the art of interviewing
career services
oregon state university
8 kerr administration building
(541) 737 - 4085
http://oregonstate.edu/career
an interview is a two-way dialogue for both the
employer and prospective employee to learn more
about each other
your Goal: market your
potential to do the job
well and contribute to
the organization,
present your skills,
values and interests,
find out if the company
and job is the right “fit”
the employer’s goal:
obtain information for a
hiring decision, portray a
positive image of the
organization, fill open
positions with qualified
and/or high-potential
candidates
types of interviews
phone interview, one-on-one, group
interview, interview with a board or
panel, case study interview, behavioral
interview, stress interview, over-a-meal
interview
these interviews can be screening
interviews, in-depth follow-up interviews,
site interviews, information or
conversational interviews
what they want
employers want to see that you are prepared and
able to speak about yourself and your experiences.
this self-knowledge includes: skills, on-the-job and
outside work experiences, potential contribution to
the organization, strengths and weaknesses, short
and long term goals and interests
employers also want to see your knowledge of them,
which means you need to do a lot of research. you
should come to an interview knowledgeable about the
position, the organization, the products, services or
clientele, the size, history, and the industry itself.
research the company
why is research important?
Demonstrate to employee that you are
prepared and interested.
Give you the necessary information to
decide if the company is a right fit for
you.
how to research a company
• company websites
• web search (e.g. google)
• business magazines
• annual reports
• informational interviews
• industry-specific magazines or journals
• personal connections and contacts
• professors or advisors
• drop-ins
• other ideas?
the interview process
part 1: greetings and introductions (hand
shake, small talk, personal introductions)
part 2: employer’s questions
the length of the
interview will
vary – call ahead
and ask for a
time frame
part 3: applicant’s questions
part 4: wrap up
part 5: thank you / follow-up
part 6: hiring Decision
basic rules of interviewing
• keep your answers concise and brief but answer the question!
• back up your statements. give evidence!
• repeat your key strengths multiple times – define three
strengths that you want them to remember you for (e.g. creative,
hardworking, good problem solver)
• prepare at least 5 success stories before your interview – make
a list of your key assets, important experiences and your skills
• maintain a conversational flow – a dialogue instead of a
monologue
• be polite, friendly and show you are interested!
behavioral interviews
not hypothetical situations (“what would you do?”)
but past situations (“what did you do?”)
employers believe: past behavior is the best
predictor of future behavior!
how can you prepare for behavioral interviews and
how should you answer these questions
use the s.t.a.r or s.o.a.r method:
situation, task/obstacle, action, result
question: tell me about a time when you
implemented a creative solution to a problem.
situation: i was an intern in the advertising department of the daily
news.
task/obstacle: were not renewing their contracts. advertising
revenue was falling off and large numbers of long term advertisers
action: i designed a new promotional packet to go with the rate
sheet. i compared the benefits of daily news circulation with other
ad media in this area. i also set up a special training session for the
account executives with a marketing professor to discuss
competitive selling strategies.
result: we signed contracts with 15 former advertisers for daily ads
and 5 for special supplements. we also increased our new
advertisers by 20%.
Another example:
“give me an example of a time
when something you tried to
accomplish failed.”
how to prepare for a behavioral interview
reflection. take inventory of important past experiences
related to leadership, ethical decision-making, teamwork,
working with diversity, and managing multiple projects at
once.
practice. do a mock interview or practice by yourself or
with friends and family.
When answering questions, keep in mind the
position you are interviewing for and directly link
your skills and past experiences to the needs of the
position and to the organization:
“From my experience studying abroad in Ecuador and my
proficiency in three different languages, I will be able to
communicate effectively with BioFuel’s international clientele.”
Focus answers on your education, experiences,
career goals, and interpersonal qualities
Define your career goals (short and long term)
Pause before answering, think it through – bring a
notebook and jot down the question as they are asking
for a reference so you know you are answering the
question in-full
other interviewing tips
be prepared for the unusual – not all employers interview alike. be flexible
and think on your toes!
be punctual – this is obvious, but always important! take into account time
needed to park and find your way to the office
be specific – focus on the relevant, quantify your experiences and turn
negatives into positives. show tact, maturity and courtesy.
be sincerely interested – show a positive attitude and enthusiasm – if you
have to fake it, why are you applying to this job?
be strong until the very end – ask meaningful questions, summarize your
strengths and key points and do not just trail off and you know, like…yeah.
be grateful – send a personalized, thoughtful thank you card within 24 hours
be resourceful – you have access to career services, so use it! we do mock
interviews, workshops and can help you research positions and companies!
Ask Questions!
An interview, again, is a two-way dialogue – the
company and employer is also interviewing for you!
Ask questions that demonstrate you have researched the
position and use it as an opportunity to expand on information
you’ve already researched – if you know in one year the
position offers a promotion to Merchandising Manager, for
example, ask what it will take to get that promotion. Or if you
know the company is expanding or re-organizing, ask how your
position will fit into that new alignment.
“Does your company encourage further education?” “In what ways is a
career with your company better than one with your competitors?”
“How much travel is involved?” “Has there been much turnover in this
position?”
Yes – it is perfectly okay to have your questions prepared
ahead of time, but you might also want to ask clarifying
questions based on the interview, too!
be honest!
do not mislead or lie:
– it helps neither you nor the interviewer
– admit when you do not know something
– be honest about your skills
employers do not expect perfection, they expect potential!
if you do not know something, let them know that you can and
want to learn!
Other Do Not’s at an Interview:
Avoid slang words, silly jokes and sarcasm
Do not watch the clock or chew gum
Do not repeat your resume word-for-word
Do not bring up the topic of salary. When the time
is right, salary will be discussed.
Do not forget the importance of body language!
Be aware of your facial expressions, eye contact,
posture and handshake
Practice shaking
hands with the
person next to
you…!
Do not cross the fine line between confident and
arrogant. Do not be humble but do not be
conceited, either!
Do not forget to turn your cell phone on silent
mode (not vibrate, either!)
Do not speak poorly of your past employers or co-workers
– you want to appear professional!
Questions?