Interview Answering Strategies
The following are examples of techniques you may utilize when formulating answers to interview
questions:
Use Experience Episodes to Illustrate Your Answers
 Use specific examples from your experiences to illustrate your answers and/or prove
strengths, skills, or points you would like to make. Use the START Technique to organize
your answer:
- First describe the setting and your role. Then, state the Situation, Task, you did or in
which you participated.
- Describe the Action you took, your part in the project, or how you assisted with the
task or project.
- Describe the outcome or Results of your action or involvement in the task.
Examples of where you assisted on a project or task, or were part of a team, are
also excellent experience episodes to use in answers.
- Finally, if you would like, Tell how the experience episode relates to your role as a
student or professional.
Placing yourself in the Role
 When appropriate, utilize “As a Dietician, I would”, or “As a fabric designer it is important
to...” This helps the interviewer see you in the position and hear that you have a realistic
understanding of the position/field.
Weave Research into your Answer
 This shows the interviewer that you have researched the profession and/or professional
school. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the trends, responsibilities and
key relationships related to the graduate program or profession.
Mention a word or phrase from the question in your answer
 This reminds yourself and the interviewer to what question you are responding.
Describe the key working relationships
 As a professional and/or graduate student, you will be interacting with other people and/or
departments within the school/profession. You may also interact with individuals,
departments and “clients” outside the organization. Describe these key relationships when
appropriate throughout the interview.
Demonstrate vocational maturity and insights into the profession
 Assume responsibility for outcomes, both positive and negative; ability to deal with
ambiguity, being adaptable; talking about what you’ve learned from an experience; integrity;
realistic appraisal of the profession; expressing an understanding of the key working
relationships in the profession.
Periodically relate your experiences and/or subject of the question to the requirements of
the position or field
 This prevents us from answering the questions in isolation. We connect our understanding
of the position with experiences we have had in the past. In addition, we can comment on
the subject of the question or related the subject of the question to the position.
This handout is provided by the Academic Advising and Career Center at California State University, Sacramento and is intended for personal non-commercial use. 2013
Academic Advising and Career Center • California State University, Sacramento • (916) 278-6231 • www.csus.edu/careercenter • 2013
Answering Strategies
Page Two
Answering Strategies continued
Comment on the Subject of the Question
 This lets the interviewer know we have an understanding of how the subject of the question,
for example, organizational skills, relates to your role as a professional or student. Relate
the subject of the question to one of these areas in the introduction, before your answer or
in the summary, following your answer.
Frame Your Answer with a Current Event or Issue Related to the Profession.
 This strategy demonstrates your knowledge of the profession and how active your are
staying abreast of current issues or events impacting the profession.
Addressing the Interviewer’s Interests
 Pay close attention to where each member of the interview panel works.
Non-Verbal and Other Cues
 Dress, voice inflection, breathing, body language, mannerisms, posture,
Handling a Liability
 A liability is any personal factor or experience that hinders the chances of being selected for
an interview or being accepted into a graduate program or professional school. The same
factor that may be considered a strength by one person may be viewed differently by
another. A liability should never be handled in an apologetic manner during any aspect of
the application process. First, recognize the liability as a legitimate issue or concern on the
part of the interviewer. Then identify the strength that is perceived by the interviewer as
missing. Finally, prove that you have that strength using experience episodes.
Summarizing Answers and Concluding the Interview
 Summarize your answers to questions by reviewing the main points of your answer. You
can also relate the subject of the question to the profession in your summary, both after a
question and at the end of the interview. You can also do small summaries within your
answer. During the conclusion of the interview in response to “do you have anything else to
add?” you can summarize your main points, including describing your enthusiasm and/or
interest in the profession and why you are interested in the position to which you are
applying.