Interviewing Techniques
For Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

This file discusses interviewing for professional positions. For an in depth discussion of interviews for academic positions, see The Academic Job Search Handbook, a comprehensive paperback guide to the job search. Penn doctoral students, are entitled to purchase a discounted copy for $5 at Career Services, Suite 20, McNeil. Sample interview questions can be found at the bottom of this page.

The interview is the most important element in the job search process. When an employer invites you to an interview, he or she generally already thinks you may be qualified to do the job. Now you both need to exchange enough information to allow you both to determine whether you and the organization are a good "fit" for each other. Therefore, think of an interview as a highly focused professional conversation. Use the limited amount of time you have to learn about the employer's needs and discuss the ways you can contribute to meeting them. In many cases you will interview at least twice before being hired for a position, once in a briefer screening interview and at least once again in a visit in which you speak with many of the people you will be working with.

Be prepared. Know as much about the position/organization and interview as you can.

Ask for a copy of the annual report and job description prior to the interview. This is an entirely appropriate request, so don't hesitate to make it. Ask colleagues, friends, and faculty about the organization. Use library resources, both at Career Services and in Penn's library system. Look at the organization's home page. The more you know, the more focused your answers will be. When the interview is scheduled, find out what to expect during it. How long will you be there? Will you talk to just one person, or to several? If the employer has offered to reimburse travel expenses, this is the time to clarify the arrangements.

Be prepared to make life easy for your interviewer by volunteering relevant information about yourself. Know yourself and think about how you want to present what you know. Think about how you want to present your strengths, experience, education, work style, skills, and goals. Be prepared to give honest answers, and to make them memorable by giving examples which support the general statements you make. Review your resume critically and try to identify the areas that an employer might view as limitations without apologizing for deficiencies. Think about how you can answer difficult questions accurately, positively, and briefly.

Be prompt and professional. Arrive early. If you don't know where the organization is located, call for directions ahead of time. Anticipate traffic, parking problems and general unforeseen difficulties. If you know you are going to be late be sure to call and let someone know. To be more comfortable, you should arrive approximately 10 minutes early. Allow yourself the time to read your resume one more time, to catch your breath, to hang up your coat and get into the right mind set for the interview.

Dress appropriately in clothes in which you are comfortable and feel you look your best. A suit is standard attire for interviewing in a business environment. For a very informal environment, you might substitute a jacket and slacks/skirt.

Be honest. Let an employer get to know you. Avoid dissembling. You want to be sure that you and the employer know what you are getting if you are hired.

Be positive. Never say anything negative about past experiences, employers, or courses and professors. Employers, like anyone, tend to generalize: if you didn't like "x", you are a negative person and won't like me either. Figure out what was positive about an experience and talk about that. Be enthusiastic. If you are genuinely interested in the job, let the interviewer know that.

Demonstrate interest. This can be achieved by doing research on the organization prior to the interview. It can also come across by asking questions during the interview about the job, the organization and its services and products. When asking questions, be sure that the answers will give you information that you don't already have (or should have) and that the questions are genuinely of interest to you. Be responsive to what has gone on in the interview. If you have listened well, you should be able to come up with thoughtful questions which impress the interviewer. You may want to prepare a few questions in advance, but an insightful comment based on your conversation can make an even stronger statement.

Save discussion of salary for later. Learn as much as you can before the interview about prevailing salary levels for the type of position you are seeking. Don't bring up the issue of salary during the first interview. If the interviewer brings it up, ask what is the anticipated salary range for the position, then give only a general answer, such as that your expectations seem to be within their range, or close to their range.

Follow up. Always write a thank-you note within 48 hours after an interview. Even if you did not enjoy the interview (or the interviewer), and/or you are not interested in the position, it is important to say thank you for the time the interviewer spent with you. The letter can certainly be brief. What it is important is that you write it promptly.

At the end of an interview, it is appropriate for you to ask when you may expect to hear from the employer if that information isn't volunteered to you. If, for example, you are told the employer hopes to make a decision within 2 weeks, it's entirely appropriate for you to call after 3 to reiterate your interest in the position.

Practice. Interviewing well is a skill which, like any other, improves with practice. Make an appointment to role play an interview with a Career Services counselor by calling (215) 898-7530. Practice can make a huge difference in your confidence and ease in fielding difficult questions.

Sample Questions

About Your Qualifications

• Can you summarize the contribution you would make to our department?
• Please tell me about the greatest professional assignment you've ever handled.
• Tell me about your experience at Penn.
• Tell me about your most significant work experience.
• Why are you the best candidate for this position?
• Have you ever supervised anyone?

About Your Ability to Work in the Environment

• Why are you interested in this job?
• Describe your greatest strengths and weaknesses.
• What do you know about us?
• Are you a team player?
• How do you handle conflict?
• How competitive are you?
• What do you expect from your supervisor?

About Your Career and Personal Choices

• How would those who have worked with you describe you?
• What are your long-range career goals?
• I understand your spouse is completing his/her Ph.D. What if you receive job offers in different locations? (This question is not legal in most contexts, but you should be prepared for it.)
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What will it take to persuade you to take this job?
• What kind of salary are you looking for?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

For Career Changers

• Isn't a job like this a waste of your training?
• Why would you be interested in this kind of work?
• How do you expect to get up to speed in all the areas which will be unfamiliar to you?

And, the Most-Dreaded Question, Tell Us about Yourself

This is also your greatest opportunity. You are likely to be asked this, so plan to use the open-ended nature of the question to your advantage. It is not necessary to answer autobiographically. You may wish to organize your thoughts around your interest in the job and why you are prepared to do it.

Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

The right answer is always yes, or you risk appearing uninterested. Prepare some questions in advance, but, above all, ask questions that show a response to what you have learned from the interviewers, and that are lively, rather than formulaic. Examples:

• Can you tell me how success in this position is measured?
• Who would I work with most closely on a day-to-day basis?
• What do you consider the most challenging aspect of this position for someone who is new to your organization?
• What are your department's major projects in the coming year?
• What is the lifecycle of new software in your department?
• How do you encourage your employees to keep current with professional developments in the field?
• I know that you've recently experienced a period of very rapid growth. How has that changed the ways you operate?
• What do you think are your greatest competitive strengths with clients?