were trying to accomplish.
- Action: Give examples of how you utilized relevant skills and qualities to resolve the situation/achieve goal/task.
- Result: Briefly summarize the positive outcome.
Questions to Ask Employers
It is typical in an interview for the recruiter to ask, “What questions do you have?” You should have 3-5 questions prepared that demonstrate a sincere interest and awareness of the company and position. Here are a few sample questions you might ask:
- Are there any qualities you are looking for in the candidate who fills this position that I have not addressed yet?
- What tasks would you expect me to accomplish in my first 30, 60, or 90 days on the job?
- Are there any additional expectations not outlined in the job description?
- Six months from now, how will you know I was the right person for this position?
- What is the next course of action after today?
Interview Follow-Up
- Obtain a business card from each interviewer
- Write thank you letters immediately after interviews