The Interview Process
Interviewing Skills | Office of Career Services

The interview process consists of several parts, each of which is equally important. It is essential to be ready by preparing and practicing for the interview. All of your attention to research and detail will serve you well.

Arrival

It is very important not to be late for an interview. Arrive 10-15 minutes early. Plan ahead. Being early gives you time to use the rest room to check your appearance, browse company literature and relax. If there is an emergency, call ahead to explain and re-schedule the interview. Do not bring family members, including children, or friends to the interview with you.

Interview Format

The typical first interview is often one hour in length. However, be prepared for the fact that you may interview with more than one person. There is also the possibility that you may meet with a group of people. Some companies/organizations prefer this format because it saves time and every member of the group hears exactly the same information from you.

The interview will consist of some type of question and answer format. Interview types are covered in detail on the following pages. You may also be asked to complete an application for employment so be prepared with exact dates, addresses and phone numbers. Fill in all blanks on the application. If a question does not apply to you, mark the answer N/A for not applicable. This shows the reader that you have read the question and it does not apply to you as opposed to leaving it blank which can give the impression that you skipped the question. If the application asks a question that you are uncomfortable with like have you ever been fired or what is your current salary, you can answer, “willing to discuss”. This says that you are more than willing to answer the question but it requires more explanation than is allotted by the space provided. Depending on the type of position you are applying for, you may be asked to take one or more proficiency tests.

Introduction

Smile, relax and be confident. Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and a smile. First impressions are lasting. Always address the interviewer in a polite and formal manner unless otherwise instructed, (i.e., Ms., Mr., or Dr.). Be prepared to converse lightly before the actual interview begins.

Building a Rapport

As previously discussed, you are making an impression the minute you arrive at the interview site, so it is important that you act professionally at all times. It is likely that you will come in contact with a secretary or receptionist prior to meeting the interviewer or hiring manager, and often times this person will be asked to provide some input about your appearance and behavior.

During the start of the interview, an employer will likely make "small talk" in order to ease the tension and try to get to know you. You should respond positively and actively participate in the conversation while remaining professional. Remember, once you are in the actual interview, it is often within the first five minutes that an evaluation is made as to whether or not you are a good match for this company.

Questions and Answers

This part of the interview is your opportunity to sell yourself to the employer. The interviewer will be interested in your academic background as well as your employment history and any other relevant information. The main things the employer will be trying to determine are:

• Can you do the job?
• What is your level of interest and enthusiasm?
• Will you be a hard worker?
• How well will you fit in to the corporate/organizational culture?

Interviewer Styles

Interviewers, like all people, are very diverse. Some interviewers have a very fluid style that may make you feel comfortable and welcome. They may be so good at what they do that the interview feels more like a conversation than an interview. While some interviewers may have a more rigid style, following a list of specific questions to ask. Regardless of your interviewer’s style, it’s very important that you maintain a professional demeanor utilizing appropriate grammar, eye contact and body language. Make sure you look at the guidelines on body language and other interview knockout factors found at the back of this manual.

Interview Types

In any interview, an interviewer is trying to assess why YOU are the best possible candidate for the position. Interviewers may use different types of questions to elicit the information needed to assess your ability to perform a given job. There are many types of interviews but two of the most common are the traditional and behavioral based interview.

The Untrained Interviewer

You may interview with people who, although holding responsible positions, may have never been trained to interview professionally. For instance, you may experience a quiet interviewer who asks few questions and provides little or no nonverbal feedback. In this case, you must be prepared to offer your reasons why they should hire you, and you need to offer them voluntarily, even without prompting.

Maintain positive eye contact and body language, even if you aren’t on the receiving end of it! On the other end of the continuum is the overly talkative interviewer who asks few questions – but also makes it difficult for you to get a word in. Interject politely in this case, attempting to tie your comments to something the interviewer says. But remember, you need to leave him or her with reasons why you are the person for the job based on your strengths, abilities, and accomplishments.

Traditional Interview Type

Interview questions are likely to focus on:

• Your short and long-term goals and objectives – both educational as well as professional.
• Your strengths – skills, abilities, and personal qualities that qualify you for the position.
• Your weaknesses – areas that you have identified for improvement and your ability to make them into strengths.
• Your accomplishments – what are you most proud of and why? What behaviors and skills have demonstrated these accomplishment?
• Your failures – identify a situation and, more importantly, what you have learned from it.
• Your motivation – what motivates you and why?
• Your work style – team player, autonomous or both?
• Your preferred work environment and/or management style – will you fit in?

Sample traditional questions

Tips for Success

Be specific and make sure you give examples. It’s one thing to say that you have exceptional public speaking skills, it’s another to demonstrate it by citing a specific example.

Behavioral Based Interview Type

Interview questions are likely to focus on:

• A structured interview with fixed questions rather than “conversational” style.
• Your past behavior as the best predictor of future behavior.
• Specific situations in which you have demonstrated specific skills and abilities. Leadership, teamwork, organization, planning, motivating others are just some examples.
• The course of action you undertook. What did you do to handle the situation? What specific actions did you take? And, in what order?
• The results of your actions. Did your actions have the desired outcomes? If so, what are they? If not, why not and what did you learn as a result?

Sample behavioral questions

Tips For Success

Be specific in describing the situation and be sure to give equal attention to your actions, behaviors, tasks and results. The interviewer is more interested in you and what you have done or accomplished than the situation.

The Phone Interview

It is becoming very common to be interviewed via telephone as an initial screening. It is very cost effective and can save the employer both money and time. This type of interview may be scheduled or could occur spontaneously. If possible, try to choose a quiet area where you won’t be disturbed. There should be no noise such as television or radios playing in the background. In a phone interview, two things will be key – your content (concise, specific, results-oriented) and your voice quality (audible, well modulated, enthusiastic). Call your interviewer by name, using Mr. or Ms. unless otherwise instructed to do so. It is important to connect with him or her. Many professionals recommend that the candidate being interviewed should stand up during the phone interview, suggesting that people can think faster and clearer on their feet. After the interview is over, thank the caller for the opportunity to talk with them and express an interest in continuing the process if you are still interested in the position at that point. Your voice mail message should be professional.

The Panel Interview

You may face multiple interviews simultaneously or in sequence, one following the other. If you are talking with several people at once, remember to “share” your eye contact with all members of the group. In answering questions, look first at the person who asked the question, then look at the other interviewers as you continue talking. Try to get a feel for group dynamics – how people interact can give you a feel for the power structure, communication styles, and team quality within the organization.

In sequential interviews the key concern is stamina. Some organizations may carefully orchestrate the interviewing process, dividing questions among interviewers who meet later to put the puzzle pieces together. In other situations you may find yourself answering the same questions over and over. In this case, don’t let boredom or frustration set in. Ask for a restroom break between meetings, if you need one, to give yourself a few minutes to reenergize. Attempt to be as enthusiastic with the last person you talk with as you were with the first.

Get a business card from everyone who interviews you. If they don’t have a business card, get the correct spelling of their name, their title, and their company address. Thank you letters should be sent to each one. If the secretary of receptionist was helpful to you in this process, it’s a nice touch to send her/him a “Thank You” card.

The Lunch/Dinner Interview

Some employers may choose to interview (or continue an interview) over lunch or dinner. Mealtime interviews can be very nerve-wracking.

Tips For Success

Follow the employer’s lead. Order something similar to what he/she orders. If you are asked to order first, ask the interviewer for some menu suggestions.

• Do not order alcohol.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not order the most expensive or least expensive item on the menu.
• Chew with your mouth closed and take small bites.
• Don’t talk with your mouth full.
• Be prepared to discuss current events.
• Order something that is easy to eat. Stay away from spaghetti, dishes with sauces or messy sandwiches.
• If the employer invited you to this meal/interview, do not reach for the check when it comes. The employer may be checking to make sure you know proper protocol.
• Watch your answers. Sometimes, meal interviews appear to become more relaxed. Make sure that you keep your answers professional and keep your personal life at home.
• Don’t complain about the restaurant, the service or the food.
• Thank the interviewer for the meal.