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An interview is your chance to make a great first impression by presenting yourself professionally to a potential employer. Interviews can be intimidating and nerve-wracking, especially if the experience is new to you. It is helpful to view them as a ‘business meeting’, where both parties have goals to achieve and seek commonalities. The interviewer’s job is to gather information needed to make a hiring decision. Your primary goal is to convince an employer that you are the right person for the job by elaborating on your resume and cover letter with information about your abilities and experiences. Additionally, the interview is a fact finding experience, so have questions available based on your research that demonstrate your genuine interest to help you determine if the position and company are a good fit.
Just as in school, preparation and practice are the keys to performing well on an interview. A Success Advisor can help you with a mock interview. Then, you can reflect on the experience and obtain valuable feedback on areas that need improvement.
In this guide:
Interview Prep Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Basic Questions from the Interviewer . . . . . 4-5
Questions to Ask Employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Follow Up/After the Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mock Interview Feedback Form . . . . . . . . . . . 9
During the interview
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interview prep checklist
F Research/learn more about the company culture, mission and what they do. F Prepare appropriate professional attire based on where you are interviewing. F Prepare questions to ask the employer. (See page 6) F Review the job description and once again think about how your knowledge and skills prepare
you to succeed in this position. F Clean up your social media accounts, if you have not done so already. F Gather necessary materials: copies of your resume, portfolio, photo ID, travel and contact
information. F Practice! Perform a Mock Interview with your Success Advisor. (See page 9)
before the interview
F Carry information on the person interviewing you: name, number, office number, etc. F Make sure to have pen and notebook (with questions already prepared). F Bring your portfolio if applicable. F Bring mints and water. F Bring something appropriate to read while you wait (newspaper, textbook, news, magazine, or
pick up company literature if it is in the waiting area) to further inform you. F Turn your cell phone OFF before entering the building. F If you are changing your shoes, change them in a restroom and not on the street.
Day of the interview
F Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to make a great first impression and to allow time to fill out applications.
F When meeting the interviewer, remember S-H-E: Smile, Handshake, Eye-contact. F Be prepared to think on your feet. Take a moment to think over your response before speaking. F When describing your experience, use PAR: Problem, Action, Results. F Be aware of body language and non-verbal cues. F Ask insightful questions that will help you stand out. (See page 6) F If there is something important about yourself that hasn’t been covered, use it as a last-minute
point. F Request a business card for follow-up. F Thank the interviewer. F Firmly shake their hand again at the end.
During the interview
F Follow up! Write a personalized thank you note within 24 hours. (See page 7)
after the interview
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basic questions from the interviewer
classic
Experience & Credentials
Behavioral & Situational
The focus of the story you tell to answer the question is how everything you did leading up to now has made you a great candidate for this particular job. Your resume story should match your interview story. Remember, the point of an interview is to make a personal connection with each person you talk to.
Question: Can you tell me a little about yourself?How to Respond: Use your elevator pitch, a brief description of who you are as a professional. Include your major field of study and experience related to the position and goals in no more than 3 sentences (past, present, future)
Question: What do you know about the company?/Why do you want to work here?How to Respond: Demonstrate you understand the company’s goals, using keywords and phrases from the website, then, make it personal and say, “I’m personally drawn to this organization because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.
Question: Why should we hire you?How to Respond: This is a great opportunity for you to sell yourself and your skills. Develop a response that demonstrates:
• that you can do the work• deliver great results• fit in with the team/culture
(Questions may differ slightly by industry.)
The employer is looking to measure past behaviors as a predictor of future results. These questions reveal how the person actually acted in a certain situation.
Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?How to Respond: Strengths: list skills relevant to the position. Weaknesses: share a weakness that would not prevent you from succeeding in the position and how you are working to improve it. Prove your weakness is not a liability.
Question: What were the steps you followed to accomplish a task?How to Respond: Think of PAR: Problem-Action-Result.
Question: Tell me about a personal success/failure.How to Respond: Share how you overcome challenges and obstacles. Prove that you have the specific competencies to do the job.
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basic questions from the interviewer (Cont.)
Experience & Credentials
Case
Hypothetical/Brain Teaser
Also known as resume verification questions, the employer is looking to verify the depth of knowledge of the credentials in your background.
Question: What were your responsibilities in that position?Question: How long were you at “Company Name”?How to Respond: Instead of simply reciting your resume, dig deeper and provide a context explaining how you accomplished the goal.
The employer is looking to evaluate your problem-solving abilities and how you would analyze and work through potential situations.
Question: Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.How to Respond: The interviewer wants to get a sense of how you handle conflict. Anyone can seem nice and pleasant in a job interview, but what will happen if you’re hired? Focus on how you handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally closing with a happy ending, like how you came to a resolution or compromise.
SOURCES:https://collegegrad.com/jobsearch/mastering-the-interview/the-eight-types-of-interview-questionshttps://www.thebalance.com/types-of-interview-questions-2061365https://www.dougsguides.com/questionshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2016/10/26/how-to-ace-the-top-7-most-common-interview-questions/#2ad85c3723e7
Employers want to understand your process and approach to solving complex problems/multitasking.
Question: What would you do if... (provides work related challenge)?How to Respond: Employers may want to see how you handle competing challenges.
Question: How many golf balls fit in a school bus?How to Respond: Explaining how you would approach this, employers don’t expect you to know the answer.
6
questions to ask employers
Do ask:
Don’t Ask:
• What is a typical day like?• What skills do you think are most critical for the job?• What challenges is the company currently experiencing? (or mention one you read about
and ask for elaboration)• What would you like to see accomplished by the person who is hired to fill this position-
within 6 months? Within a year?• What significant changes do you see with your organization in the future?• What kind of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?• What’s the most important thing I can do to help within the first ninety days of my
employment?• What is the timeline for hiring?
• What does your company do?Do your research ahead of time!
• What is the salary?/What type of job benefits will I receive?This should be presented when you receive the offer.
• If I get the job, when can I take vacation?If you have prior commitments, wait until you receive an offer to discuss this.
• Can I change my work schedule if I get the job?Wait until you receive an offer before discussing schedule.
• Did I get the job?This puts the employer on the spot.
(Questions should be tailored to fit each industry/company.)
It is important to ask questions because it shows your interest in the position and allows you to find out if the employer is the right fit. The questions you ask will set you apart from other candidates. Have about three to five questions prepared. You don’t have to memorize them; having questions written down demonstrates to the interviewer that you took time to prepare!
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follow up/after the interview
example thank you letter
Thank you letters are extremely important; if you choose to send by postal mail also consider sending an email.
• Send within 24-hours after the interview• Be brief
• Reiterate your interest in the position• Share something that you learned about the role or goals during the interview that stood out
to you• Reiterate your unique skills that would make you the most qualified candidate
• Personalize• Proofread• Follow up after a week or two if you don’t hear back
If you do not receive an offer, thank the employer and asked to be considered for future opportunities.
Dear Mr./Ms. ________,
It was a pleasure meeting with you yesterday.
Your clarification of the ________ position was extremely helpful. I agree that in order for the group to succeed, it is important to have ________ relevant experience. As a result, I can readily see how my experience in ________ and ________ skills would be an asset to your organization.
I look forward to hearing from you and would like to express my enthusiasm for this exciting opportunity.
Sincerely,Your Name
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REFERENCES
example LAYOUT
After a successful interview, the employer will likely request several (typically 3-4) references. These references should be professional in nature and include individuals who will speak positively about your work as a professional. It is best, and often required to include former supervisors. Contact potential references before beginning your job search so that they are prepared to speak to your skills, abilities and work ethic. Prepare a document in the style of your resume/cover letter with your contact information that is user friendly. You can bring this with you on an interview or email a PDF if requested.
The references should include:
• Contact Name• Email • Phone Number• Job Title• Employer• Affiliation/Relationship
Sue Young123-456-7890
ReferencesJayden [email protected] Principal, Laguardia High School(Former Supervisor)
Michaela [email protected] of Academic Programs, Manhattan College(Former Supervisor)
Vaishnavi [email protected] Director, Camps for Kids(Former Colleague)
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MOCK INTERVIEW FEEDBACK FORMOverall Areas Behavior Notes
Initial Greeting F Smile
F Handshake
F Eye Contact
Physical Presence/Nonverbal Communi-cation
F Sufficient eye contact
F Nervous behaviors are minimal
F Sits upright
F Displays confidence
F Demonstrates active listening
Verbal Communication F Appears confident and enthusiastic
F Speaks clearly
F Uses proper grammar
F Tone matches content
F Speed is consistent and understandable
Experience F Responses are concise and clear
F Provides enough information to fully answer the question
Question Response Notes
1. Tell me about yourself. F Information about relevant past experience
F Current experience (education, major, work/internship experience)
F Current reason for seeking this position.
F Should not include personal information that is not relevant to work.
2. Why are you the best candidate forthis position?
F Can indicate ‘passion’ for the work, supported by examples
F Cite past accomplishments, skills and abilities
F Include specific examples
F Reference to past experience that would indicate success
3. What are your strengths? F Response should include 2-3 specific skills necessary in that position.
F Candidate should be ready to support with examples of past success in an experiential environment (work, internship, or academics).
4. What are your weaknesses? F Should not be something that would directly interfere with the person’s ability to perform the job, not a liability or risk in hiring.
F Offers concrete solutions to improve and overcome
F Can turn it into a positive
F Is not generic
5. Do you have any questions for me? F Indicates the student has considered the implications of this position.
F The question should demonstrate interest, be positive in nature and not be judgmental.
PITCH WORKSHEET
Write your own pitch. Make a connection in 30 seconds or less!
To develop an introductory statement that you can use in a variety of settings (waiting in line at a coffee shops, sitting next to somebody on an airplane, sharing an elevator with somebody at work, participating in an interview) think about the following: Who am I? What is my experience and objective?
• Name• Past: where you have been (educational or work qualifications)• Present: who you are (professional identity such as year in school,
accomplishments, skills/strengths)• Future: where you want to go/what you are seeking (career/professional goal)
Example: Hello my name is Jin and I am a student at The New School. I am interested in building on my experience and interest in environmental sustainability with an internship in an environmentally friendly organization. My education taught me to think critically, write well, and make connections across various disciplines. I use those skills in my involvement within the Sustainability Advisory Committee as we work to educate the campus community to the importance of living green. I want to make a difference by helping people and understanding how their actions affect our planet, which is why I am interested in working for your organization.
Fill in the blanks:
Hi, my name is _________________________ and I am a _________________major from The New School. I have a background in ___________________________________________________________________________________ / an interest in_______________________________________________________________________________. I am currently seeking advice/an internship/position in the field of ______________________.
OR
Create your own:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
