Interviewing Practice

Mock Interviews--Available by Appointment with Staff in Our Center, call 831-5373.

Interviewing Guide: The Best Way to Secure a Job! (PDF file)
Informational Interviewing Guide
Interview Search Guidelines:

Dressing for Success

Never underestimate the power of your personal presence and appearance as you enter the professional arena. While employees realize that students may not have begun “building their professional wardrobe” it is important to treat ones personal appearance with reserve and respect during the interview process. A good “rule of thumb” for student dress during the interview is to dress “one step above” the actual worksite dress.

Remember …You can create a good first impression by asking yourself 3 questions? Does my appearance make a positive statement? Yes, I look neat, clean and display an attitude of pride in myself! Does my attitude make a positive statement? Yes, I demonstrate enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn about the job! Do my manners make a statement? Yes, I demonstrate courtesy and respect in my interaction with people!

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How to Handle Referrals:

A referral occurs when you and your credentials are referred to a professional contact or you may be referred to a contact following an initial application or interview. Referrals need to be managed in the same way that one would approach the initial internship application process. As a Student of The Center for Experiential Learning there are three types of referrals that a student may encounter as follows:

Referral by The Center for Experiential Learning: The Center for Experiential Learning receives daily requests from business contacts needing students with specific skills. While we are not a job placement service, we do maintain a database of resumes for employer review. Student referrals are handled through the following procedures:

• Students are notified of an internship request by an employer via email communication;
• Interested students reply with request to submit resume to the employer;
• Resumes of students demonstrating the required skills requested are then forwarded to the employer;
• From this point, the student will then contact the employer and start the networking process to secure an interview for the position.

Referral Following an Interview: As a result of an interview, the interviewer may refer your resume to a contact within the organization for the purpose of a second or referral interview. The interviewer will indicate to the student who the referral is and the student will do one of two things. The student will treat the referral as an initial contact and email a request for an interview with an attachment of the resume followed by mailing a hard copy. Or the student will wait for the referral to contact him or her personally. If in the second situation the student does not hear from the referral within a few days, he or she should follow up with an email or letter to the referred contact. In both cases, the student should mention the name of the individual that referred him or her to the contact individual.

Word-of-Mouth Referral: Students may discover throughout the internship search that the most useful information as well as professional contacts are found through “Word-of-Mouth.” In the case of a business referral for a possible internship site, the student will handle this information in the same manner as a regular application. Students will submit the resume and references accompanied by a cover letter indicating the name of the contact person referring the information to the student.

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Importance of Preparation:

While a considerable amount of preparation must be done to secure the internship, there are a number of steps the student can take to insure a successful transition. Overall, the student should research the company, match skills with appropriate worksite needs, prepare for the interview and practice for the actual interview. Included below are suggestions to guarantee a successful interview and subsequent placement.

 Before the Interview:

• Prepare in advance. The better prepared you are, the less anxious you will be and the greater your chances for success.
• Research the company. The more you know about the company and internship you are applying for, the better you will do on the interview.
• Assess your interview skills. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Learn the questions that are commonly asked and prepare answers to them.
• Evaluate your strengths. Evaluate your skills, abilities and education as they relate to the type of internship you are seeking. Show how you meet the company’s needs.
• Assess your overall appearance. Find out what clothing is appropriate for your industry. Conservative attire is acceptable for most industries.
• Have extra copies of your resume available to take to the interview. Make sure you bring along the same version you originally sent to the company.
• Make a practice run. The day before your interview, drive to the worksite, check travel time to the site, look at the building and perhaps the people arriving or leaving. Observe the dress and appearance of the employees.
• Arrive early at the interview. Plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.

During the interview:

• Make a good impression. You have only a few seconds to create a positive first impression which can influence the rest of the interview.
• Get information you need about the internship by asking relevant questions. Be sure to prepare your questions in advance.
• Use specific examples from previous experiences to illustrate points. Don’t ramble. Stick to the issue.
• Be polite, honest and natural. Take your time when answering questions.

After the interview :

• Write down the name and title of the interviewer. Gather cards from each interviewer or ask the secretary for assistance in identifying each person that interviewed you.
• Send a thank you letter to each person that interviewed you. Send your letters within 24 hours of the interview. Remember to thank the person for their time.
• Make a follow-up call regarding your placement. If you haven’t heard within a week of your interview, call the company to inquire about their decision.

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 The Practice Run

For many, the interview can quite stressful. After all the time dedicated to the application process, this is the time when one actually sits down and tries to sell oneself to the employer through a series of questions and answers. To insure a final positive WIN-WIN situation, it may be helpful to practice the actual interview process. This can be done in several ways as follows:

On Your Own: Write down questions that you think may be discussed in the interview and practice on your own by writing your responses and actually reciting aloud how you would respond to each question.

With a Friend: Ask a friend to practice the interview with you. Actually practice each stage of the interview from the handshake, discussion of questions, your response to each question, and follow through with the final handshake and your exit from the practice interview.

The Practice Interview: Once you have practiced several sessions on your own or with a friend, contact The Center for Experiential Learning for more practice interviewing questions and tips on how to respond to each.

The Mock Interview: The mock interview gives you the opportunity to actually practice the professional interview from the initial handshake and introductions through the questions and answers and final handshake at the close of the interview. You will be video tapped and given feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your interview skills. While The Center for Experiential Learning can assist with questions regarding an interview, students should contact Career Services Center for help with the mock interview.

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Relaxation Technique

Remember that feelings of nervousness and anxiety are quite normal for most people who experience the interview process. There are a number of things one can do to insure the interview process is less stressful.

• Don’t turn down an opportunity to interview just because you are not interested. You will get practice in interviewing even though you are not interested in the company.
• Don’t wear new or uncomfortable clothing to the interview. Also, wear clothing that is professional in appearance and at the same time, compliments your personal appearance.
• During the interview, keep both feet on the floor and your hands folded in your lap.
• Breath deeply and take your time when answering questions. Don’t be afraid of silence and remember that your silence when answering questions gives you time to think and control the flow of information.
• Take time to smile, laugh and enjoy the casual comments throughout the interview. It shows the interviewer that you have a sense of humor.
• After the interview, review your responses for a self-evaluation of your interview style. Include appearance, sociability, composure, suitability, conversation, alertness, knowledge, experience, and attitude.
• Following the interview, try to engage in some type of relaxing activity or exercise. While some people prefer exercise to aid in release of tension others may prefer a quiet environment to process the information that has been exchanged. It is simply a personal choice.
• Finally, try not to schedule more than one interview or telephone screening per day throughout the interview period.

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 Sample Questions and Answers Frequently Asked Questions by Employers:

Question: Tell me about yourself!

Answer: Be careful not to ramble. Spend about 2 or 3 minutes telling the interviewer where you are from, your educational background, why your chose your major and what you might like to do with the skills you have developed in your field of study.

Question: What type of work do you want to pursue with your major?

Answer: This is where you really need to identify the job you want to do. Don’t be vague. Tell the interviewer specifically what you feel you can contribute to the organization. The interviewer will then decide just exactly where he can fit you into his organization.

Question: Can you tell us about your strengths?

Answer: Discuss 3 of your greatest strengths and personal attributes. You should include details like “I work well with details.” or “I think I am flexible.” Also, be sure and indicate strengths that relate to the position for which you are being interviewed.

Question: Do you have any weaknesses?

Answer: Surprisingly enough, sometimes we can be our worst enemy where weaknesses are concerned. Most of the time, what we see as a weakness might be strength from another’s perspective. For this reason, only mention one weakness. Example: “Well, sometimes I really have trouble drawing closure to a project. I want to keep working on it until I feel it is close to perfect!”

Question: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Answer: Try to keep your answer simple. Respond with an event or accomplishment that helped you get where you are today. Include details that may have shaped your personality or character. Remember that a small accomplishment to you may seem like a major milestone from another’s perspective.

Questions: What job-related skills can you contribute to our company?

Answer: Remember to focus on the job description and the position for which you are interviewing. Include technology as well as basic skills and personal attributes.

Question: Why did you choose our organization for your internship experience?

Answer: Explain that you are interested in a particular function of the organization and that you feel an internship with the company will give you excellent experience in your chosen major.

Question: What classes in your major do you like best? Least? Why?

Answer: Be careful here. Choose a class in which you have excelled and one that has contributed to your career development. Be careful not to indicate a class that may disclose an academic weakness that may be job related. Remember that companies have the right to access student transcripts for purposes of performance review.

Question: Tell me about a problem you have had on the job and how you solved it?

Answer: Try to discuss a situation where you took the lead and used outstanding problem solving and managerial skills. Again, remember a simple task from your perspective may indicate a major talent from the interviewer’s perspective.

Question: Do feel you work well under supervision or do you prefer to work independently?

Answer: Be care again. Remember employers want staff members who are flexible, team players, and can wear many hats. Example: “I prefer to work independently” may indicate that you are not a team player.

Question: If you were working with a team, which position would you prefer to choose as a member of that team?

Answer: Be honest. In a team environment there are leaders, a support to the leader and the players who don’t want a leadership role but prefer to gather information and get the work done. What one are you?

Question: Are you able to work on several assignments at once?

Answer: Again, the interviewer is looking for a staff member that can “wear many hats” and demonstrates flexibility in the workplace.

Question: How do you handle an assignment when you have to work with tight deadlines?

Answer: Your answer to this question will indicate to the interviewer whether you have developed time management skills and are you able to determine the importance of work assignments.

Question: Where do you want to be in 5 years?

Answer: Give the interviewer an honest and sincere response. Relate your expectations to your career choice or your strengths, attributes and personal interests as reflected on your resume.

Questions to Ask the Employer:

Question: What types of projects will I be given?

During the discussion, indicate to the interviewer how you can integrate yourself into the project and apply your skills and abilities to benefit the organization.

Question: Can you give me a job description of the assignment?

Let the interviewer know that you are interested in the responsibility and dedication that you can deliver to the assignment.

Question: What types of special projects (services) are you developing now?

This question demonstrates your interest in the organization and where the company may be headed in the future.

Question: Will I have the opportunity to work on any of those special projects?

This question demonstrates to the interviewer your enthusiasm for being a team player and your willingness to get the job done.

Question: Am I free to make my own decisions or should I rely on supervision regarding project development?

Indicate to the interviewer that you have the ability to work independently or you are flexible and can follow instructions and work under close supervision.

Question: What are my chances for full time employment with your company after completing my internship?

The interviewer may want to discuss the company policy for hiring full time staff from their internship pool. Remember that most companies recruit employees from their internship and co-op staff members. The interviewer may also give you an indication of the qualities the company is looking for in full time staff members.

Question: Will I be given the chance to participate in employee development and staff training programs?

Student interns are usually included in employee development and training. This question, if not already discussed in the interview, will give you the opportunity to discuss the types of training for which you are eligible.

Question: Do you encourage your employees to participate in community related programs?

This question will give you opportunity to discuss community and volunteer organizations in which you have an interest. Companies are looking for employees who have a dedication to community affairs such as March of Dimes, Christmas toy drives, and others.

Question: Are student interns included in your company’s benefits programs?

Be careful here. While you need to know salary and benefits while completing an internship, you will need to let the interviewer take the lead on this question. When salary is brought up for discussion you may also include a benefits question including health insurance coverage. In most case, you will receive a brochure or handbook explaining your eligibility in the program as a student intern.

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 Interviewing for Success:  

With the increase in communication through the use of technology, the job search process has become less formal in the past few years. This has occurred for two main reasons. Employers receive and review as many as 100 applications a day. Secondly, professionals are constantly in search of employment opportunities where skills are demanded at competitively high salary ranges. These 2 factors alone have resulted in multiple job changes nationwide with considerable movement among employees young and old. While use of the Cover Letter is still considered the ultimate courtesy in the application process, use of FAX and email has become increasingly popular.

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