Interviews

Steps to a Successful Interview 

Step 1: Do Your Research 

• Know the mission, purpose, and identity of the employer 
• Know how you could fit into their mission, purpose, and identity 
• Know why you want this position with this specific employer 

Step 2: Prepare Yourself 

• Look up lists of common interview questions
• Dress professionally and appropriately for the job
• Eat and sleep well the night/morning before 
• Look up the business/organization on Glassdoor for information on interview questions, corporate culture and insider information 

Step 3: The Interview

• Arrive early, and be polite to everyone you meet (not just the interviewer)
• Smile, be confident, and avoid negative topics or phrases
• Have an answer to every question and use positive stories from past positions
• Articulate your transferable skills, and demonstrate your focused career direction 

Step 4: Follow Up

• Always have a few questions to ask the interviewer (see below)
• Thank the interviewer for his or her time
• Be sure to get a business card from your interviewer
• Always follow up with a thank-you email or letter later that same day

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15 Common Interview Questions

Here are samples of questions you may be asked in an interview. When giving your answer, remember to be:

• Positive: Keep a positive attitude about yourself and your experiences. Even if the position is not your dream job, your attitude will be remembered by the interviewer.
• Specific: When giving an answer, especially one where you are asked to describe something from your previous experience, strive to be specific.
• Position Related: It is up to you to ensure that your answers directly relate to the specific position being discussed.
• Knowledgeable: You know your stuff and you have researched the company. Don’t be shy about sharing your knowledge!

 Common Questions:

1. Tell me about yourself? (keep under one minute)
2. Why are you interested in working for this company?
3. If hired, how would you contribute to this company?
4. What are some adjectives to describe you? (prepare at least five)
5. What are your major strengths? (stress communication and teamwork skills)
6. What are your major weaknesses? (make sure to focus on your improvements)
7. What are your long term career goals? Where do you see yourself in five years?
8. Tell us about a time you had to work through a difficult situation?
9. Tell us a time where you had a major success at work?
10. Tell us about a time where you made a mistake at work?
11. Describe a time where you had to work as a team?
12. What kinds of people do you prefer to work with?
13. What kind of work environment do you prefer to work in?
14. How do you spend your free time?
15. Why should we hire you?

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5 Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Here are questions you may want to consider asking your interviewer. When asking your questions, remember that this is your opportunity to:

• Interview the company: Both you and the interviewer wants to ensure a good fit. Make sure you address any questions about the company, as long as these do not pertain to specifics such as salary, benefits, vacation, etc. 
• Cover any areas not addressed in the Interview: Have a great experience that wasn’t touched on in the interview? Address it here. 
• Learn more about the industry: Ask questions that allow you to showcase your industry knowledge while getting insight into the company and the industry overall.

Questions to Ask:

1. How would you describe the working environment?
2. What are some of the major challenges of this position?
3. How do you think this company stands out compared to others like it?
4. What does a typical day in this position look like?
5. What do you like most about this company? 

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Mock Interview

Career Services offers mock interview to all of our students. We will interview you and provide feedback on your strengths and weaknesses. We can also help you research the company you are applying for to find more information you can use in your interview. Contact Career Services to make an appointment.