Interview Preparation

A job interview is a two­way process between you and the interviewer. Your
goals:
· To convince the employer that you are the best person for the job.
· To determine if this position and organization would be a good fit for you!
Planning and research are the keys to a successful interview experience. Good
preparation will place you miles ahead of the other candidates and give you an
opportunity to showcase your best strengths. Planning and practice will not only
enhance your chances to respond to the interviewer’s questions but also allow you
to best present yourself and your career goals with confidence. Your Career Center
may have already helped you with the self assessment process. If not, you should
be prepared to answer the following questions….

Questions to Ask Yourself…

1. What are my academic accomplishments, leadership qualities, activities, etc?

2. What transferable skills can I offer (e.g. organizational, analytical, problem

solving, financial, communications skills)?

3. What knowledge base skills do I possess (e.g. languages, computer

programs, math skills)?

4. What are my personal traits (e.g. flexibility, dependability, creativity,

enthusiasm)?

5. What values are most important to me in the workplace?

6. What are my career goals?

HOW TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE IN YOUR INTERVIEW

Come to your interview about 10 minutes early. This will allow you to be
available should they be running a little early. It will also give you time to catch your
breath and calm yourself. If you need to park your car, allow plenty of time.

Check your interview time and location. They are always posted by Monday
morning for the whole week, however, circumstances sometimes force us to change the
location at the last minute.

Look prepared. Ladies, make sure your hair is combed neatly or pulled back from
your face. What is appropriate for classroom or social events is not necessarily correct
for the interview. Watch the hemline on your skirt. If you are wearing slacks and a
shirt, rather than a suit, you should have a jacket to coordinate the outfit. Shoes need to
be polished. Nordstrom shines shoes for about $2 – treat yourself! Ladies and
gentlemen: shirts and blouses must be ironed, with collars lying flat against the jacket.

Make sure the objective on your resume matches the job you are
interviewing for. If you need to switch resumes because of new information, please
do so at least two days before the interview. This allows us to fax the correct resume, if
requested, and to prepare the interview folder in advance. You can always have more
than one type of resume in your file – just “tag” it with a Post­It note to alert us.

Know your company. Come in a couple of days before the interview and check the
resource library for information. Also, look on the Internet and network with fellow
interviewees.

Prepare a few questions to ask at the end of the interview. It shows you are
interested.

Know your short­term and long­term goals.

 TYPICAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

PERSONAL

These questions are less directed at behavioral characteristics and aim more specifically at
interests, hobbies, and future plans. Answer briefly and in context with the available job.

1. Tell me about yourself. Uusually, a warm­up question, so do not ramble. Cover

education, work history, and recent college and career experiences.

2. Are you applying to other companies? If you are, say so. You will be perceived as
honest and more in demand.

3. What are your career goals? Relate goals to company you are interviewing..: ”in a
firm like yours…”

4. What do you want to be doing five years from now? Let them know you’d like to be
productive and increase your skills and then review your new options within the
organization. This also is a version of #3.

5. What are your interests outside of work? Leisure activities and hobbies complete your
profile. Highlight but do not overstate.

RESEARCH

Answers to these questions convey your interest, knowledge of, and enthusiasm about
working for the particular company with which you are interviewing.

1. Why would you like to work for us?

2. What do you know about your organization?

3. What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive?
List three or four attractive factors, and mention a single, minor unattractive item.

4. What do you look for in a job? Focus answer towards opportunities available rather
than your personal security.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Please tell me a little about yourself.

2. Please tell me about your experience in this field.
3. What qualifications do you have that make you feel you will be successful in your field?
4. Why are you interested in this position?
5. What kind of boss do you prefer?
6. Can you take instruction without feeling upset?
7. How did your previous employers treat you?
8. What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
9. Hypothetical situations that test a person’s job knowledge and judgment, e.g. “What
would you do if …?”
10. Please tell me something about your own special abilities.
11. Why should we hire you for this job rather than someone else?
12. What are your long­range career objectives?
13. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
14. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
15. What one (or three) words would you use to describe yourself?
16. In what type of position are you most interested?
17. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
18. What have you done which shows initiative and willingness to work?
19. What job have you liked most? Least? Why?
20. Which of your job supervisors have you liked most? Least? Why?
21. Why do you think you would like this particular kind of job?
22. What are the most satisfying aspects of your present job? The most frustrating?
23. Describe a time when you felt ineffective in your job, why you felt ineffective, and what
you did about it. What was the outcome?
24. Describe a time when you felt particularly effective.
25. Were your assignments handled individually or were they a team effort?
 Personal Traits & Attitudes

Personal traits and attitudes are personality characteristics which describe your
own personal style. Which ones do you have? Check all that apply to you. When
writing letters and preparing for the interview, you will want to select the best
words that fit with the job objective. Example:

Accountant: thorough, detailed, accurate, precise

Sales: self motivated, energetic, confident, competitive
Teacher: patient, resourceful, organized, creative

Accurate Dependable Initiative Productive

Adaptive Detailed Innovative Punctual
Adventurous Determined Intelligent Reliable
Alert Diplomatic Logical Resourceful
Ambitious Direct Loyal Responsible
Analytical Disciplined Methodical Results
Artistic Efficient Non­ Oriented
Articulate Empathetic judgmental Risk­Taking
Assertive Energetic Objective Secure
Athletic Enthusiastic Open­minded Self­Motivated
Calm Facilitative Optimistic Sensitive
Clear­headed Fair­minded Orderly Spontaneous
Competitive Flexible Organized Stable
Confidant Friendly Patient Sympathetic
Considerate Genuine Perceptive Talented
Conscientious Honest Perfectionist Thorough
Cooperative Humorous Persistent Trustworthy
Courageous Imaginative Personable Willing to
Creative Independent Practical Learn
Decisive Industrious Precise

Optional Exercise: Copy this form and ask two or three friends and colleagues to
provide their feedback on your personality. Helpful in clarifying your impact on
others.
 ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS (EXAMPLES)

You want to create stories that highlight your skills. These stories become your
“Kodak moments.” Consider the job you are seeking and select the important
factors – what it would take to get the job done.

Use the PAR (Problem, Action, and Result) method to write stories
illustrating your successes. Focus on the requirements of the position you
are seeking.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENT: One sentence description of how skill was used.

Wrote articles for school newspaper.

PROBLEM (SITUATION or TASK): Describe the situation or task in two or three

sentences.

Student dance club needed to promote membership and raise awareness of

dance performances.

ACTION: Key transferable and personality skills used.

[Describe what you did and how you did it.]

Determined various media exposure opportunities requiring little or no

club funding. Researched readership needs and writing style to best capture

reader interest. Gathered human interest stories, edited content and

organized newspaper placement.

RESULT: Describe how your actions solved the problem. Quantify or qualify results.
This should always be a positive outcome.

Articles increased student membership by 25% within first semester.

Dance recitals performed to sold-out audiences during winter events.

 ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
You want to create stories that highlight your skills. These stories become your “Kodak
moments.” Consider the job you are seeking and select the important factors – what it would
take to get the job done.

Use the PAR (Problem, Action, and Result) method to write stories illustrating your
successes. Focus on the requirements of the position you are seeking.

The Accomplishment: One sentence description of how skill was used.

PROBLEM (SITUATION or TASK): Describe the situation or task in two or three

sentences.

ACTION: Key transferable and personality skills used.

[Describe what you did and how you did it.]

RESULT: Describe how your actions solved the problem. Quantify or qualify results.
This should always be a positive outcome.
 Questions To Ask In Interviews

Spend some time thinking about what additional information you need about the
company/agency and the position, and write them in question form. Good questions are ones
that have been formulated through your own insight. Be sure, however, that your
questions are not answered somewhere in the company literature or the job
description. If the interviewer answers all the questions you were prepared to ask, when
asked if you have any questions, let the person know your questions were already answered
during the interview. Prepare five good questions the night before the interview and write
them out and keep them in your binder.

Here are a few sample questions …

1. What qualities do you look for in people who join this company?

2. What are the main responsibilities of this job?

3. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this company?

4. Could you describe the type of training provided for this position? Do you have a formal
training program?

5. How would my performance be evaluated, and how often?

6. What would be a typical career path for an employee like me entering your
organization?

7. To whom would I report? Under whose supervision would I be assigned?

8. What is the management style of the department/area where I’ll be assigned?

9. Does this position require much travel?

10. Would I be working independently or as part of a team?

11. How is the current economic situation affecting your organization?

12. What are your plans for expansion in terms of product lines, new branches, services?

13. How would you differentiate your company from your major competitors?

14. What do you consider to be the major problems facing this industry today?

15. How do you reward your successful employees?

× Do not ask questions regarding salary. All questions about compensation should
be discussed in final interviews after you have been offered the job.
 Research Pays Off During An Interview
By Rob Kallick
After the job offer
Looking fort a sure‐fire way to nail a job interview? Try While it's necessary to familiarize yourself with a
showing the interviewer that you know the company company before the interview, it's just as important to
inside and out. continue your research if you receive a job offer.
Candidates who‐can differentiate themselves from the Evans says job seekers should learn the name of their
rest of the pack will have the most success in a new manager and then research his or her qualifications
challenging job market. Researching a company is an by using the Web, trade journals or word‐of mouth
essential step to the job search" and should be done communication.
prior to the interview and before accepting a job offer.
Also, research the company to get an idea of its
Best foot forward corporate culture before making your final decision. How
“When people go into a company and show that they've much overtime is expected? Is there a work‐at‐home
done the research, it puts them in a very positive policy? Are employees happy to work there?
position," says Dr. Judith T. Evans, vice president of Right
Management Consultants in New York. "This 5 a very If you do it discreetly, you can ask current workers for an
difficult job market and it’s important to have candidates opinion of their employer. "Ask them what it's like to
who are well‐grounded. Doing research needs to be a work there." says Sutaria. "You want to know what
habit." you're getting into. You can't know 100 percent, but you
want to know as much as humanly possible." Evans says
Evans says a recent client hers was able to secure a job, that talking to people at the company can be beneficial in
with a pharmaceutical company by demonstrating a financial way as well.
knowledge that went beyond the norm. "He went to the
library and looked up the drugs that the company had in "I know someone who networked within the company
its pipeline," Evans says. "When he went into the and as a result was able to negotiate a higher salary," she
interview, it turned out he actually knew some things says. "He found someone who said, ‘This is what we pay
about, the company the interviewer didn't even know." in that spot.' You can find out who held the position
before you and talk to them."
Take advantage of resources
Job candidates who interview without researching the In a difficult market, it's important to cover every angle.
company put themselves at an unnecessary Researching a company is one angle that shouldn't be
disadvantage, especially when you consider how easy it missed. "Don't ever walk into an interview without doing
has become to find out a company's essential your research," says Sutaria. And if you haven't had a
information. In some cases, learning more about a chance to brief yourself on the company's products,
company can be as easy as checking a few sites on the accomplishments and goals? "Make any excuse possible
internet. to postpone the interview if you haven't done the
research," Sutaria says. "It's that important."
"Type the name of a company into a search engine and
you'll get zillions of articles related to the company," says Draw attention to yourself with essential information
Don Sutaria, founder, president and career counselor for
CareerQuest, an executive coaching firm in Union, N.J. Before stepping into an interview with a new company,
"If someone really wants to study a hard copy, he or she you should be able to answer all of these questions:
can call the company ahead of time and request an § Is it a domestic or international company?
annual report." Annual reports are sometimes available § What is the total sales volume?
at East Bay libraries or on a company's Web site. § What are the profit margins?
§ How many employees are there?
Information into action § Are you familiar with the products?
Once you've learned the necessary information, be sure § Have you read the president’s report?
to find a way to demonstrate that knowledge during the § What are the names of the key executives?
interview. In fact, talking like an insider during the § What were the company’s previous five years like?
interview is a great way to make a strong impression. § What is the company’s mission?
"Know the products, the dollar volume in sales and —Source: Don Sutaria,
names of key executives," Sutaria says. "Know what the CareerQuest
previous five years were like and what the company's
mission is. Get familiar with the products. That way. you
can also make a few suggestions."
 WRITING A THANK YOU
A thank you letter should be sent after any professional contact has been made. Whether
you are writing to express your appreciation for being given an interview for a job
opportunity or just an informational interview, thank you notes are a very important step
in your job search. Thank you letters should be written and mailed the day of the
interview; it should be brief and personalized. Keep in mind the following as you create
your letter:

§ Express your appreciation for the time and

consideration given to you by the DID YOU KNOW…
interviewer. Only 36% of students ever follow
§ Emphasize significant information which up an interview with any type of
might have been shared during the formal business communication.
interview. Restate ideas or examples you Recruiters tell us that a well­
shared in the interview that were well crafted and sincere thank you
received. This helps the interviewer letter sent after an interview is
remember you. (Remember, they may have always appreciated. More
interviewed several candidates!) importantly, it also sets you apart
§ Your thank you letter is an additional sample from other candidates and can
of your communication and writing ability. influence a hiring decision in your
§ Reiterate your interest in the position! Tell favor.
them specifically what impressed you about
the position and organization. Do I have to write a letter to
§ Take this opportunity to mention anything everyone I interviewed with?
you may have overlooked in the interview.
(You know, those things that occur to you in Yes! Each of these individuals
the car on the way home after the plays a role in the hiring decision.
interview!) This is your opportunity to follow
up with each of them.

Here is an outline to help you organize your thoughts:

Do I have to type
Opening Paragraph my letter?
Thank the interviewer and re­emphasize your interest in the
position. A laser­printed
Middle Paragraph letter on resume
Remind the employer why you are a great candidate for the quality paper is
position. Try to remember something specific about the standard for
interview to mention. Also, use this paragraph to mention business
additional qualifications you may have failed to discuss during communication.
the interview.
If your contact is of
Closing Paragraph a more personal
Thank the employer and express your interest in learning of nature, a
their decision. If you haven’t already done so, offer to provide handwritten note on
any additional information they may need to make the hiring a businesslike,
decision (references, transcripts, etc.). simple note­card is
acceptable.
 POST­INTERVIEW SELF­EVALUATION

Rate Yourself:
Could Be Better Perfect

Preparation 1 2 3 4 5
Appearance 1 2 3 4 5
Hand Shake 1 2 3 4 5
Eye Contact 1 2 3 4 5
Sincerity 1 2 3 4 5
Interest 1 2 3 4 5
Knowledge of company 1 2 3 4 5
Listening 1 2 3 4 5
Qualifications 1 2 3 4 5
How well did I answer questions? 1 2 3 4 5
Overall Performance 1 2 3 4 5
What did I like about the interview?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What could I have done, asked or said differently?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What improvements do I need to make for the next interview?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On the back, jot down as many questions you can remember from the interview.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________