Interview

Narratives
 Why
Intervie
w?
The Employer
 • To make sure you’re YOU

Why • To connect the dots

• To see if you have the skills

Interview • To see if you are motivated

• To see how you think

?- • To see what you value

• To see if you will represent them well
• To see if you will fit in- do they want to work
and learn with you?

The
• To get a sense of your unique talents and
strengths
• To get a sense of your weaknesses
Why Interview?
The Potential
Employee
 Why Interview? -
the potential
• Is this a employee
position I want?
• What would it actually be like to
work here?
• Is this a place I want to be?
• How will this job help me grow?
• Is this the right next step for my
career?
• Do I want to work and learn with
these people?
 Interview
Basics
DO YOUR RESEARCH
• Employer’s history, mission,
structure, programs/products
• The job itself
• Talk to current employees, people
who know the industry
• Bring notes, use THEIR language
 Interview Basics
COME WITH QUESTIONS
NOTE: Questions are not for details (especially info you can find on the website!). The
questions you ask help them get to know you. Use them strategically.
• What is unclear about the job that you need to know?
• What do you need to know about the organization that will help you see if it’s a fit?
• Given your overall professional goals, what needs to be in place with this job that you
should ask about now?
• Overall, be thoughtful about questions. What you ask is part of the interview.
COME PREPARED
• Practice your answers
• Re-read your resume and application before the interview, bring a copy of your resume
and references if relevant
• Be prepared - there may be more than one interviewer, a test or other activity
 • Dress up
• Be on time
• Be friendly
• Be positive
• Show enthusiasm

In the • Maintain eye contact

• Be aware of your body language, tone
Interview • Speak clearly, concisely.

The Basics • Listen carefully, answer what they are

actually asking
• Be you
Job Interview
Stories
 Interview stories

S
Situation
T
Task
A
Action
R
Result

Share the outcome

Set up the Describe the Explain what you did
(ideally something
(how you handled
context and purpose positive, how you
the situation,
came to a resolution
background professionally and
or a compromise)
productively)
 Interview Narratives
A time you encountered A story about a
A project or experience
a challenge and weakness and how you
you are proud of.
managed it. are working on it.

“Anything else we
A story about a strength A supervisor you liked
should know about
and how you have and what you liked
you?” [Any other stories
applied and continued to about them and their
that show your strengths
grow in it. style.
that you want to share?]

Describe your Do you like working

A time you had a conflict
experience as a Fellow. alone? In teams? A story
with someone. How did
Why did you choose to that helps us understand
you manage it?
 Tell Me • This is a pitch - why are you a good fit?

• Give 2-3 examples from employment history that

About you most want them to know, which show why this
is a good fit
Yourself
• Wrap up with why prior experience has positioned
you for this role
 Follow-up!
• Thank them
• Demonstrate you have continued to think about the
conversation
• Reaffirm your interest
• Keep your options open (if there is any chance you
After might be interested in the position, make sure you
make it sound like you are VERY interested!)

the If they don’t offer the job:

• Thank them, be gracious, keep lines of communication
open
intervie
If they offer you the job:
w •
•
Take time, don’t answer right away
Evaluate your goals, salary, etc
• Talk to people who know the org
• How to negotiate a job offer
Practice your interview
stories
 Looking for core competencies such as:

• Leadership
• Flexibility
• Motivation
Behavioral •
•
Commitment
Initiative
Questions • Teamwork
• Responsibility
• Decision making
• Communication
• Trustworthiness
• Problem solving
• Organization
• Resilience
How did you hear about us?
What do you know about us?

This is a chance to What stood out to

show you CARE, not you? How does that
to regurgitate info connect with your
passions?
 Why do you want this job?
Why should we hire you?

THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT PASSION

A few key factors of why the job is a great fit, then
why love the company/organization
Show that:

⚬ You can do the work and excel

⚬ You will fit in with the team and culture
⚬ That you’re a better hire than the other
candidates
 *What are your greatest professional
strengths?*
BE:
• Accurate - True strengths, not what you think they want to hear

• Relevant - Choose the ones most targeted to the position

• Specific - “Persuasive Communication” or “Collaborative Partnership Building” vs

“People Skills”

GIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW HAVE USED IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING

 *What Do You Consider To Be Your
Weaknesses*

THIS QUESTION IS NOT JUST ABOUT SEEING YOUR WEAKNESSES - IT IS

ABOUT GAUGING YOUR SELF-AWARENESS AND HONESTY

• Don’t say “I can’t meet deadlines” or “Nothing, I’m perfect”

• Think of something you struggle with but you are working to improve. Give an
example of how you are working on this.
 *What Is Your Greatest Professional
Achievement/ Something You Are Proud Of?*

Be confident with this one! They want to see you at your best.

Use the STAR Method

*Tell Me About a Conflict or Challenge You
Have Faced at Work and How You Dealt
With It*
• They want to see how you would handle conflict and setbacks

• Use the STAR Method

 *Where do you see yourself in 5
years?
They want to see:

• If you have realistic expectations

• If you have ambition (this isn’t the first time you have considered this)

• If the position aligns with your goals and growth

Be:
• Honest and specific
• Think realistically about where this position could take you
• If you aren’t sure, say so, but add that you see this position as playing a role in making
that decision
 Why are you leaving your current
role?

KEEP THINGS POSITIVE

• I want to grow in these ways . . . this is a better fit because . . .

• If you were let go? Just say so.

• If they ask why you were let go, be honest. Frame it as “this is how I have grown
since, what I learned from the experience.”
 What is your management/leadership
style?
Show you are strong and flexible.
“While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee
relationships as a coach...”

Give specific examples

Use specific language where you can - draw from language we have used in this
fellowship!
 What would your first 30, 60, or 90
days in this role look like?

• What would you need to set yourself up for success? Who would you need to
meet with? What would you need to know?

• Choose a few areas where you can have meaningful impact right away
 • They want to know your work style.
What do
you look • This is a great opportunity to show you know how to
MANAGE UP!
for in a
manager? • Give an example of a manager you admired. What
did you like about them? What worked about how
they managed you?
 • Describe a situation in which a detail
• Tell me about a time you had to
you thought to be unimportant turned
make a quick decision.
out to be very important.
• Tell me about a difficult experience
• Tell me about a time you had to
you had in a clinic or internship and
persuade a colleague to accept your
how you overcame it.
point of view.
• Tell me about a time you had too
Other many things to do and had to
• Tell me about a time you went above

and beyond the call of duty.

Questions prioritize.
• What did you do the last time things
• Describe a situation where your efforts

You Might didn’t go according to plan?

had a direct impact on the outcome.
• Tell me about an ethical work situation
• Tell me about a situation where you
See failed. Why did you fail and what did
you had to deal with. How did it turn

out?
you learn from it?
• Tell me about a time when you had to
• Tell me about a time you had to
act in a leadership capacity.
work with someone who did things
• What have you done in the workforce
very differently from you.
that shows initiative and creativity?
• Tell me about a time when you had
• How would you handle a situation
to deal with a difficult client or
 How to Answer the 31 Most Common Interview
Questions
A great
resource: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-
answer-the-31-most-common-interview-
questions