Additional Interview Tips

Before the Interview

Just as the purpose of your resume is to get you an interview, the purpose of the interview is to get the job. Interviews may be done over the phone, online, or in person, and they may be conducted one on one or in a group. Regardless of the format of the interview, you will not get the job without clearly conveying to the interviewer why the employer should hire you and how your skills relate to the position.

The key to a successful interview is preparation. Below are tips to help you prepare for your interview:

Research the company and the position thoroughly
Understand how your experiences and qualifications will help the company achieve its goals
Prepare targeted, relevant stories that demonstrate what you can do for them
Anticipate the questions you may be asked and practice your answers
Prepare 3-5 questions to ask the interviewer
Make an appointment with your Career Consultant for a mock interview
Select appropriate interview attire for your industry (if you are unsure, speak with your Career Consultant); make sure it is clean and fits properly
Confirm the name and title of the interviewer along with the time, date, and location of the interview

During the Interview

First Impressions Matter!

Your interview begins the moment you walk through the organization’s doors, so you need to be aware of your attitude and body language as you approach the building. Here are some additional tips to help you make a positive first impression:

Be kind and cordial to any staff that you meet – you’ll never know who is watching or who will have a say in the hiring process.
Smile – even if you’re having a bad day, be sure to smile when you are greeted and make sure you make eye contact.
Have a firm handshake – people will judge you based on your handshake….seriously. Offer a firm, but not too strong handshake.
Be aware of your body language – everything from your posture, hand movements, facial expressions, and gestures will be observed. Make sure they are reinforcing what you are saying rather than undermining your words.

How to respond to "Tell me about yourself".

Do not tell your life story. Keep everything relevant to the job and you as a professional.
Be specific with the skills, qualifications, and experiences you are bringing into the position.
To answer “Tell me about yourself” break your answer down into present, past, and future (just a sentence or two or each):

Present: Where are you right now professionally? (example: I just graduate from UAB with a degree in Education)
Past: What have you done in the past that qualifies you for this job? What makes you stand out from everyone else? (example: I finished my student teaching at Main Street High, where I was able to improve the writing skills of 80 10th graders using innovative lesson planning)
Future: What are you looking forward to doing? Talk about your career goals and how this job fits into these goals. (example: I’m excited to start my teaching career at a school that has such a great AP English program, because my goal has been to teach AP Literature).

Method For Responding to Behaviorial interview questions

This type of questions seeks to see how you would react in a given situation. Many times they will start with “Tell me about a time when…” or “Give me an example of when…”

You can answer the questions using the STAR method:

S = SITUATION: Describe the SITUATION you were in

T = TASK: Explain the TASK you needed to accomplish

A = ACTION: Describe the ACTION you took

R = RESULT: Explain the RESULTS of your actions

Example answer to the question:

“Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult customer.”

Answer: When I was working at ABC retail, an angry customer came in complaining that the blouse she bought last week had a hole in it, which she didn’t notice at the time of purchase, but she didn’t have a receipt. She was very upset and speaking loudly, and some of my other coworkers froze.

I stepped up to the front and took charge by telling her that we valued her business and that we were going to help find a solution. She calmed down and I was able to take her to another register to research her purchase. Eventually I was able to find her purchase and complete a refund, and the customer has been a repeat customer ever since. She even referred some friends to our store based on her positive customer experience.

What to say when the interviewr asks you "do you have any questions for me?"

5 Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview - OLAS JobsThe interview is about to end, and you are feeling pretty good about how it has been going. You finally begin to relax, but then you hear the question that inevitably comes at the end of every interview: ‘So, do you have any questions for me?’ Many candidates make the mistake of declining to take advantage of this opportunity, incorrectly thinking that their questions won’t have an impact on their success in the interview. However, asking relevant questions can be crucial in distinguishing yourself from other applicants.

After the Interview

So you had an interview! That’s great—but it’s not actually over until you send a thank you note and/or email. Hiring managers pay close attention to how quickly and how well you write a thank you note after an interview. In fact, not writing a thank you note might take you out of the running for that job you spent so much time preparing for.

These days, many employers expect an email “thank you” after an interview, but it is always nice to put a note in the mail, too. More traditional industries might still expect a handwritten note, so keep that in mind. The important thing is to get your thank you email and note to the people who you interviewed with as soon as possible after the interview.

What Do You Say?

Here is a template for an email:

Subject: Thank You

Dear (interviewer name),

Thank you so much for meeting with me today. I enjoyed getting to know you and your team and learning more about [the company] and [the position]. I’m very excited about the opportunity to join your team and help [serve your clients/create new solutions/whatever else you would bring to the business].

I think that my experience is a great fit for the position, and I believe that [the company] is a perfect place to enhance my skills and become part of an experienced and committed group of professionals.

I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps of the hiring process. Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information.

Best regards, [Your name]

you have an offer...now what?

If you are extended an official job offer- consider negotiating!

Be sure to wait for your offer letter to come by email before accepting.

Be prepared to negotiate! Do your research and be confident.

The Ultimate Guide to Negotiating Your SalaryNegotiating your salary is possible and achievable. Performing salary research and preparing for the conversation can help you get the pay you deserve.

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