Interviews of any sort can be stressful, but with the right preparation you can tackle anything that comes your way. Take a look at our resources and tips below, and be ready to shine during your phone, video or in-person interview!
Interview Tips
You were chosen for an interview for a reason. Speak loudly and clearly, and try to avoid a lot of “uh” or “ums” when answering.
Be sure that the outfit you choose is in excellent condition with no stains or tears. Make sure to dress professionally, regardless of the office culture.
Spend some time on your hair/get a haircut, and groom your fingernails and facial hair (if applicable). If this is an in-person interview, be mindful of the amount of perfume or cologne you wear to the interview.
If you do have an emergency or unplanned circumstance that will put you behind schedule, let your interviewers or coordinator know as quickly as possible.
You don't want your phone going off in the middle of an interview, so make sure it is on silent and put away.
For in-person interviews, bring physical copies of your most up-to-date resume to distribute.
Be prepared to ask questions about the role, the department, the company culture and activities.
Sign up for Google alerts on the company you’re interviewing with. This will ensure that you’re keeping up on their latest news and information, and can incorporate that into your interview. “I see that you guys just completed an acquisition of the G.W. Zoo. Are acquisitions a key part of your long term growth plan?”
It is appropriate to ask about the timeframe for next steps, but do not ask direct questions about compensation or force the interviewer to provide you with a decision/impression during the conversation
Spend some time before your interview thinking about the best “stories” from your career. We find it helpful to write out the answers to these questions using the STAR method. If you’re prepared to use this method and know your examples ahead of time, you’d be surprised how you can use them to answer any question that you might be presented.
Think about your biggest professional accomplishment.
Think about a time that you failed and what you learned from it.
Think about a time that you had to work with difficult people.
Think about a time you had to influence others to get buy in.
If you need it, take time to think about your answer before speaking. Recruiters and hiring managers understand some questions may take time to process, and taking a few moments to collect your thoughts rather than rushing a response will help you provide a better answer.
Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors or actions, especially involving course work (for students or recent grads), work experience, leadership, teamwork, initiative, planning, and customer service. It would be helpful to prepare short descriptions of each situation; be ready to give details if asked. Be sure each story has a beginning, middle, and an end, i.e., be ready to describe the situation, including the task at hand, your action, and the outcome or result. Lastly, vary your examples; don't take them all from just one area of your life.
Be honest. Don't embellish or omit any part of the story. The interviewer will find out if your story is built on a weak foundation. Make sure you are specific. Don't generalize about several events; give a detailed account of one event. Be sure that the outcome or result of the event reflects positively on you (even if the result itself was not favorable).
Sample Interview questions to assist with your preparations:
What interested you in this role/our company?
Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
Tell me about a time you successfully dealt with someone even when they didn't personally like you (or vice versa).
Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
Give me an example of a time when you tried to accomplish something and failed.
Give me an example of a time when you showed initiative and took the lead.
Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.
Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
Describe a situation when you were able to persuade the outcome of a final decision.
Describe a time when you set your project scope too big (or too small).
Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.
Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.
The STAR Method
Many companies utilize the STAR method (also called behavioral-based interviewing) throughout their interview process in order to gain detailed information about the candidate’s experience. The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing.
Make sure that you follow all parts of the STAR method.
Be as specific as possible at all times, without rambling or including too much information.
Oftentimes candidates have to be prompted to include their results, so try to include that without being asked.
Eliminate any examples that do not paint you in a positive light. However, keep in mind that some examples that have a negative result (such as “lost the game”) can highlight your strengths in the face of adversity. When using one of these examples, be sure to include what you learned and would do differently next time.
STAR Explained With Sample Responses
Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
Sample Response:
"Advertising revenue was falling off for my college newspaper, The Review, and large numbers of long-term advertisers were not renewing contracts."
What goal were you working toward?
Sample Response:
"My goal was to generate new ideas, materials and incentives that would result in at least a 15% increase in advertisers from the year before."
Describe the actions you took to address the situation with an appropriate amount of detail and kept the focus on YOU. What specific steps did you take and what was your particular contribution? Be careful that you don’t describe what the team or group did when talking about a project, but what you actually did. Use the word “I,” not “we” when describing actions. For example, use “I was responsible for implementing a new system” vs. “We were asked to implement.” For true team activities, talk about your role within the team, and the actions you took to lead the group toward your eventual result.
Sample Response: "I designed a new promotional packet to go with the rate sheet and compared the benefits of The Review circulation with other ad media in the area. I also set-up a special training session for the account executives with a School of Business Administration professor who discussed competitive selling strategies."
Describe the outcome of your actions and don’t be shy about taking credit for your behavior. What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? Make sure your answer contains multiple positive results.
Sample Response: "We signed contracts with 15 former advertisers for daily ads and five for special supplements. We increased our new advertisers by 20 percent over the same period last year."
Helpful Links for Interviewing
Video Interviewing
Well before the scheduled interview time, you will need to select a location for your interview. Find a quiet room with minimal background noise and no distractions. Make sure you have adequate lighting (preferably natural) and that there is nothing distracting behind you. A professional backdrop will show the interviewer that you are serious about the interview.
For your video interview, you should dress professionally—the same way you would for an in-person interview. Research the company culture before your interview so you have a good idea of what’s appropriate.
To look your best on camera, avoid bright colors and patterns and opt for softer colors instead. If you are wearing a tie, wear a solid color rather than a patterned one.
If you wear glasses, adjust the lighting in the room to reduce glare from the lenses.
Position the camera so that you are looking up slightly and centered on the screen.
While it’s likely that the interviewer will only see your upper half, it’s still a good idea to wear professional pants or a skirt in case you need to stand up for any reason
Making eye contact during an online interview is more difficult than you might think. When answering questions, you will need to focus your gaze directly into the webcam instead of at the interviewer's face or your own. Maintaining eye contact and nodding will show the interviewer that you are involved and listening attentively.
It is harder to read body language through a video, so be especially aware of your nonverbal cues. Remember to smile and nod when the interviewer speaks. Sit up straight and act as you would during an in-person interview. Eye contact is very important during an in-person interview, and you want to convey that same level of connection during a video interview. Here’s how: Avoid the instinct to look directly at your interviewer on the screen while you’re answering a question. Instead, when you speak, you want to direct your gaze at the webcam. When you do this, your eyes are more likely to align with the interviewer’s eyes on the other end. When you’re listening, you can look back at the screen.
To get used to the technology and the body language of a video interview, it’s useful to do some practice video calls with friends/family members. Ask them to give you candid feedback. Run through it a few times until things start to feel natural. This practice can make all the difference in your interviews. You’ll find your confidence growing as you become more comfortable in front of the camera.
Ensure that you won’t be interrupted, either by locking the door or by alerting others that you can’t be disturbed (a note on the door of the room, as well as on the door to the outside, may be helpful).
Clear the desk space, except for a notepad and pen for you to take notes.
Have a copy of your resume and any other notes ready for you to reference.
Set out a glass or bottle of water for yourself.
Check that your webcam and audio is working.
Close any windows, tabs or applications on your computer that you’re not using.
Check your internet connection and make sure you’re not downloading anything in the background.
Set your phone to silent.
Check that the background behind you is neutral and free from clutter.
Adjust the lights in the room. If things appear dark or dim, you may want to bring in an extra desk lamp to brighten the space.
If Things Go Wrong
With technology, there's a chance things could go wrong. Here are some backup plans to have ready just in case!
If your video or audio stops working: Before the interview, ask the interviewer or recruiter for a phone number where you can reach them if you experience technical difficulties. If the video cuts out, call them at that number. Ask if you can continue the interview by phone or if you can reschedule. If noise interrupts the conversation: If noises (sirens, construction, etc.) interrupt your video interview, apologize for the interruption and ask for a few moments until the noise has subsided. You may want to mute the microphone if the noise is severe. If someone enters the room unexpectedly: If family members, housemates or pets enter the room while you’re interviewing, apologize to the interviewer, ask for a few moments, mute your microphone and turn off your camera, and then step away to deal with the interruption. Make sure that the room is secure before beginning the interview again.
