THE INTERVIEW
Updated 10-31-2005
Once you have communicated your skills and experience to your
prospective employer with your
résumé,
the next step is an interview. The interview is your opportunity to
sell your personality and abilities, and to land a job. Needless to
say, it is important that you learn how to interview well.
Interviewing is a learned skill. No one is born with it, and everyone
makes some mistakes while learning. The more you know about yourself
(your interests, skills, likes, and dislikes) and about what to expect
in an interview, the better you will be at interviewing. By using
this guide, you can become acquainted with the basics of interviewing,
what to expect, and how to prepare.
Career Library interviewing resources in Student Center 217
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
Telephone/computer:
phone and interactive computer interviews are becoming more popular as
businesses seek to reduce costs and people are applying for positions
that require relocation. These are screening interviews in which
employers can “meet” you without spending a great deal of money on air
fare and hotels. By using the phone or a computer, they are able to
narrow down their selections and then invite you to their site for
further interviews if you are among their top choices for the
position. Because of the lack of direct contact, it is especially
important to use excellent communication skills such as listening,
enunciating, and clarifying.
Non-directed:
loosely structured, open dialogue. The questions are more broad and
general, usually open-ended, and give you a chance to elaborate and
gain some control of the interview. It is an excellent format for
bringing out your personality. It is also common for interviewers to
use a non-directed opening question as an ice-breaker, and then to
follow with more structured, criterion-based questions.
Stress:
candidate is treated in a somewhat brutal way, sometimes with long
periods of silence, harsh challenges to your opinions, brusqueness,
and other attitudes or behaviors intended to produce discomfort. This
extreme is rather rare, but the approach is used to some degree and
for some parts of many interviews.
On-campus:
conducted on your turf or neutral territory (as in the SD Business,
Industry, and Government Job Fair), in an office, conference room,
hallway, or gymnasium. All types of questions and situations can be
expected. These are generally screening interviews lasting from 20 to
30 minutes.
On-site:
conducted at the place of business, generally with expenses paid by
the employer (be sure you know who is paying before you agree to
attend). Usually, these interviews are more directed and require more
depth of knowledge on your part. You probably have already been
screened and this is a follow-up. Be prepared to meet with groups of
people, to tour the facility, to have lunch or dinner, perhaps to stay
over. In some instances, you may be asked to give a formal
presentation. Because it is common to meet with several different
people, it is good to have 3 examples of each work skill so that you
do not run out of material if asked the same or similar questions.
Lunch/Dinner:
lunch may be somewhat relaxed, but you need to stay alert. Beware
getting caught up in idle chatter. Sometimes employers do this just
to see what happens when you relax. You do need to be genuine and
somewhat open, but remember that you are being judged. NEVER joke; if
alcohol is served, be sure you have only one drink or none at all; do
not smoke. Dinner can be similar, but more formal. Be familiar with
good dining etiquette and always let the host make the first move.
Behavioral:
interviewer is looking for answers that reflect and illustrate how you
actually behaved in certain types of situations. These are not
theoretical, but real. Companies are using this type of interview
more and more. Although this requires careful preparation, it often
yields the best results and provides you with good responses for any
type of question. Every work situation is researched to determine the
skills needed to succeed. Then the questions are composed to elicit
that type of response. To do well, you should recall dozens of
experiences and practice sharing them in vivid, yet concise language.
You need to give enough detail to provide a mental picture of the
situation (S), then explain the problem
or obstacle (O), what action you took (A),
and what resulted (R). One example of a
question might be, “Tell me about a time when you responded well to a
high-stress situation.” If you practice this technique, you will
improve your chances of SOARing through the interview.
Informational:
a low-key interview in which you are seeking information about
a given occupation rather than seeking a job. It is part of what we
call “networking.” It is both fun and informative. You initiate the
contact by asking for a brief appointment or meeting, letting the
individual know what you want. If they agree, you dress
appropriately, show up on time, and have your questions prepared.
Often, the individual will talk so freely that your questions are not
even formally used, but are answered as the conversation progresses.
Be sure not to overstay your time, show impeccable manners, and thank
the person as you leave. If done over the phone, be sure to smile as
you speak. In both cases, be sure to send a thank you note within two
days. You may need to ask how to spell the person’s name, or ask the
receptionist.
GENERAL
PREPARATION
Interviewing is a two-way street. You are checking out the potential
employer as much as they are checking you. You both have decisions to
make. Therefore, you need to research the function and financial
strength of the employer, prepare to ask questions of the employer,
note the atmosphere and working conditions, and find out whether or
not these are people with whom you will be compatible.
Know Yourself. Be able to articulate your skills, personality
traits, and work values (what’s important to you on the job). What
amount and type of supervision do you prefer? What is your style?
What strengths do you bring to a team? With what kind of people do
you enjoy working?
Prepare Answers to Anticipated Questions. See the list of
sample questions. Practice out loud, then schedule a mock interview.
Know What Skills Employers Are Seeking. A recent survey of
employers listed the following traits, in order of importance: oral
communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork skills, analytic skills,
flexibility, leadership, written communication, proficiency in the
field of study, and computer skills. Note that proficiency is 8th
on the list! This should be encouraging to every student who has
well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, which
definitely includes liberal arts majors. Everyone gains proficiency
after being hired, often in structured training programs.
Be prepared to give anecdotes that illustrate your information
management skills (sorting, compiling, ranking, applying
information, synthesizing, understanding and using principles, and
evaluating), design and planning skills (identifying
alternatives, setting goals, following through, managing time,
predicting trends and patterns, accommodating multiple demands),
research and investigation skills (using a variety of sources,
applying a variety of methods to test data, identifying problems and
needs, designing experiments, locating appropriate sources of
information, and formulating questions to clarifying problems),
communication skills ( listening, paraphrasing, writing in a
variety of forms, speaking effectively, and using media to present
ideas), human relations and interpersonal skills (working well
in a group, delegating, interacting effectively, expressing feelings,
understanding feelings of others, teaching, and working under
pressure), critical thinking skills (determining pertinent
issues in decision making and problem solving, identifying general
principles relevant to data and experiences, defining parameters, and
reasoning to a conclusion), management and administration skills
(analyzing tasks, locating resources to solve problems, delegating
responsibility, motivating and leading, and organizing resources to
achieve goals), valuing skills (assessing actions for long-term
effects, deciding for maximum individual and collective good, and
appreciating art, literature, science, or technology in society), and
personal/career development skills (learning from experience,
transferring skills from one area to another, assessing your strengths
and weaknesses, accepting responsibility for your own actions, and
marketing yourself to employers).
Research the Prospective Employer. Know their product or
service, what positions exist and the skills and responsibilities for
each, competitors, markets, climate or culture, traditions, financial
status. Where are they located and is relocation necessary? What
attracts you to this job? This employer? Start with an annual report
and read the letter to the shareholders. Look up a web page. Search
for newspaper or trade journal articles. TALK TO PEOPLE who do or did
work there. Talk to people in similar jobs.
Dress Appropriately. This is not as simple as it seems. When
in doubt, dress more professionally, not more casually. You stand a
better chance when over-prepared than arriving and looking shabby or
immature. Attend to the details rather than the cost. You can look
professional without spending a bundle. Be sure to clean and polish
your shoes, press your suit and shirt, have your hair trimmed, etc.
Avoid aromas, flashy jewelry, cute or trendy attire, hair in your
face, bright colors, excessive make-up/nail polish, textured or
colored hosiery (women), short skirts. Women, wearing pants is still
considered risky in many interviews, even if perfectly OK on the job.
Realize that you are playing a game, the rules are elusive, and it is
neither fair nor logical. Learn to work within the system now if you
plan to get ahead. One rule of thumb regarding appearance is to look
professional, not sexy.
Fields such as banking, finance, and accounting are generally the most
conservative, expecting a navy blue suit, plain shirt, silk tie, and
traditional business shoes. Women’s blouses should also be plain and
white or nearly white, conservative. You should blend in with the
rest of the “sea of blue,” as we in the career office used to joke on
interview days. Other fields can also follow these rules for office
and sales jobs in general. However, the traditions are less
restrictive in fields such as design and art. Teaching falls
somewhere in the middle, usually expecting a dark suit or
conservative, plain dress and jacket. Once hired, you will quickly
learn what the employer expects for day-to-day dress.
For additional information
and second opinions, use these links:
http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/15-5.shtml
http://www.quintcareers.com/dress_for_success.html
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/dressforsuccess.htm
http://amdt.wsu.edu/research/dti/
Arrive Early for the Interview. 15 minutes will usually allow
for traffic problems, parking, and locating the office. Many people
do a dry run a day or so in advance at the same time of day if they
are unfamiliar with the city or area. If you arrive too early, don’t
sit in the waiting area, looking nervous! Instead, linger out of
site, off premises. Arrive 5-10 minutes early, introduce yourself to
the receptionist, and smile.
Show Respect to Secretaries, Receptionists, and Others.
Secretaries are often consulted in hiring decisions! In addition,
they also offer their opinions even if not asked. Just be sure you
make a good impression.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Be prepared to shake hands. Not everyone will offer their hand, but
many will. Stand, smile, make eye contact, and get a pleasantly firm
grip, thumb to thumb.
Sit in the correct chair. A good host will let you know where you
should sit. Sometimes it is obvious, with only two chairs in the
room. It is often safe to sit in a chair nearest to the interviewer,
unless instructed otherwise. Sit up straight, with your feet on the
floor, perhaps crossed at the ankle if you wish. You want to look
attentive, but reasonably relaxed.
Expect an opening question. This might be rather casual talk to break
the ice and help you relax. Use some judgment and do not reveal
things the interviewer should not know. It is always safe to talk
about yourself in relation to your career goals and experiences. Even
if a question calls for a yes or no answer, do not stop with that.
Always give an example or more in-depth information.
Articulate a goal related to this employer. Even if you are open to a
variety of jobs, treat each interview as one spot to fill. Employers
expect you to have an identifiable short-term goal and perhaps a
longer-term goal. For example, one person might have a short-term
goal of securing a management trainee position with a large
corporation, with the longer goal of working toward a district manager
position. Another person might state a goal of an entry-level
marketing position that builds on creativity, teamwork, and retail
experience, with a longer-term goal of marketing management. What you
want to avoid is seeming not to know what you want, or not having
enough knowledge to be able to state what you want in typical business
language.
Use the interviewer’s name. Most interviewers will be comfortable
with Mr. or Ms. If not, they will often be wearing a name tag, knit
shirt, and khakis as they interview for Home Depot, AT&T, BMW, or some
other company with a casual uniform and work atmosphere. If they
specify using a first name, do so; however, be more formal when in
doubt.
Expect some nervousness. Excessive nervousness should be dealt with
by good preparation. That means you need to practice before you
interview with your dream employer! This is a skill that you can
improve.
Be aware of your body language. First impressions are very powerful.
Use good posture, a smile, appropriate energy, and non-verbal
communication. Use a recorded mock interview to become aware of
nervous habits that you can eliminate. As you gain skill, your
gestures and tone of voice will become more natural. Just be sure you
smile.
Do not smoke or chew gum. Turn off your cellular phone or pager.
Listen carefully. You need to understand the question to give a good
answer. If unclear, ask for clarification. Most answers should be
specific rather than theoretical or general.
Trick questions may be used. One that throws a lot of candidates is
“What are your weaknesses?” or “What is the question you hoped I would
not ask?” These are opportunities to make or break you. Think before
you speak! For weaknesses, be realistic but do not reveal things that
can be used against you (failure to meet deadlines, late for
appointments, etc.). Select a weakness that is real for you and that
you are working to improve, such as formal public speaking, finding
time for recreational reading, eating healthy, or some other thing
that will be helpful. Always try to present your weakness as a
potential asset—attention to your health, for example. In the case
of the second question, don’t blurt out something revealing like “I
was afraid you’d ask if I’d ever been arrested.” Instead, try
something general like asking about some aspect of the company’s
operations that you were unable to research effectively.
Occasionally, you will be asked that nightmarish question that throws
you for a loop. You should be prepared to discuss this touchy subject
in a tactful and positive manner. Often, it means simply
acknowledging a negative fact (being fired, failing a course, serving
time, etc.) without defensiveness or excuses and then moving forward
to show how you are now a better person, having learned invaluable
lessons from your mistake. Never blame someone else for your
circumstances.
Silence can be your friend. Small pauses are natural and probably
shorter than you think. Some questions might require a moment to
recall, organize, or consider alternatives. It might even be helpful
to say, “I need to think about that for a moment.” Then you can begin
speaking, stating that you are offering your tentative response and
may need more information or input to be fully confident of your
answer. You can even state your assumptions so the interviewer knows
what factors you have considered in that short silence.
Build confidence. You need to appear confident in yourself and your
ability, but not cocky or arrogant. Willingness and eagerness to
learn are close relatives to confidence, so they are good qualities to
mention to reinforce your candidacy. Voice quality and tone, speed of
speech, facial and other gestures (smile), and other non-verbal
qualities help to emphasize your confidence in your ability to do the
job.
Be appropriately enthusiastic. No one wants to hire people who look
like deadbeats. If you can’t show a little excitement now, you
probably won’t later, either. If you are not enthusiastic, maybe this
is not the place for you.
Be honest. That does not mean brutal honesty or absolute
transparency. It does mean you do not pad or overstate your abilities
or experiences, and you are not overly modest about your abilities.
It means being consistent (not contradicting yourself) and using
candor and sincerity. Be yourself in a polite manner. That way, the
employer will see the real you and will know what to expect if you are
hired. You want them to hire the real you, so their expectations can
be met.
Be specific in your answers. Give examples that include details for
each example: when, where, who, what situation, what challenge or
problem, how handled, and results. SPEAK NO EVIL. Always speak
positively of others and other employers. Do not blame or complain.
Wait for the employer to bring up salary. This is done either
routinely as part of information giving, or later when you are a
finalist. You can learn what an average salary would be by doing your
own research and networking. If asked for a salary, be prepared to
give a range that is reasonable, such as $27,000 to $30,000 for a
banking position if that is normal for that company, in that location.
Interviewers vary. Most do a great job and are skilled
professionals. However, a few are less skilled than you might wish.
Some will ramble or dominate the time. Some will ask illegal or
irrelevant questions. In many such cases, you can actually take
control if you are prepared. Find a way to get a word in and back up
with some of your assets. Give the kinds of information you would
expect the interviewer to want. Talk about the company/agency, so it
is obvious that you are prepared. This can be quite effective.
Illegal questions sometimes get asked. These are questions that could
be used to discriminate, and they ask for age, marital status,
religion, disabilities, dependents, or other such things that have
nothing to do with your ability to do the job. If it happens, try not
to be defensive in language, tone, or posture. You need to make a
choice of whether or not you answer it, and how you will respond.
Sometimes, people choose to answer directly, knowing that their answer
will not harm them. Some people turn the table a little and inquire
as to the purpose of the question. Some find a way to decline to
answer, and do so in a respectful way. Occasionally, such a question
is simply a mistake made by an inexperienced interviewer. Other
times, it is meant to put you on the spot.
FOLLOW-UP
Before leaving, be sure you know the interviewer’s name, title,
address, and phone. Have correct spellings. If you ask the
receptionist for this information, be sure you smile and say thanks.
After leaving, take time to jot down a few notes. Include your good
answers, your points that need to be strengthened, what you learned,
what your reactions were, etc. This is a good help for your next
interview or for a follow-up interview with the same company. Even if
you were disappointed with yourself or the company, do not be
negative. Instead, note how you can improve next time.
Send a thank you note to the interviewer within 48 hours. Use
stationery or note cards that are plain and professional. This can be
a short note to simply thank for the opportunity to interview. You
may have a reason to add an important point you think is vital to your
candidacy.
EMPLOYER RESEARCH ITEMS
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Name of the company or organization.
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Age of the company or organization.
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Products or services offered.
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Growth history.
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Anticipated growth.
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Current problems or challenges.
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Locations of plants, offices, or stores.
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Parent company.
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Subsidiaries.
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Major activity of the company.
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Description of the position for which you are applying.
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Major duties and responsibilities of the position.
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Minimum requirements for the position.
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Preferred qualities and skills.
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Deadline for application and starting date.
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Salary range or estimate of what you think is appropriate.
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Your related experience and training.
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Your indirectly related experience.
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Community or school activities that may relate to the position.
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Training offered to new employees.
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Typical entry level positions in various departments.
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Career track for advancement.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
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Internet
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Employer web sites, often the company name.com or agency name.org
- Search engines
may generate a list to help locate appropriate sites
-
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University or public library
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Directories are usually helpful
- Lexus/Nexus for full-text articles
- Trade journal
- Wall Street Journal or other newspaper business sections
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