Interviewing Tips

Top Interview Tips

Research the company/organization

Visit the company website – About Us page
Browse social media
LinkedIn company profiles
Glassdoor
Find news about the company/organization via web searches and social media
Inside connections – if you don’t know someone who works there, see if any family or friends do; Look for fellow alumni from your school who work there: Badger Bridge is a resource for UW–Madison alumni to connect with one another – check to see if your school has such a resource; alumni pages/groups on social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook are great resources
Research the company’s competitors and other companies in the same industry

How to use the research

Prepare your answers to interview questions
Develop questions to ask of the interviewers
Help you determine if and why you want to work for the company
Determine and demonstrate how your values match those of the employer

Learn everything you can about the position

Identify skills/competencies the employer needs
Read the position description carefully. Use the job requirements listed to match your strengths to those required.
Come up with specific examples/stories demonstrating how you’ve used the skills (more on this in the next section)

Plan for behavioral-based interviews and use the STAR method

Behavioral-based interviews are the foundation of most interviews

Basic premise: The most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation
Employers determine which skills/values are necessary, then ask pointed questions to determine if you have them
Excellent advice and examples can be found in this article from Career Sherpa: https://careersherpa.net/behavioral-interview-questions-answers/

Use the STAR method to prepare for behavioral-based interviews

Situation: Briefly share the SITUATION you had to resolve
Task: Briefly describe the TASK(S) involved
Action: Explain the ACTION you took
Result: Share the RESULT you achieved
Come up with 5-7 stories that demonstrate needed skills & abilities for the job

Example of the STAR method

QUESTION: Tell us about a time when you had to make improvements at work.
Situation: Responsible for managing various events.
Task: Attendance at events dropped by 30% over past 3 years. Employer wanted to improve the numbers.
Action: Designed new promotional packet to go out to local community businesses. Included rating sheet to collect feedback on events and organized internal round table discussions to raise awareness of issue with employees.
Result: Utilized wonderful ideas received from the community, made our internal systems more efficient and visible, and raised attendance by 18% in the first year.

Remember the 3 Cs
- Concision – be brief, yet with enough detail to answer the questions
- Concentration – stay focused, take notes, no multitasking! Get rid of distractions (if phone or virtual interview).
- Courtesy – professional & polite, yet ask if you can address any concerns about your candidacy

Plan for getting caught off guard

If an interview question comes up you don’t know how to answer

Come up with a phrase you can use if you need time to gather your thoughts. Two great strategies are repeating the question thoughtfully before answering or saying (slowly), “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say…”

Write down questions you want to ask

Typically interviewers will ask if you have any questions for them. “No” is not the correct answer! The research you did into the organization and the position is a good starting point. Try to come up with 6-10 questions, knowing that the interviewer might answer some of the questions throughout the interview, but plan to ask 3 to 4 questions depending on time.

Do a dry run

Whether in-person, phone, or virtual, make sure you know where you are going and/or that your technology is working.

In-person: If you have time, a day or two before, drive to the location to determine how long it will take you to get there and scope out the parking situation.
Virtual: Test your equipment and set up a professional-looking background in a space where you are not going to be interrupted.

Get prepared the night before

Make sure your interview outfit is ready to go: Does it need ironing? Could it use a quick pass with a lint roller? Are your accessories picked out and ready to go? Do your shoes need polishing or to be wiped off?
Pull together your resume, reference sheet (even if you aren’t sure they will be required), other materials requested (writing sample, portfolio), a notepad, a (working) pen, and water.
Look over any notes you have written about the position and STAR stories you’ve developed.
Go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Avoid eating spicy or garlicky foods and drinking alcohol.

Follow up with a thank you note or email

Write an email &/or handwritten note ASAP, min. 24 hours after
Thank them, restate your interest, and a brief summary or notable memory from the conversation
Maybe add an interesting article or information you found on the company
Interview thank you email

Additional interviewing resources

Glassdoor
The Balance Careers
The Muse

For more great tips, check out this article

Dane County Job Center
LinkedIn Learning on interviewing – log in with your net ID and password
Ask a Manager (free guide to interview prep)
People to follow:

NEW

Big Interview

Big Interview is a free tool to all affiliated faculty, staff, and students to learn, practice, and improve their interviewing skills. It is an online system that combines training and practice to help improve each user’s interview technique and build confidence.
Learn More!

Principles

There is no one right answer!
Know thyself.
Be the person you would like to work with.
Practice! Practice! Practice!

A few thoughts on nerves

Remember…

They think you’re qualified.
The hiring manager wants to hire you.
They’ve never seen a perfect candidate.
If you’re worried they can see your anxiety – they likely can’t.
You have power here too. And that can be appealing to hiring managers!

From Alison Green who has other fantastic suggestions

Interview tips by style

Phone interviews

What to expect

Phone interviews are usually an initial screening tool for organizations to determine which candidates they want to meet face-to-face (either in-person or virtually). The interviewer will ask specific questions about your work history and past projects to ensure you are truly qualified for the position. You should prepare for a phone interview the same way you would for a face-to-face interview.

How to prepare

Find a good location for the interview where reception is best, noises are at a minimum, and you won’t be interrupted
Make sure phone is fully charged
Consider using a headset if this is comfortable for you
Get employer’s phone number just in case the call drops or you are cut off
Have all information needed at your fingertips
Dress professionally just as you would for an in-person meeting
Practice!

The interview

Silence is OKAY – but make sure you let the listeners know you are thinking
Take notes
Turn off ringer and notifications
Listen carefully to the questions
Ask for clarification/to repeat if necessary
Answer the question completely, speak clearly by enunciating and projecting your voice
Describe a situation/tell a STAR story that relates to the question
Smile! TIP: put a mirror on your desk.

Virtual interviews

What to expect

Live, virtual interviews are typically similar to in-person interviews, but you will need to take into consideration learning how to use the interview platform, how to look good on camera, and how to maintain eye contact.

How to prepare

Find a good location for your interview – quiet with an uncluttered background and good lighting
Check your tech – computer charged, camera and microphone working, strong internet connection, and familiar with platform to be used
Use a table/desk for your computer & prop up to eye level with your camera – make sure you are visible in a professional & appealing way
Practice talking to the camera, not the screen
Dress professionally just as you would for an in-person meeting
Get employer’s contact information should the platform not work

The interview

Manage your body language
Ask if it is okay to take notes – they can be helpful later!
Turn off phone
Listen carefully to the questions
Ask for clarification/to repeat if necessary
Answer the question completely, speak clearly by enunciating and projecting your voice
Describe a situation/tell a STAR story that relates to the question
Remember to smile!

In-person interviews

What to expect

In-person interviews generally take place at the location where you will be working, but not always. Be sure you understand where you are going for the interview, where to park, and how to find the office you are reporting to. Be professional with everyone you meet, from the reception staff to the hiring manager and everyone in between. Allow for extra time in your schedule following the interview as they may want to give you a tour and/or introduce you to other people in the organization.

How to prepare

Dress professionally
Make sure you have directions to the interview; do a test run the day before if possible
Have extra copies of your resume ready – one for each person you will meet with plus 5 more

The interview

Bring:

Job description
Copy of application (if applicable)
Copies of references
Portfolio (if applicable)
Paper & pens
Notes
Questions for interviewer
Materials requested by employer
Water
Breath mints
Cash – parking, coffee afterward, etc.

Manage your body language
Ask if it is okay to take notes – they can be helpful later!
Turn off phone and other tech
Listen carefully to the questions
Ask for clarification/to repeat if necessary
Answer the question completely, speak clearly by enunciating and projecting your voice
Describe a situation/tell a STAR story that relates to the question
Remember to smile!

Pre-recorded interviews

What to expect

Pre-recorded virtual interviews are one-way video interviews in which you will be responding to questions sent to you by the organization. You’ll respond to the questions using a platform provided by the employer. You’ll have a specific amount of time to respond to the questions and approximately one or two chances to record your responses before submitting them.

How to prepare

Find a good location for your interview – quiet with an uncluttered background and good lighting
Check your tech – computer charged, camera and microphone working, strong internet connection, and understanding of the platform to be used
Use a table/desk for your computer & prop up to eye level with your camera – make sure you are visible in a professional & appealing way
Practice talking to the camera, not the screen
Dress professionally just as you would for an in-person meeting

The interview

Manage your body language
Ask if it is okay to take notes – they can be helpful later!
Turn off phone
Listen carefully to the questions
Answer the question completely, speak clearly by enunciating and projecting your voice
Describe a situation/tell a STAR story that relates to the question
Remember to smile!

Questions

Sample interview questions

Give an example of when you worked in a difficult environment or when you disagreed with someone at work.
Tell me about a time when you had to work cooperatively as a team member to accomplish a goal.
Give me an example of something you tried to accomplish but failed.
Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

Questions to ask the interviewer

Quick Tips

Focus on asking questions that will help you determine if the position/unit is right for you
Don’t forget to continue to share how you’re a fit for the role – emphasize again any important points about your suitability for the position

Questions to Ask At The End of a Job Interview