Top Interview Tips
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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
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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