Preparing for an Interview

The interview, whether in person, online, or over the phone, is the context where you communicate your full spectrum of skills as a candidate to an employer. Interviews give you the chance to describe how your talents and personality fit the needs of the position. Hiring managers and selection committees rely heavily on interview outcomes when deciding whether or not to extend an offer.

The keys to a successful interview are preparation, practice and presentation.

Preparation:

Research your employer thoroughly, refine your resume, select appropriate attire, create a list of questions to ask the employer, and get a good night's sleep (It's more important than you might think). Also be sure to familiarize yourself with the interview's location.

Practice:

Set up a "mock interview" with Career Services, a friend, family member, or colleague, and browse our selection of interview questions. Rehearsing your responses is a great way to boost your confidence and craft how you communicate your talents and personality.

Presentation:

When answering questions, remember the "3 P's"

Ponder: take a moment to reflect on why the employer has asked a question. This will help with framing your response and speak to the skill set, value, or ability being measured.
Prove: if you say that you have developed excellent organizational skills give specific examples of situations where you demonstrated a high level of organization.
Project: always be genuine and confident in responding to questions, asking questions, and meeting new people during the interview.