JOB SEARCH

Interviewing Skills.

Career Services provides you information on how to prepare for your interview.  We can help you to learn what to expect and how to answer those tough questions. We'll show you how to avoid the problems that others most commonly experience. 

Below are some general tips and sample interview questions to help you prepare. We have also put together four pages of information on Interviewing Topics and What the Employer Looks For, Behavioral Based Interviewing (which many interviewers are using these days), Transferable Skills (what are they anyway?) and a set of sample questions to ask during an Informational Interview.

Interviewing Skills.pdf

KNOW THE COMPANY - Before you walk into an interview, do some research on the company you'll be interviewing with.  Hit the library to check business listings, obtain public annual reports, and find recent magazine and periodical articles about the company.

KNOW YOURSELF - Know your skills, your strengths and weaknesses, your personal and professional goals, and be prepared to give reasons why you are the best choice for the position.

VERBAL COMMUNICATION - Practice sample interview questions (below), recruit a friend to help you with a mock interview, avoid "yes" or "no" answers and always think before you speak.

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION - Look directly at the interviewer, observe good posture, wait until you are invited to be seated.

DRESS PROPERLY - Exercise good taste and err on the formal side.  Remember that you are trying to impress, not going to a ball game or a party.

INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP - Ask for a business card and send a short thank you note.  Follow through can be a deciding factor when there are several qualified candidates.

DOS AND DON'TS - Do try to relax and enjoy your interview.  Do be prepared, honest, relevant, interested, specific, confident, competitive, and knowledgeable.  Don't ask questions that imply you'll be watching the clock (such as when/how long are the breaks).  Don't ask questions about salary and benefits unless prompted.

1. Tell me about yourself.  Go beyond your resume.

2.  Why are you interested in this position?  Why are you interested in our organization?

3.  Why did you choose your particular major and career field?

4.  How would you describe yourself to me?  How would your friends describe you?

5.  How would you evaluate your success to date?

6. What do you think motivates you most?  Describe some of your most rewarding accomplishments and why.

7. What do you think to be your strongest and weakest personal qualities?

8.  What problems have you encountered, and how have you dealt with them?

9.  What are your long term goals?  Where do you plan to be in your career in ten years?

10.  Why should my organization offer you a position?

11.  Describe what you perceive as the proper relationship between a manager and subordinates.

12.  How well do you function under pressure?  Give me some examples.

You'll find a variety of articles about various aspects of interviewing listed on the Wall Street Journal's Career Journal.