Interviews - Ready or not...

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Record any information you have uncovered about the organization. Highlight the details that are compatible with your experience, skills, qualifications, and values. 

• Name of organization:
• Position of interest:
• Highlights from job description:
• Necessary skills:
• Necessary educational background:
• Types of products & services offered:
• Organizational culture & structure (values, work environment):
• Evidence of diversity of workforce, leadership, culture:
• Size & growth over past 5 years:
• Challenges over the past 5 years:
• Newsworthy information:
• Philanthropy/Community involvement:
• Competitors within the industry:
• Geographic location of headquarters & branch offices:
• Professional development opportunities:
• Industry challenges and growth areas:

Research Checklist.  Consider the following strategies and resources as you gather information:

• Visit the organization’s website
• Search for articles on line
• Use Handshake @ the University Career Center
• Consult industry publications & newspapers
• Conduct informational interviews and job shadowing 

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Record the specific experiences that support your fit.  Consider ways that you could incorporate this information into the interview 

EXAMPLE. Organization information:

• Job requires "out-of-the-box" thinking that generates positive results 

EXAMPLE. Evidence of compatibility:

• Restaurant server position-proposed new process to reduce wait for lunch orders.  It involved 2 new menu options, an incentive-based call-in-advance program and staff training.  Manager accepted proposal; Result-able to increase number of lunch customers by 15%.  Servers reported a reduction in frustration-fewer anxious customers.

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YOUR EXPERIENCE. Organization information:

YOUR EXPERIENCE. Evidence of compatibility: 

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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. Employers can tell the difference between prepared candidates and those who are just “winging it.” Below are a few points to help you prepare for an interview. You may also want to learn more about University Career Center resources that can help you practice your interviewing skills

• Anticipate specific questions that may be difficult for you. For many people, open-ended questions (e.g., “Tell me about yourself”) or negative questions (“Tell me about a supervisor you didn’t get along with”) can be especially challenging. Preparing for these questions and practicing your answers can help ensure that you won’t freeze up during the interview.
• Prepare stories about yourself: your experiences, skills and personal qualities. You cannot anticipate every interview question, but if you’ve spent some time reflecting on your background and preparing stories that illustrate key points, related to employer needs, you’re less likely to be caught off-guard by unexpected questions.
• Share concrete examples to back up your assertions, rather than making unsubstantiated claims. Examples from past experiences will help convince an employer that you can do what they need done, because you demonstrate that you’ve done it in the past. 

ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS. The STAR technique (Situation or Task, Action and Result) offers one strategy to help you stay on track with your interviewing answers.  Quintessential Career’s article on the STAR technique has a brief description and a sample of the typical questions encountered.  Once you have read the article, use the STAR worksheet, below to map out your answers

STAR WORKSHEET. Begin by thinking back over your list of skills and experiences, and the detailed job description provided by the employer.   Identify several skills and experiences that you have, that the employer needs.  Anticipate and checkout a list of possible interview questions. Organize your thoughts using the STAR technique.

• S          Situation            Give your description a context.
• T          Task                  Describe the goal.
• A          Activity             Describe your approach.
• R          Result               Describe the outcome. 

PRACTICE. Once you have an idea of what the employer is looking for and what related skills or experiences you have to offer, practice telling your STAR stories

• Practice privately.  Record it.  Identify ways you would like to improve.  Keep an eye on your nonverbals.
• Practice with a friend or mentor.
• Practice through a mock interview at the University Career Center. 

Download LinkedIn's Profile Checklist Guide

When used effectively, LinkedIn will allow you to create a polished, professional image that helps you connect with professionals and employers. You can also research companies by viewing their company pages to help you conduct research before an interview. LinkedIn allows you to demonstrate key knowledge and expertise and allows employers and other key contacts to obtain the most recent information about you. With this in mind be sure to update your profile and build your network on a regular basis.

• PHOTO: It doesn't have to be fancy - just use your cellphone camera in front of a plain background. Wear a nice shirt and don't forget to smile!
• HEADLINE: Tell people what you're excited about now and the cool things you want to do in the future.
• SUMMARY: Describe what motivates you, what you're skilled at, and what's next.
• EXPERIENCE: List the jobs you held, even if they were part-time, along with what you accomplished at each. Even include photos and videos from your work.
• ORGANIZATIONS: Have you joined any clubs at school or outside? Be sure to describe what you did with each organization.
• EDUCATION: Starting with college, list all the educational experiences you've had - including summer programs.
• VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE & CAUSES: Even if you weren't paid for a job, be sure to list it. Admissions officers and employers often see volunteer experience as just as valuable as paid work.
• SKILLS & EXPERTISE: Add at least 5 key skills - and then your connections can endorse you for the things you're best at.
• HONORS & AWARDS: If you earned a prize in or out of school, don't be shy. Let the world know about it!
• COURSES: List the classes that show off the skills and interests you're most excited about.
• PROJECTS: Whether you led a team assignment in school or built an app on your own, talk about what you did and how you did it.
• RECOMMENDATIONS: Ask managers, professors, or classmates who've worked with you closely to write a recommendation. This gives extra credibility to your strengths and skills.