Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
Jobinterviewsaredesignedtoassess:
(1) Yourprofessionalism(courteous,honest,noexaggerationsorhalf‐truths)
(2) Yourfitforthejob(applicableskills/personalityfitintothefirm’sculture)
(3) Yourinterestinthejob
InterviewTips
(1) Prepare(Seethe“MoreonPreparing”sectionbelowforadditionaldetails)
a. Researchthecompanyandroleyouareinterviewingfor
b. KNOWYOURRESUME:dates,qualifications,experiences,andachievements.
Practiceoutloudwalkingsomeonethroughyourresume:thesequenceof
jobs/internshipswithrelevantdates.
c. Planoutyouroutfitaweekinadvance
d. Plantheroutetotheinterviewandinsuretimeliness
e. BringseveralcopiesofyourresumeandanotepadINALEATHERFOLIOto
theinterview
(2) Dressforsuccess
a. Dressinasuitevenifthedresscodeisbusinesscasual
b. Wearprofessionalaccessories,notbigjewelryorshowyclothes
c. Focusonhygiene:cleannails,neathair,shower,nottoomuch
perfume/cologne,deodorant,andmakeupthatisappropriate
(3) Punctuality
a. Be5‐10minutesearly(park15minutesbeforesoyouhavetimetogoupthe
elevator,etc.)
b. Timelinessfortheinterviewisapredictoroftimelinessforthejob
c. Standupandgreettheinterviewerwhenyoufirstmeet(inthelobby)
(4) GoodHandshake
a. Firm,notlimp,notbone‐crushing,anddefinitelyDRYhandshake
b. AskfortheinterviewersBUSINESSCARDandprovideoneofyours.
c. Askforpermissiontotakenotes.
d. Often,yourinterviewsheetwithnamesandtitlesareprovidedin
advance.Ifthisisprovided,thenresearcheachpersonconducting
interviews(ifpossible)andformafewquestionsuniquetothatperson’s
position.Ifsuchalistisnotprovided,then,do(e)below:
e. Askthefirstpersoninterviewingyoutoprovideanoutlineofyourday,
includingthescheduleandwhowillbeinterviewingyou.Thisperson
couldgiveyousomegoodinformationwhichcouldhelpyouinterview
wellwithsomepeopleontheschedule.Takenotes.But,DON’Taskfor
advice;justletthispersonansweryourquestion.
(5) KeepGoodEyeContact
a. EyeContactreflectsHonesty,Interest,Focus
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
(6) WatchyourBodyLanguage
a. 80%ofcommunicationisnon‐verbal
b. Smiletoconnectwithinterviewer,whenappropriate
c. TURNOFFYOURPHONEORLEAVEITINYOURCAR.Ifyourcellphone
rings,apologizeandturnitoffwithoutlookingatwhoiscalling
(7) SellYourself
a. CONFIDENTbutHUMBLE
(8) Concise,Clearanswers
a. NOnervousrambling–preparation,practiceandresearchwillhelp
(9) ListentotheInterviewer
a. Alwayslisten,concentrateonwhattheinterviewerissayingsoyoucangive
theanswersthatspeaktotheirquestions
b. Whenansweringaquestionthatyoudonotunderstand,askquestionsif
necessary,buttoomanyquestionslookslikeyouareavoidinganswering
theirquestion.
c. Whentheinterviewerasksifyouhaveanyquestions,thisisyour
opportunitytogainasignificantedge.Organizespecificquestions
targetedtoeachpersonwhoisinterviewingyoubasedonyour
researchintotheirrolesandresponsibilities(assumingsuchalisthas
beenprovidedinadvance)WHATWILLYOUASKTOGETTHE
INTERVIEWERTALKING?Researchtheindustryandcompetitorsand
products.Gettheinterviewertalkingaboutthecompetition,new
products,productdirection,etc.,thatareSPECIFICANDRELEVANTto
thecompany.DONOTjustask“howdoyoucompete”.Doenough
researchthatyouknowwhattoask,andaskgoodquestionsthatgetthe
interviewertalking.Alsoaskfollow‐upquestionswithoutinterrupting.
NEVERINTERRUPT.Becausetheyaretalkingandbecauseyouasked
suchgoodquestions,itwillgivetheinterviewertheimpressionthat
youknowabitmorethanyoudoandsetyouapartfromthe
competition.ALSO,PEOPLEENJOYTALKINGABOUTTHEMSELVES,SO
THEYWILLREFLECTTHATYOUHADA“GREAT”INTERVIEWIFTHEY
DIDALOTOFTHETALKING.
d. NODEADSPACE:Notallinterviewersaregoodcommunicators,sobe
readytopickuptheslackandaskanotherquestioniftheinterview
seemstostallout.Theimpressionoftheinterviewandtheenergyof
theinterviewwillreflectonYOUnomatterwhosefaultitwas.
**ENDWITHASMILE,HANDSHAKE,ANDASKWHATISNEXTINTHEPROCESS**
Askwhenisagoodtimetofollowupandwithwhom.
SendathankyouletterintheMAIL.
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
BeforetheInterview
PREPARE,PREPARE,PREPARE!
(1) Prepare:
a. IFYOUWERETHEEMPLOYER,WHATWOULDYOUBELOOKINGFORINAN
EMPLOYEE?
b. Considerpreppingwithafriendforamockinterview.Brainstormonwhat
questionsmightbeaskedandworktostructurethebestanswers.Don’t
forgettoTHINKOUTSIDEtheBOX.CompanieslikeGoogleareknownto
throwoutsomeheadscratchers.SeeInterviewVideoslistattheendofthis
document.
c. Learnaboutthecompany,whatitdoes,howitcompetes,whoitcompetes
with,andhowyourdesiredjobfitsintothis.Youwillusethisresearchin
answeringtypicalinterviewquestionssuchas:Tellmeaboutyourself?Why
shouldwehireyou?Whydoyouwantthisjob?Doyouhaveanyquestions
forus/me(aboutourcompany)?
d. Fromthisresearch,writedownthecompany’smission,vision,corevalues,
andrelevantbusinesspractices.
e. Determinethecompany’sgoalsfortheposition
f. Matchyourskillsetwiththejobdutiesandarticulatesharedvalues
g. Prepareandoutlineyouranswerstotypicalinterviewquestions,especially
themostdifficultones(listedbelow).
h. REMEMBER:YOUARENOTALONE!Doanyprofessors,businesscontacts,
friendsorfamilyknowanythingaboutthiscompany,theindustrythe
companyisin?Primaryresearchlikethisisalsoveryvaluable,butNOTa
substituteforalltheworklistedabove.
(2) PrepareyourREFERENCES
a. DONOTwrite“referencesavailableuponrequest”.Everyoneknowstheycan
askforreferences.
b. DOcallyourreferencesandasktheirpermissiontousethemasareference
anddiscussthepositionyouareseeking.
c. Ifareferenceseemshesitant,thankthembutdonotusethemasareference
becausethepotentialemployerwillalsopickuponthishesitance.
d. RECONFIRMtheirpreferredmethodofcontact(officeorcell),andtheir
phonenumber,address,andemailaddress.Theywillneedtospeaktoyour
potentialemployer,soitneedstobeaphonenumber.
(3) Plananoutfit(ANDbackupoutfit)ONEWEEKPRIOR,soyouhavetimetosew
buttonsortakeclothestothedrycleaner.Haveaback‐upoutfitinyourcarincase
theunexpectedhappens(spilledcoffee,food,ink,ripping,etc)
(4) Lookatdirections,maptheroutetotheofficeonline,andplanyourdepartureso
youcanarrive10minutesearly.Ifit’satatimeorplacewheretrafficcanbe
hardtopredict,plantoarriveatanearbycoffeeshopanhourbeforeandre‐
readyournotesyouhavepreparedfortheinterview.
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
PrepareforDifficultInterviewQuestions
(1) Tellmeaboutyourself
a. MOSTIMPORTANT:keepyouranswerstoopen‐endedandvaguequestions
CLEARandCONCISE!
b. OpenwithonesentencethatsayswhereI’mfromasyouneverknowhow
thatmightconnectwiththeinterviewee.Highlightanythingextremely
uniqueaboutyou(ieIwasraisedinKorea,amtheoldestof9childrenand
startedworkingfixingPCsatage10.)
c. Startwithanoverviewofbestqualificationsmatchingthecompany’sneeds
d. Runthroughjobs/internships/relevantvolunteerworkyouhaveheld,
followingthestructureofyourresume
e. Giveexamplesofachievementsorskillsyouhavegainedthatarerelevantto
thecompaniesneeds
(2) Whydidyouleaveyourlastjob?
a. FocusonPositives:finishedmission;neededtofurthercareer
b. Donotbadmouthpreviousjob/employer
(3) Whatareyourweaknesses?
a. NEVERSAY:“ITRY/WORKTOOHARD”or“IDON’THAVEANY”(avoidingthe
question,somewhatdishonest,andnothumble)
b. Avoidpersonalityflaws(theyarehardtochange)
c. Behonest,picksomethingyouhavealreadyimprovedonanddiscusssteps
youhavetakentoimproveitandhowithasimproved.
d. EXAMPLE:Idonothavemuchexperienceinteammanagement,althoughI
havemanagedsmallteamsbefore,soIamexcitedbytheopportunityto
managelargerteamsinthisrole.
e. EXAMPLE:AlthoughIhavemanagedmypersonalportfolioforXyears,and
amverypassionateaboutresearchingstocks,Iknowthereismuchmoreto
managingmoneyprofessionally,includingreportinganddailypricing,andI
lookforwardtogainingthatexperience.
(4) Whydoyouwantthejob?Whyshouldwehireyou?
a. Researchthecompany,itsmissionandvaluesandbusinesspractices
b. Articulatesharedvalues
c. Matchyourskillsetswithjobduties
d. Communicate(verballyandnon‐verbally)motivationandinterest
e. THISISABOUTHOWYOUCANHELPTHECOMPANYACHIEVEITSGOALS,
NOTHOWTHECOMPANYCANHELPYOUACHIEVEYOURS!
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
(5) Whatisyoursalaryexpectation?
a. AVOIDsayingaspecificnumber
b. Therole,responsibilitiesandbeingpartofateammattermosttome,andI
amsuremysalarywillbecommensuratewiththeroleandtheskillsIhave.
c. Becausemypastpositionswereinternships/part‐timewhileIwasstill
seekingmyundergraduatedegree,mypastsalaryhistoryisnotrelevantto
whatIamseekingnow.
d. Understandthatyoudonotwanttoeliminateyourselffromtherunningby
givingtheemployertheviewthatyouareunattainable,orgiveanimpression
thatyouthinkthatyoushouldbepaidmorethantheycanpay,etc.The
currentenvironmentisofscarcejobsandmanyjobseekers.Becarefulwith
yourmessage!
e. Ifreallypushed,youcanmentionapastsalarynumber,ifitsrelevanttothis
currentrole.Trynottodothis.Smile.Keeprepeatingvaryingversionsof
(b)above.
(6) Wheredoyouseeyourselfin5years?
a. Connectwiththecurrentrole,thecompany’smissionandvalues,andfast‐
forward5years(ieSeniorManagerrunningateam,generating
revenues/performanceforthecompany,managingaportfolio,etc.).
b. DoNOTsayyouwanttoleavethecompanyandstartyourowncompany.
Whyhireyouifyouarealreadyplanningtoleave?
(7) Doyouhaveanyquestions(aboutus,thecompany)?
a. TheanswerisNOT“no”
b. Donotasktheinterviewerpersonalquestions(his/hersalary)
c. Questionsshouldbepositive,NOThowmuchtravel,howmanyhours
d. Yourresearchwillhaveledyoutosomequestionsthatdemonstrateyour
interestinthecompanyandthefactthatyouspenttimeresearchingtheir
business.
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
IllegalInterviewQuestions
(fromwww.jobinterviewquestions.org)
(Tryansweringbysayingthatyouwouldratherkeepthefocusoftheinterviewonthejob,
notyourpersonallife)
Age
Agebasedinquiriesshouldbeavoidedbecausestatelawprohibitsdiscriminationagainst
personsage40andolder.Anageinquirymaybemadetoensureapersonis“oldenough”
toworkforthejobbeingfilled,orifthejobisamongthefewwhereagediscriminationis
permittedsuchasphysicallydangerousorhazardousworkordrivingaschoolbus.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Howoldareyou?
Whenisyourbirthday?
Inwhatyearwereyouborn?
Inwhatyeardidyougraduatefromcollege/highschool?
PossibleLegalAlternatives
Areyouovertheageof18?
Canyou,afteremployment,provideproofofage?
Marital/FamilyStatus(oftenalludestosexualorientation)
Thepurposeofthese“family”inquiriesistoexplorewhatsomeemployersbelieveisa
commonsourceofabsenteeismandtardiness.Typically,thesequestionsareaskedonlyof
womenmakingtheinquiryclearlyunlawful.However,evenifsuchinquiriesaremadeof
bothmenandwomen,thequestionsmaystillbesuspect.Suchinformationhasbeenused
todiscriminateagainstwomenbecauseofsociety’sgeneralpresumptionthattheyarethe
primarycaregivers.Iftheemployer’sconcernisregularworkattendance,abetter
questionwouldbe,“Isthereanythingthatwouldinterferewithregularattendanceat
work?”
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Areyoumarried?
Doyouhaveapermanentpartner?
Withwhomdoyoulive?
Howmanychildrendoyouhave?
Areyoupregnant?
Doyouexpecttobecomepregnantortohave
afamily?When?Howmanychildrenwillyouhave?
Whatareyourchildcarearrangements? PossibleLegalAlternatives
Wouldyoubewillingtorelocateifnecessary?
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
Travelisanimportantpartofthejob.Doyouhaveanyrestrictionsonyourabilityto
travel?
Doyouhaveresponsibilitiesorcommitmentsthatwillpreventyoufrommeetingspecified
workschedules?
Doyouanticipateanyabsencesfromworkonaregularbasis?Ifso,pleaseexplainthe
circumstances.
Personal
Minimumheightandweightrequirementsareunlawfuliftheyscreenouta
disproportionatenumberofwomenorminorities.Unlesstheemployercanshowthata
heightorweightrequirementisessentialforjobperformance,suchinquiriesshouldbe
avoided.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Howtallareyou?
Howmuchdoyouweight?
(Questionsaboutheightandweightarealwaysillegalunlessitcanbeproventhatthereare
minimumrequirementstodothejob.) PossibleLegalAlternatives
Areyouabletolifta50‐poundweightandcarryit100yards,asthatispartofthejob?
Disabilities
Inquiriesaboutaperson’sdisability,healthorworker’scompensationhistoriesare
unlawfuliftheyimplyorexpressalimitationbasedondisability.Underthefederal
AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct,anyinquiryatthepre‐employmentstage,whichwould
likelyrequireanapplicanttodiscloseadisability,isunlawful.Employersmustavoidsuch
inquiriesormedicalexaminationsbeforemakingabonafidejoboffer.
However,anemployermayinquireaboutanapplicant’sabilitytoperformcertainjob
functionsand,withincertainlimits,mayconducttestsofallapplicantstodetermineifthey
canperformessentialjobfunctions,withorwithoutanaccommodation.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Doyouhaveanydisabilities?
Haveyouhadanyrecentillnessoroperations?
Pleasecompletethismedicalquestionnaire.
Whatwasthedateofyourlastphysicalexam?
How'syourfamily'shealth?
Whendidyouloseyoureyesight/leg/hearing/etc.?
PossibleLegalAlternatives
Areyouabletoperformtheessentialfunctionsofthisjobwithorwithoutreasonable
accommodations?(Legaliftheinterviewerthoroughlydescribedthejob.)
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
Willyoubeabletocarryoutinasafemanneralljobassignmentsnecessaryforthis
position?
Areyouabletolifta50‐poundweightandcarryit100yards,asthatispartofthejob?
NB:MedicalexamsarelegalAFTERanofferhasbeenextended;resultsshouldbeheld
strictlyconfidentialexceptforreasonsofsafety.
NationalOrigin/Citizenship
Inquiriesaboutaperson’scitizenshiporcountryofbirthareunlawfulandimply
discriminationonthebasisofnationalorigin.Alawfullyimmigratedalienmaynotbe
discriminatedagainstonthebasisofcitizenship.TheImmigrationReformandControlAct
of1986requireemployerstoverifythelegalstatusandrighttoworkofallnewhires.
Employersshouldnotaskapplicantstostatetheirnationalorigin,butshouldaskifthey
havealegalrighttoworkinAmerica,andexplainthatverificationofthatrightmustbe
submittedafterthedecisiontohirehasbeenmade.Tosatisfyverificationrequirements,
employersshouldaskallnewhiresfordocumentsestablishingbothidentityandwork
authorization.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Wherewereyou/yourparentsborn?
Whatisyournativelanguage?
Whatisyourcountryofcitizenship?
AreyouaUScitizen?
PossibleLegalAlternatives
Doyouhaveanylanguageabilitiesthatwouldbehelpfulindoingthisjob?(Legalif
languageabilityisdirectlyrelevanttojobperformance.)
AreyouauthorizedtoworkintheUnitedStates?
ArrestRecord
Therearelawsthatprohibitsinquiriesaboutpastarrestrecordsbutpermitsconsideration
ofacurrentarrest.Ifanapplicantisunderarrestforanoffensethatissubstantiallyrelated
tothejob,anemployermaysuspendjudgmentuntilthecaseisresolved,advisesthe
applicanttoreapplywhenthechargeisresolved,orrefusetoemploytheapplicant.A
currentemployeewhoisarrestedmaybesuspendedifthechargeissubstantiallyrelated
tothejob.
Anemployermaynotrefusetoemployordischargeapersonwithaconvictionrecord
unlessthecircumstancesoftheconvictionsubstantiallyrelatetothecircumstancesofthe
job.Ifaninquiryaboutconvictionsismade,theemployershouldaddaclarifier,“A
convictionwillnotnecessarilydisqualifyyoufromemployment.Itwillbeconsideredonly
asitmayrelatetothejobyouareseeking”.Anyonewhoevaluatesconvictionrecord
informationshouldbeknowledgeableabouthowsuchdatamaybeused.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
Haveyoueverbeenarrested?
PossibleLegalAlternatives
Haveyoueverbeenconvictedof____crime?(Legalifthecrimeisreasonablyrelevanttothe
job;e.g.embezzlementforabankingjob.)
MilitaryService
ItisunlawfultodiscriminateagainstsomeonebecauseofmembershipintheNational
Guard,astatedefenseforceoranotherstateorFederalReserveunit.Questionsrelevantto
experienceortrainingreceivedinthemilitaryortodetermineeligibilityforanyveteran’s
preferencerequiredbylawareacceptable.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Whattypeofdischargedidyoureceive? PossibleLegalAlternatives
InwhatbranchoftheArmedForcesdidyouserve?
Whattypeoftrainingoreducationdidyoureceiveinthemilitary?
Affiliations
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Whatclubsorsocialorganizationsdoyoubelongto?
Doyougotochurch?
PossibleLegalAlternatives
Listanyprofessionalortradegroupsorotherorganizationsthatyoubelongtothatyou
considerrelevanttoyourabilitytoperformthisjob.
Race/Color/Religion
ThisquestionmaydiscourageanapplicantwhosereligionprohibitsSaturdayorSunday
work.Ifaquestionaboutweekendworkisasked,theemployershouldindicatethata
reasonableeffortismadetoaccommodatereligiousbeliefsorpractices.Anemployernot
requiredtomakeanaccommodationifdoingsowouldcreateanunduehardshiponthe
business.
ExampleofIllegalQuestions
Allquestionsareillegal.
PossibleLegalAlternatives
AreyouavailableforworkonSaturdayandSunday?
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Job Interview Tips
Preparedby:DepartmentofEconomics&EconomicsLeadershipCouncil
InterviewVideos
12TopTipsforSuccessfulInterview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvuZY3DWtIY
Top10InterviewTips(Part1of3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPXE4RqdqqM
Top10InterviewTips(Part2of3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR6qrTyqLNk&feature=related
Top10InterviewTips(Part3of3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGxETcWsILY&feature=related
InterviewsDo’sandDon’ts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1ucmfPOBV8
5MistakestoAvoid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opYjNr_4A5k&feature=related
OfftheWallActualInterviewQuestionsaskedatGoogletohelpyouthinkcreatively:
http://www.businessinsider.com/15‐google‐interview‐questions‐that‐will‐make‐you‐feel‐
stupid‐2009‐11#how‐many‐golf‐balls‐can‐fit‐in‐a‐school‐bus‐1
RecommendedReading
HowtoWinFriendsandInfluencePeoplebyDaleCarnegie(Paperback‐Apr27,2010)
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