Your Winning Edge - Interviewing

Your Winning Edge

Interviewing

Your Winning Edge, “The Series”

This publication is part of a series of documents designed as a

comprehensive tool for jobseekers. Each publication focuses on

dierent important aspects of ﬁnding and preparing for a job and

giving you your winning edge.

Your Winning Edge

Resumes, Cover Letters, Job Applications

Your Winning Edge

Sample Resumes and Cover Letters

Your Winning Edge

Job Search & Networking

Your Winning Edge

Interviewing

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P677

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Job Interview ......................................................................................................... 5

What should you ask when setting up the interview? ....................................6

Dierent Structures of the Interview .................................................................6

One-on-One Interview ............................................................................................................... 6

Panel or Board Interviews ......................................................................................................... 6

Group Interview ........................................................................................................................... 6

Multiple Mini-Interviews ............................................................................................................. 6

Stress Interview ........................................................................................................................... 6

Behavioral Interviews and Simulation Exercises................................................................. 7

How to recognize a behavioral interview question ..................................................... 7

Preparing to answer behavioral interview questions .................................................. 7

Interviews in Dierent Settings ..........................................................................8

Dining Interviews ......................................................................................................................... 8

Job Interview over the Telephone .......................................................................................... 8

Video Conference or Video Phone Interview Tips ............................................................ 8

Build a 60 Second Commercial –A tool to Market Yourself ...........................9

What your 60 second commercial must contain ................................................................ 9

Steps to develop a 60 second commercial ......................................................................... 10

Steps to develop a 60 second commercial ......................................................................... 11

Prepare Key Strengths Statements .................................................................... 12

Employment Testing .............................................................................................13

Ability Tests ................................................................................................................................... 13

Skills Testing ................................................................................................................................. 13

Personality and Interest Inventories ....................................................................................... 13

Honesty or Integrity Tests ......................................................................................................... 13

Medical Examinations ................................................................................................................ 13

Drug Tests ..................................................................................................................................... 13

5 Most Common Interviewing Mistakes ............................................................ 13

Steps to Prepare for an Interview ......................................................................14

Know Yourself and Your Relevant Strengths ........................................................................ 14

Research the Employer ............................................................................................................. 14

Research the Interviewer .......................................................................................................... 14

Promoting your Brand ................................................................................................................ 15

Highlights for the Interviewer................................................................................................... 15

Commonly Asked Interview Questions ................................................................................. 16

Tips to Answer Common Interview Questions .................................................................... 17

Table of Contents

Worksheet: Practicing Responses to Interview Questions .............................................. 20

Know Your Rights: Handling Discriminating Questions .................................................... 21

Questions You Might Ask an Interviewer .............................................................................. 22

Prepare Your Interview Answers ........................................................................23

Develop Your Stories: Taking Your “CAR” to the Interview .............................................. 23

Ways to Show the Employer that You Have the Skills ....................................................... 23

Answering Negative or Dicult Questions .......................................................................... 25

Plan to Have a Successful Interview ..................................................................26

Plan to Dress for Success ......................................................................................................... 26

Plan How You Will Get to the interview ................................................................................. 26

Communicate Conﬁdence with Your Body Language ...................................................... 26

What to Take to the Interview? ................................................................................................ 27

Handling Interview Anxiety and Jitters .................................................................................. 28

Right before the Job Interview ...........................................................................28

During a Job Interview .........................................................................................28

The Beginning Phase ................................................................................................................. 29

The Exchange of Information Phase ...................................................................................... 29

The Summation and Closing Phase ....................................................................................... 30

After the Job Interview ........................................................................................31

Reminders About Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts ................................................................. 31

Write a “Thank You” Note to the Interviewer ................................................................ 32

Sample “Thank You” Letter to the Interviewer .............................................................. 33

Reﬂecting and Learning from Your Interview ................................................................ 34

Follow Up after the Interview ............................................................................................ 34

When the Interview Leads to a Job Oer: Salary and Beneﬁts ...................................... 35

Help from the New York State Career Center and local public library ......................... 35

Salary Negotiations .............................................................................................................. 35

Table of Contents continued

JOB INTERVIEW

An interview is a two-way process with an opportunity for you and the interviewer to address your common

interests. The interviewer is determining if you would be a good ﬁt for the organization. You are determining if

the organization would be a good ﬁt for you.

The purpose of an interview is for employers to determine whether you:

• can demonstrate the skills they are looking for in an employee.

• can solve the employers’ problem(s) or meet their organizational challenge(s).

• are the best ﬁt for the company, organization or program.

Some things to consider about the job:

• What have you accomplished in the past and what can you oer this employer?

• How can the employer help you achieve the objectives of the job, directly or indirectly?

• Are you and the employer both conﬁdent that you are the right employee for the job?

There are two major types of interviews:

1. Screening or Preliminary Interviews: During a screening interview, also known as a preliminary

interview, the applicant has an opportunity to present whether he/she has the basic skill sets that an

employer is seeking. Screening interviews are usually conducted by the organization’s human

resources department or may be done by a recruiter.

2. Hiring Interviews: Hiring interviews are usually conducted by a person or a group of people. This

is your opportunity to demonstrate good listening skills, ask intelligent questions and illustrate your

accomplishments. Highlight how you can help the employer. Promote yourself as a natural addition to

the employer’s team.

The screening and hiring interviews can be structured dierently:

• One-on-one interview: One interviewer with one interviewee

• Board or panel interview: Multiple interviewers with one interviewee

• Group interview: Multiple interviewers with a group of interviewees

Interviews can be done in a variety of settings:

• Telephone interviews

• In person at the employer’s location

• In person at Job fairs

• On-campus interviews for recent college graduates or alumni

• Video conference interviews

• Dining interviews

WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK WHEN SETTING UP THE INTERVIEW?

Sample questions:

___ (1) How do I get to the location of the interview? What are the parking options?

___ (2) Who should I ask for once I arrive?

___ (3) Approximately how long will the interview be? (Be ﬂexible.)

___ (4) Who will interview me? How many people will interview me?

___ (5) How will the interview be structured? For example, will I meet with the interviewer and then

complete additional paperwork to apply for the job with your human resources sta? Would it

be a one-on-one or group interview?

___ (6) Will I need to take a test? If so, what kind? (Check “Employment Testing” (page 13) for additional

information about the types of tests you may take.)

DIFFERENT STRUCTURES OF THE INTERVIEW

It is important to ask about the format of the interview when you set up an interview appointment so you can be

better prepared. During the interview, you might also meet potential co-workers who will help make the hiring

decision. Plan on being courteous to everyone you meet, regardless of which type of interview you may have.

One-on-One Interview

In this style of interview, one individual interviews you for the position. Or, you may be interviewed by dierent

interviewers at dierent times. Usually a one-on-one interview will include some behavioral questions to learn

how you might react to dierent situations, such as deadlines or angry customers.

Panel or Board Interviews

These are generally conducted by two or more interviewers at the same time. They usually take turns asking

questions and have their own separate list of things they want to determine about you. You can expect to be

interviewed by 3-10 people, or possibly more.

Direct your answer to the person who asked the question, but try to maintain eye contact with all group

members. You might be interviewed by multiple individuals or groups of interviewers one after the other, instead

of at the same time. This is referred to as a series interview.

Group Interview

A group interview is usually conducted with other applicants applying for the same position in dierent parts

of the organization. Interviewing candidates in a group allows employers to evaluate how well you would ﬁt in

at the company. Establish a good relationship with everyone and promote yourself as a natural addition to the

team. Be prepared to answer behavioral questions and simulation exercises during this type of interview.

Multiple Mini-Interviews

This type of interview is often used in the medical and dental ﬁelds, as well as by graduate schools and for

academic faculty positions. Applicants move between interview stations and are observed by a single person

who rates each applicant. Employers then select an applicant based on their rating scores. Each station covers a

dierent organizational topic, including: communication, collaboration, ethics, critical thinking, awareness of health

issues and subject knowledge. This technique is used by employers that have a high investment in new hires.

Stress Interview

Stress interviews involve questions that are deliberately intended to make you uncomfortable or upset. This

is usually a test of how you will handle stress on the job. Remain calm and take your time in responding to the

questions. The questions are not intended to be taken personally.

Behavioral Interviews and Simulation Exercises

In behavioral interviewing, you are asked how you behaved or responded in past work situations. You may also

be asked how you would behave in future, hypothetical work situations. The employer asks these questions

to ﬁnd out the speciﬁcs of how you would solve a problem. Sometimes, an employer may choose to have the

testing done by an outside agency or assessment center. These exercises attempt to measure how you manage

situations, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Behavioral interviews can be structured as one-on-one or

group interviews and can be conducted in a variety of settings.

How to recognize a behavioral interview question

When an interviewer asks a question about the details of a past experience or how you would act in a given

hypothetical situation, these types of questions tend to be behavioral interview questions. Your response should

focus on your explanation of past, present or future behavior that displays important skills for the job.

Behavioral interview questions are easy to identify and prepare for in advance. They tend to start with

something like:

• “Tell me about a time when you solved a problem.” Focus on sharing a response that provides details

about a time or a particular situation in which you solved a problem.

• “What would you do if you had a problem to solve?” Avoid giving a superﬁcial response like, “Solve it.”

Instead, tell a story of how you solved something.

• “Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure,” or “Give us an example of when you had

too many things to do and you had to prioritize your tasks.” When the interviewer says, “Give us an

example,” this provides you with a hint that the interviewer is expecting you to tell a story that includes

details of how your skills and talents enabled you to eectively complete tasks in a work setting.

• “Give me an example of when you had to resolve a conﬂict in the workplace.”

• “Can you recall a situation at your past job when you had to use your communication skills to inﬂuence

someone's opinion?” Recalling a situation suggests that the interviewer is asking for a story.

Preparing to answer behavioral interview questions

• Think of situations that you had to respond to in previous jobs. Prepare examples of how you solved

problems, dealt with a dicult task, and any other memorable accomplishments you have had.

• A good strategy is to listen to the interview question intently. Identify if the interviewer expects a story that

provides evidence that you have the speciﬁc skills that are required. Clarify the question if you have any

doubts and use the STAR method of response: Situation, Task, Action and Result.

Situation: A situation you experienced

Tasks: The tasks you planned to address or respond to the situation

Actions: The actions you took

Results: The results that were achieved that addressed the situation

Informational Interviews

When you meet people to learn about their occupation, company or industry, you are engaging in an

informational interview. These are not job interviews, although completing these may lead to a job oer.

INTERVIEWS IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS

Interviews can be conducted by employers in dierent formats, using multiple technologies or tools, and in dierent

settings. Regardless of the interview setting, the interviewers are trying to discover if you are the best candidate.

To help you prepare for the interview process, ask what the format of the interview will be when you conﬁrm the

interview appointment. Knowing what to expect can help you be prepared.

Dining Interviews

You should take as much time to prepare for an interview that includes a meal, or takes place in the context

of a social setting, as you would for any other type of interview. Even if the conversation is casual, behave

professionally because you are still being evaluated.

• Avoid messy food items. Think twice about your meal selection. The goal is to pick easy things to eat

so you can answer questions and pay attention to the conversation.

• Do not smoke or order an alcoholic drink. If the interviewer oers an alcoholic drink, never take more

than one.

• Avoid ordering very expensive, or the least expensive, food items.

Job Interview over the Telephone

Companies may interview you by phone to keep costs down or to accommodate applicants who live far from

the company.

There are dierent types of telephone interviews.

1. A screening telephone interview –This type of call may include a series of questions that are asked

of every candidate. The questions are usually based on requirements for the position and the

answers allow the employer to eliminate candidates who do not meet the qualiﬁcations.

2. A hiring telephone interview – This type of interview is more like a face-to-face interview with a

business. Be prepared to have the call last for 30 minutes or more. You will be asked the

same kinds of questions you would be asked if you were meeting in person.

At least 30 minutes before a scheduled telephone interview, you should:

• Turn o the radio, stereo and television.

• Try to disable any "call waiting" or other phone features that produce sound.

• Put the dog outside, or take other steps to prevent it from barking.

• Dress in appropriate attire. You will feel more professional in appropriate clothes.

• Go into a quiet room to take the call. Make sure you have a writing surface and materials for

taking notes.

• Gather the information you researched on the company as well as your resume and cover letter.

• Put your cheat sheet of answers to anticipated questions on the desk beside you.

• Smile! It will help you keep a positive attitude throughout the interview.

Video Conference or Video Phone Interview Tips

It is fairly common for businesses to use video conferencing to interview job applicants. As with in-person

interviews, you must speak clearly, dress appropriately and present yourself in a professional manner.

Proper Attire

Dress professionally as if you were going to a traditional interview, but avoid wearing striped patterns, plaid or all

white. These patterns and colors sometimes generate poor picture quality over video.

Know the Material

Learn as much as you can about the company or business. Study any background information or material that

was given to you.

Practice

Before the video conference interview, practice using the video technology you will be using for the interview,

and practice in front of a mirror or in front of a friend to get used to controlling your facial expressions and body

language. If you have a video camera, videotape yourself. See if you are shaking your leg, acting nervously or

doing anything else that may be distracting to the interviewer. Also, notice your vocal pitch and speech patterns.

Are you speaking too low or too fast?

Day of the Interview

Make sure the background you are sitting against contains nothing that would distract the person on the other

end of the video conference. Don't read from notes. If you have any, just glance at them if you need them during

the interview. Talk in your normal, natural voice and make eye contact with the camera. Make sure you smile and

show your enthusiasm. Don't sit too close to the camera and don't watch yourself on the monitor. Note: Keep

your body movements to a minimum and if you do move in your seat, do it slowly. Rapid movements will look

jerky on the other end of the video conference.

BUILD A 60 SECOND COMMERCIAL –A TOOL TO MARKET YOURSELF

A 60 second commercial, also known as an elevator pitch, gives a brief and persuasive snapshot of why an employer

should hire you. The term “elevator pitch” is named after the possibility of a job seeker meeting a hiring manager in

an elevator and having a brief opportunity to promote their qualiﬁcations. The pitch or commercial shows that you are

prepared for the interview, have researched the company and are the ideal candidate for the job.

What your 60 second commercial must contain

A “hook”

Open your pitch by getting the person’s attention with a “hook” – a statement or

question that makes the person interested and makes them want to hear more.

About 150-225

words

Your pitch should go no longer than 60 seconds.

Passion

Be energetic and enthusiastic.

A request

At the end of your pitch, you must ask for something. Do you want their

business card to schedule a full presentation or do you want to ask for a referral?

Tag Line This is an impressive phrase that can sum up your strongest skills and reinforce

your unique qualities that gets you remembered.

Having a prepared elevator pitch can also help you overcome networking or interviewing anxieties. An elevator

pitch is helpful in writing cover letters. Dierent 60 second commercials might be necessary for dierent

audiences. Practice and rehearse your pitch so that you can easily deliver it when given the opportunity to do so.

A 60 second commercial is a brief, prepared and rehearsed marketing tool to showcase your skills,

abilities and professional expertise.

Steps to develop a 60 second commercial

1. List Your Areas of Expertise:

2. List your strengths and accomplishments:

3. List how you have grown professionally throughout your career:

4. List the personal traits that make you unique:

5. List what attracts you to this company:

List

To develop a 60 second commercial, list: (1) your areas of expertise; (2) strengths and accomplishments;

(3) how you have grown throughout your career; (4) your personal traits that make you unique and (5)

what attracts you to the company.

Steps to develop a 60 second commercial

(Include a statement or question that makes a listener want to hear more.)

I am/I have experience as ____________________________________________________________

(Add your profession or job title.)

With expertise in ___________________________________________________________________

(Insert your top skills, talents, abilities or knowledge.)

My background includes _____________________________________________________________

(Include your industry, department or type of company or services.)

My unique qualities are _____________________________________________________________

(List your marketable traits and characteristics.)

Tag line ___________________________________________________________________________

(Insert a closing statement that’s memorable.)

Prioritize and Pick and Choose

An elevator pitch or a 60 second commercial is an overview of your skills, strengths and professional

experience. It is designed to get a conversation started. The point of an elevator pitch isn’t to get into

every detail. All you want to do is to make sure the person understands what you are talking about and

why they should listen to you.

PREPARE KEY STRENGTHS STATEMENTS

Many employers value the following ﬁve key strengths as critical for any job: customer satisfaction, team work,

communication skills, interpersonal skills and adaptability. Make sure you have developed good examples that

suggest that you have these ﬁve key strengths.

Why are Key Strengths Statements important?

• Understanding your interests, skills and attitudes will increase your conﬁdence and help you promote

yourself to an employer.

• Increased self-conﬁdence sends a positive message to employers.

• The key to a successful interview is to be able to match and describe the skills you have that directly

correspond to the speciﬁc requirements outlined in the job advertisement.

Communication skills: Listening, speaking and writing. Employers want people who can accurately

interpret what others are saying and organize and express their thoughts clearly.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Teamwork and collaboration: Highlight how you have built long term relationships with internal and external

teams and how you can work in a team to achieve the organizations goals.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Analytical and problem-solving skills: Employers want people who can use creativity, reasoning and past

experiences to identify and solve problems eectively.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Personal management skills: The ability to plan and manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities

and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Interpersonal eectiveness: Employers usually note whether an employee can relate to co-workers and

build relationships with others in the organization.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

EMPLOYMENT TESTING

Some employers use tests or other tools as part of their screening process. In most instances, these are used as

part of the pre-screening process, but sometimes they are given after someone is hired. Below is a list and brief

description of the types of tools employers may use.

Ability Tests

Ability tests are designed to predict future success, both in job training and worker performance.

Skills Testing

Skills tests can measure speciﬁcally what you know and can do in a particular job.

Personality and Interest Inventories

Unlike ability tests, personality and interest inventories attempt to assess the underlying characteristics of

individuals. Employees with certain characteristics tend to be successful in certain types of jobs.

Honesty or Integrity Tests

Employers are particularly concerned about hiring honest employees when their job responsibilities include

handling cash or merchandise.

Medical Examinations

Medical exams are given to determine whether you have a physical condition which would prevent you from

performing the job, or to establish medical history prior to start date.

Drug Tests

Drug tests indicate whether someone is using illegal drugs. An increasing number of companies are using drug

tests to screen candidates for all job categories, including managers and professionals.

5 MOST COMMON INTERVIEWING MISTAKES

1. Not being prepared. You should do research on the company and come prepared to have an exchange

of ideas with the interviewer. You should prepare how you will answer questions and have questions

ready to ask.

2. Answering questions about your weaknesses incorrectly. When asked what your weaknesses are,

avoid boastful answers like, “I’m a perfectionist” or “I work too hard.” You need to highlight a skill that you

genuinely want to improve and state what action you are taking (or you took) to correct it.

3. Not dressing for success. You will not be taken seriously if you arrive for the interview in clothes

inappropriate for the work environment.

4. Leaving your cell phone on. Turn o your cell phone before the interview, and do not keep it in plain sight.

5. Arriving late to the interview. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Be sure to arrive no

more than 10 minutes early to make a good impression.

Contact your local New York State Career Center (www.labor.ny.gov/career-center-locator/) to attend

interview preparation workshops and get individual feedback on your interview skills.

STEPS TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW

Preparation is the key to a successful interview. Spend time getting ready for your interview.

Knowing your relevant skills and strengths as well as the needs of the employer is crucial to successful

preparation for an interview. The hard work you put into preparing for an interview will demonstrate your work

ethic to an employer and, most importantly, decrease any interview anxiety that you may have. These are steps

that you can take to prepare for a job interview:

Know Yourself and Your Relevant Strengths

The ﬁrst step in preparing for an interview is to know your strengths and skills.

Personal traits can be described as your unique qualities. For example, a trait can be that you’re dependable,

ﬂexible or punctual. Traits are dierent from skills that are knowledge-based and typically gained from

education and experience. Always be prepared to provide an example of how you demonstrated skills and how

they can contribute to the organization.

Is learning new skills one of your greatest strengths? If your education or past career choices do not directly

relate to the job description, talk about your past experiences with learning a new skill: “Our team had to

learn a software program. We were given six weeks to attend training sessions and become comfortable

enough to perform new tasks. I was able to use the new software program in only three weeks.”

Research the Employer

The more you know about the company, the better you will be able to explain how you can ﬁt in and your talents

can be used. Researching the employer can help you to do the following:

• Identify companies that may be hiring in your ﬁeld.

• Help you target your cover letter and resume.

• Understand how you can apply your skills in a new ﬁeld.

• Find hidden job markets.

• Prepare you for a job interview.

Research the Interviewer

Often times, you’ll know the name of the individual who will be conducting your interview. If not, you should ask

when you initially schedule the interview. Once you have the interviewer’s name, take the time to research him

or her. There are several ways to do this:

• Check for biography blurbs on the company’s webpage.

• Do a general search on the Internet.

• Check his or her proﬁle on LinkedIn.

• Ask people in your network who may know the individual.

Having knowledge of the interviewer will give you material for discussion during the interview. You can discuss

projects the interviewer has previously worked on, ask about his or her experience with the company, or discuss

mutual acquaintances.

However, depending on how much you are able to uncover about your interviewer, don’t be too casual. You are

still engaging in a professional interview. Bringing up things like sports teams or shared hobbies may be viewed as

inappropriate. Use your best judgment on what to discuss, but when in doubt, stay as professional as possible.

Promoting your Brand

During an interview, you have the opportunity to promote your unique skill set directly to the employer. First

impressions are extremely important, so it is crucial that you know how to present yourself before you even start

the interview.

You need to identify:

• What makes you unique from other job seekers

• Speciﬁc skills you bring to the job

• Who you are as an individual and what you’ve accomplished

In many ways, your brand as a potential employee is like any other brand. You need to identify what makes you

dierent and better than your competition. You need a reputation or history of success to prove it.

Highlights for the Interviewer

Write down the 4-5 most important points or highlights you want the interviewer to remember. In a job interview,

you are a salesperson. Your task is to promote your most important skills, strengths, experiences and values or

anything that shows the interviewer that you are the best ﬁt for the job and the company.

Short, 2-3 minute stories about your most important characteristics should be the foundation of the talking points of

your sales pitch. These talking points should also shape the responses you prepare for your next interview.

Anyone can claim to be “hardworking and dedicated.” Employers are interested in proof. It is important to

have evidence and examples to demonstrate this to a potential employer.

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

By completing a simple Internet search, you can draft a long list of commonly asked interview questions.

Fortunately, interview questions can be divided into two major categories: questions that focus on your skills and

questions that focus on your work habits. No matter which question you are answering: Be honest as you talk

about your strengths and weaknesses.

Skills-based Questions: What can you oer to our workplace?

Below are sample questions employers may ask. The questions might be about personal, job-speciﬁc or

transferable skills. Use your 2-3 minute stories to answer these questions. Be sure to incorporate your interview

highlights and also include speciﬁc information from your cover letter and resume that demonstrate the skills

you want to highlight.

These are examples of typical interview questions about your skills:

• Tell me about yourself. What would you like us to know?

• How would you describe yourself?

• What are your three greatest strengths?

• What is your greatest weakness?

• Why are you interested in this kind of work? Who inﬂuenced you the most in your decision?

• In your career to date, what would you consider to be your greatest achievements?

• Can I see examples of your work?

• Why do you want to work for this company?

• If we were to contact your most recent boss as a reference, what would he/she say about you?

• What kind of work do you most enjoy? …and dislike?

• Tell me about a time when you worked with a team.

• Share a time when you had to work with a dicult customer.

• Tell me about a time when you displayed good communication skills.

Workplace Culture-based Questions: Would someone with your work habits and personality “ﬁt in” well here?

Employers will also ask questions about your character and personality. When practicing your responses to

the questions below, think about the stories based on your cover letter and resume that give examples of your

personality. See this section of the Guide for more information about preparing for interview questions.

Sample Questions:

• Of the past positions you have held, which did you like most (or least)? Why?

• What were the events that led to your leaving your last position?

• What do you do in your spare time?

• Have you ever been ﬁred or asked to resign?

• Where do you see yourself in ﬁve years? Ten years?

• How do others describe you?

• What kind of a student were you?

• What were your favorite courses? Why?

• Why are you looking to change careers?

• Do you work well under pressure?

• How did you get along with your co-workers?

• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

• What do you do when your schedule is interrupted? Give an example of how you handle interruptions.

• Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.

Tips to Answer Common Interview Questions

The following is a list of things to consider when preparing your responses.

1. Why are you interested in our company?

Tips:

• The employer is really asking, “Have you done your homework? Do you know this organization?” This is

a good opportunity to show that you’ve done research on the organization.

• Focus on how you would be an asset to the organization. Be prepared to discuss a few examples of how

you see yourself ﬁtting in at the organization.

• What makes you excited? Is it the organization’s mission, philosophy or goals?

• This is also another opportunity to connect your values to the company’s values.

2. Tell me something about yourself.

Tips:

• This is the most common question and is often the ﬁrst question that is asked.

• This is a good time to use key strengths statements from your 60-second commercial (See page 12.).

• Make sure your response is relevant to the position.

• You can set the tone of the interview with this question.

3. What kind of work do you most enjoy or dislike?

Tips:

• Be careful not to mention disliking aspects of the position you want. Instead, compare your former

positions with the position you are interviewing for in a positive way. For example, if this is a fast-paced

job, you may want to say that the pace at your previous job was slower than you prefer. Never speak

poorly about your former boss or company!

4. Why did you leave your last job?

Tips:

• Refrain from speaking negatively about your previous employer.

• If you were laid o: Saying you were laid o because of lack of work is unfortunately common these days

and generally not perceived as the worker’s fault.

• If you were ﬁred: Prepare an easily said, direct response saying what happened and what you learned. Refrain

from using emotional language because you may be seen as angry or bitter. Was there a change in expectations

or a new boss? And did you learn anything from that experience that has or will help you grow and be a better

employee? For example, say, “I had a new supervisor in my last position that had dierent expectations from the

former supervisor. As a result of this I was terminated. What I learned from this experience is that organizations

are constantly changing and I now know how to adjust to changing expectations.”

5. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Tips:

• This is a good time to show how your strengths, skills and accomplishments can beneﬁt the corporation.

• Most of us easily explain our strong points but have a dicult time with weaknesses. Be honest about

your weaknesses, but give examples of how you’re working to improve on them.

• It’s best to highlight a weakness that you’ve already successfully addressed. An example might be that

you started creating a list of company priorities to better organize each day’s work and meet deadlines.

6. Why have you chosen a career in this speciﬁc ﬁeld?

Tips:

• The answer to this question will dier from person to person.

• It is a great opportunity to explain the path of experience and education that brought you to this point.

• The best way to answer this question is to tell them about your strengths and how you are a good ﬁt for

their company.

7. Imagine you are a product at a hardware store and this company is shopping. Which product would you be

and why?

Tips:

• This is a good example of a question that you may not anticipate.

• There are many variations to this question, but most involve imagining and describing yourself as an

inanimate object.

• A good approach is to think of a trait or strength that you would bring to the job. Then describe what in

that category you could use as an example of that trait. For example, if you wanted to mention that you

are a good communicator, you might select “telephone.” You could point out that you could communicate

the company’s goals to others or you can market how a product would be helpful for the customer.

Sometimes these questions are posed to see how you think, process information or problem solve. It is

also an opportunity to be creative.

8. Where do you see yourself in ﬁve years?

Tips:

• When answering this question, try to relate your future plans to the company.

• Do you see yourself being promoted? Do you see yourself training new people about the company and

its methods?

• Two common mistakes when answering this question: (1) saying you want to take the job of your boss; (2)

sharing that you are looking forward to retirement in a couple of years. Make sure the plans you discuss

will be seen as beneﬁcial and not costly or disruptive to the company.

9. Tell me about an achievement you have had that will apply to this job.

Tips:

• This is where your interview research and preparation really pays o.

• Can you introduce a better way of doing something? Don’t just name speciﬁc strengths. Give an example

of how you used that particular strength in your former position and how it beneﬁted your employer.

• Short, 2-3-minute stories are a powerful way to convey information about your achievements.

10. Tell me about your education qualiﬁcations.

Tips:

• Always answer personal questions truthfully because lying will work against you in the long run. If you

did not really enjoy being a student, for example, say so, with clear reasons. Then show how you slowly

changed your opinion to such a degree that you made subsequent education work for you. This type of

response demonstrates that you are resilient and mature. Explaining how you matured is a much more

attractive response than one in which you pretend you enjoyed going to school from the ﬁrst day.

• Show the relevance of your college degree or other qualiﬁcations to the job you are applying for and how

you would use it to beneﬁt the organization.

• Make sure you continue to receive training after you graduate so that you can show you are keeping up

with the new developments.

• This question is usually asked to see if your education has prepared you for the job you want.

11. What are your salary requirements?

Tips:

• A good response to this question would include mentioning your interest in the company and that you

would like to learn more before discussing speciﬁc salary and beneﬁts requirements. You may also

mention that you are aware of the salary range based on your research and would entertain an oer

within that range.

• You can also mention that salary is simply one part of the compensation package; other aspects of the

job are important to you as well. You may, if pressed to give an actual number, mention a speciﬁc salary

range, but be sure you are able to accept the lowest ﬁgure of the given range.

Mention a speciﬁc salary range, but be sure you are able to accept the lowest ﬁgure of the given range.

Worksheet: Practicing Responses to Interview Questions

Set time aside now to practice responding to common interview questions. How would you answer the

following questions?

1. Tell me about yourself.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why are you interested in working with this company?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Tell me about your education qualiﬁcations.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why have you chosen a career in this speciﬁc ﬁeld?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Know Your Rights: Handling Discriminating Questions

Federal law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits employers with at least 15 employees from

discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. According to New York State

law, you do not have to answer questions about race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, marital status,

sexual orientation, age, and disability on applications or during the interview. During an interview, an employer

should not inquire into your personal life for information that is not job related.

Know that the person interviewing you may not be a trained interviewer. He or she may not know that they are

asking questions that could result in unlawful employment practices. If this occurs, make every eort to provide

an appropriate response, one that makes the best impression to the interviewer.

It is important that you decide before starting an interview how sensitive you are about speciﬁc topics, and how

you intend to handle them if they come up. These questions can also be a red ﬂag for you. Think about why the

interviewer is asking these questions and whether you want to work for this type of organization.

Questions Employers Should Not Ask When Making Hiring Decisions:

As a general rule, employers can ask applicants only job-related questions. Questions an employer should not

ask are related to, but not limited to, the following:

• What is your race, color, religion or national origin?

• What is your age? (except to ask if you are under 18)

• What is your gender?

• Do you have any disabilities?

• Do you have an arrest record? (An interviewer may ask about any convictions in New York State.)

• Are you married? Does your spouse work?

Do not assume that the interviewer is intentionally asking you a discriminatory question. If you have

questions or concerns about this, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

(www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm)

What can you do if you are asked a discriminatory question?

1. Take a moment to evaluate the situation. Ask yourself questions like:

• How uncomfortable has this question made me feel?

• Does the interviewer seem unaware that the question is potentially discriminatory?

• Is this an indication that the interviewer has a concern?

2. If you are not sure whether you want to answer the question, ﬁrst ask for a clariﬁcation of how this question

relates to your qualiﬁcations for the job. You may decide to answer if there is a reasonable explanation.

3. When you’re asked an improper interview question, you have three choices:

a) You can refuse to answer, and tell the employer that the question is improper or discriminatory. You may

feel better, but chances are you will not get the job. After you get clariﬁcation on the question, if you

feel there is no justiﬁcation for the question, you might politely say that you do not see the relationship

between the question and your qualiﬁcations for the job and you prefer not to answer it.

b) You can answer the question. You may feel uncomfortable, but you might be considered for the job.

c) You can answer the concern that probably lies behind the question and ignore the improper question

itself. Answer brieﬂy and try to move the conversation back to an examination of your skills and abilities

as quickly as possible. For example, if asked about your age, the employer may be concerned about

how quickly you may retire. You might reply, "I have a lot of experience that would be an asset to

your company and will stay as long as I can be productive and valued." Overall, if you are asked an

inappropriate interview question, identify a way to respond that draws attention to your skills for the job.

Possible Employer Concerns and Discriminatory Interview Questions

Q: Do you plan to have children?

Possible employer concern: The interviewer may have a genuine concern about how long that candidate might

remain on the job. You can address the concern by conﬁrming that you plan to pursue a career whether or not

you raise a family. You can ignore the inappropriate question, but still address the interviewer’s concern.

Q: What’s your general state of health?

Possible employer concern: The employer may be trying to uncover whether you suer from an illness or

disease that would impact your performance. Your can relieve the employer’s concern by mentioning your

willingness to take any physical examinations that are required for the job. You do not have to discuss health

concerns you may have.

Q: Is your spouse employed?

Possible employer concern: Some employers believe that people from dual-income families have less incentive

to work, are less dependable, and therefore are less productive. You can address this potentially discriminatory

question by ﬁrst telling the truth about your spouse’s employment, but stress the fact that your spouse is very

supportive of your career pursuits.

Q: Have you ever been arrested for not following the law, other than for trac violations?

Possible employer concern: New York State allows questions about convictions, but not arrests. Be prepared

to deal with any negative reactions to your background. Show that you are a trustworthy person and a strong

candidate for the job. Accept responsibility for any past convictions, but do not discuss them more than

necessary. Be brief and truthful. Then move on. Focus on what you have done to rehabilitate yourself and

discuss how your skills will make a positive contribution to the business.

Q: What hobbies do you have?

Possible employer concern: There’s no reason not to give a direct answer, although you’re looking for a job

based on your professional skills, not your hobbies. The interviewer may simply be curious or may use this

question as a transition to discuss extracurricular company events, such as a softball team.

Questions You Might Ask an Interviewer

Toward the end of the interview, employers often ask, “Do you have any other questions?” This is another

opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job. You can show that you are knowledgeable about the

job if you mention details the interviewer shared with you.

Examples of questions you can ask the interviewer:

• What are some of the biggest challenges to your organization?

• If I am selected for this position, what do you hope I will accomplish within the ﬁrst year?

• What are you looking for in an ideal job candidate?

• What might a typical day look like in this position?

• When do you anticipate making a hiring decision? When should I follow up?

What questions you should NOT ask the interviewer?

• Don’t ask questions you can ﬁnd answers to on the company’s website. This shows you didn’t do

your research.

• Don’t ask questions about vacation and personal days until you’re oered the job. Then discuss

compensation.

PREPARE YOUR INTERVIEW ANSWERS

Once you have determined the personal traits and skills you possess that best match the company and position

description, you will need to organize your thoughts and main points so that your answers ﬂow naturally.

Experienced interviewers ask clever and potentially dicult questions. They usually have a short amount of time

and are skilled at getting to the point. Preparing in advance allows you to demonstrate good communication

skills and express yourself in a well-organized, professional manner.

TIPS:

• Write down and memorize your major accomplishments ahead of time.

• For each accomplishment, follow the answer with a speciﬁc example. If you’re a student, use relevant

coursework.

• For a technical interview: Show that you are a logical thinker and explain your thinking.

Additional Resources:

• Practice, Practice, Practice: Do not get discouraged by dicult questions. You cannot think of all the

questions that may be asked. Preparation and practice will help you handle dicult questions.

• Communicate Conﬁdence with Your Body Language: About 50% of communication happens nonverbally.

Managing your body language during the interview portrays conﬁdence and shows how you interact with people.

• Handling Interview Anxiety and Jitters: Preparing for the interview is the best way to deal with nerves and anxiety.

Develop Your Stories: Taking Your “CAR” to the Interview

Create a short story for each detail about your work history. Be sure to use examples from your resume, cover letter

and skills listed in the job posting you plan to highlight during the interview. Each story should be about 2-3 minutes

long. People remember stories. Keep in mind that a good story can help you make your point more eectively.

For example, if on your resume you say that are you are able to create a budget, write a brief story about it.

Include details such as why you were asked to create the budget, what your supervisor thought of the budget

and how your work helped your employer. Practice saying what you wrote down. One way is to build stories in

the CAR framework. CAR stands for Challenge/Context, Action and Result.

Challenge/Context: This was the situation…

Action: This is what I did (using your skill)

Result: This was the outcome.

Ways to Show the Employer that You Have the Skills

To demonstrate your skills more eectively, tell the employer: Challenge: what was the situation? Action:

How did you use your skills to solve the challenge? Results: What was the outcome? Take your “CAR” to the

interview!

Interviewing

Page 1 of 1

Give Specific Examples with Details

You should be able to identify specific and concrete examples of actually doing

what you say you can do. If you said, “I am a hard worker,” come up with three

different instances when you performed that “hard work.” Examples can come

from your life, work or educational experiences. You can support your examples

with related education experiences or trainings you’ve done. People remember

stories and details more than empty statements. Any time you give an example

include the following details: who, what, where, when, why and how. This will help

you tell a more complete story about your skills.

Use past tense and “I” statements

Say that you have done something, not that

you will or can do something: “I've done it

before and I can do it again!”

Add Numbers and workplace terms

Whenever you give an example, you want to try to use numbers

(dollars, quantities, years, the number of things/people, quotas).

Employers can use these numbers to compare your performance

with that of your competition. Instead of saying, “I loaded a lot

of trucks.” Say: “I loaded 12 tons of produce onto six trucks in

less than three hours.” Instead of saying, “I worked as a

supervisor,” add more details. Say, “I was responsible for setting

the schedule and providing daily oversight for six administrative

assistants.” Providing this type of detail will also give you the

opportunity to use the terminology of your workplace to

demonstrate your expertise.

Show Results

Employers care less about what

you did than the results of your

action. When you are discussing

your accomplishments:

1. Make sure that you try to

use numbers.

2. Know how you measured

your results as well as how

you know the result was a

good one.

3. If the results were less than

positive, be prepared to tell

what you learned from that

situation and how you might

do it differently next time.

Connect the Dots

You want to tell the interviewer how the skills you used in your

example match the skills needed for the job you want. Just

because you used a skill to do something doesn’t guarantee that

the employer will see how your example fits into what he wants

or needs. Most employers aren’t good at guessing what you are

trying to say. If you want them to know something – tell them.

Start Here

Answering Negative or Dicult Questions

Based on information you provide to the employer some questions may arise during the interview that you might

feel uncomfortable answering. Think about questions that may make you uneasy and prepare and practice

answers for those questions. For example:

• If you have gaps in your employment history, be prepared to discuss them honestly. Be able to tell the

employer how you were able to build your skills between jobs.

• If you have a criminal record or have changed jobs frequently be prepared to answer questions about it.

To answer a dicult question, demonstrate how you learned from the experience by taking responsibility for

any mistakes. It is also unwise to complain about anything – including former bosses or your home life. This may

lead the employer to believe that you will be a dicult person to work with.

Always be honest about your answers but you do not have to go into details that speciﬁcally emphasize a

weakness. For example, you may get an interview question like, “What do you think about traveling?” If traveling

may be dicult for you at times, consider saying, “Doing a good job is important to me. If travelling is essential

to my doing that, I would do my best to travel as much as I could.” You do not have to share details of why

traveling will be dicult for you.

Some interviewers may not be good at asking the right questions. In this case convincing them of your skills

becomes harder. If the interviewer doesn’t ask the right questions, then try to focus the discussion on the

highlights of your successes that you want the interviewer to know. Whether an interviewer is experienced or

not, preparing in advance allows you to demonstrate good communication skills and express yourself in a well-

organized, professional manner. Before the day of the interview, practice the responses you plan to give to the

interview questions.

Contact your local New York State Career Center (www.labor.ny.gov/career-center-locator/) to attend

interview preparation workshops and get individual feedback on your interview skills.

Practice! Videotape your practice interviews. Observing yourself can give you insights into how you can improve

your answers and body language. Share your video with a friend or family member. Discuss areas they think

you need to improve upon. Make note of one or two things you will try to improve before your next interview.

Practice improves performance. This is as true for interviewing as it is for any skill.

PLAN TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

Along with planning how you will respond to interview questions, you must also plan for how you will dress and

get to the interview site. Think about things you will need to take to the interview. Your goal is to be as prepared

as possible to avoid any problems on the day of the interview. By being prepared you will demonstrate that you

have good work habits. Finding people with good work habits is as important to an employer as ﬁnding people

with good skills. Do you have the qualities and attitude of a good worker? Let your words and actions show the

interviewer that you should get the job.

Plan to Dress for Success

• Know your future work environment. Investigate appropriate clothing to wear at your future job before

you decide your interview attire. Talk to people who have worked there or try to visit the organization

before your interview so you can see what people generally wear. Dress in ways that show the employer

that you understand the work environment and will dress to ﬁt that environment.

These are other tips for how you should plan to dress for an interview:

• Shower, brush your teeth and neatly comb your hair.

• Wear shined shoes and clean clothes.

• Remove your hat and coat during the interview. This shows that you are prepared to stay.

• Depending on the job and the work environment, consider whether you need to hide your tattoos and piercings.

• Do not distract the interviewer with excessive jewelry, makeup or cologne.

Plan How You Will Get to the interview

Try going to the interview location beforehand. If you do this, on the day of the interview you will be familiar

with the route. Otherwise, give yourself plenty of time for any delays that might occur. If you drive, ﬁnd out in

advance about parking options near the interview location.

Communicate Conﬁdence with Your Body Language

Actions speak louder than words. This is particularly true in an interview situation. Body language plays a

signiﬁcant role in determining whether an employer sees you as a trustworthy, conﬁdent, capable individual.

Also keep in mind that the more interested you are in what you are saying, the more interested the interviewer

will be in listening to you. Lastly, smiling during the interview is important. If you smile, you will present yourself

as a positive individual who is likeable and would ﬁt in with an existing team.

Non-verbal communication tips

HANDSHAKE

The handshake is your ﬁrst interaction with an interviewer. It is as important as being dressed

appropriately for an interview. Make sure you have a ﬁrm handshake and maintain eye contact with

the person whose hand you are shaking.

POSTURE

Sit up straight during your interview.

ACTIVE LISTENING

Body language can show that you are interested and truly listening. Be optimistic and alert, but relaxed.

BE RELAXED

Do not slouch or sit too stiy. Take a deep breath before meeting with the interviewer.

EYE CONTACT

Maintain friendly and attentive eye contact without staring. Do not let your eyes wander. When there

is more than one interviewer, establish eye contact with everyone.

FACIAL EXPRESSION

Make sure your facial expressions match what you are saying. Relax and smile often.

GESTURES

Be careful not to tap nervously or ﬁdget. Do not bite nails, chew gum or smoke. These gestures may

give a bad impression.

THE 3 “C”s

Appear calm, cool and conﬁdent. Don’t appear desperate. The best strategy to develop appropriate

body language is to practice in front of a mirror or get feedback from friends and family.

What to Take to the Interview?

It is important to be prepared with a list of things you will need to bring with you to the interview. Here are a few

things you should bring:

• Copies of your resume

• Copies of reference letters

• A pad of paper and a pen

• A portfolio or work sample, if applicable

• The address and room location for the interview

• Directions to the interview location and the phone number of the contact person for the interview

• A list of past employers with addresses, dates and phone numbers

• A list of possible questions to ask

• A sheet with a list of your stories and takeaway points

Having all these things with you on the day of your interview is good, but do not spend the interview ﬂipping

through papers to look for information. Be prepared to recall the highlights of your achievements during the

interview and use the documents only if the interviewer asks for them.

You can combat anxiety and improve performance by writing about your worries immediately before the

interview begins. The writing exercise allows you to unload your anxieties and free up brain power according

to researchers.

CCC

Handling Interview Anxiety and Jitters

Some anxiety is healthy and normal, but too much may ruin your interview. These tips will help alleviate any pre-

interview anxiety you may have on the day of the interview:

• Feel good that you have been selected for the interview.

• Give yourself credit. No matter what the outcome, this is great practice!

• Stick to your routine the day of the interview.

• Get ready the night before the interview. Prepare your clothes for the interview. Also shine or dust o

your shoes.

• Practice your interview responses.

• Plan to go to bed early so you will be well rested on the day of your interview.

RIGHT BEFORE THE JOB INTERVIEW

• Be on time. This shows that you respect the interviewer’s schedule. Plan on getting to the interview

location about 15 minutes early in case you get lost.

• Keep in mind that arriving too early can send the message that you are overly anxious or make the

interviewer feel rushed. If you arrive too early, take time to review your material in the car or some other

space before announcing your arrival.

• When you have arrived, make sure you greet the security guards, receptionists and anyone you come

into contact with professionally. Be courteous at all times. You do not know the relationships within the

organization and word may travel fast if you are rude or unprofessional.

• Turn your cell phone or any other personal electronic devices o; this demonstrates that you want to

focus on the interview.

• Go to the interview alone. Bringing your friends or children to the interview is not professional. The

employer is interested in you, not your friends or family members.

Remember that you are assessed from the moment you enter the building, even before you sit down in front

of the interviewer for questions.

DURING A JOB INTERVIEW

The job interview is usually a two-way discussion between you and a prospective employer. The interviewer is

attempting to determine whether you have what the company needs. You are trying to determine if you would accept

the job if oered. Both of you will be trying to get as much information as possible in order to make those decisions.

The interview that you are most likely to have is a structured interview with a traditional format. It usually consists

of three phases. The beginning of the interview includes the greeting and an overview of which areas will be

discussed during the interview. The second, or exchange of information phase, is a question-and-answer period.

The interviewer asks most of the questions, but you are given an opportunity to ask questions as well. The

closing phase gives you an opportunity to ask any ﬁnal questions you might have. Discuss any important points

that haven't been addressed and get information about the next step in the process. Read on for additional

information about each phase

The Beginning Phase

This phase is very important. You want to make a good ﬁrst impression and, if possible, get additional

information you need about the job and the company.

Make a good impression: Non-verbal Cues

The interviewer's ﬁrst impression of you is based mainly on your body language. The interviewer is assessing

your overall appearance and behavior. When greeting the interviewer, be certain your handshake is ﬁrm and that

you make eye contact. Wait for the interviewer to signal you to sit down before taking a seat.

Once seated, your body language is very important in conveying a positive impression. Find a comfortable

position so that you don't appear tense. Lean forward slightly and maintain eye contact with the interviewer. This

posture shows that you are interested in what is being said. Also try to smile at appropriate times. Show that

you are open and receptive by keeping your arms and legs uncrossed. Avoid keeping your briefcase or your

handbag on your lap. Try to appear relaxed and conﬁdent. Most importantly, be a good listener and follow the

interviewer’s cues.

When to ask questions. During a traditional interview, you are often given the chance to ask questions late

in the interview. The interview conversation may answer some of your questions or may provide details that

you can use to ask additional questions. An interview is a two-way conversation. As you answer questions

from the interviewer you may ask questions relevant to the topic at hand much like you would in any friendly

conversation.

Imagine you are interviewing for a plant manager position. The interviewer informs you that you would be

expected to conduct monthly safety trainings and wants to know about your experience delivering trainings.

Being prepared, you are able to give a short 2-3 minute story about your experience delivering trainings. It

would be entirely appropriate to follow up your answer with a question to the interviewer about training

opportunities that would be available to you as plant manager so that you too could stay up to date with your

knowledge of the industry.

The Exchange of Information Phase

During this phase of the interview, you will be asked many questions about your work experience, skills,

education, activities and interests. You are being assessed on how you will perform the job. Employers look for

evidence of your skills.

Commonly asked ﬁrst question

There is no one response to the statement, “Tell me about yourself.” Respond by showing your strengths

and accomplishments – those that would be useful in the job you want. One approach to responding to “Tell

me about yourself” is by using the “60-Second Commercial” or “Elevator Speech.” Brieﬂy describe your

professional experience and background. The interviewer is looking to learn about who you are in the context

of work. Answering this gives the interviewer insight into how you may ﬁt into the organization. Don't talk about

personal information, such as marital status or children.

Before you start answering a question

When a question is asked during the interview, take a moment to think about what exactly is being asked and

what response might be expected. Sometimes the questions might seem repetitive. Be aware that you can

guide the answers to direct the conversation and focus on your takeaway points that were not emphasized in

previous answers

Be sure to do the following:

1. Listen to the question intently.

2. Ask yourself: What is the employer really asking? Is this a behavioral question? What story or evidence can I

provide to answer this question? Which skills does the employer expect me to discuss to answer this question?

3. Prioritize: From your already planned answers, pick a story that best suits the question and particularly

displays the skills that the question is addressing. It is important that you do not exactly repeat a story that

you already shared in previous answers

4. Clarify: If you are in doubt, ask the interviewer or summarize the question before you start answering.

5. Answer: Use the Challenge-Action-Results (CAR) or Situation-Task-Action-Results (STAR) method for

behavioral questions. Try to share a story. People tend to remember stories

6. Smile: It is important to smile throughout the process. Display your enthusiasm with your body language.

7. Recheck: Ask the interviewer if you answered the question satisfactorily. Conﬁrm whether he or she has

any clarifying questions.

8. Note: If possible, take notes about other follow-up questions you would like to ask. If you have a list of

stories, check o the stories that you already shared.

Answer all questions fully and clearly. Do this within 30-40 seconds. Keep it simple. Be prepared to answer

questions about your skills – or what you can oer to the employer and how you will ﬁt into the work

environment. Make use of all the preparation you did for the job interview: provide examples or stories that give

evidence of your skills. Be sure to connect your stories to the needs of the employer. It is also important to be

an active listener and manage your body language.

Although your responses should be prepared in advance so that they are well-phrased and eective, be sure

they do not sound rehearsed. Remember that your responses must always be adapted to the present interview.

Incorporate any information you obtained earlier in the interview with the responses you prepared in advance,

and then answer in a way that is appropriate based on the question.

The Summation and Closing Phase

Towards the end of the interview you might be asked, “Would you like to tell me anything more about yourself?”

Be sure to quickly review your takeaway points for the interviewer and cover the points that you wanted to

elaborate further. Highlight any of your strengths that have not been discussed.

Sometimes you may ﬁnd that the interview is conducted like a lecture. The employer may do most, if not all, of the

talking. If this is the case, at the end of the interview be prepared to (1) Ask the employer if he or she has questions

about your skills or resume; (2) Summarize your qualiﬁcations; and (3) State that you would like the job.

During the closing phase of an interview, you will be asked whether you have any other questions. Ask any

relevant question that has not been answered. This is an opportunity for you to show the employers that you did

your research and you have expertise in the ﬁeld.

Closing the Interview

At the end of the interview, be sure to do the following:

• Express your enthusiasm and state your desire for the job.

• Summarize and promote your skills and strengths.

• Ask what the next steps will be in the hiring process and when to call back.

• Ask for the business cards of the interviewer(s). You can use this information to write “thank you” letters to

the interviewer(s) after the interview.

• As you leave, smile. Shake hands ﬁrmly – giving three “shakes” while maintaining eye contact. Thank the

interviewer by name. Also oer to provide any additional information he may need, and say good-bye.

AFTER THE JOB INTERVIEW

You are not ﬁnished yet. Even after the interview, you have opportunities to inﬂuence the employer with a “thank

you” note. After your interview:

• If you are not able to get a business card, write down the name and title (be sure the spelling is correct) of

the interviewer.

• Review what the job entails and record what the next step will be.

• Note your reactions to the interview; include what went well and what went poorly.

• Assess what you learned from the experience and how you can improve your performance during future

interviews.

REMINDERS ABOUT INTERVIEWING DO’S AND DON’TS

Interviewers seek enthusiastic people. Show enthusiasm by speaking positively about previous experiences,

internships or supervisors. Smile often and express your desire to be a part of the organization.

Do’s”

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early.

• Dress appropriately.

• Take copies of your resume and reference letters.

• Greet the receptionist or security guards.

• Demonstrate knowledge and skill.

• Ask questions related to the position/company.

• Allow the interviewer to present a complete thought without interruption.

• Be honest about your background and experiences.

• Restate your interest in the position.

• Use jargon and acronyms, only when appropriate.

• Send a “thank you” letter after the interview.

”Don’ts”

• Don’t freeze or become tense.

• Don’t be late for the interview.

• Don’t make unrealistic promises.

• Don’t take friends or children to the interview.

• Don’t criticize ex-bosses, employees, or yourself.

• Don’t dress inappropriately.

• Don’t interrupt the interviewer.

• Don’t ask about your expected salary, beneﬁts or vacation time until after you have been oered the job.

• Don’t use slang.

Write a “Thank You” Note to the Interviewer

After the interview is complete, send a “thank you” letter by the next day. Your “thank you” note should

communicate that you want the job and can do it. A thoughtful “thank you” note can move you to the top of the

candidate list. It also gives you one more chance to remind the employer about the special skills that you can

bring to the company.

What should you write in the “Thank You” Letter?

1. Neatly type the note. Your “thank you” note should be handwritten only if you have very good

handwriting. Keep in mind that most people type these notes.

2. Address the note to the person who interviewed you.

3. Keep it short. No longer than three quarters of a page.

First paragraph: Thank the employer for the interview and the time the employer spent with you to discuss your

qualiﬁcations for the job. Also, mention again that you are interested in the position.

Second paragraph: Brieﬂy state a few of your skills without repeating the information on your resume word

for word. After the interview, you should know the critical qualities of the position and the person who will ﬁll it.

Highlight why you think you are a good candidate for the position. At this point, you can include any important

information not mentioned at the interview.

Third paragraph: End with a statement that indicates that you are looking forward to being contacted by the

employer regarding the status of your application for the position.

Proofread the note to check for spelling or grammar errors. Ask someone else to proofread the note for

you as well.

Provide your contact information, telephone number with area code, and an e-mail address, if available.

Don’t forget to sign the note with your ﬁrst and last name.

Mail the note no later than the day after your interview.

Sample “Thank You” Letter to the Interviewer

John A. Smith

123 Central Avenue, Pleasant, NY 12206

(518) 222-2222 / jasmith11@mailbox.com

March 10, 2017

Roberta Employer

Human Resource Director

Your Company

55 Any Street

Pleasant, NY 12345

Re: Oce Manager Position

Dear Ms. Employer:

Thank you for yesterday’s opportunity to interview for the Oce Manager position. As we discussed the

required qualiﬁcations, duties and responsibilities I am more certain that I can be an asset to Your Company:

• While working for Any Company I built a reputation as someone who could be trusted to complete

assignments on time and with the highest quality, resulting in being honored with multiple employee

recognition awards.

• During my last ﬁve years of working for Any Product Management Company, I lead my team to deliver an

average of 66 more units each year – an increase of 13%, or $124,000, in annual proﬁts.

Being able to accomplish this has been a direct result of some of the things you highlighted as being important

to Your Company: a passion for the work, attention to detail and the ability to motivate both sta and

supervisors. Based on my past work experience, I feel conﬁdent that I can meet or exceed past successes for

Your Company.

I look forward to a second interview where we can further discuss my qualiﬁcations.

Sincerely,

John Smith

John A. Smith

Reﬂecting and Learning from Your Interview

• After the interview, go home and write down everything you can remember about the interview, especially

what went well and what didn't. If you don't get the job, this information could prove to be very helpful

later on.

• If you are oered a position, write down any other questions you might need answered to help you with

the decision.

• If possible, see if you can get feedback from the interviewer. Contact the interviewer if you didn’t get the

job and ask if there was something you could do to improve your interviewing skills. If the interviewer

says that the organization simply chose a dierent candidate, then ask the interviewer if he would

consider you for any additional openings in the future. Also consider asking the interviewer if he might

be aware of similar positions that you can apply for within the organization or elsewhere. You can also

ask the interviewer if he would be willing to forward your information to anyone he knows who might be

looking for a candidate with your skills. In eect, you might convert this disappointment into a networking

opportunity.

• Do not rely on only one job interview. Keep looking and networking for more job openings until you get

an oer you will accept. Be prepared for disappointments, and don’t let them slow you down.

It is your responsibility to demonstrate at the interview that you are the person they want.

Follow Up after the Interview

During the interview, if you were not told when a hiring decision will be made, call to check on the status of the

hiring decision after three to seven days.

• At that time, if you learn that the decision has not been made, ﬁnd out whether you are still under

consideration for the job. Ask if there are any other questions the interviewer might have about your

qualiﬁcations and oer to come in for another interview, if necessary. Restate that you are very interested

in the job.

• If you learn that you did not get the job, try to ﬁnd out why. You might also inquire whether the interviewer

can think of anyone else who might be able to use someone with your abilities, either in another

department or company.

• If you are oered the job, you have to decide whether you want it. If you are not sure, thank the employer

and ask if you can have some time to think about it. The employer may give you a deadline. Be prepared

to make your ﬁnal decision by then. Be sure to ask any other questions you might need answered to help

you with the decision.

• If you know you want the job and have all the information you need, accept the job with thanks and get

the details regarding when you will start. Ask whether the employer will send a letter of conﬁrmation, as it

is best to have the oer in writing.

Who Gets Hired? In the ﬁnal analysis, employers will hire someone who has the abilities and talents to fulﬁll their

professional needs. It is up to you to demonstrate at the interview that you are the person they want.

Is this Job for Me? The following questions will help you decide whether you should accept a job oer:

• Is this a job you are interested in doing?

• Would someone with your work habits and personality “ﬁt in” well there?

• Will you have to relocate or move?

• Will you spend more money than you can aord for gas or tolls?

• Will there be enough opportunities for you to develop your skills and advance your career?

When the Interview Leads to a Job Oer: Salary and Beneﬁts

Avoid raising questions that focus on the expected salary and beneﬁts during the interview. Typically,

compensation is covered after you have been oered a job or during second interviews. If you ask about your

salary and beneﬁts during the ﬁrst interview, this may give the appearance that what is most important to you is

how much you will be paid and the type of insurance or other beneﬁts you will get.

After you have been oered the job, and you are sure you want the position, it is okay to discuss the salary

being oered. Read on for examples of sample questions and responses.

Sample Questions Possible Responses

What salary are you looking for? “I’m hoping that I’ll be oered a salary that matches my years of

experience and skills for this area. What salary range is the company oering?”

What beneﬁts are you looking for? “I’m hoping that I’ll be oered a beneﬁts package that matches my

years of experience and skills for this area. What type of beneﬁts

package is the company oering?”

Salary Negotiations

During salary negotiations, you are not only talking about your monetary salary but your entire compensation

package. This includes vacation time, sick leave, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other beneﬁts the

company may oer.

Your base salary and performance-based raises are probably the most negotiable parts of your compensation

package. Many companies let you select from a number of beneﬁt options based on a total monetary cost.

Employees usually have some ﬂexibility on which beneﬁt options they select. For example, employees with

children might select child care reimbursement, while employees interested in school might choose tuition

reimbursement.

When negotiating your compensation package, it is important to keep in mind the total package. Make sure

you consider all of the beneﬁts the company has to oer, not just the salary. Before you begin negotiating your

compensation package, decide which beneﬁts are most important to you so you are ready to negotiate.

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