Interviewing Tips
That's why it's essential to prepare well for the interview. Take time to review your personal traits, understand the company's values and dive into the job description details. And don't forget to arrive on time, dressed appropriately and exhibit positive non-verbal behavior, such as a firm handshake, good eye contact and a confident presence.
Types of Interviews
Screening Interview
Many interviewing processes begin with a phone or virtual screening interview conducted by a recruiter or human resources professional. This interview aims to confirm that the candidate has the necessary qualifications to meet the needs of the advertised role and to assess any preferred qualifications the candidate may possess.
Preparing for a Screening Interview:
- Thoroughly read the job description and confirm that you meet the basic qualifications of the role, including years of experience, degree requirements, specific software, tools, and knowledge, as well as how many preferred qualifications you fulfill.
- Have a firm understanding of your own resume, including the chronology of roles, major accomplishments, and listed skills.
- Research the employer to learn about the product or service provided, basic history, competitors,and why you want to work for that employer.
- Prepare questions to ask recruiter about this position to express your interest in this role at this company. Questions will help you evaluate if this position is a good fit for you.
- Consider how your interests, skills and values align with the employer.
On-Site Interviews
If you make a good impression during the screening interview, you may be invited to interview on-site. The on-site experience often consists of a series of interviews with different employees and managers, including the hiring manager, who would be your supervisor if selected for the position.
Preparing for On-Site Interviews:
- Watch the Types of Interviews video, which provides a short overview of five interviews you may encounter during an on-site visit, including traditional, serial/sequential, behavioral, group/panel, and technical/case interviews.
- Reflect on five situations where you felt a real sense of pride or accomplishment in your work, internship, classroom, research, and professional experiences. Consider the impact or value of your efforts during these experiences, as well as negative experiences and what you learned from them.
- Think about your role in those experiences, actions you took, problems encountered and outcomes.
- Practice articulating those experiences in a concise narrative format using the S.T.A.R. method. The following video explains how to use the S.T.A.R. format to effectively answer behavioral questions.
After a screening or an on-site interview, send a thank you note or email to the recruiter or hiring manager within 24-48 hours.
Ace Your Interview
Are you nervous about your upcoming interview? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Know your product: YOU!
Your knowledge, skills, energy, accomplishments and personality make up your product. Show your potential employer your true value.
Elevator Pitch
Know your customer’s needs
Research the employer’s needs and the industry opportunities. Gather information from the Career Center, employer presentations, career fairs, business, and government publications, the internet (including the company’s website, 10-K reports, and LinkedIn) and networking with people.
Make a great first impression
Your appearance, manner, energy level, enthusiasm, and confidence are critical to making a great first impression. Show the interviewer that you’re the perfect candidate for the job.
Show how you can fulfill the needs or solve the problems
Convince the interviewer that you’re the best fit for the job by demonstrating how you can be of great service in solving their problems or furthering the organization’s success. Remember what drew you to the job description in the first place and use that to your advantage.
Questions to ask the interviewer:
Writing down 6-10 questions to carry with you into the interview is a great idea. Based on the time available at the end of the interview, you can ask 3-5 questions.
Here are examples of some questions you can ask to gain more insight into an organization that will help you make more informed decisions. When you can, try to personalize each question to the organization and interviewer.
- How would you describe a typical day on the job?
- What kinds of assignments might I expect on the first six months on the job?
- What is the single largest problem facing your staff or department now?
- Has there been much turnover in this job area?
- How does the company view creativity and individuality?
- How does this company differ from its competitors?
- What does the average career path for this position look like?
- Where does this position fit into the organizational structure?
- What do you like most about your job and company?
- What specific skills or experience would someone have to do well in this position?
- What are the next steps in this process?
Practice Your Interview Skills
Watch our videos for tips on how to prepare for different interviews and how to handle tricky questions while highlighting your skills effectively. Follow these steps, practice with our Virtual Mock Interview tool, and you’ll be sure to make a great first impression at your next interview.
Practice your interviewing skills by selecting one of our premade, recommended interviews, or create your own virtual mock interview from a bank of interview questions that match your needs. With our tool, you can become a better interviewer by practicing.