Prepare For Your Interview
The key to success with any interview is the amount of preparation you put into it. Just as you conducted research in decided upon employment targets and preparing cover letters/resumes prior to getting an interview, in order to successfully prepare for the interview, you’ll need to do more extensive research. Employers often judge candidates on their awareness of current issues, as well as on the quality of the questions they ask the potential employer.
Some key items you should research1. The expectations and the role of the job for which you are interviewing (understand the work environment, hours, etc.)
2. Any publicly available information on your interviewer (Google is a great resource. LinkedIn can make some great connections as well.)
3. Recent news and events regarding the employer and specifically the division recruiting you
4. If the company is publicly traded, what is the stock value and history
5. Industry terminology and application
6. Relating news and information regarding competitors to the employer
7. Sound understanding of that employer’s interview practices, such as case interviews (we'll address the different types of interviews later)
Once you have been selected for an interview it is always a good idea to visit with a career counselor about the opportunity. They will be able to point you in the right direction of what may be the best way to prepare for that particular interview.
You may have many one-on-one interviews for the same position within a company. Vary your answers and the stories that you share as the interviewers will probably talk about you together; treat each interview as a first interview!
*This is mainly for Behavioral Interviews: when an interviewer asks you, “Tell me about a time when you …” These are opportunities for you to share your success stories; to prove that you can do the job. There are various terms for this preparation: S.M.A.R.T., CAR, STAR, PAR, etc. We will use the CAR approach. This focuses on three main things:
C-Circumstances—describe the situation and responsibilities involved
A-Action—here is where you share what you did to improve/resolve the situation
R-Results—give the results of your actions and finish up the story with the success that was achieved
If you have at least five of these CAR stories ready for each interview, you will be in great shape! (Check "Basic Interview PPT --includes CAR," slide 9)These are also great to consider as you write your resume (refer to the “Resume” portion). STAR Sheet -print and useHere are some sites/resources that offer more insight into interview preparation:
Basic Interview PPT --includes CAR (By Roger McCarty)
Basic Interview PPT --includes STAR (By Bill Brady)
Avoid Subtracting Points from Your Personality During Interviews
50 Questions Most Commonly Asked At Interviews
10 Tips for Crafting S.M.A.R.T. Interview Stories by Susan Whitcomb
Sites:
HBLL Business Resource - Interview Tab
WetFeet --great website for basic advice
Optimal Resume --Mock interviews (contact the front desk for a username and password)
