Preparing for a Job Interview

What is a job interview?

A job interview is an exchange of information. The employer is interested in obtaining information from you about your skills, education, and experience. You are interested in obtaining information concerning the organization's growth, operations, and most important, the particular opening or opportunity available.

How does the interview process work?

The interview process often begins with a screening interview with an on-campus recruiter or a representative from a company's personnel department, followed by an interview with the hiring supervisor or manager.

The person conducting the screening interview generally does not make the actual hiring decision, but their opinion is an influencing factor in the employment process. The screening interviewer's evaluation of your education, experience, and skills can be the difference between receiving an offer or a "no interest" letter. During your screening interview, you will be given valuable information on what to expect in the interview with the hiring supervisor as well as exposure to positions in the company for which you may be considered.

The most important part of the hiring process is the time spent with the person who is doing the hiring. No matter how impressive your education, experience, and references may be, you need to be prepared to sell yourself. You must present an image that is honest, positive, and relaxed. Keep in mind that the interviewer wants to fill the position and you must give him/her good reasons for hiring you.

What characteristics are essential to any successful job interview?

Substitute strengths for weaknesses. For example, don't tell your interviewer you have no experience with a specific software program. Instead, tell them that your experience with software includes X, Y and Z, each of which you were easily able to learn and attained quick proficiency. Transition the negative into a positive.
Attitude and demeanor matter as much as your response to questions. Be professional and focused, yet friendly and personable. Remember, you need to fit into a workplace. No one wants to hire an individual with no personality, no matter the qualifications.
Be brief, but thorough in your communication style. Long-winded, endless responses to questions are not the answer. You'll lose the interest of the interviewer and get "lost" in your response. Also, if you do not know the answer to a question, do not be afraid to admit it. Do not attempt to "bluff" your way through it. An employer can spot this a mile away.
Be enthusiastic. People love to hire individuals excited about their company. Be professional, yet demonstrate your interest and energy.
Rehearse. In each and every interview situation, there are common questions that will be asked. Don't wait until the interview to decide your responses. Be prepared and think through your answers before you arrive.

How can I best prepare for a job interview?

The key to a successful interview is being prepared. There is a great deal you can do to prepare for your interview. Your agenda is to be able to describe your abilities as they relate to the position, and to determine if the opportunity is something that you would like to pursue.

Research the organization and its business. It is important to do this because it enables you to speak intelligently about the organization during the interview; it enables you to focus on what you can contribute to the organization; and, it enables you to obtain enough information to help you decide whether or not you want to work there.

Good sources of information include the company website, corporate directories (Standard and Poor's, Dun and Bradstreet, McRae's Blue Book, etc.), annual reports, newspaper articles, magazines (Business Week, Fortune, Barron's, etc.), and professional and trade journals. You can find a lot of this information in the library. Or, you can simply call the company, explain that you have an interview and ask if it's possible to obtain printed materials on the company.

While conducting your research, try to find the answers to the following questions:

What does the company or organization do?
What are its products and services?
How old is the organization or how long has it been in business?
Who is the CEO?
Where is the company headquartered?
Who are the company's strongest competitors? Who provides the same products or services?
What are the organization's distinctions in the field?
If you are truly unable to find the answers to some of these questions, consider including them on your list of questions to ask the interviewer.
Know what you are marketing! If it is available, review the job description and be ready to articulate your interests, skills, and abilities as they relate to the position.
Review your resume. Employers like to hear concrete examples that demonstrate transferable skills. Use your resume as a guide to relay examples from your coursework, extracurricular activities, and/or work experiences (paid or volunteer).
Consider preparing a portfolio of your better projects. For example, computer science students may find it helpful to prepare a portfolio of programming projects which show a degree of proficiency with different languages. A word of caution though: use visual aids only as a supplement to your explanations, and only when it seems appropriate.
Know the exact time and place of the interview. Arrive 5-10 minutes early. Consider driving to the place of the interview the day/night before so you know exactly where you need to be and how long it takes to get there. Also, consider the availability of parking. Will you be able to park in visitor parking close to the building, or will you be required to park in a remote parking lot or garage? If the company doesn't provide you with parking, don't forget to factor in the time it will take to walk from a remote parking lot or garage to get to the interview on time.
Take a list of references along with extra copies of your resume. For each reference, include his/her name, title, business, address, telephone number, and e-mail address, if available. Your list should contain 3-5 professional references and presented in the same typestyle and on the same type stationery as your resume. Present your reference list only if it is requested. Always seek a person's permission before listing them as a reference and it is also a good idea to notify them that they may be contacted as a result of your job interview.
Try to avoid discussing salary in the first interview. If the interviewer asks what salary you will take, turn the question back to the interviewer. Say, for example, "With my qualifications, where do you see me fitting in the salary range?" It is extremely important in negotiating salary to know the industry standard for the position, what the salary range is for the position in a specific geographical location in which you will be working, and the value of the position within thecompany. Salary information can be obtained in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Salary Survey. The survey, available in Natural Sciences Career Services, reports starting salary offers made to new graduates by employing organizations in business, industry, government, and by non-profit and educational institutions*. You should also do an analysis of the income you will need to pay your bills (rent, auto and school loans, credit cards, etc.) and live comfortably. (* The figures reported are for base salaries only and do not include bonuses, fringe benefits, or overtime rates.)
Never accept a job without taking time to consider the offer. If you are offered a position, tell the company that you are flattered to receive the offer but would like some time to consider it. Most companies are prepared to wait twenty-four or forty-eight hours and even longer if your reason is valid. For example, if you have been interviewing with several companies and are waiting to hear back from them, explain this to the company that has made you an offer and ask how long they would be willing to wait for an answer.
Send a thank-you letter. A thank you letter should be sent to the interviewer immediately after the interview. Briefly summarize your skills and experiences that meet the needs of the company and reaffirm your interest in the position. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and mention that you are looking forward to hearing from him/her soon.
Follow-up. If you don't hear from the interviewer within a week or the agreed upon amount of time, it is perfectly acceptable for you to follow-up with a phone call to inquire about the status of the position. This very act can reinforce to the employer your interest in the position.

What questions might I be asked?

While you won't be asked all of the questions listed, preparing answers will help you focus on the information the interviewer will lately want to gather.

I. Questions Focusing on Skills and Qualifications:

"Tell me about yourself.…” Hint: Used primarily as an "ice-breaker," the interviewer is interested in about your education, experience, and maybe, current work situation, NOT personal information. Don't ramble--keep this answer to 1-2 minutes.
In what ways are you qualified for this job?
What are greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Describe one or two or your most satisfying accomplishments?
II. Questions Focusing on Education:

Why did you select your major area of study?
Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic abilities? Explain.
What were the extra-curricular activities in which you participated? What did you learn from these experiences?
What did you learn from your part-time jobs, co-ops, or internships?
III. Questions Focusing on Attitudes/Personal Qualities:

Describe a major problem you have encountered and explain how you coped with it.
What kinds of people are easiest/most difficult for you to work with?
IV. Questions Focusing on Motivation:

What motivates you to do your best work?
What are your short and long range career goals?
Why did you decide to apply for this job?
Are you willing to travel? Will you relocate if necessary?
V. Questions Focusing on Compensation:

What salary do you expect?
How did you determine the salary level you expect?
Would you be willing to start at a lower salary?
What is the minimum salary you will accept?

What questions should I ask?

In addition to giving information about why you are the best person for the job, you need to gather information to determine if the organization and the position are the best fit for you.

I. Questions Focusing on the Position:

What does the typical day-to-day work include?
What are the biggest challenges?
What are the busiest times?
Is the position newly created, or is someone being replaced?
Will I receive any formal training such as new employee orientation, in-service training, etc.?
How will my performance be evaluated?
II. Questions Focusing on the Department:

What are the long-range goals established for the department?
How is this department viewed within the organization?
III. Questions Focusing on the Organization:

Describe the typical employee of this company.
What appears to be the corporate culture or work environment of the company?
IV. Questions Focusing on Compensation:
Timing is important when you ask questions about compensation. Ask these questions after the company has made you an offer or if they have indicated a strong interest in you. Practice the wording of the question you want to ask so your approach is positive and organization-oriented. Compensation is often negotiable so prepare to negotiate. Remember, in negotiating salary, it is very important to know the industry standard for the position for which you are applying.

How was the salary range determined for this position?
What is included in the company benefits package (medical/dental insurance, tuition reimbursement, retirement, etc.)?
How frequently is performance reviewed?
How are salary increases awarded?

What should I wear?

Appearance is the first thing you communicate to others. Before you have a chance to speak, others notice how you dress and accordingly draw conclusions about your personality, credibility, and competence. While many people object to having their capabilities evaluated on the basis of their appearance and manner of dress, it's been proven that qualified and competent job applicants can gain an extra edge over a field of other qualified, competent individuals by dressing to convey a positive professional image.

When considering what to wear to an interview, always dress in the style consistent with the position and industry for which you are applying. Avoid clothes that appear trendy unless you are applying for a job in a field that requires creativity such as the arts, fashion, or some areas of business.

Except for some blue collar jobs, basic attire for men interviewing for a position is a suit. In general, blue or gray are proper colors for men's suits. Usually the darker the shade, the greater amount of authority it conveys. Navy blue or medium to charcoal gray are good suit colors. When selecting the color of the suit, choose a shade that is enhancing to you. The style of your suit should be classic. Your suit should be made of a natural fiber or a good blend of a natural fiber with some synthetic. Stay away from 100% polyester materials or double knits.

For women, a skirted suit is the best choice for an interview. This attire allows a woman to best convey an image of professionalism, authority, and competence. The suit colors that make the strongest positive statements for women include a medium to charcoal gray, medium to navy blue, maroon, and camel. Similar to men's suits, women's suits should be made of a natural fiber or blend, and classic in style.

Are there tips for having a successful telephone interview?

The telephone interview is a formal part of the job interview process that should not be treated lightly or casually. The most important thing to remember is your objective: to obtain a personal, face-to-face meeting with a prospective employer.

Being prepared for a telephone interview takes organization. You never know when a company is going to call once you have started networking and sending your resume out. You can avoid being caught completely off-guard by keeping your resume and alphabetized company dossiers by the telephone.

Telephone Interview Tips

Be enthusiastic and assertive. Remember, you don't have the benefit of physical expression and eye contact to show your interest level.
Be prepared. Know about the organization, so that you can intelligently discuss it. You do not need to know the organization inside out, but the more you know the better. Some things to know about an organization include: its main product(s) or service(s); its market; its leaders; a little history; its major competitors, etc. Use the internet and libraries to get information.
Don't do anything which can create an unpleasant impression of yourself--speak too fast; have music, TV or other noises in the background; chew, drink, or smoke (It's amazing how these activities are amplified over a telephone system.); speak too close to the receiver. If the call comes at a truly inconvenient time, ask to reschedule the interview.
Do not ask questions that appear to be selfishly motivated. You should not bring up the subjects of money, benefits, etc. Your only objective at this point is selling the company on your skills and experience so that you will be invited to a face-to-face meeting.
Beware of over-familiarity. You should always refer to the interviewer by his or her surname until invited to do otherwise.
Take notes. They will be invaluable to you in preparing for the face-to-face meeting. Plus, if for any reason, the company representative is interrupted, jot down the topic under discussion. When he or she gets back on the line, you can helpfully recap: "We were just discussing…" It will be appreciated and will set you apart from the others.
If you have call waiting, do NOT interrupt your interview to take another call. Ever.

Where can I get additional help or information?

Career Services career counselors will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the interview process. You can even schedule a mock interview session. You may also find it helpful to review some of the books available in our office. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 471-6700 or come by PAI 5.03.