Interviewing Workshop
McCormick Office of Career Development
Objectives
• To better understand the interview process: the
before, during, and after
• To be aware of the appropriate interviewing
behaviors
• To learn about behavioral interviewing
• To practice interviewing skills
Goals of the Interview
Goals of the Candidate (you):
•
•
•
To obtain information about the job/organization.
To communicate important information about yourself.
To make a positive impression upon the employer.
Goals of the Interviewer:
•
•
•
To promote the organization and attract the best candidate.
To assess if qualifications match the job requirements.
To determine candidate fit with the organization and staff.
Skills/Qualities Sought by Employers








Ability to learn
Technical Skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking
Personal management
Teamwork
Leadership
Adaptability





Organization Skills
Motivation
Problem Solving
Maturity
Professional Judgment
NOTE: Know the specific technical skills for your
areas of interest!
Before the Interview
Before the Interview
•
Research the industry/company
•
Identify reasons for wanting to work or having interest in that industry/company
•
Recall situations that show favorable behaviors/actions
•
Analyze the skills the employer is seeking
•
Practice answering common interview questions
•
Prepare questions to ask the employer
Company/Industry Research
 Learn more about the industry




Wetfeet.com
Vault.com
Factiva.com
Informational Interviews & Networking
 Learn about the company




Crain’s Business
Glassdoor.com
Student Evaluations
Company Website
Dress for the Interview
•
Business professional dress, unless notified
otherwise
•
Carry a binder/portfolio to contain resumes,
personal calendar, pen
•
Don’t chew gum or bring beverages or food
Dress to Impress- Women
 Navy, gray, and black suits
Skirts length should be below the knee
Keep accessories to a minimum
Make-up should look natural
Choose one; handbag or briefcase
Dress to Impress- Men
Invest in a conservative color
Check for proper fit
Wear socks that match your trousers
Clean your shoes
The tie knot should be small
During the Interview
Interview Structure
 Pre-Interview
 Greeting, Introduction, “Small Talk”
 Information Exchange
 Interview questions/responses
 Information sharing about employer
 Interviewee’s questions
 Closing
 Next steps
 Business card?
Pre-Interview & Greeting
Pre-Interview
•
•
You're being judged as soon as you arrive
Arrive 10-15 minutes early to compose yourself
Greeting
•
•
•
Know the interviewer’s name and pronunciation
Extend a warm greeting and firm handshake
Wait to be asked to have a seat
Information Exchange
• DIRECT: confirms information
•
Are you able to...
• OPEN-ENDED: generates performance
data
•
•
•
•
Tell me about a time when you…
How did you…
Describe a situation where you…
Give me an example of…
• WHY QUESTIONS: reveal preferences,
motives
Tell me about yourself…
A dreaded, but very common question.
Share information
the employer may
Importance:
not already know
 First Impression still malleable
and present it in
 Tone of interview
a way that connects
to the position
 Provide depth to resume
you are seeking.
 Insight into who you are
Direct Questions
Direct questions often require only a
short answer with minimal
elaboration
Examples:
 Are you able to …
 Are you willing to relocate?
 Are you willing to travel?
Behavioral interviewing
“The best predictor of future performance is
past performance in similar situations.”
Provide specific examples/situations based on
actual past behaviors, instead of based on
responses to hypothetical questions.
Your Response Strategy:
The STAR Technique
• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result
Tell me about a time when you took initiative?
Situation
•
Task
•
Action
•
Result
•
During my internship last summer, I was responsible
for managing various events.
I noticed that attendance at these events had dropped
by 30% over the past 3 years and wanted to do
something to improve these numbers.
I designed a new promotional packet to go out to the
local community businesses. I also included a rating
sheet to collect feedback on our events and organized
internal round table discussions to raise awareness of
the issue with our employees
I was able to incorporate many of the ideas from the
community, as well as make the internal systems more
efficient and visible. I am proud to report that
attendance increased by 18%.
About Your Body Language
•
Be sure to smile
•
Don’t hurry gestures/movements
•
Use good posture
•
Lean forward while listening and answering questions
•
Make eye contact
•
Use mirroring
Do and Don’t
DON’T
DO
•
Convey enthusiasm, confidence,
friendliness
•
Convey maturity and professionalism
•
Know your nervous body language
tendencies and avoid them
•
•
•
•
Be negative
•
Use ums/likes
•
Exaggerate or lie
•
Have your cell phone turned on
•
Interrupt the interviewer
•
Engage in a debate
•
Use acronyms
Be articulate
Take time to reflect, if necessary, before
answering
Be aware of your eye contact
Asking Good Questions
 Prepare questions before the interview
 They should be thoughtful and relevant
 Address the position, skills, qualifications, etc…
 Avoid salary benefits and/or personal topics
After the Interview
• Write a thank you note to the interviewer within 48 hours
• Recall pieces of your interview conversation
• Remind them of your applicable skills and experience
• Reiterate your interest in the position
• Reflect/Process your experience
• What did you do well?
• What didn’t go so well?
• How can you change that in a future interview?
• Process your interaction to assess your fit
Good Luck!
Questions?
Pitfalls
• Inability to express information clearly
• Untidy personal appearance
• Lack of genuine interest or enthusiasm
• Unwillingness to start at the bottom
• Negative attitude
• Lack of eye contact
• Being late for the interview