
INTERVIEWINGSKILLSANDTECHNIQUES
GoalsofanInterview
• GoaloftheInterviewer‐Itisalsoimportanttoconsiderwhomyouaretalkingto.Thehuman
resourcespersonistheonelikelytoknowaboutjobdescriptions,qualitiesbeingsoughtandthe
moraleorcompanyculture.Thehiringmanager,yourfutureboss,isthepersontoaskaboutthe
department,theteamyouwillbeworkingwithandthejob'schallenges.
• GoaloftheInterviewee‐Bepreparedtotalkaboutyoursuccessesandexperiences.The
employerwillwanttofindoutaboutyourpastexperience‐‐successesandfailures,yourwork
ethic,yourtrackrecord
TypesofInterviews
• First/Screen‐Thefirstroundofinterviewsisaboutdiscovery,learningaboutthejobandthe
company,notthebenefitsorraises.
• Second–Inthisroundthecandidateisusuallyexposedtomorepeopleanddetailsofthe
companyandtheposition.Thisalsogivesthecompanyanopportunitytoexploreindepththe
skills,experienceandculturalfitofthecandidate.
• Phone‐Inmanyways,thewayyouprepareforaphoneinterviewisn’tallthatdifferentfrom
thewayyou’dgetreadyforaface‐to‐faceinterview‐‐saveforafewslightadditionstoand
modificationsofyourlistofpreparationtasks.
• Behavioral
o Whenaskedatraditionalquestionlike,"Whatwouldyoudoifyouhadacustomerwho
wasn'tinterestedinbuyingtheproduct?"youcanmakeupastory.Butwhenyouare
askedbehavioralquestions,theinterviewerislisteningforspecificexamplesofhowyou
havehandledsituationsorproblemsinthepast.
o Behavioralquestionsbeginwithphraseslike,"tellmeaboutatimewhen,"or"canyou
givemeanexampleof."Theinterviewerwantstohearyourreal‐lifeexamples.Your
successstoriesshouldincludethesituation,theactionyoutookandtheresult.
• Individual–Aoneononesituationwiththestylevaryingfrominterviewertointerviewer.
• Group/Panel‐Boardorpanelinterviewsareusuallyratherformalandorganized,usinga
standardsetofquestionsforallapplicants.
Preparation‐Preparationbuildsconfidence.
• Research
o JobDescription‐Lookatthejobdescriptionandcomparethecompany'sneedswith
yourexperienceandqualities.
o HistoryofCompany–SearchcompanyWebsitesformissionstatements,productand
serviceinformation,principals'backgroundsandcontactinformation.Checkcompany
financialsthroughtheUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommission.
o Workhistory/relevantexperience‐Reviewwhatyoudidatpreviousjobsorinan
educationalenvironmentsoyoucantieitintowhatyoucanbringtothenewcompany.
• PreparingAnswers
o Rehearseyouranswers.Writethemdownasascriptandrecitetheminfrontofa
mirror.Havebackupanswers,too.You'llcomeacrossasbeingmoreconfident.