Interviewing
Preparation for the Interview
- Self-assess interests (know what motivates you), skills and values
- Know your career goals and have a plan for achieving them
- Research your industry and the organization
- Assess how the organization fits within the industry
- Know what makes the organization unique
- Know products, services and competitors, the organization’s functions, departments, goals, mission, objectives, hiring policies
- Know where you can contribute and what you bring to the organization
- Develop thoughtful and insightful questions for the interviewer
- Be prepared with knowing your salary range, but do not discuss salary and benefits until the employer does
- Prepare examples of situations/experiences where you have demonstrated teamwork, leadership, work ethic, problem solving, customer service; doing more than expected of you; and decisions you have made and the results of those decisions
- Practice interviewing with a friend, family member or ASU Career Services advisor
- Buy appropriate interviewing attire that is professional and fits you well. Make sure everything is well-pressed and shoes are well-shined
Purpose of the Interview
- For you and interviewer to obtain information from each other
- For you and the interviewer to evaluate each other to look for fit with the position and the organization
- For the employer to assess a match between your qualifications, interests and personality
- For you to present relevant experiences in your responses to questions
Interview Structure
- Introduction:
- Introductions are made; remember name and title of interviewer.
- Generally, in the United States, custom expects a firm handshake, eye contact, a smile and words of appreciation for the interview.
- Interviewer establishes rapport to help put you at ease and provides some basic information about organization and position.
- Body:
- Asking and answering questions is a reciprocal exercise for you and the employer to evaluate fit with the organization.
- Listen to each question and develop a full, but brief and focused response.
- Take appropriate time to reflect on the response. If you need a question repeated or restated, don’t be afraid to ask.
- Convey enthusiasm and knowledge of the organization in your responses.
- Use body language that is attentive and interested, not laid back and bored/
- Be mindful of body language that exhibits nervous habits or mannerisms. It’s distracting and the interviewer may have a hard time focusing on your message.
- Avoid repetitious phrases i.e. “OK,” “you know,” “like,” “yeah”
- Closing:
- What you do and say here may determine whether or not you are hired.
- Re-emphasize your specific qualities/skills and enthusiasm for the position as well as the organization.
- Ask questions not previously asked.
- Obtain information about follow up procedures and time frame for making decisions.
- Ask when you may contact the interviewer if you have not heard by a pre-determined time.
- In the United States, custom expects that you close the meeting with a good handshake, good eye contact, a smile and words of appreciation.
- Reflect on what you could have done better and what you did well after the interview; use this for future interviews.
- Follow-up with a thank you letter (laser printed, not hand written):
o May include information you want them to remember or something important that you forgot to mention
o Include something that will help the interviewer remember you from all the other
Employers are looking for…
- A professional image which includes attitude, grooming, attire, and self-confidence (how you present yourself)
- Mature behavior and judgment which means accepting responsibility for your actions, either right or wrong
- A realistic knowledge of strengths, accomplishments, and weaknesses, your areas that need improvement
- Interaction with others – how you get along with others, including peers, teammates and supervisors
- Teamwork and how you contribute to teams, resolve team problems, and motivate others
- Demonstrated leadership in projects and organizations
- Good work ethic, going above and beyond the requirements of the job
- Problem solving coping with policies and procedures
- Fit with the organizational culture
- Academic performance – GPA does matter
- Internships, extracurricular activities are important
- Communication skills: oral presentations, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills, and writing skills
- Computer literacy
- Honesty, integrity
Portfolios
- If you have a portfolio, you may want to use it in your interview. You have several choices as to how to use it.
- May be used in the opening to introduce yourself and/or to let the employer know you have it as a resource
- Use it to demonstrate skills/accomplishments/results when you answer a question
- Use it in the closing as a review and/or leave a shortened version with the employer (Never leave originals! Bring a copy if you plan to leave it for further review)