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Interview Techniques
Overview of interview tips and sample questions. Please attend an Interview to Impress Workshop at The Career Center, make an appointment to meet with a career counselor, or schedule a mock interview at The Career Center for further assistance.
Be Prepared
* Know where you are going... get specific directions and allow plenty of time to get to the interview location.
* Arrive for your interview a few minutes ahead of time.
* Go to the interview alone. If someone accompanies you for the trip, that person should not come in with you.
* Get a good night's sleep and have something to eat so your stomach isn't growling and you have energy.
* Do some research on the organization. Employers will expect you to know something about their business.
* Prepare several intelligent questions you can ask the interviewer.
Make a Good Impression
* Be prepared to talk intelligently and clearly about your interests and qualifications, your strengths and accomplishments and how they relate to the opportunity being discussed.
* Do not volunteer negative information, but if an honest answer to a question brings up something negative, find a positive twist to any past failures or shortcomings. Explaining circumstances as briefly as possible is better than giving excuses or blaming others.
* Be polite and tactful, answering questions in a straightforward, businesslike manner.
* Avoid negative comments about school or past employers.
* Sit up straight, looking alert and enthusiastic.
* Listen carefully and try to answer all questions accurately. Think before you speak.
Dress For Success
* Acceptable dress differs from industry to industry, therefore, you are encouraged to match your style of dress to the industry in which you are seeking an internship/job.
* It is never a mistake to go for a conservative, professional look, including a jacket/sweater/tie and slacks (in some cases a suit) for men, and skirt and blouse (in some cases a suit) for women.
* Avoid jeans or sloppy school/athletic clothing.
* Clothes should be clean; shoes should be in good condition.
* No distracting clothing or accessories such as baseball caps/hats, excessive jewelry, roller blades or Walkman stereo wires.
Some Often Asked Interview Questions
* Why are you interested in our organization?
* Tell me a little about yourself.
* How do you see this experience fitting in with your career goals?
* Why did you choose Hofstra/your major?
* What courses did you like best? Least? Why?
* What skills or special abilities have you developed?
* In what school activities have you participated?
* What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
* Why do you think you would be successful in this internship/part-time job?
* What are your strengths? * What are your weaknesses?
* Why should we hire you?
* What do you know about our organization?
* Why do you want to work in this field?
* Which of your accomplishments give you the most satisfaction and why?
* Give me an example of a major problem you've solved.
* What are your long-term goals?
* How are your grades in college? (How come they're that low?)
* What questions do you have?
Bring a Fact Sheet
Before or after the interview, you may be asked to complete an application. Most applications request detailed information that is not on your resume, so it is best to prepare and bring along a fact sheet (index card) from which you can copy. This is the information you should have:
* YOUR JOB INFO: Name of organization, exact street address including zip code, telephone number, supervisor's name, specific dates of work and salary paid.
* YOUR SCHOOLS: Name of school, address, dates of attendance, type of diploma, degree or certificate you received, if any.
* YOUR ACTIVITIES: Full name of organization and participation dates, if not listed on your resume.
* REFERENCES: Names, addresses and telephone numbers of references. You should have individuals who know you personally and who can attest to your character. (Do not include family members or on-the-job supervisors.) You may include professors who know you as a student or co-workers who have known you as an employee. Be sure to check with anyone you give as a reference to make sure that they agree and to make them aware that they might be contacted.
Follow Up
Some interviews result in an internship/job offer at the close of the interview. You can respond immediately by accepting or rejecting the offer or ask for 24 hours to think it over. For those organizations that will make a decision at a later time with regard to hiring, note the following:
* Remember to take down the name(s) of the interviewer(s) and anyone else from the organization that you meet during the interview process.
* Be sure to ask what the next step in the hiring process will be, how you will be contacted and how long will it take (in days or weeks). Will you advised by telephone or by letter, or should you contact the interviewer?
* Send a 'thank you' letter when appropriate.
* Some organizations will not contact you after the interview is over if they choose not to hire you. You may need to follow up with them should you wish to know the final outcome of your interview.
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The Career Center Manuals are designed to provide step by step guide for resume preparation, cover letters, thank you letters, interviewing tips, as well as resources on electronic correspondences.
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Interview Techniques
Overview of interview tips and sample questions. Please attend an Interview to Impress Workshop at The Career Center, make an appointment to meet with a career counselor, or schedule a mock interview at The Career Center for further assistance.Beginner Interview Techniques
The goal of the interviewer is to determine whether or not you have the qualifications and potential to do a specific internship/job well. Your goal is to present yourself in the best possible light to the employer. An interview is a two-way street; you are both gathering information to determine whether you would like to enter into a work agreement. Preparing for an interview involves being ready to answer the interviewer's questions and to ask some of your own.
The goal of the interviewer is to determine whether or not you have the qualifications and potential to do a specific internship/job well. Your goal is to present yourself in the best possible light to the employer. An interview is a two-way street; you are both gathering information to determine whether you would like to enter into a work agreement. Preparing for an interview involves being ready to answer the interviewer's questions and to ask some of your own.
Be Prepared
* Know where you are going... get specific directions and allow plenty of time to get to the interview location.
* Arrive for your interview a few minutes ahead of time.
* Go to the interview alone. If someone accompanies you for the trip, that person should not come in with you.
* Get a good night's sleep and have something to eat so your stomach isn't growling and you have energy.
* Do some research on the organization. Employers will expect you to know something about their business.
* Prepare several intelligent questions you can ask the interviewer.
Make a Good Impression
* Be prepared to talk intelligently and clearly about your interests and qualifications, your strengths and accomplishments and how they relate to the opportunity being discussed.
* Do not volunteer negative information, but if an honest answer to a question brings up something negative, find a positive twist to any past failures or shortcomings. Explaining circumstances as briefly as possible is better than giving excuses or blaming others.
* Be polite and tactful, answering questions in a straightforward, businesslike manner.
* Avoid negative comments about school or past employers.
* Sit up straight, looking alert and enthusiastic.
* Listen carefully and try to answer all questions accurately. Think before you speak.
Dress For Success
* Acceptable dress differs from industry to industry, therefore, you are encouraged to match your style of dress to the industry in which you are seeking an internship/job.
* It is never a mistake to go for a conservative, professional look, including a jacket/sweater/tie and slacks (in some cases a suit) for men, and skirt and blouse (in some cases a suit) for women.
* Avoid jeans or sloppy school/athletic clothing.
* Clothes should be clean; shoes should be in good condition.
* No distracting clothing or accessories such as baseball caps/hats, excessive jewelry, roller blades or Walkman stereo wires.
Some Often Asked Interview Questions
* Why are you interested in our organization?
* Tell me a little about yourself.
* How do you see this experience fitting in with your career goals?
* Why did you choose Hofstra/your major?
* What courses did you like best? Least? Why?
* What skills or special abilities have you developed?
* In what school activities have you participated?
* What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
* Why do you think you would be successful in this internship/part-time job?
* What are your strengths? * What are your weaknesses?
* Why should we hire you?
* What do you know about our organization?
* Why do you want to work in this field?
* Which of your accomplishments give you the most satisfaction and why?
* Give me an example of a major problem you've solved.
* What are your long-term goals?
* How are your grades in college? (How come they're that low?)
* What questions do you have?
Bring a Fact Sheet
Before or after the interview, you may be asked to complete an application. Most applications request detailed information that is not on your resume, so it is best to prepare and bring along a fact sheet (index card) from which you can copy. This is the information you should have:
* YOUR JOB INFO: Name of organization, exact street address including zip code, telephone number, supervisor's name, specific dates of work and salary paid.
* YOUR SCHOOLS: Name of school, address, dates of attendance, type of diploma, degree or certificate you received, if any.
* YOUR ACTIVITIES: Full name of organization and participation dates, if not listed on your resume.
* REFERENCES: Names, addresses and telephone numbers of references. You should have individuals who know you personally and who can attest to your character. (Do not include family members or on-the-job supervisors.) You may include professors who know you as a student or co-workers who have known you as an employee. Be sure to check with anyone you give as a reference to make sure that they agree and to make them aware that they might be contacted.
Follow Up
Some interviews result in an internship/job offer at the close of the interview. You can respond immediately by accepting or rejecting the offer or ask for 24 hours to think it over. For those organizations that will make a decision at a later time with regard to hiring, note the following:
* Remember to take down the name(s) of the interviewer(s) and anyone else from the organization that you meet during the interview process.
* Be sure to ask what the next step in the hiring process will be, how you will be contacted and how long will it take (in days or weeks). Will you advised by telephone or by letter, or should you contact the interviewer?
* Send a 'thank you' letter when appropriate.
* Some organizations will not contact you after the interview is over if they choose not to hire you. You may need to follow up with them should you wish to know the final outcome of your interview.