DURING THE INTERVIEW

Your interview begins before the first question is asked.

During your interview:

• Maintain eye contact to demonstrate engagement.

• Smile naturally and greet your interviewer professionally.

• Sit with good posture and avoid distracting behaviors such as excessive fidgeting.

• Listen carefully before answering each question.

• Speak clearly and confidently.

If you need time to think, it's perfectly acceptable to say:

"That's a great question. I'd like a moment to think about that."

A thoughtful answer is always better than a rushed response.

💡 EECS Tip: Employers aren't expecting perfection. They want to get to know you. Taking a moment to gather your thoughts shows confidence and professionalism.

Many employers ask behavioral interview questions because they want to understand how you've handled situations in the past.

The STAR Method helps you organize your answers into a clear, complete story.

• Situation: Briefly describe the situation.

• Task: Explain your responsibility or goal.

• Action: Describe the actions you took. Focus on what you did.

• Result: Share the outcome and what you learned.

Example Question

Tell me about a time you had to solve a difficult problem.

✅ Situation: In my previous job, our team was falling behind on a project because information was being tracked in multiple spreadsheets, which led to confusion and missed deadlines.

✅ Task: I needed to identify the root cause, improve the process, and get the project back on track.

✅ Action: I met with the team to understand where the breakdowns were, consolidated everything into one shared tracking system, clarified roles and deadlines, and scheduled brief weekly check-ins to address issues early.

✅ Result: Within a month, we eliminated duplicate work, completed the project on schedule, and the new tracking process became the standard for future projects.

💡 EECS Tip: Don't memorize answers. Instead, prepare several STAR stories that demonstrate skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication, customer service, and adaptability. Then connect the story to the question and the need the employer has or the problem they are trying to solve.

You may be asked questions about:

• Yourself

• Your strengths

• Challenges you've overcome

• Teamwork

• Leadership

• Conflict resolution

• Customer service

• Time management

• Why you want the position

Rather than memorizing answers, think about experiences from work, school, volunteering, leadership, athletics, or other activities that demonstrate your skills.

When the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for us?", always say yes.

Thoughtful questions demonstrate your interest in both the position and the organization.

Consider asking:

• How would you describe the team culture?

• What does success look like in the first 90 days?

• What opportunities are available for professional growth?

• What do you enjoy most about working here?

• What are the next steps in the hiring process?

During the early stages of the hiring process, avoid asking about salary, benefits, or vacation unless the employer introduces those topics.

💡 EECS Tip: Bring your questions with you. It's perfectly acceptable to refer to your notes during the interview.