Interviewing
Presented by Career Management Services
Overview
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Preparing for an Interview
What Hiring Managers look for
Basic Types of Interviews
Common Questions
Questions to ask
Questions not to ask
Salary Negotiation
Closing the Interview
After the Interview
Preparing for an Interview
• Research the company and position you are interviewing for.
• Go over interview questions with friends and family, or
participate in mock interviews.
• Prepare interview clothing and accessories
• Have resumes, applications and other requested materials
available and ready
• Plan your route, and allow time to find the exact location.
Arrive 10-15 minutes early and expect to wait
• Review your resume and relate your interview to the
experiences you present on it
If you are running late, not able to make the appointment, or do
not have the requested materials, give the employer as much notice
as possible.
Professional Dress
Professional Dress
• Suits should fit well and be conservative color and
style
• Wear appropriate shoes and accessories
• Hair should be well-groomed
• Makeup and jewelry should be conservative and
should not draw attention
• Tattoos and piercings should be concealed
What Do Hiring Managers Look for?
Professionalism
• Appropriate dress, submission of materials requested, punctuality,
addressing issues professionally.
Concise answers
• Give examples from your work, school, or volunteer experiences. Be
positive even when describing negative situations.
Non-verbal positive feedback
• Seem interested, comfortable, and relaxed when answering questions.
Knowledge and interest
• Convey your knowledge and interest in the company, industry, and
position
Ability to fill their need
• Uncover their needs and ideal candidate to answer questions and give
appropriate examples
Phone Interview
• Frequently used as the first interview or as a screening interview
• Prepare to receive the phone call - prepare your greeting, voicemail, and
others that might answer the phone. Find a quiet room, and have notepad
and pen available.
• Be prepared to speak about your background & qualifications
• Speak clearly, sound positive and upbeat
• Prepare questions about the position
• Inquire about next step in interview process
Two Basic Styles of Interviews
Traditional
Behavioral
• Broad based questions about work
ethic and skills
• Hiring decision based more on
your communication skills and
general qualifications
• Typically looking for positive
answers and overall positive
persona
• Probe through specific questions
based on past behaviors
• Looking for truthful answers of
past experiences to assess future
behavior
• In depth answers that describe the
situation, discuss the actions you
took, relate the outcomes, and
specify what you learned from it.
Other Types of Interviews: Phone, Performance,
Situational, Panel, etc
Behavioral
• Will be conducted by a Human Resource
representative or professional interviewer.
• Based on objective past results and behaviors
• Probing questions on your situation, so must be a very
honest example
• Typically have a predetermined set of
characteristics/skills they are looking for
• Possibly use a rating system to evaluate selected
criteria
Common Questions
• Professional statement
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• Knowledge of the company
and or position
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• Short term, long term goals
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• Strengths/Weaknesses
• Description of yourself (your •
perspective/others)
Motivating factors
(Most/Least)
Success (What is it, examples,
how to achieve)
Why you want the job
Why should you be hired
Approach to Questions
Situation or Task
Describe a specific situation or task that you needed to accomplish. Be as
detailed as possible for the interviewer to understand.
Action you Took
Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Avoid
detailing others actions or lack there of even if you are discussing a group
project or effort.
Results you achieved
Describe what happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish?
What did you learn? If possible, provide quantitative results.
Example Answers
Prepare about 10-12 examples/stories that fall into each of these categories:
1. High accomplishments
2. A time you had to overcome an obstacle/ disagreement
 Positive result
 Negative result
3. A negative experience with a coworker/customer/employer
4. A difficult decision
**Draw from your recent experiences in class projects, voluntary organizations,
extracurricular activities, work experiences, etc.
**Improvising your Answers**
Might be able to be unprepared through essays and presentations, but do not
risk an employer sensing that you know nothing or made no attempt to
learn more about their organization.
Questions to Ask
• Typical daily/weekly tasks
• Expectations for a person in
this position
• Work environment
• Other positions and/or
departments interaction
• What does the training program
entail
• Criteria for evaluation
• Opportunities for advancement
Questions not to ask
Make sure your questions are not focused on anything else but
the company and the job itself.
Do not bring up the following topics in the first interview:
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Salary/benefits
Background checks
Social events
Vacation
Salary Negotiation
• Never make the first move….Salary is what you earn, not
what you deserve
• Know your market and your limitations
– Salary.com, NACE salary survey, etc
• When questioned on requirements, have a set range in
mind
• Question the typical salary of the position
Illegal or Discriminatory Questions
Questions that are personal in nature including medical
background, nationality, physical appearance, disability, and family.
• Although questions of a very personal nature are typically
inappropriate, they are not illegal.
• These questions in an interview process can become illegal
if they determine a hiring decision and are not directly
related to qualifications of the job functions.
Answering Discriminatory Questions
• Decline to answer
Very direct approach, and should be used with caution
• Answer directly
Be concise, clear, and comfortable disclosing
• Tactfully sidestep
Rephrase question into a legal response
Closing the Interview
• Ask if there is anything in your background that might not
qualify you for the position. Overcome any objections.
• Assure understanding of interview process, and when you
should hear back from employer. Should you contact them if
you do not hear back.
• Thank them for their time and opportunity to meet with them.
What to Do After the Interview
• Send a thank you letter to each interviewer immediately following the
interview. Thank them for their time, re-state your interest in the
company or, follow up on some of your strengths that you feel make
you the best candidate.
Send by email is common and appropriate in most
circumstances today. To stand out from the
crowd, send a hand written thank you note.
• Follow up with a phone call or email if you do not hear anything in
the expected time frame. Check on the status of the position.
Never show frustration, there may be future
opportunities that are better suited to you.
Career Management Services
• Part-time and full-time job postings
– Experience e-recruiting
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Internships & Co-op
ProTrack
Federal Work-study
Florida Work Experience Program
Workshops
Resume & cover letter critiques
– Optimal Resume
• Career Fair & Employer Day
• Mock interviews
For any questions, please contact:
Dona Gaynor
Director of
Career Management Services
dgaynor@fit.edu
Delicia Lewis
Assistant Director of
Career Management Services
dlewis@fit.edu