What to expect
Not unlike any other presentation, an interview has a beginning, middle
and end. What happens during those stages varies with the employer;
nonetheless, the following typical stages give you an idea of what
to expect.
When the interviewer comes out to greet you, you should stand up,
make eye contact, extend your hand, smile, and introduce yourself.
All of this takes only a few seconds, but it will set the tone for
the meeting.
Once inside, try to sit in a chair that is only a few feet away from
the interviewer. If you have a tendency for nervous hand movements,
keep your hands on your lap or by your sides. Gesturing with your
hands is acceptable in moderation.
Do not be surprised if the first few questions are unrelated to the
job. They may be about sports, current events, the weather, etc. This
is the time to relax, converse, and establish rapport, so make sure
you do not appear too tense.
This is not a time for one word answers.
During these first
few moments
The interviewer is trying to get to know you a little better as a
person. The interviewer may also use this time to decide what he/she
wants to ask. Remember, many of the people who will interview you
are not professionally trained interviewers. They may be a little
unsure of what to ask. It is your job to make it easy for them by
volunteering information that is relevant to the position and by asking
questions that will get them to reveal more about the job and its
responsibilities. See information about
attitude
Expect to be asked
certain standard questions.
Although they may seem fairly general, a good rule is to consider
them in relation to the job for which you are applying. For example,
a frequently asked interview question is, "Tell me about yourself."
The interviewer is not asking for your life story, but rather is trying
to find out about the major events that shaped your decision to pursue
this career area. Try giving a
response that reveals something about your personality and accomplishments
and how they relate to the position in question.
Use
a 90-second guideline when answering this question.
Focus the first 15 seconds on any personal information
you wish to share(e.g. where you are from);
Focus the next 30 seconds on your academic experience(e.g.
what you are studying, any study abroad experience);
Focus the next 30 seconds on your professional
experience(e.g. leadership activities, internship);
Use the last 15 seconds to discuss why you are
interested in the position (given the background you just discussed).
Remember this is a short answer; consentrate
on providing highlights of your experience. Spend some time
writing down the experience you wish to discuss and then practice
how you want to answer the question.
Job-Related
Questions This is the point in the interview
where very specific or even technical questions may be asked.
Make sure you are familiar with the latest developments, technology,
and theory in your field. You may be asked about your reaction to
a specific event or article. If you have done your homework, try
and demonstrate this by the way you respond to the question. If
you are unfamiliar with the material being discussed, answer honestly
that you do not know. You will probably be asked about your work
habits, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, past experiences,
and goals. Although you should answer honestly, make sure you do
not volunteer information that could seriously jeopardize your candidacy.
The following questions are typical for many first and second interviews.
Most commonly asked questions by
interviewers
Although you may not be asked all of them, practicing responses
will help you prepare for the interview and give you the confidence
to answer anything that may be thrown at you. More
about answering questions
Board/Panel,
Group, and Stress Interviews Board or Panel Interview
is when a candidate is interviewd by several people simultaneously.
This is particularly common with educational and non-profit employers
who often establish a search committee consisting of several individuals
who meet with the candidate at the same time. This can be especially
nerve-wracking and intimidating. When there are several interviewers,
it is best to initially respond by focusing on the individual who
asked the question, but then make sure you establish eye contact with
everyone in the room while you are speaking.
Group Interview is where several candidates are being interviewed
simultaneously. This is more common for the education sector, entrance
to graduate school, and occasionally in the corporate world. Occassionally,
some corporate employers may put a candidate through a stress interview.
These interviews are used to determine if a candidate is able to deal
with a high-pressure job. An example of a stress interview involves
bombarding the candidate with tough questions and allowing very little
time for a response. In addition, the interviewer may make negative
comments toward the candidate to see how he/she handles stress.
Salary, Benefits,
and other Taboos Never discuss salary or benefits during
an interview. This should only be discussed after an offer of
employment has been made. If the interviewer asks you to name what
salary you are looking for, deflect the question and respond by saying
that you would rather wait and discuss salary once a job offer has
been made. If you feel pressed, you can either respond by saying that
it would depend on the responsibilities involved, or you can cite
an acceptable salary range.
ALSO:
Make sure that you never smoke, drink, or eat
during an interview.
Avoid slang or any use of profanity.
Never bad-mouth a former employer or co-worker
and never reveal any confidential information about an organization
with whom you have worked.
