Interviewing

Successful Interviewing

The job interview is a strategic conversation to determine whether a good fit exists between you and the employer. The employer's objective is to find out What you are (your skills, ability to do the job, and basic job knowledge), Who you are (your personality, character, interests) and Why you should be hired.

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.