Preparing for Business and Professional Interviews
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An interview offers you and an employer the opportunity to learn whether or not there is a "fit" between you and the employer's organization. Think of it not as a question-and-answer inquisition, but as a purposeful, highly focused conversation.

Preparation

Preparation is vital. While you can't anticipate every question, you can prepare yourself to make the most of whatever you are asked.

• Think about your own abilities and experience in relation to an employer's needs. Be able to discuss why you want both this type of work and a position with this particular employer.

• Identify your strengths in relation to each job for which you interview. Prepare examples to make your answers credible and memorable. You can then use an open-ended question to allow you to talk about the strengths you wish to stress.

• Anything on your resume is fair game for discussion. Prepare to describe, explain or discuss any item on it.

• Employers often ask questions in terms of superlatives. What was your most challenging experience? Your best job? Your worst mistake? Anticipate and prepare for such questions.

• Learn as much as possible about the organization, industry and position for which you are interviewing. On-campus recruiters typically make a great deal of information available to you in the library. Many organizations offer on-campus information sessions; these opportunities are listed on the Career Services home page (Click here). Read the literature provided by the organization and use on-line library resources. Lippincott Library offers easy access to organizational information through its searchable databases. One of many databases that focus on business and management is ABI/Inform. To go to the Lippincott Library's home page click here.

• If you are interviewing off campus, ask for a copy of the annual report/catalogues/or other information when you schedule the interview. Ask for the name and the title of the person with whom you will meet and inquire as to what the day will entail. A full day will often include a group interview and perhaps a meeting over lunch. If you're a doctoral student applying for a research position, you'll usually also be asked to give a talk. Ask if there is any special preparation that may be helpful. These are appropriate requests; do not hesitate to make them.

• Prepare questions that are not answered by the employer's annual report or brochure. They should relate to what you need to know: the scope of the job, the reporting structure, and how the position develops over time.

• Obtain appropriate clothes. A conservative suit is standard interview attire for both men and women. In some settings, dress is somewhat less formal. Check with a Career Services counselor if you have questions about what is appropriate.

First Interviews

Initial Impressions: The Sixty Second Opportunity

A lively, friendly and confident approach to a first meeting can set the stage for positive impressions. Approach the interview situation with enthusiasm that is expressed in your body language and demeanor. Make transportation plans and arrive early so there is not chance of unnecessary stress being created by a late arrival.

Initial screening interviews, whether on or off campus, are usually brief, lasting about 30 minutes. They range from highly structured question-answer formats to open-ended conversations. In either case, try to establish as much rapport with the interviewer as the situation allows. Keep your answers job-related and remember that you have only a brief time to discuss your qualifications.

Initial screenings are sometimes conducted by telephone. Designate a time and arrange a quiet, orderly and private space at your telephone for the discussion. Prepare for your telephone interview in the same way that you prepare for a face-to-face meeting by researching the organization, reviewing your resume and knowing your own strengths and professional goals. You may wish to have notes or your resume nearby. Use positive body language and facial expressions to be sure that your voice expresses your energy and enthusiasm. Some people find it helpful to dress up as they would for a face-to-face interview. If you are interviewed by more than one person, take notes as they introduce themselves so you can remember who is who.

Interviews with consulting firms frequently include case questions, in which you're asked to think through some "real-world" problem, usually one with which you're totally unfamiliar! Use them as an opportunity to demonstrate how you approach problems. Examples of case study questions are available at Debra Smiley-Koita's desk at Career Services. An employer filling a position that requires grace under pressure may introduce stress, usually through silence or confrontational questions, to see how you react. Answer pleasantly and calmly, ignoring the provocation.



Second Interviews

Second interviews typically take place on-site. Often they are a daylong series of discussions with potential supervisors, co-workers and other managers or department heads. In disciplines like Education, you may be asked to bring a portfolio or to prepare and deliver a class while being observed by other professionals. Some organizations also administer tests or give tours.

• When you arrange the visit, make sure that you understand who will pay for travel arrangements, how they are to be made, and what records you need for reimbursement.

• A group may interview you. If possible, learn the name and title of each member of the group before the interview. This will allow you to know with what orientation or area of interest each person approaches the meeting. It is best to know this in advance of the interview day. Handle this situation in much the same way as if there were only one interviewer, taking care to direct your answers toward each person in the group.

• Treat each successive interview as if it were your first. Maintain your enthusiasm with each new person you meet. If you are asked the same question for the sixth time, remember that the person who asks has not yet heard your answer.

• Recognize that you will be visiting a working organization and the people you see may not be able to devote exclusive attention to you. Don't take it personally if an interviewer takes a call; pick up the thread of the conversation when the interviewer is free again.

• On-site interviews often include meals. Follow your hosts' lead, both in ordering and in deciding whether to talk about work-related or casual topics. These meals are part of an evaluative process, whether or not they appear informal.

• Occasionally, second interviews include group interviews in which several applicants for the same position are presented with a problem to solve or subject to discuss as a group. The interviewer(s) merely observe. In this case, keep in mind that you are being evaluated in terms of how you interact with the other members of your group.

Closing an Interview: A Lasting Impression

Be aware of signals that indicate that the interview is over. An interviewer may stand or express appreciation for your time. This is your clue to close the interview. Express your enthusiasm for the organization and, if you are interested in the position, ask the interviewer when a decision will be made and when you may call. Maintain eye contact and return a firm handshake if a hand is extended. Close the interview with the same enthusiastic and energetic style with which you approached it. Send a thank-you note following each interview.