1. Student Engagement Center: Career Development and Internships
Interview Strategies
Student Engagement Center:
Career Development and Internships
219 Reid Campus Center

2. Workshop Objectives At the completion of this workshop, you will:
Start to articulate individual strengths and goals while building an understanding of the big picture of your “professional identity”
Begin to develop strategies for sharing your skills and experiences with a potential employer
Demonstrate strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills in the context of an interview

3. Purpose of an Interview
For the employer
Evaluate your ability to express ideas
Find out more about your skills/experience
Determine if you would be a good match for the company’s needs
For the candidate
Expand on information in your resume/application
Demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills
Gather additional information about employer
Determine if the company would be a good match for your needs

4. Setting Up the Interview
A company representative will contact you
Be flexible about schedules!
Be professional and respectful
The type of interview will be dependent on the company or organization
Funding
Location
Procedures

5. Types of Interviews Screening interview Selection interview
Often by phone
Good way for you and the company to collect preliminary information
Selection interview
Often “on-site,” can last several hours or even a whole day
Involves multiple people within company or organization, panel style
Other: Skype, Group Interviews

6. Steps to Prepare for the Interview
Review your strengths, experiences, and goals
Practice strategies to answer anticipated questions with thoughtful responses
Research the organization
Compile key questions to ask

7. Take Time for Self-Reflection
What is your “Professional Identity”?
What are your values, interests, personality characteristics, and skills?
Be able to answer introspective questions, such as:
What about this field/position/company interests me?
Why am I qualified to do this job?
What strengths do I bring to the table? What are my weaknesses? What am I doing to resolve those weaknesses?
What do I hope to learn about this field/company?
What do I hope to accomplish working for this company?
What experiences have I had that will enhance my chances of success in this field/company?
What kind of relationship would I like to have with my supervisor?
What are my short term and long term goals?

8. Answering the Questions
You might be asked…
About your interest in or goals for the job or field. Example: “What led you to a career in teaching?”
About your personality. Example: “How do you handle conflict situations at work?”
Specific questions pulled from the position description. Example: “Please tell us about web development experiences you have had.”
Behavioral and situational questions. Example: “Please tell us about a situation when you…”
Out-of-the-box questions. Example: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how weird are you?”
See the SEC’s website for sample interview questions.

9. Answering the Questions
Respond to questions with brief but informative, relevant, and focused responses.
Keep it professional and avoid negativity.
Recall previous experiences:
Define the Problem or activity
Describe your Action
Describe your Result
Don’t tell, DEMONSTRATE! Give specific examples and connect these examples to the skills the employer wants.
Make sure you are answering the question that is asked.

10. Do Your Research
Review company profile, history, documents, and reports
Talk to current employees
Search news archives for company news
Talk to others in the industry

11. Asking Good Questions Some topics that make good questions:
Challenges faced by department/company
Interviewer’s history with the organization
News item involving the organization
New initiatives the company is taking on
Procedures, structures, operations of the organization
On your first interview, it is not a good idea to ask about salary or benefits. It is a good idea to ask about the timeline of the hiring process.

12. Interview Etiquette Dress Code
Good rule: Consider everyday dress code of organization, then dress up one level, i.e. Business Casual  Business Formal
Clothes: clean, pressed
Hair: neat, clean
Muted fragrances if you must, prefer no fragrance.
What about piercings and tattoos?

13. Interview Etiquette Body Language Timing Verbal Sit up Don’t fidget
Make eye contact
Smile!
Timing
Arrive 10 minutes early
Know when the interview is over
Verbal
Always be respectful – to everyone you meet!
Don’t bash anyone – It could come back to bite you!
Say “Thank you!”

14. Let’s Give It a Try! Pair up with someone near you.
Introduce yourself.
Share with your partner the kinds of jobs/internships you want to obtain or tell him/her about the industry in which you are most interested.
Take turns asking the questions on your paper.

15. Feedback Body Language: Answering the Question:
Did he/she make eye contact?
Did he/she smile?
What was his/her posture?
Was the response clear, concise, and relevant?
Did he/she answer the whole question?
Did he/she provide relevant examples?
Overall, what did your partner do well? What could use some improvement?

16. Problem Solving: What Ifs…
What if I don’t understand a question?
Ask for clarification
What if I can’t think of an answer?
Pause, ask them to clarify the question for more time to think
What if I forgot someone’s name?
Ask for a business card
What if I realize that I am not the right person for the job (or vice versa)?
Don’t be rude, but be honest

17. How to Deal with Nervousness
Before the Interview:
Practice!! Answer questions out loud to friends or parents, or set up a mock interview.
During the Interview:
Don’t forget to breathe.
Smile 
Make it a conversation. Interviews are not interrogations.

18. The Follow Up Always write a thank you note.
s are appropriate for phone interviews
Hand-written notes are appropriate for on-site interviews
What if I don’t hear anything?
If indicated timeline has passed, call!
What to say?

19. Now What? What if I don’t get the job? What if I get the job?
Don’t panic or lose faith in yourself
Follow up with interviewer to inquire about ways to improve interviewing skills
What if I get the job?
Be informed!
Make thoughtful decisions – consult the important people in your life.

20. What SEC Resources Are Available?
Individual advising appointments
Mock interviews
MyPlan – self-assessment testing
Workshops like this one
Resume and cover letters, networking, finding internships
SEC website:
Career Consultant Network

21. Questions?