Career Development Center

Career Development Center

INTERVIEW PREPARATION

"The core message about interviewing is that you have to do a good job of selling yourself. Through your appearance, demeanor, and the way you answer questions, you have to convince the interviewer that you possess the skills and personal attributes necessary to be successful in the job."
-MAX MESSMER

Interview Prep Sheet
Interview Skills
Interview Attire
Behavioral Interviews
Virtual Interview

Presenting Yourself

A job interview is a presentation, a performance, and an audition. If you are granted an interview, it means you have successfully grabbed the attention of an employer who has decided to meet with you in person, face-to face. The employer has some idea that you might be qualified for the job, otherwise he would not be committing valuable time to seeing you.

To be successful in a job interview means putting your "best self" forward. Preparing for an interview involves sharpening your communication skills, anticipating certain questions, projecting confidence, maintaining a positive attitude, displaying enthusiasm, emphasizing your best attributes, expressing your personality, and creating a good first impression. It is important to stress your skills, abilities, and strengths. You must clearly and confidently communicate your accomplishments and achievements.

The goal of an interview is to get a job offer. The purpose of the interview is to determine whether you are the right fit for the job. Your interview, then, will be as much about your personality and attitude as it will be about your qualifications and credentials.

Interview Preparation Video

Interview Prep: Tell Me About Yourself

Tips for Your Zoom Interview

Job Interview Tips: How To Make a Great Impression

Interview Videos
STAR Method: Prepping for Behavioral Interviews
Behavioral Interview Techniques and Strategies

How to Succeed in a Virtual Interview

Ultimate Job Interview Tips
Questions With No Right or Wrong Answer
Interview Advice and Techniques

Employer's Needs

Approach your interview from the employer’s perspective. It is important that you focus only on relevant traits and attributes. You should tailor your presentation so as to emphasize your specific qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the job in question. Target all of your comments and remarks to the employer’s concerns. Put yourself in the employer's shoes. Keep focused on what you can do for the employer rather than what the employer can do for you. Keep in mind the specific needs, interests, values, and biases of the employer. Address the issues that you know the employer cares about. Match your qualifications to their needs. Make your comments employer-centered rather than self-centered. Speak the employer's language. Be sure all your statements answer the underlying most important question: "What can you do for our organization?"

Interview Prep Sheet
Interview Skills
Interview Attire
Behavioral Interviews
Virtual Interview

Preparation

Do your homework. Prepare in advance for your job interview by doing some in-depth research. Gather useful information about the employer. Be informed and knowledgeable about the company and the job. Plan ahead. Organize and outline your main ideas in advance. Determine your key qualifications. Spell out specific details of your background and credentials and commit to memory the major points of your presentation. Rehearse your presentation beforehand by conducting a mock interview. Practice formulating and expressing your responses to potential questions.

"A job interview is a business meeting between a job candidate and one or more interviewers. The purpose is to determine whether a match exists between what the company requires and what the candidate offers."
-JOHN LA FEVRE

Ten Critical Interview Skills

Virtual and Video Interview Tips
Tell Me About Yourself: Job Interview Tips

How to Ace the Job Interview

Interview Reflection

Virtual Interview Strategies

Millennial Job Interview
Common Interview Questions and Answers
How To Dress for a Job Interview

Performance

Relate a few relevant stories, testimonials, or anecdotal examples as a way of providing supportive evidence of your skills and abilities. Telling stories also allows you the opportunity to communicate positive feelings and emotions, a sense of enthusiasm, pride, and dedication .Ask appropriate questions. Prepare a few good solid questions in advance. Don't ask about salary and benefits. Ask questions that reflect your professional attitude and motivation. Express an interest in wanting to
learn more about the company.

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