What an employer wants to know:

• Can you do the job?
• Will you do the job?
• Will you fit in with the organization?

Purpose

• Convince an employer that you can make a contribution to their organization
• To see if the job and organization is right for you
• Opportunity to avoid being screened out
• LAND A JOB!

Research

Research the employer:

• What the organization does and what is important to them
• Information about the industry
• What others say about the organization
• Current challenges and industry trends

Ways to research:

• Linkedin.com
• Company website
• Google the organization
• Seek out their social media

Know Yourself

• What skills and experiences do you bring an employer?
• How do these skills and experiences relate to the position for which you are interviewing?
• Consider creating a table to compare the duties of the job and compare that side to examples of your experience.

Anticipate

Types of interviews

• Directed/Structured
  • Guided by the interviewer, with job related questions
  • More formal and direct
  • The interviewer will usually go down a list of questions he or she asks each candidate
• Non-directed/unstructured
  • Relaxed style that is conducive to shedding light on a candidate’s personality
  • Tends to flow more like a conversation with open-ended questions

Format of interviews

• Panel interviews
  • More than one interviewer posing questions
  • Make sure to maintain eye contact and engage each person who is interviewing you
• Phone interviews
  • Have your résumé, job description, water, pen and paper, and a list of questions to ask interviewer
  • Be in a comfortable, quiet place with no distractions
  • Use a land-line phone, if possible
• Video interviews
  • Practice with the software so you are familiar with the program. Have your phone as back up
  • Make sure the room is free of distractions. Consider what the interviewer will see on camera
• Group interviews
  • Several candidates are interviewed at once
  • Could be structured in a case study where you have to show your ability to work in a team on issues you might face in the actual position
  • Want to show initiative and creativity in answering questions without being pushy

The key to any interview is preparation. This preparation will give you the confidence that your skills and experiences are a good fit for the position and organization. During the interview you have the opportunity to demonstrate to the employer that you will be a good addition to the organization.

Make A Good Impression!

First impressions can set the tone for the rest of the interview. When your interviewer comes into the waiting room and calls your name, walk toward that person with confidence, make eye contact, extend your hand for a handshake, and say, “Hello I’m (insert your name here).”

Additional tips:

• Be on time! Even better, arrive 10 minutes early (but not more as that will be seen as too early by the interviewer)
• Your nonverbal communication can be just as important as what you say. Smile, stay engaged, show your interest.
• Do not chew gum or wear too much fragrance
• Turn off your cell phone

The Actual Interview                                                                                                         

The most common type of interviewing today is Behavioral Interviewing. This is a popular method where questions are based on the idea that past behavior best predicts future behavior. For example, if you have shown initiative in a class project, you are likely to show initiative when you are working. If an employer was looking to hire a candidate with leadership skills, they might ask “Tell me about a time you had to take on a leadership role.”

You should respond to these questions with a specific example where you have demonstrated the skill the interviewer is seeking and the “S.T.A.R.” method is a useful approach to structure your response:

• S – Situation – describe the Situation
• T – Task – illustrate the Task you needed to accomplish
• A – Action – explain the Action you took
• R – Results – tell them the Results

Remember no matter what the question or interview format, there are three key things that employers want to know:

• Are you capable of doing the job?
• Are you motivated to do the job?
• Are you a person they’ll like working with on their team?

Close the interview!

Don’t forget that once the interviewer has finished asking you questions the interview is NOT complete. Always finish your interviews by completing these three steps:

• Have questions about the position or organization that you prepared ahead of time (3-5)
• Ask about the next steps in the process.
• Express your interest and how you fit

The Five W’s of Follow Up

Following an interview, promptly write the interviewer a letter expressing appreciation and thanks for the interview. If you are not sure who or when to contact individuals, follow the five W’s of follow up:

Who?

• Contact each person you met with in-person (or on the phone)
• Hopefully you obtained business cards from all your interviewers

What?

• Express thanks for the opportunity
• Summarize why you feel like the school or program is the right “fit”
• Be genuine

When?

• Immediately following your interview (within 2 business days)

Where?

• Sending an e-mail and hand-written thank you card is best

Why?

• Set yourself apart and create an excellent “last impression” 
• Opportunity to reiterate and solidify your interest and fill in anything you may have left out

Source: UC Berkeley Career Center