Successful Interviewing Skills • Internships, co-ops, and participation in student activities of any kind are crucial to developing answers to behavioral questions. • Try to get internship experience early on, since it demonstrates your desire to learn. • Volunteer work/community involvement is also good.
How to Prepare for an Interview • What is the best way to prepare for an interview? • Research! There is no excuse for not visiting a website before the interview. • Employers’ most frequent complaint is about individuals who have a vague and inaccurate idea of what the company actually does.
Benefits of Research • Learn as much as possible about a potential employer so that you can present yourself in terms of what the company is looking for. • Research will help you determine if the company is a good fit for you. • Research will be apparent during the interview and will demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm to the employer.
How to Research Employers • Things to know about a company � Public or privately held? � Local, regional, or international? � Year founded? � Basic philosophy? � Growth patterns, number of locations? � Size, number of employees, sales, assets, and earnings? � Services, products, or projects? � Career path, training, and development programs? � Industry trends and competition?
Types of Interviews • There are three types of interview questions. –Traditional –Behavioral –Case
Types of Interviews • Traditional interview questions often focus on strengths, weaknesses, values, and experiences. • The Behavioral interview focuses on what you have done in the past. The interviewer will question and probe for specific examples of past behavior. Past behavior is seen as a predictor of future performance.
Types of Interviews • If you are interviewing for a technical or consulting position, you may encounter a third type of interview, the Case Interview. � In a case interview, the employer will describe a situation, project or issue and ask the candidate to solve the problem or to complete the task.
Types of Interviews � Some employers will combine question types, using traditional, behavioral, and case interview techniques. � In a technical interview, case and behavioral questions are common.
Preparing for Interviews • For Traditional interviews, review common interview questions. • Review your resume and be able to talk about your qualifications. • Traditional interview questions typically focus on the candidate’s qualifications, values, interests, and future plans.
Preparing for Interviews • How to prepare for a Behavioral interview: � Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors or actions. – Focus on coursework, intern and work experience, leadership, teamwork, planning, and problem solving. � Prepare short descriptions of each situation focusing on the desired competency as well as the technical skills you used.
Preparing for Interviews • Use the STAR Acronym (Behavioral). � Be ready to describe the S ituation, the T ask, your A ction, and the R esult (STAR). � Be honest. Don’t embellish or omit any part of the story. � Be specific. Don’t generalize about several events; give a detailed accounting of one event.
Preparing for Traditional, Behavioral, and Case Interviews • How to prepare for a Case interview: � Review problem-solving strategies and polish your organizational, technical, and management skills. � Be prepared to apply your knowledge to a given scenario.
Dress Professionally • Recruiters expect candidates to be dressed in standard business attire.
Professional Dress for Women • Invest in a solid color or muted pattern suit in conservative colors such as navy, gray or black. Avoid trendy clothing during interviews, but make sure that your clothes are in style. • The suit should have a skirt of a conservative length that matches the jacket. • Keep in mind that pantsuits are not recommended for women when interviewing in a very formal or conservative environment.
Professional Dress for Women • Choose conservative mid heel shoes with closed toes. � Wear shoes that are well maintained. • Don’t overdo jewelry, makeup, and perfume. � Keep rings to a minimum of one on each hand and avoid jingly bracelets. � Small Jewelry is recommended. • Your hair should be neat and clean and worn in a professional style.
Professional Dress for Men • Traditional business attire means a dark two piece suit. • A long sleeved white shirt is the best choice. � Never wear short sleeves in a business setting. • Ties should be silk and should coordinate with the suit and shirt. � Make sure tie is the current width and style. • Shoes should be well-polished and coordinate with the suit. � Lace up dress shoes are best.
Professional Dress for Men • Button your jacket when you stand. • Be sure to wear socks that cover your calves. • Socks should be either the color of your shoe or the color of your trousers. • Always wear an undershirt under your dress shirt. • Always wear a two-piece suit for an interview, never a sports coat and slacks.
Professional Dress for Everyone • If you have piercings or tattoos, conceal them. • Men should remove earrings prior to interviews. Women should avoid multiple earrings in each ear. • Even if the company has a business casual policy, you should wear business professional attire (suits) for the interview. • If you are unsure what to wear, call the recruiter to find out.
What to Bring to the Interview • Extra copy of resume and reference list. • College transcripts. • A good quality writing instrument. • A nice leather portfolio for your materials.
Some Interviewing Do’s • Greet the Employer with a firm handshake and a friendly demeanor. • Be aware of non-verbal communication: � Eye Contact � Facial Expressions � Posture � Handshake � Verbalized Pauses/Speech Patterns � Lack of Enthusiasm
Some Interviewing Do’s • Practice in Advance of the Interview • Be Prompt • Act like a Professional • Express Yourself Clearly • Be Honest • Be Assertive • Follow Up when Appropriate
Some Interviewing Do’s • Employers like to hear direct answers to their interview questions. • Know your resume . Employers begin interviews by confirming details from the candidates resume. • Next, they ask students about their experiences. Be able to give specific examples .
Some Interviewing Do’s • Emphasize the positive aspects of your qualifications. • Be prepared to discuss negative aspects in a positive manner. • Be clear and focused. • Ask questions when given the opportunity.
Some Interviewing Don’ts • Don’t blame poor performance on past employers, workplaces, bosses, or co- workers. • Don’t show bad posture; don’t slouch, tap your feet, put your feet up, or constantly look away from the interviewer. • Don’t fail to ask the employer questions.
Some Interviewing Don’ts • Don’t ask about salary during the first interview. • Don’t let nervousness affect your actions. • Don’t go on too long with answers to questions. Be aware of how the interviewer is responding to what you are saying.
Some Interviewing Don’ts • Don’t fail to answer the questions you are asked. � Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question. • Don’t minimize yourself, your qualifications, or your experience. � If you say you were “just a student worker”, that is how the employer will perceive you.
Concluding an Interview • Give a brief summary of why you are interested in the position. � Highlight your skills and strengths. � Express direct interest in the position! • Determine the employer’s timetable. • As you shake hands at the end of the interview: � Make eye contact; � Thank the person for the interview; � State that you hope to have a second interview with the company.
Concluding an Interview � Ask for a business card. � Write a thank-you note within 24 hours. – Typed Letter – Professional email – Hand Written Note
After the Interview • Assess your performance. � How did it go? � How could you do better, or what would you do differently? • Follow up on the interview after appropriate time frame stated by the interviewer. • If you need help with your interview skills, contact Career and Employment Services.
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