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Interview Guide: Prepared by the Albers Placement Center, Seattle
University
Jump to Section:
Before the Interview |
During the Interview |
After the Interview |
Common Questions
Before the Interview:: back to the top
1. Logistics- Prepare by obtaining the following items. The person
setting up the interview or his/her secretary should provide them
for you.
- The name of the person to ask for upon arrival for the interview
- A complete job description
- An interview schedule
- Exact directions to the location of the interview, including the
room number
- Parking information.
2. Research- Your research process began while writing your cover
letter. Review the information about the company you already have
and see if you can find some more information.
- The Internet - Business Directories - Annual Reports - Trade
Journals
- Professional Associations - Magazine/Newspapers - Faculty
- Albers Placement Center files - Information Interviews
3. Answers- The main question the interviewer wants answered is "Why
should I hire you?" Prepare the following activities:
- Write out answers to possible questions-- see below for "Top
Interview Questions"
- Know the qualities, skills and characteristics you want to
emphasize.
- Be ready to answer questions by relating a story to the
interviewer. Describe features of your personality that help you
succeed; describe one of your accomplishments; how you have
benefited your employer, team, or yourself.
- Participate in a mock interview at the Albers Placement Center.
Schedule one by calling 296-5687.
- Participate in a video taped mock interview at teh Career
Development Center. Schedule this by calling 296-5080.
4. Questions- Interviews are two way conversations.
Pepare questions to ask your interviewer(s). Asking questions serves
two purposes.
- It shows that you are interested in the company and the position.
It demonstrates that you are not just going through the motions by
interviewing.
- The answers provide you with the necessary information to decide
whether or not the position is right for you.
Prepare items you need to have with you:
- Copies of your resume - Copies of your reference list -
Certifications/Awards
- Samples of projects (ex. business plan) - Writing Samples
Be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early.
Be kind and respectful to the secretaries and receptionists- they
are often very influential people in the office.
Greet each person you meet with a firm handshake, practice it. If
seated when introduced to someone, stand up.
During the Interview:: back to the top
- Be enthusiastic and confident in yourself.
- Be concise in your answers, don't ramble. Your answers should be
about two minutes long.
- Don't dodge questions. If need be, ask to take a second to think
about your answer.
- If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification.
- Avoid using "um", "uh", "like", etc. while speaking.
- Maintain good eye contact with all your interviewers. If you are
being interviewed by more than one person at once, make sure that
you look at and speak to everyone in the room.
- Try to pay attention and stop nervous "ticks." For example,
shaking your legs or feet, wringing your hands, adjusting clothing,
playing with your hair, etc.
- Avoid negative answers. For instance, if you're asked why you
chose Seattle University, do not criticize other schools. Also,
never ever speak negatively about a current or previous employer.
- Listen carefully to each question.
- Ask for feedback. Ex. "Am I answering your question? Am I on the
right track?"
- Stick to describing your role in the situation, unless you are
otherwise directed.
- Extremely personal examples may not be appropriate for an
interview. Try to relate situations that occurred on the job.
- Be honest!
- Be yourself.
Ending the Interview:: back to the top
There are several things you can do to ensure that your interview
ends well.
- Be prepared to ask questions.
- Be prepared to respond to the question: "Is there anything else
about you we should know before making our decision?"
- Ask for a business card from each person you spoke with, so that
you may send them a thank you card.
- End with the same confidence and enthusiasm you started the
interview with.
- Firmly shake each person's hand.
- Thank the interviewer(s) for the opportunity to meet with them.
After the Interview:
Oftentimes there will be other candidates interviewing after you or
there will be a time lag between your interview and when a decision
is made. The tips listed below can help you remain a front runner.
- Send a thank you not to each person in the interview. Make sure
they are not EXACTLY the same, personalize each message.
- Be patient; in some cases it is okay to make a follow-up telephone
call to inquire about your status as a candidate for teh position.
If you were told the timeline for a decision, call to follow-up a
couple days after the decision was made to inquire about the
process.
If you get a job offer-
- It's okay to take some time deciding; most employers want you to
think about the offer before making a decision. If they do not
mention a timeline for you to accept or decline, ask when they would
like your final decision.
- This is the time when salary and benefits should be discussed.
- Many times, you will need to accept an offer in writing or sign a
contract. The job is not yours, until you have a written agreement.
If you do not get an offer, remain gracious and positive. You never
know what connections this employer may have elsewhere in the
industry or what future positions may come open. Send a Thank you
note. The current job market is very fast moving; the person
receiving the offer for the job may not accept the position or may
not work out. Either way, you may still have a chance of being
hired.
A last word of caution: DO NOT TAKE THE HIRING PROCESS PERSONALLY.
Not being hired is not a sign of failure or rejection. It only means
you haven't found the right fit for YOU, (yet).
Behavioral Interviews:: back to the top
Most employers now do behavioral interviews. This type of interview
is considered the next best thing to direct observation of a person
at work, and is based on the theory that only past performance
predicts future performance.
Many firms have identified the skills and qualities of their
successful employees. The questions asked are designed to find out
if you have demonstrated these skills in the past. Examples of the
desired qualities/skills are: initiative, leadership, problem
solving, etc.
To prepare for a behavioral interview, you should-
- Know yourself. Who are you? What do you value? What are your
priorities? Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years?
- Know your resume. What have you done, what was your role in the
success of the company, what and how did you contribute?
- Be prepared to tell the story behind your accomplishments using
this format: Situation>Action>Result
- Be able to relate SPECIFIC examples, of when you've demonstrated a
skill, strength, or trait.
Common Job Interview Questions:
By rehearsing interview questions, you'll become more familiar with
your own qualifications and will be well prepared to demonstrate how
you can benefit an employer.
1. "Tell me about yourself."
Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional
achievements and professional goals. Then, briefly describe your
qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to
the organization.
2. "Why do you want to work here?" or "What about our company
interests you?"
Few questions are more important than these, so it is important to
answer them clearly and with enthusiasm. Show the interviewer your
interest in the company. Share what you learned about the job, the
company, and the industry through your own research. Talk about how
your professional skills will benefit the company. Unless you work
in sales, your answer should never be simply: "money." The
interviewer will wonder if you really care about the job.
3. "Why did you leave your last job?"
The interviewer may want to know if you had any problems on your
last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason,
such as: relocated away from job; company went out of business; lay
off; temporary job; no possibility of advancement; wanted a job
better suited for your skills.
If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept
responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You should explain any
problems you had (or still have) with an employer, but don't
describe the employer in negative terms. Demonstrate that it was a
learning experience that will not affect your future work.
4. "What are your best skills?"
If you have sufficiently researched the organization, you should be
able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, and then
give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.
5. "What is your major weakness?"
Be positive; turn a weakness into strength. For example, you might
say: "I often worry too much over my work. Sometimes I work late to
make sure the job is done well."
6. "Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?"
The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give
examples describing how you have worked in both situations.
7. "What are your career goals?" or "What are your future plans?"
The interviewer wants to know if your plans and the company's goals
are compatible. Let him/her know that you are ambitious enough to
plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your
performance, and be as specific as possible about how you will meet
the goals you have set for yourself.
8. "What are your hobbies?" and "Do you play any sports?"
The interviewer may be looking for evidence of your job skills
outside of your professional experience. for example, hobbies such
as chess or bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Reading, music,
and painting are creative hobbies. Individual sports show
determination and stamina, while group sport activities may indicate
you are comfortable working as part of a team.
Also, the interviewer might simply be curious as to whether you have
a life outside of work. Employees who have creative or athletic
outlets for their stress are often healthier, happier, and more
productive.
9. "What salary are you expecting?"
You probably don't want to answer this one directly. Instead,
deflect the question back to the interviewer by saying something
like: "I don't know. What are you planning on paying the best
candidate?" Let the employer make the first offer.
However, it is still important to know what the current salary range
is to for the profession. Find salary surveys at teh library or on
the Internet, and check the classifieds to see what comparable jobs
in your area are paying. This information can help you negotiate
compensation once the employer makes an offer.
10. "What have I forgotten to ask?"
Use this as a chance to summarize your good characteristics and
attributes and how they may be used to benefit the organization.
Convince the interviewer that you understand thejob requirements and
that you can succeed.
Other questions you might want to rehearse:
Your Qualifications-
1. What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
2. What qualifications do you have that relate to the position?
3. What new skills or capabilities have you developed recently?
4. Give me an example from a previous job where you've shown
initiative?
5. What have been your greatest accomplishments recently?
6. What is important to you in a job?
7. What motivates you in your work?
8. What have you been doing since your last job?
9. What qualities do you find important in a co-worker?
Your Career Goals-
1. What would you like to be doing five years from now?
2. How will you judge yourself successful? How will you achieve
success?
3. What type of position are you interested in?
4. How will this job fit in your career plans?
5. What do you expect from this job?
6. Do you have a location preference?
7. Can you travel?
8. What hours can you work?
9. When would you be available to start?
Your Work Preference-
1. What have you learned from your past jobs?
2. What were your biggest responsibilities?
3. What specific skills acquired or used in previous jobs relate to
this position?
4. How does your previous experience relate to this position?
5. What did you most/least like about your last job?
6. Whom may we contact for references?
Your Education-
1. How do you think your education has prepared you for this
position?
2. What were your favorite classes/activities at school?
3. Why did you choose your major?
4. Do you plan to continue your education?
The 25 Most Popular Behavior-Based Questions: by Arelene Hirsch
Article in the 'National business Employment Weekly' April 18, 1999
Tell me a time when you...
1. Worked effectively under pressure
2. Handled a difficult situation with a co-worker
3. Were creative in solving a problem
4. Missed an obvious solution to a problem
5. Were unable to complete a project on time
6. Persuaded team members to do things your way
7. Wrote a report that was well-received
8. Anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures
9. Had to make an important decision with limited facts
10. Were forced to make an unpopular decision
11. Had to adapt to a difficult situation
12. Were tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours
13. Were disappointed in your behavior
14. Used your political savvy to push a program through that you
really believed in
15. Had to deal with an irate customer
16. Delegated a project effectively
17. Surmounted a major obstacle
18. Set your sights too high (or too low)
19. Prioritized the elements of a complicated project
20. Got bogged down in the details of a project
21. Lost (or won) an important contract
22. Made a bad decision
23. Had to fire a friend
24. Hired (or fired) the wrong person
25. Turned down a good job
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
4/05/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 103
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Info:
WSCPA: Mark Peterson
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
4/12/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 102
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Info:
Becker: Robbie Dahl
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
4/19/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 102
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Info:
Xversity: Luke Martin
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
05/03/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 103
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Info:
Alaska Air: Brandon Pedersen
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
05/10/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 103
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Info:
Puget Sound: Bob Gleason
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
05/17/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 102
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Info:
PwC: Brianne Belur
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
05/24/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 103
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Info:
KPMG: Paige Haapala
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GAAP Snack
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Date:
05/31/07
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Time:
12:15pm-1:25pm
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Location:
Pigott 102
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Info:
Year End Function!: Michelle Etchart
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