Interviewing

Tips and Techniques

Smith Career Center Ì (309) 677-2510 Ì www.bradley.edu/scc

Explore the Smith Career Center
 What Is an Interview?

• It is a strategic conversation with a

purpose
• The goal is to persuade the employer
that you have the skills, background,
and ability to do the job and that you
can comfortably fit into the organization
• It is also a time for you to gather
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
information about the job, future career
www.bradley.edu/scc opportunities, and the organization
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Initial Items to Note

• Interviews count!
• The decision gets made early in
the interview
• The driving force behind the
interviewer’s assessment is a
subjective perception of your
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
personality and capabilities
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Successful Qualities

• On time • Don’t “pat self on

• Dress professionally back”
• Solid handshake • Possess applicable
• Self confident work experience
• Answers concisely • Accept constructive
criticism
• Enthusiastic
• Realize room for
• Assertive improvement
Smith Career Center • Smile & sense of • Follow up!
(309) 677-2510
humor
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Successful Qualities

• Examine and define your career goals.

Employers look for candidates with a strong
sense of personal and professional goals.
• Careful research about the job and the
organization, agency, or company
• Don’t forget to review your resume, skills,
accomplishments, and objectives (know your
personal career path)
Smith Career Center • Interviewing is a skill that can be learned and
(309) 677-2510
www.bradley.edu/scc
improved upon with practice
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Elements of the Interview

• Beginnings: The “Warm-Up”

• Middles: The “Information
Exchange”
• Ends: The “Wrap-Up”
• After the interview….
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Beginnings: The “Warm-Up”

• 1st Glance Size-up; Handshake

• 1st Pleasantries, Informal Conversation
• Initial 3-5 Minutes of:
ÌInterview overview/outline
ÌBasic review of resume
Ì“Tell Me About Yourself”, a brief
background story
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510 • Remember, first impressions (the first 3
www.bradley.edu/scc
to 5 minutes) count!
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Middles: The “Information
Exchange”
• Will feature wide range of questions
about your qualifications, background,
abilities pertaining to THE JOB……
ÌCan you perform in routine and
extraordinary situations (knowing)
ÌWill you fit in? (caring)

• Often in context of success behaviors:

Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
Ì“Tell me about a time when………”
www.bradley.edu/scc Ì“How exactly did you ……………..”
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Endings: The “Wrap-up”

• Prepare a closing statement to “seal

the deal” (a response to “Why should
we hire you?”)
• Perhaps listen to a “Why you should
want to work here” promotion if you
have really impressed them
• Determine next steps and timeline of
decision
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510 • Make sure to get name(s) for thank
www.bradley.edu/scc
you(s) via letter or e-mail
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 After the Interview….

• Keep notes
ÌReview the interview. Did it go well? What
do you need to improve and keep?
• Write a Thank You note within 24 to 48
hours
• Stay in pursuit
ÌFollow through with instructions
(applications, contacts, etc.)
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510 • Don’t wait too long
www.bradley.edu/scc ÌUse the timeline to your advantage
Explore the Smith
Career Center ÌContact via phone to remind
 Common Types of Interviews

• Screening Interview

• Telephone Interview

• Group or Panel Interview

Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
www.bradley.edu/scc • Second or Site Interview
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Screening Interview

• Designed to review a large number of

applicants with the intention of inviting
a select few back for a second
interview.
ÌIntroduction (1-3 minutes)
ÌQuestioning the candidate (15-20 minutes)
ÌYour questions for the interviewer,
gathering information about the employer,
Smith Career Center other discussion (8-10 minutes)
(309) 677-2510
ÌConcluding remarks, next steps (1-3
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
minutes)
Career Center
 Telephone Interview

• Sometimes utilized in the initial

screening process.
• Obvious disadvantage is the lack of a
face-to-face meeting. Overall personal
impression is much harder to present.
• Develop a responsive telephone
“personality.” Communicating a sense
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
of professionalism and enthusiasm are
www.bradley.edu/scc very important.
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Second or Site Interview

• A much more in-depth and longer

interview
• Expect to provide more details about
your education, job-related skills,
achievements and goals
• Almost always conducted at the
employing organization
Smith Career Center
• An opportunity to inspect the work
(309) 677-2510 space and facilities, and meet a
www.bradley.edu/scc
number of prospective colleagues
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Group or Panel Interview

• Conducted by a committee of
employees.
• Quite common, especially if the job
requires that you function well within a
team setting.
• Potentially intimidating situation, but
keep your cool.
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510 • Maintain good eye contact with panel
www.bradley.edu/scc
members when answering questions.
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Communicating Effectively

• Speak clearly and enthusiastically

about your experiences and skills
• Listen carefully
ÌYou will want to remember what you
learned about the job
ÌAnswer the question that has been asked
• Be positive
ÌDon’t give excuses or focus on negative
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
experiences
www.bradley.edu/scc ÌProvide facts (briefly) and what you
Explore the Smith learned
Career Center
 Communicating Effectively

• Pay attention to your non-verbal

behavior
ÌLook the interviewer in the eye, sit up
straight, control nervous habits, and smile
• Don’t be afraid of short pauses
ÌYou may need a few moments to formulate
an answer
ÌThe interviewer may need time to develop
Smith Career Center a question
(309) 677-2510
www.bradley.edu/scc
ÌIt is not necessary to fill up every second
Explore the Smith
with conversation
Career Center
 How to Answer Behavioral
Interview Questions
• Describe the situation in relation to the
interviewer’s question (class, work,
etc.)
• Tell them how you approached this
situation (were you an observer, the
leader, etc.)
• What did handle you the situation
(discussion, brainstorming,
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
confrontation, etc.)
www.bradley.edu/scc
• Close with outcome, positive and/or
Explore the Smith
Career Center negative
 Describing Accomplishments

• What was the problem or

situation?
• What did you do?
• What skills did you use?
• What was the benefit for you?
Smith Career Center
• What was the benefit for others?
(309) 677-2510
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Sample Targeted Questions

• How do you organize your day (week)?

• During a period of time when you have
had several things due all at once, and
it was impossible to get everything
done on time, explain how you worked
through this situation.
• Have you ever worked on a team or
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
group project? Tell me about working
www.bradley.edu/scc in group vs. working alone.
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Sample Targeted Questions

• In team situations, what would your

teammates describe as your strengths?
Your weaknesses?
• Give me a specific example of a goal
you had set in the past and tell me
about your success in reaching it.
• What is the toughest decision you have
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
ever had to make? What alternatives
www.bradley.edu/scc did you consider?
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 Sample Targeted Questions

• Give me an example of when you

were a leader of a group.
• Give me an example of when you
were a follower.
• Cite an example of something you
have accomplished that you are
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510
proud of. What qualities did it take
www.bradley.edu/scc
to achieve this?
Explore the Smith
Career Center
 If Asked About “Weaknesses”

• Do you have realistic insights

about your limitation?
• Don’t offer your “worst” fault or a
trivial example.
• Can focus on a personal quality or
a “gap” in knowledge.
Smith Career Center
(309) 677-2510 • Don’t be defensive and always
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
suggest how you hope to improve.
Career Center
 Questions for You to Ask

• What type of training is provided for this

position?
• What is a possible career path to
follow?
• What is the organizational structure
company?
• How would you describe the corporate
Smith Career Center
culture of this organization?
(309) 677-2510
• What are some of the biggest
www.bradley.edu/scc
Explore the Smith
challenges facing this position or
Career Center
department.
 Handling Inappropriate
Questions
• Marital or family status, race, gender,
age, disability, religion, sexual
orientation, or some other taboo topic
that has no bearing upon your capacity
to do the job
• Three choices
ÌGo along and answer
Smith Career Center
ÌRefuse to answer
(309) 677-2510
www.bradley.edu/scc ÌDecipher the question and answer only the
Explore the Smith
Career Center
appropriate portion(s)
Questions, Answers, Comments,
Insights, and Observations

Smith Career Center Ì (309) 677-2510 Ì www.bradley.edu/scc

Explore the Smith Career Center