How Do I Prepare for an Interview?

What do you know about who you are and what you want to do? Just as an athlete would not be ready for “the big game” without learning some specific skills and practicing, you will need to do some preparation to be successful in job interviews.

Before the Interview

Before speaking with employers about internship or job opportunities you need to be able to do the following things:

• Clearly state your career goal
• Explain clearly and concisely why you chose your major(s), minor(s), and/or emphasis area
• Learn to answer questions using the STAR method (Describe the Situation or Task, the Action you took, and the Results of that action.) Clearly explain how your skills match the employers needs, based on your past experiences (work, school, volunteer, and life experience)
• Prepare your answers to some commonly asked questions (What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness? Why should we hire you?) ahead of time
• Be able to make a weakness appear to be a strength (use the STAR method)
• Name the work activities that you do well and enjoy
• List at least five job skills and abilities you already have
• Relate your past work, volunteer, and school experiences to the position for which you are currently applying
• Research the company ahead of time; this lets the interviewer know that you are a serious candidate for the job and it shows your strong work ethic
• Come prepared with questions for the interviewer
• Determine the salary range you will consider based on your profession and national trends research

Sample Interview Questions to Ask Potential Employer/ Interviewers

Toward the end of your interview, employers will almost always ask if you have questions for them. Not having a set of questions shows a lack of preparedness. Read the following questions to get an idea of how to present them to the employer. You may want to use some of those listed, or create some of your own. A good resource for you to use if you are creating you own questions is the organization’s website. Look at their mission statement, philosophy, or organizational policies and develop questions from the information you gain about the organization.

Always have at least five questions prepared when you arrive for the interview.

Sample questions include:

• What immediate results are expected from the person who accepts this position?
• What qualities are you looking for in new hires?
• What characteristics does a successful person have in your organization?
• What are your expectations of new employees?
• What are some of the achievements made by employees in this position in the past?
• What would a typical day look like in this position?
• Describe the typical first year expectations?
• How would you describe your organization’s culture?
• What are the future plans for the organization’s growth?
• Where do you see the company going in the future?
• When do you want to have the position filled?

Questions to Avoid Asking
Although salary and benefit questions are very important issues to consider before accepting a position, it is not appropriate to ask salary-related questions during the interview. After a potential employer offers you the position, then is a good time to ask for salary and benefit information.

What Are Employers Looking For in Candidates?
In an interview, be prepared to sell yourself to potential employers. Know your product, yourself! Learn to talk about yourself in terms of your skills. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the following is a list of the “Top 5 Candidate Qualities” employers look for in a job applicant:

• Communication skills (verbal and written)
• Honesty/Integrity
• Teamwork skills (works well with others)
• Interpersonal skills (relates well with others)
• Motivation/Initiative

The NACE survey also included advice from employers for job applicants. Their recommendations include:

1. Do your research.
It is very important to research the organization before an interview; it lets the employer know that you are a very interested and serious candidate for the job. Employers are very interested in candidates who ask intelligent questions and questions that relate to the company. Some areas to research are:

• career paths
• mission statement of the organization
• products or service line
• company objectives
  
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2. Be prepared for the interview.
Career Services offers mock interviews to help you prepare for interviews. You can practice answering some commonly asked questions and gain some tips on how to make your answers more effective. Call Career Services (970-351-2127) to schedule an appointment with a career counselor.

3. Have a focus.
Think about what type of position you are looking for and what type of organization is a good fit for you. Things to consider are:

• In what types of jobs are you interested?
• In what geographical areas would you like to work?
• Does the organization’s mission/values, etc., match your own values and/or fit with your personality?

4. Bring experience to the table.
Relevant work experience is important to employers. If you do not currently have relevant experience, you can volunteer or complete an internship in your field or in a related area. If you have no relevant work experience, include a “Selected Coursework” section in your resume (see the Resume Writing section of this web site).

During the Interview
Here are some tips for you to keep in mind on the day of the interview:

• Be on time - Arrive 5-10 minutes early and no more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time
• Walk with confidence - Portrays to the interviewer that you feel you would do well at this job
• Give a firm handshake (both women and men) - After your appearance, this is the next highest rated physical quality that influences potential employers
• Look the interviewer in the eye - Good eye contact is important in your greeting and during the interview
• Organize your thoughts - It is okay to take a few seconds to think of your responses to questions asked
• Ask questions - The purpose of the interview is for the employer to see if you are the person for the job and for you to see if this is the job for you
• Be open and honest - Employers can tell if you are bluffing, exaggerating or misrepresenting yourself; if you are dishonest, you are less likely to get the job
• Speak distinctly and clearly, using proper grammar - Avoid slang words and say “yes” rather than “yeah” or “yup”
• Be enthusiastic - When you smile and sound excited about the job and your experience, the interviewer feels your enthusiasm
• Talk about your strengths - It is important for the interviewer to understand what they are, but you have to articulate them; avoid using “hard worker” as one of your strengths - all employees are expected to be hard workers
• Talk about your career goals, qualifications, and interests - Provide examples to “paint a word picture” to support your claims
• Ask questions - Shows your interest in the company
• Take a couple of deep breaths before the interview - This will help you calm down and reduce your nervousness
• Do not chew gum during the interview; do not go to an interview with breath smelling like alcohol

After the Interview
Now that the interview is over, there are still some things for you to consider and do in order to increase your chances of getting the job:

• Send a thank-you note the same day as your interview. It shows you are considerate and it will get your name on the employer’s desk again; not many people do this, so it may make you stand out above other candidates
• The thank-you note can be written formally on a piece of resume paper or it could be a hand-written card
• Follow up with the interviewer regarding the status of the position and the search process; be assertive, not aggressive