Interviews

Sample Interview Questions | Behavioral Interviews | On-Campus Interviews

PREPARING WITH A MOCK INTERVIEW

Career Services offers you the opportunity to rehearse your interviewing skills with no real job on the line. Simply call Career Services to request a mock interview, then come in at the scheduled time as if you were meeting with an actual recruiter. After an interview session, the Career Counselor will provide you feedback regarding your performance.

COMMON INTERVIEW SEQUENCE

1. Introductions - A few minutes of small talk designed to help you to relax and focus before the questions begin (but do not relax too much, this is an interview after all).
2. Organization and Information - Brief information about the employer, the position, and possibly, the format of the interview.
3. Qualifications - A discussion about your goals, skills, strengths and weakness as they relate to the organization and the position.
4. Conclusion - Next steps in the selection process and final questions from you and the employer.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• E valuate your interests, skills/abilities, and weaknesses relative to the position for which you are interviewing.
• Research and review the organization's purpose, structure, strengths, and challenges. If possible, obtain a copy of the position description and identify the required skills and experience you possess.
•   Dress professionally for the position for which you are applying. Your style should be clean, conservative and classic.
•   Know exactly where you are going for the interview and give yourself plenty of time to get there with a few minutes to spare.
•   Be courteous to everyone your encounter. Not all staff members will be making the hiring decision, but they may be asked for impressions and input.

Sample Interview Questions

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED

Personal

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your hobbies?
• Why did you choose to interview with our organization?
• Describe your ideal job.
• What can you offer us?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
• Can you name some weaknesses?
• Define success. Failure.
• Have you ever had any failures? What did you learn from them?
• Of which accomplishments are you most proud?
• Who are your role models? Why?
• How does your college education or work experience relate to this position?
• What motivates you most to succeed?
• Have you ever had difficulty getting along with a professor/supervisor/co-worker? How did you handle it?
• Have you ever spoken in front of a large group? How large?
• Why should we hire you rather than another candidate?
• What do you know about our organization (mission, goals, competitors, products, services)?
• Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?
• Do you plan to return to school for further education?

Education

• Why did you choose your major?
• Why did you choose to attend your college or university?
• Do you think you received a good education? In what ways?
• In which campus activities did you participate?
• Which classes in your major did you like best? Least? Why?
• Which elective classes did you like best? Least? Why?
• If you were to start over, what would you change about your education?
• Do you think your grades accurately reflect your ability? Why or Why not?
• Were you financially responsible for any portion of your college education?

Experience

• What job-related skills have you developed?
• Did you work while going to school? In what positions?
• What did you enjoy most about you last employment? Least?
• Have you ever quit a job? Why?
• Give an example of a situation in which you provided a solution to an employer.
• Give an example of a time in which you worked under deadline pressure.
• Have you ever done any volunteer work? What kind?
• How do you think a former supervisor would describe your work?

Career Goals

• Do you prefer to work under close supervision or on your own?
• What kind of supervisor do you work best with?
• Would you be successful working with a team?
• Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
• What other types of positions are you considering?
• How do you feel about working in a structured environment?
• How do you feel about travel?
• How do you feel about the possibility of relocating?
• Are you willing to work flextime?

QUESTIONS YOU MAY ASK YOUR INTERVIEWER

• Please describe the duties of the job for me.
• What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills this position?
• What skills are especially important for someone in this position?
• What characteristics do achievers in this organization see to share?
• What kinds of assignments might I expect the first six months on the job?
• Does your organization encourage further education?
• How often are performance reviews given?
• What products (or services) are in the development stage now?
• Do you have plans for expansion?
• What are your growth projections for the next year?
• Have you cut your staff in the last three years?
• How do you feel about creativity and individuality?
• Do you offer flextime?
• Is your organization environmentally conscious? In what ways?
• In what ways is a career with your organization better than one with your competitors?
• Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
• What is the largest single problem facing your staff/department?
• What is the usual promotional time frame?
• Does your organization offer either single or dual career-track positions?
• What do you like best about your job/organization?
• Once the probation period is completed, how much authority will I have over decisions?
• Has there been much turnover in this job area?
• Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from within first?
• Is there a lot of team/project work?
• Will I have the opportunity to work on special projects?
• Where does this position fit into the organizational structure?
• How much travel, if any, is involved in this position?
• What is the next course of action in your search process? When should I expect to hear from you or should I contact you?

Behavioral Interviews

Behavioral based interviews assume that the best predictor of future performance is past performance. Rather than asking you directly if you have a particular skill or trait, the interviewer asks you to provide an example of a time when you demonstrated the skill or trait. Respond with examples from real-life experiences. Discuss what you did do rather then what you would do hypothetically. If you do not have the direct experience described, provide examples of similar situations.

Be sure to stay on track when telling your stories and keep the emphasis on what you did and the results.