5. Interviewing Basics:
Dress to Impress
Dress appropriately for the
culture and the position.
Always err on the side of being
overdressed.
Most on-campus interviews
expect formal attire.
Be sure you are clean and well
groomed.
No gum, smoking, excessive
jewelry, fragrance, or “club
attire.”
7. Interviewing Basics:
Day of the Interview
Bring a pad-folio, pen and copies
of your resume
Arrive a few minutes before your
interview time (Interview starts NOW!)
Treat everyone you encounter
equally -> Respect
Be aware of your non-verbal
communication:
Eye contact
Posture
Facial gestures
Offer a firm hand shake
8. Interviewing Basics:
Follow-up & Ethics
• Follow-up
• Thank you
• Ethics
• Be honest about credentials
• Verbal acceptance IS an
acceptance
• Do not continue to interview
after accepted job offer
• Do not renege on accepted job
offer
10. Answering Questions 101
Review your resume
Keep answers to no more
than 2 minutes
- Be sure to pay attention to
interviewer’s body language
Slow down and think
before you respond
Communicate with
Confidence!
11. Common Questions
Tell me a little about yourself…
What do you see as your strengths?
What do you see as your weaknesses?
Why should we hire you?
Tell me about a time when…
12. Tell me a little about yourself…
Not your life story
Include relevant facts about
education, experiences and current
life situation
13. Strength Questions
Differentiate & sell yourself!
Make sure your answer is:
- Relevant
- Recent
- Result-Oriented
- Enthusiastic
- Immediate
14. Weakness Question
Screening question
Do not avoid!
Pick something off of your
resume or content/technical
focused
Make sure your answer is:
- Unrelated
- Dated
- Short
- Growth-producing
- Delayed
15. Why should we hire you?
Be specific (Not “Because I’m great!)
Reiterate key strengths, qualities,
experiences
Focus on fit!
Avoid negative comments about
other applicants, focus on self and
what you will bring to the position!
16. Behavioral Questions
Questions that allow you to tell
a story
Choose the most;
- Vivid
- Powerful
- Relevant and
- Recent examples
• Prepare a mental outline to
describe each situation
18. Behavioral Question Examples
Tell me about a time when you:
• Faced an ethical dilemma.
• Solved a difficult problem.
• Worked with a difficult customer.
• Took a risk and failed.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Served as a member of a team.
20. “Do you have any questions?”
• If selected for this position, what will I
need to accomplish to receive an
outstanding review?
• Who is the most successful (insert job
title) you've hired and what
characteristics did that person possess
that made him/her a great
contributor?
• How would you describe the
company's management style and
culture?
• What is the next step in the selection
process?
HINT: Yes You Do!
21. Questions/Topics to Avoid
Avoid Questions:
About pay, hours
You should already know the answer
With Yes/No answers
Avoid Topics:
About personal information
That are negative about past
employers, professors, classmates,
co-workers, etc.
22. Remember…
Everyone gets a little nervous!
Interviewing is just like any other skill; it
requires planning, practice, and patience.
It is a 2-way street
Confirm their suspicions!
Common questions in an interview include: What interests you about this position? Why are you interested in our company? (need to be able to answer these!)
Create a T-chart and highlight the skills, qualities and experiences the employer desires.
On the other side, think of examples of how you have used those skills, show those qualities, and have those experiences.
These are the things you show be prepared to talk about in your interview!
Why is research important? (shows that motivation and drive)
Neglecting to research tells employer you are lazy, unmotivated, and not serious.
Collect business cards of those you have spoke with
Send a thank you email within 24 hours
Be sure you know what is on your resume!
Most people’s attention span is 2 minutes
If you feel yourself talking for more than 2 minutes, pause and make sure you still have the attention of the interviewer. Take a break from your answer and ask a short question to reestablish interaction. For example, you might say, "Do you know what I mean?" "Is this example making sense?“
Many people are uncomfortable with silence. (hence the ummms, uhhh’s etc.) It’s ok to pause and think before answering. Employers will appreciate a thoughtful answer over one that was clearly not thought out.
Here is the one tip you absolutely have to get your head around: Interviewers will hire you because they like you. This has to do with how they feel about you more than it does with what you actually say in an interview. How you present what you say can be even more important than what you say. Think about it, we remember how we feel about somebody much more than we ever remember the actual words they say. To be liked, you need to “like” being you in that interview –- prepare and get comfortable with yourself and your abilities. I assure you that you will like the interview process a heck of lot better if you go in prepped and feeling confident in yourself.
May ask this in various ways.
Biggest accomplishment?
How did you use X skill in a previous position?
Break into small groups to answer top 5 questions:
1.) Tell me a little about yourself
2.) Strengths
3.) Weakness
4.) Why should we hire you?
5.) Behavioral question
Bring back groups best example to larger group
Know what it is you want to do. Remember that it is normal to send out more resumes than you will get interviews and go on more interviews than get offers.