Interviewing - Frequently Asked Questions

Employers are interested in applicants who 1) are goal directed and have a good sense of what interests them based on their strengths; 2) have some knowledge of the organization and why they want to work there; 3) are confident of their potential to contribute to the organization; and 4) can discuss past experiences that demonstrate the skills and abilities that are important to the employer.

Analyze the position you are interviewing for and come prepared with clear and articulate stories that demonstrate the skills that the employer is looking for. Review your qualifications and use specific examples in which you can describe a problem and the positive result of your actions to illustrate your abilities. Remember that you can use a variety of experiences as examples: paid or unpaid work, volunteer activities, community work, or class projects. Ask the employer about what to expect so that you are not surprised by the format of the interview. Practice aloud so that you are comfortable discussing yourself in a positive light, but not so much that your responses sound rehearsed. Get experience at one of our On Camera Practice Interviews or schedule a mock interview with a counselor. See our Interviewing Articles for more ideas.

It is important to do some research on the employer before your interview. It will convey a good sense of focus and interest and will give you a better understanding of how you would fit into the organization. An online search would be a good first step; start with the employer's home page. Read the company's annual report, review the organization's history and mission statement, have some understanding of their products or services, and be familiar with any new developments. Also review information on company structure and the position that you are interviewing for so that you have an idea of its place in the organization. A computer search for recent newspaper or magazine articles can help prepare you to discuss current events concerning both the employer and the industry. Check out other Resources to Research Employers.

First impressions are important and for most job interviews it is to your advantage to dress in a professional manner. Rules regarding dress will vary based on the type of job and organization; familiarizing yourself with correct interviewing attire is important. You can find out what is appropriate by researching the industry and company, gathering information at networking opportunities, or asking about it when you are offered the interview. It may be that your industry values artistic creativity or that professionals wear T-shirts to work. In this case it may be a good choice to aim for a level of dress one step above what is worn to the office. Even if you are opting for more casual attire, be sure to make careful decisions about what you do wear and when in doubt, choose conservatively. Unless you are absolutely sure that business casual attire is appropriate, wear a suit. Review more on Interviewing Attire.

Even after extensive review of potential interview questions and plenty of practice telling your behavioral stories, it is still possible that you will get a question that you are not sure how to answer. If this happens, the important thing is to not let it upset you. You might start by saying, “That’s a difficult question, let me think about it for a minute.” This allows you to think of a story of a time that you …(fill in the blank) or tell how you would go about figuring out the answer to this question that you do not know. It is better to stop and think for a minute than to start talking without knowing what you are going to say. Interviewers are often more interested in your ability to conceptualize, articulate, and demonstrate how you handle challenges than in hearing just the "right answer". Finally, if you do make a big mistake or get flustered, what will become important is your successful handling of the situation.

This is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your interest in the company and the position. As you do your research on the employer you may generate some questions about the position, the company's culture, or career paths within the organization or industry. Remember that you are interviewing them as well and this is the time to ask questions about things that are important to you. You might ask about the challenges facing the organization, the management styles of your superiors, or the career paths for this position. Be careful that you don’t ask questions with answers that are available to anyone who did their research on the company. You can also ask, "what are you looking for in a candidate for this position? " or "are there any concerns you have about my background that I can answer now?" The response you'll get can give you good insight into what you need to address or emphasize.

Early discussions about salary are often a screening device used by employers. Salary negotiations are much more successfully undertaken after the offer of employment is made. Your research into the industry and the company should have provided you with some sense of the typical salary range for this position. If you know the actual range listed you can say something like “ I am comfortable with the range being offered.” Or if you aren’t sure, “I’ve done some research and I’m sure that this will fall somewhere in the competitive range for this industry.” Actual salary negotiations are best undertaken later, when you have already established that you are the best candidate for the job.

Unless you have been accepted and have definite plans to enter graduate school in the near future, it is not necessary to routinely bring up your future plans. If asked outright, it's fine to mention your tentative plans, remembering to keep focused on the unasked question, which may be about your ability to commit to the job at hand. “Eventually I see graduate school in my future, but my plans right now are to find a company where I can…”. However, if the typical career path for your profession does involve graduate or professional school (or the company has a training program that supports an advanced degree); then mentioning your interest will be evidence of your commitment to the field.

It is common to be nervous about interviewing. For most people it is something that gets easier with practice, planning and experience. Ask questions about the format of the interview beforehand so that you know what to expect. Prepare and practice responses to typical interview questions. Make sure that you know where you are going, give yourself plenty of time to get there, and give yourself time to relax for a few minutes before the interview. Remember to be yourself during the interview; employers are looking for the opportunity to get to know you. They are also looking at how you perform under pressure. Employers expect you to be nervous for your interview, but they are looking for you to rise to the occasion and sell yourself anyway. See the Career Center article Don’t Be So Nervous for more tips on controlling the jitters.

This is a good idea and can really make a difference in the way you are perceived by the employer. It lets employers know that you appreciate their time and helps you to stand out from the crowd in the days following your interview when they may be trying to make decisions. The note should be brief and should be sent the same day as your interview, the day following at the latest. Hand written notes can be more personal, email can arrive more quickly; knowing the timeline for the next step of the process can help you decide what is appropriate. You can also consider what has been the company’s preferred method of communication with you. Be sure that you note the interviewer's name and title before leaving the interview. Asking for a business card is a good way to ensure you have all of the necessary information. See Sample Thank You Letters (PDF) for ideas.