Interview Techniques

Interviews are designed to address three important issues: (1) to assess your qualifications; (2) to evaluate your personal qualities and attributes and determine if you are a good fit for the position; and (3) to answer your questions about the company or job. 

Before Arranging an Interview

• Know yourself. (Identify and articulate your skills, interests, goals and potential contributions to an organization.) Career educators and coaches in the career development office are available for one-on-one appointments if you are unsure how to identify your skills and strengths.
• Know the position. (Study the job description, research similar positions and gather average  salary data.)
• Know the company. (Research the organization’s mission, goals, locations and future directions.)

Preparing for an Interview

• Schedule a practice interview with the career development office to polish your interviewing skills.
• Rehearse answers to potential questions.
• Write down five to ten questions to ask the employer. Asking questions during an interview demonstrates that you are prepared and interested.
• Select what you will wear to an interview.
  • Dress professionally and conservatively; be clean and well-groomed; and wear leather shoes.
  • When possible, wear a dark-colored, two-piece business suit or at least a blazer.
  • Refer to "The Best Dressed Candidates" handout on the Center for Career & Professional Development website.
• Create a professional portfolio (if desired). Portfolios may include any of the following:
  • A few extra copies of your résumé printed on résumé paper
  • A copy of your transcript(s)
  • Certificates of awards and honors; special certifications or special trainings
  • Samples of relevant papers or projects
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Article that features one of your achievements
  • Internship evaluations, summary reports or projects
• Drive by the location where you will be interviewing so that you know how to get there, where to park, and whether there is road construction that could cause delays.

Arriving for the Interview

• Arrive early, but not more than 15 minutes.
• Leave your cell phone in the car, or at least keep it silenced and out of sight.
• Carry with you only what is absolutely essential for the interview:
  • A leather folder, with a writing tablet, pen and your prepared questions for the employer
  • Extra copies of your résumé and a typed list of references
  • Your professional portfolio if desired
• Enter the interview with a positive, confident attitude, even if you are nervous.
• Treat everyone you meet in the office with respect.
• Greet the interviewer by name and shake hands firmly.

During the Interview

• Be honest and be yourself.
• Answer all questions thoroughly, yet concisely. You should generally be able to keep your responses to two minutes or less.
• Use specific examples whenever possible to support your statements. For example, instead vaguely stating "I am a detail-oriented," provide a real-life experience, such as "One of my strengths is managing a lot of details. This can be seen in the work I did as an orientation intern at Whitworth, coordinating the schedules for 50 volunteer leaders and organizing small group activities."
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer(s).
• Sit with good posture. Avoid nervous mannerisms such as tapping your fingers on the table or playing with your hair. Smile when appropriate.
• Ask questions when the employer gives you the opportunity.
  • Do not ask a question just to ask a question. Ask questions based on the research you have done about the position and company.
  • Do not ask questions about salary or benefits. Let the employer begin the salary negotiations.
• Before you leave, ask for a business card from each person in the interview.

After the Interview

• Take notes about what went well in the interview and how you can improve in the future.
• Send a thank you note to the interviewer as soon as possible.
  • Thank the employer for his or her time and consideration, remind the employer of your unique qualifications and express your genuine interest in the position.
  • Send a note to each person who interviewed you or at the least include their names in the note.
• If you have not heard from the employer regarding the outcome of your initial interview by the date they indicated they would notify you, a follow-up phone call or email is acceptable.

Five Common Interview Questions and Suggested Response Strategies

Other Typical Interview Questions

Personal Assessment Questions

• What are your short-range and long-range career goals? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• What do you see yourself doing in the future?
• What motivated you to choose the career field you are entering?
• How would you describe yourself?
• Which rewards are most important to you in your chosen career?

Educational Background Questions

• Why did you select your college or university?
• What college courses have you liked best and why? What courses have you disliked and why?
• How has your college experience prepared you for your chosen career?
• Describe your most rewarding college experience.
• Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement? Explain.

Work History Questions

• Tell me about your most recent job. What did you like most, and what did you like least? Why?
• How do you work under pressure?
• What qualities do you have that you think would make you successful in your chosen career?
• What kind of supervision style do you prefer?

Behavioral-Based Questions

*Note: Behavioral-based questions are becoming more common in interviews. Using this technique allows the interviewer to evaluate your past experiences and behaviors as a predictor of your future success. To respond to these questions, use the "STAR" framework: briefly describe the Situation and the Task at hand, what Actions you took, and what the Result or outcome was.

• Give me an example of how you have used your creativity to solve a problem on the job or in school.
• Tell me about a difficult situation you’ve faced (in school or work) and how you handled it.
• Tell me about a time when you failed. What happened, and how did you recover?
• Provide an example that demonstrates you can adapt quickly to a wide variety of people and situations.
• Talk about a time when you were working with someone who wasn't pulling his or her weight on a project. How did you deal with this person?

Questions to Ask Employers

• Can you describe a typical day in this position?
• What is the organizational structure, and who would be my supervisor?
• How is job performance evaluated, and how often?
• If I were hired for this position, what projects would be the top priority?
• What have you liked most, and what have you liked least about working with this company?
• Is there anything that makes you think I might not be the right fit for the job?
• When do you expect to decide about this position? Can you tell me the timeline for your hiring process?

Phone and Video Interview Tips

Employers may choose to conduct interviews via phone or video. Many of the guidelines for face-to-face interviews are also applicable to phone or video interviews, but there are some key differences to keep in mind.

• Choose a location that will be quiet and free of distractions as you conduct the interview.
• If using a cell phone, ensure that your phone gets a strong signal in your chosen location and the battery is fully charged. If conducting an interview by Skype or another web-based program, "test" the program ahead of time (if possible) to make sure the webcam, microphone and software are all working correctly.
• Your tone of voice becomes particularly important in phone and video interviews. Be enthusiastic and energetic, and speak clearly. Standing during the phone interview can help project your voice, and smiling can help convey your enthusiasm.
• Dress professionally, just as you would for a face-to-face interview.
• Consider having your resume or other notes on hand as reminders of key points you want to emphasize during the interview.
• Posture, eye contact and your entire face in the frame tell whether you are fully invested and engaged.