Western Region Transition Planning
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Typical interview questions
What the interviewer is looking for
Behavioral Interviewing
Typical stages of the interview
Interview DOs and DON’Ts
Interviewing Attire
Interview attire specifics for MEN
Interview attire specifics for WOMEN
Grooming tips for everyone
Researching employers
Questions to ask employers
Salary Expectations
Interview follow-up / thank you letters
What are your long-range goals and objectives?
What are your short-range goals and objectives?
How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
What are your strengths, weaknesses, and interests?
How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?
Describe a situation in which you had to work with a difficult person (another student, co-worker, customer, supervisor, etc.). How did you handle the situation? Is there anything you would have done differently in hindsight?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? Describe a situation in which you did so.
In what ways have your college experiences prepared you for a career?
How do you determine or evaluate success?
In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
Describe a contribution you have made to a project on which you worked.
What qualities should a successful manager possess?
Was there an occasion when you disagreed with a supervisor's decision or company policy? Describe how you handled the situation.
What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why? Describe your most rewarding college experience.
What interests you about our product or service?
What led you to choose your major or field of study?
What college subjects did you like best? Why?
What college subjects did you like least? Why?
Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?
In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
How do you work under pressure?
Describe a situation in which you worked as part of a team. What role did you take on? What went well and what didn't?
In what part-time, co-op, or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?
Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?
What two or three things would be most important to you in your job?
What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?
Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?
Are you willing to travel?
Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
Interviewer:
Tell me about yourself.
You:
Remember, this is a job interview, not a psychological or personal interview. The interviewer is interested in the information about you that relates to your qualifications for employment, such as education, work experiences and extracurricular activities.
Interviewer:
What do you expect to be doing five years from now? Ten years from now?
You:
The interviewer is looking for evidence of career goals and ambitions rather than minutely specific descriptions. The interviewer wants to see your thought process and the criteria that are important to you.
Interviewer:
Why should I hire you?
You:
Stress what you have to offer the employer, not how nice it would be to work there or what you want from the employer.
Interviewer:
What are your ideas about salary?
You:
Research salaries in your field before your interviews so that you know the current salary range for the type of position you are seeking.
Interviewer:
Why do you want to work for our company/organization?
You:
Not having an answer is a good way to get crossed off the candidate
list, and is a common pet peeve of interviewers. Research the employer
before your interview; attempt to find out about the organization's products,
locations, clients, philosophy, goals, previous growth record and growth
plans, how they value employees and customers, etc.
What is it?
Behavioral interviewing is a technique used by employers in which the questions asked assist the employer in making predictions about a potential employee's future success based on actual past behaviors, instead of based on responses to hypothetical questions.
In behavior-based interviews, you are asked to give specific examples of when you demonstrated particular behaviors or skills.
General answers about behavior are not what the employer is looking for. You must describe in detail a particular event, project, or experience and you dealt with the situation, and what the outcome was.
Examples of behavioral interview questions:
Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do?
Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me about your progress in reaching that goal.
Describe the most creative work-related project you have completed.
Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it.
Tell me about a situation in the past year in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.
Give me an example of when you had to show good leadership.
Responding well to these types of questions:
The "S.T.A.R." technique is a good approach: Describe the Situation you were in or the Task you needed to accomplish; describe the Action you took, and the Results.
Be specific, not general or vague.
Don't describe how you would behave. Describe how you did actually behave.
If you later decided you should have behaved differently, explain this. The
employer will see that you learned something from experience.
Interview DOs
Dress appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being conservative to show you take the interview seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable.
Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc.
Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time. Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.
Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer.
Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation.
Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name, until invited to do otherwise.
Maintain good eye contact during the interview.
Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.
Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible.
Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question.
Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.
Be honest and be yourself. Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy.
Treat the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity presented.
Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work with.
Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done your research about the employer in advance, ask questions which you did not find answered in your research.
Evaluate the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview is a two-way street.
Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization.
Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services advisor or the director.
Make sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next, if any.
When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully.
After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details.
Write a thank-you letter to your interviewer promptly.
Interview DON'Ts
Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.
Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others).
Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions.
Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization.
Don't give the impression that you are only interested in an organization because of its geographic location.
Don't give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up by your interviewer.
Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
Don't make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to you.
Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks foolish. A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview.
Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair.
Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told otherwise. Her marital status is irrelevant to the purpose of the interview.
Don't chew gum or smell like smoke.
Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call.
Don't take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiancé, friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.)
What your clothes say about you:
In an interview your attire plays a supporting role.
Your conduct, your interpersonal skills and your ability to articulate intelligent and well thought out responses to questions are the most important elements.
Appropriate attire supports your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously and understands the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed.
Be aware that in some industries, customer contact and image presented to the customer is critical. In such industries, your attire will be judged more critically.
Your attire should be noticed as being appropriate and well-fitting, but it should not take center stage.
If you are primarily remembered for your interview attire, this is probably because you made an error in judgment!
Dressing nicely and appropriately is a compliment to the person you meet, so if in doubt, err on the side of dressing better than you might need to.
Even if you are aware that employees of an organization dress casually on the job, dress up for the interview unless you are specifically told otherwise by the employer.
Never confuse an interview or business function with a social event. Don't dress for a party or a date.
Not every contact with an employer requires interview attire. For some occasions business casual is appropriate.
Suit:
A two-piece matched suit is always the best and safest choice. Don't combine
a suit jacket with pants that don't match.
Conservative colors / fabric:
Navy and dark gray are safe and are the most conservative for men. Black for
men was once considered severe or overly formal, and may still be considered
so in very conservative industries, although it is commonly worn by many.
Other color trends may come and go; avoid the extremes. Choose a solid or
very subtle weave pattern or plaid (the kind that look solid across a room).
Wool, wool blends, or very high quality blends with natural fiber, are the
only acceptable fabrics for a conservative men's suit.
Cost / quality:
You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a corporate
CEO. Do invest in quality that will look appropriate during your first two
or three years on the job. One good quality suit is sufficient for a job
search if that is all your budget allows. You can vary your shirt and tie.
Ties:
Tie styles come and go. Select good quality silk ties.
Avoid fashion extremes, like character ties, in interviews.
Notice what men in your industry wear on the job, at career fairs, at information
sessions, when they meet with clients.
Shirts:
Long-sleeved shirts, even in summer. Choose white or light blue solid or conservative
stripes.
Socks:
Dark socks, mid-calf length so no skin is visible when you sit down.
Shoes:
Leather, lace-up or slip-on business shoes, preferably black or cordovan. Invest
in a good pair; even if you don't wear them daily on the job, you'll need
them for other occasions and you should expect to get lots of years out of
good shoes.
Belt:
Black or cordovan leather, to match your shoes.
Facial hair:
If worn, should be well-groomed. Observe men in your industry if you are unsure
what's appropriate or are considering changing your look.
Jewelry:
Wear a conservative watch. If you choose to wear other jewelry, be conservative.
Removing earrings is safest. For conservative industries, don't wear earrings.
Observe other men in your industry to see what is acceptable.
Details:
Everything should be clean and well pressed. Suits typically have tacking stitches
to hold vents on the jacket back and on sleeves in place before the garment
is purchased. Cut them off if your retailer / tailor doesn't. And that tag
stitched on the outside of your sleeve is not meant to stay there like a
Tommy Hilfiger label - cut it off! Carefully inspect clothes dangling threads,
etc.
Additional interview attire specifics for WOMEN:
Don't confuse club attire with business attire. If you would wear it to a club, you probably shouldn't wear it in a business environment.
Suit:
Wear a two-piece matched suit.
Suit - pants / skirts:
Tailored pants suits are appropriate for women. Pants suits can be an excellent
choice for site visits, particularly if the visit involves getting in and
out of vehicles and/or the site is (or includes) a manufacturing plant or
industrial facility. If you wear pants, they should be creased and tailored,
not tight or flowing. If you are pursuing a conservative industry and are
in doubt, observe well dressed women in your industry on the job, at career
fairs, at information sessions, etc.
Skirt lengths:
Much of what you see on television shows that masquerades for professional
attire is actually inappropriate for a work environment. Your skirt should
cover your thighs when you are seated. Showing a lot of thigh makes you look
naive at best, foolish at worst. A skirt that ends at the knee when you're
standing looks chic and professional. Longer skirts are professional too;
just make sure they are narrow enough not to be billowing, but not so narrow
that you can't climb stairs comfortably. Don't purchase a skirt or decide
on a hem length until you sit in the skirt facing a mirror. That's what your
interviewer will see. Ask yourself whether it will be distracting or reinforce
your image as a person who looks appropriate for a business environment or
gathering. High slits in skirts are not appropriate. A small back, center
slit in a knee-length skirt is appropriate. On a calf length skirt, a slit
to the knee to facilitate walking and stair climbing is appropriate.
Color / fabric:
Navy, dark gray, brown and black are safe. Other color trends may come and
go; avoid the extremes. Women generally have more options with suit color
than men. For example, while a woman could look conservative in a slate blue
or light gray suit, these colors would be inappropriate for men. Choose a
solid or very subtle weave pattern or plaid (the kind that look solid across
a room). Wool, wool blends, and high quality blends and synthetics are appropriate
for women's suiting.
Shirt / sweaters:
Underneath the suit jacket, wear a tailored blouse in a color or small print
that coordinates nicely with your suit. A fine gauge, good quality knit shell
is also appropriate underneath your suit jacket. Don't show cleavage.
Jewelry / accessories:
Wear a conservative watch. Jewelry and scarf styles come and go. Keep your
choices simple and leaning toward conservative. Avoid extremes of style and
color. If your industry is creative, you may have more flexibility than someone
pursuing a conservative industry.
Cosmetics:
Keep makeup conservative. A little is usually better than none for a polished
look. Nails should be clean and well groomed. Avoid extremes of nail length
and polish color, especially in conservative industries.
Shoes:
Should be leather or fabric / micro fiber. Shoe styles and heel heights come
and go. Choose closed-toe pumps. Regardless of what is in style, avoid extremes;
no stilettos or chunky platforms. Make certain you can walk comfortably in
your shoes; hobbling in uncomfortable shoes does not convey a professional
appearance.
Hosiery:
Should be plainly styled (no patterns), sheer (not opaque), and in neutral
colors complementing your suit. Avoid high contrast between your suit and
hosiery color.
Purse / bag:
If you carry a purse, keep it small and simple, especially if you also carry
a briefcase. Purse color should coordinate with your shoes. You may choose
to carry a small briefcase or business-like tote bag in place of a purse.
Leather is the best choice for briefcases; micro fiber or fine woven fabrics
are also acceptable.
Hair:
Should be clean and neat.
Shoes:
Should be in polished condition. Make sure heels are not worn.
Details:
No missing buttons, no lint; and don't forget to remove external tags and tacking
stitches from new clothes.
Hands:
Clean fingernails.
Fit:
Clothes should be clean, neatly pressed, and fit properly.
Smell:
Perfume or cologne should be used sparingly or not at all. No odors in clothes.
Don't smell like smoke.
Pad folios:
Preferred over a bulky briefcase. A small briefcase is also appropriate. But
if you have no reason to carry a briefcase, don't; you risk looking silly.
Book bags:
Leave it at home for an on-site interview. For an on-campus interview, you
can leave it in the waiting area.
Why research?
To effectively sell yourself as a job candidate, you need to be able to persuade the employer that you are a fit for that employer's needs. Even when the job market is great for job seekers, employers aren't going to interview and hire candidates who are not a match for their needs.
You can't present yourself —— in cover letters or interviews —— as a match for the employer's needs if you don't know enough about the employer to do so. By doing research, you get information to decide which employers to contact. Rather than sending (and incurring the associated costs of sending) fifty letters and resumes to employers you know little to nothing about, send ten letters and resumes to employers you know something about and have a greater chance of securing an interview. Targeted letters, individualized to the recipient are more effective than "form" letters —— you know a form letter when you receive one; employers do too.
In interviews, employers expect you to arrive knowing background information about the organization. If you don't, you look like you're not really interested in the job. You have to be able to answer the critical question of why you would like to work for that employer —— and not sound like you would take any job. Research helps you formulate intelligent and appropriate questions to ask in your interview. How to research specific employers
Talk to people: Find people who work for or know about the organization. This could be people you meet at a career fair, family members, neighbors, parents of friends, students who graduated ahead of you, alumni contacts ——
VT CareerLink is Career Services' alumni networking database —— you can search it for alumni contacts working for particular organizations.
The employer's web site: If you know the URL for an employer's web site, go there. If you don't know the URL, do an internet search on the organization name (don't forget to spell it correctly). Obviously some employers' web sites will be more helpful / informative / useful to you than others. If the web site posts jobs and/or the organization invites email from job seekers and/or accepts resumes online, this can save time in your job search.
Do some Internet research. CEO Express is a very comprehensive meta-site. Explore the links it provides.
The University Libraries have resources for research. One example is the Dow Jones News Retrieval Service —— online service provides access to a variety of business databases consisting of stock quotes, market averages and company and industry news from such periodicals as the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and the Washington Post; ask a library staff member for assistance if you are not familiar with research tools.
Call or write the organization and ask for information. This is perfectly appropriate to do, especially if the organization is small and/or you simply cannot find information about the organization through other sources. If you have an interview scheduled with an employer, the employer should have already provided information (web site, brochures, etc.); if not, by all means, ask for this.
An interview is a two-way street. Ask questions. The employer should provide an opportunity for you to ask questions at or near the end of the interview.
Always prepare questions to ask. Having no questions prepared sends the message that you have no independent thought process.
Some of your questions may be answered during the course of the interview, before you are offered the opportunity to ask. If so, you can simply state something to the effect that you were interested in knowing about ..., but that was addressed during the interview. You could ask for additional clarification if applicable.
Do not ask questions that are clearly answered on the employer's web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. This would simply reveal that you did not prepare for the interview, and you are wasting the employer's time by asking these questions.
Never ask about salary and benefits issues until those subjects are raised by the employer.
If you are having trouble developing questions, consider the following samples as food for thought. However, don't ask a question if you are not truly interested in the answer; it will be obvious to the employer.
* What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
* How important does upper management consider the function of this department/position?
* What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this
department fit in?
* Could you explain your organizational structure?
* How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?
* What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
* Could you describe your company's management style and the type of employee
who fits well with it?
* What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed
in this job?
* What is the company's policy on providing seminars, workshops, and training
so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones?
* What particular computer equipment and software do you use?
* What kind of work can I expect to be doing the first year?
* What percentage of routine, detailed work will I encounter?
* How much opportunity is there to see the end result of my efforts?
* Who will review my performance? How often?
* How much guidance or assistance is made available to individuals in developing
career goals? How much opportunity will I have for decision-making in my first
assignment?
* Can you describe an ideal employee?
* What is your organization's policy on transfers to other cities?
Don't be taken by surprise
Occasionally, an employer may ask you to give a salary requirement or preference. This question is appropriate for (and more likely to be asked of) experienced people with a salary history. For a student being hired directly out of college or a graduate program, the question can be awkward. But don't be unprepared. There are several ways you can respond: It is perfectly acceptable to say "negotiable." You could suggest a range to the employer. Do your salary research first.
Interviews are not over when they're over: Follow up.
Purpose
Following an interview, promptly (within 2 business days) write the interviewer a letter expressing appreciation and thanks for the interview. The purpose of this letter is to:
••
Show appreciation for the employer's interest in you.
••
Reiterate your interest in the position and in the organization.
••
Review or remind the employer about your qualifications for the position. If you thought of something you forgot to mention in the interview, mention it in your follow-up / thank-you letter.
••
Demonstrate that you have good manners and know to write a thank-you letter.
••
Follow up with any information the employer may have asked you to provide after the interview.
••
See samples below:
Sample 5.4: Thank-you for initial interview
Sample 5.5: Thank-you for on-site interview
Hard copy, handwritten or email?
Thank-you letters can be hard copy typed, handwritten or e-mailed. Hard copy are most formal and are appropriate after an interview. Handwritten are more personal, and can be appropriate for brief notes to a variety of individuals you may have met during on on-site interview. E-mail is appropriate when that has been your means of contact with the person you want to thank, or if your contact has expressed a preference for e-mail. (Also see guidelines for using e-mail in your job search and e-mail business etiquette.)
Before your interview ended, your interviewer should have informed you of the organization's follow-up procedures —— from whom, by what means, and when you would hear again from the organization. If the interviewer did not tell you, and you did not ask, use your follow-up / thank-you letter to ask.
If more than a week has passed beyond the date when you were told you would hear something from the employer, call or email to politely inquire about the status of the organization's decision-making process. Someone (or something) or an unexpected circumstance may be holding up the process. A polite inquiry shows that you are still interested in the organization and may prompt the employer to get on schedule with a response. In your inquiry, mention the following: name of the person who interviewed you, time and place of the interview, position for which you are applying (if known), and ask the status of your application.
Sample 5.4: Thank-you for initial interview
Sample 5.5: Thank-you for on-site interview
Sample 5.4 - Thank you for initial interview
400C Hunter Ridge
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1111
boles@vt.edu
October 26, 2006
Ms. Glenna Wright
Human Resources Manager
Fashion Department Store
2000 Line Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Dear Ms. Wright:
I enjoyed interviewing with you during your recruiting visit to Virginia Tech on October 25. The management trainee program you outlined sounds both challenging and rewarding and I look forward to your decision concerning an on-site visit.
As mentioned during the interview, I will be graduating in December with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising. Through my education and experience I’ve gained many skills, as well as an understanding of retailing concepts and dealing with the general public. I have worked seven years in the retail industry in various positions from Salesclerk to Assistant Department Manager. I think my education and work experience would complement Fashion’s management trainee program.
I have enclosed a copy of my college transcript and a list of references that you requested.
Thank you again for the opportunity to interview with Fashion Department Store. The interview served to reinforce my strong interest in becoming a part of your management team. I can be reached at (540) 555-1111 or by email at boles@vt.edu should you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Marianne Boles
Sample 5.5 - Thank you for on-site interview
170 Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-6241
JRichardson@vt.edu
March 3, 2007
Ms. Patricia Smith
Personnel Manager
Sheldon Computers and Electronics
1212 Lark Lane
Richmond, VA 23230
Dear Ms. Smith:
Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you and see your facilities last Wednesday. Both the interview and the tour made for an exciting and complete day.
I was particularly impressed with your warehousing procedures. Mr. Allen was so thorough in explaining your process to me, and I will be corresponding directly with him to express my appreciation. Incidentally, the process you use is quite similar to one I have been researching through an independent study this term. Perhaps I can share my final report with you and Mr. Allen.
The expense report you requested is enclosed.
Again, thank you for your hospitality during my visit and for all your efforts to arrange my visit. Having seen your operation, I am all the more enthused about the career opportunity that Sheldon Computers and Electronics offers. I look forward to your decision.
Sincerely,
Jan Richardson