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1 UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: Interviewing with Confidence and Success To interview effectively you need to obtain information about the employer, the kind of position you want, and an understanding of your career interests and aspirations. Being able to answer questions with supportive details and in a conversational manner is very important. Hence, thorough preparation is essential. Also see the other Career Exploration & Services handouts for additional information on career planning tips, writing resumes, cover letters, and other professional correspondence, preparing for interviews, effectively job searching, and what to do once you ve entered the workforce. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN INTERVIEW? All interviewers have two major questions in mind: (1) how well suited are you for the job, and (2) are you genuinely interested in the employer and position? They are trying to get enough information about your background, strengths and level of interest to answer these questions. In addition, as a prospective employee, you need to be learning as much as you can about the position and work place so that you can decide if they are what you want. WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN AN INTERVIEW? You need to be ready to handle a variety of interview formats, from the highly structured to the unstructured type. Most initial, 30 minute interviews are semi-structured and include: ice breaking 2-5 minutes interviewer s questions minutes applicant s questions 5-8 minutes closing remarks 2-3 minutes Most interviewers are friendly and want you to feel relaxed. There are many styles of interviewing, just as there are many styles of teaching, and you will feel more comfortable talking with some recruiters than others. HOW CAN I BEST PREPARE? Do research on yourself, first. Know what kind of job you want, why you want it, and what makes you feel qualified. Think about what information you want to include in your responses. Don t go in cold and expect to do well, but don t memorize, either. You will need to provide evidence of your skills, background, and experiences as they relate to the needs of the job and the employer. You will need to discuss specific work tasks or courses and the skills you developed through them. Practice answering the questions on the last page of this handout! Do research on the career field. Most first time job seekers do not realize the importance of knowing about the job they will be performing. In general, you should have an understanding of what you would be doing on a daily basis, typical responsibilities, skills needed for success on the job, and possible career paths. Do Research on the employer. First get the basics, including the organization s size, location(s), product(s) or service(s), organization of the company, major competitors, latest news reports on the company, etc. Then look for details relevant to the position you seek: job description, training, advancement paths, etc. You may need to look several places to get this information. Talk with someone in the organization who is in the type of position that interests you. Take advantage of the variety of free services offered at the UAA Career Exploration & Services (CES), such as the Professional Clothes Closet (free professional attire!), other handouts, interviewing workshops, books to check out from the CES library, or one-on-one mock interviews and critiques. o To schedule a mock interview or to visit the Professional Clothes Closet, simply call ! WHAT IS THE INTERVIEWER LOOKING FOR? On-campus recruiters at UAA were asked What was most impressive about your best interviewees? They answered:

2 Interviewing with Confidence and Success 2 PREPARED. Knowledge of and interest in the employer. Had researched our company and was prepared with questions about job duties and how she would be evaluated. PERSONALITY. Confidence, friendliness, enthusiasm, poise, assertiveness. Showed enthusiasm for an opportunity to work in an area he had studied and liked. CAREER GOALS. Have specific areas of interest in mind. He had a definite idea of what he wanted. He demonstrated this in the nature of his direct questions. COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Nonverbal skills and body language are as crucial as content of conversation. Relaxed, smiled, and appeared to be following what was said. Gave the impression of being compatible with others. APPEARANCE. Neat, professional dress. Not overly flashy or made up. Neat appearance, well groomed, conservatively attired. EXPERIENCE. Awareness of own skills and how they relate to the world of work. Undertook responsibilities other than just being a student. WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS? Recruiters are surprisingly accurate in sensing canned answers. These canned responses don t convey interesting or reliable information about you. When you answer, remember these guidelines: Be honest. Don t pretend, for example, that you were sure about your major from the very start if you weren t. The details about how you chose your major may communicate positive things about how you make decisions. Don t look for ulterior motives. Some questions are asked purely out of curiosity or to help you relax. A genuine answer is almost always more interesting. Give details and examples. General responses become boring and don t help the recruiter get to know you. You need to be specific. Details illustrate your points and make answers more vivid and memorable. Therefore, when discussing one of your strengths, give an example or two illustrating that strong point. Give details that are relevant, but don t start telling long stories that include unnecessary details. Some candidates make the mistake of repeating themselves when they haven t thought of how to wrap up the answer. Respond succinctly. Always end your response on a good note. Keep the position in mind. What details can you give that are relevant to the type of job you are interested in? When you can think of some, try to remember to include them. For example, if you worked at a summer camp and are now looking for a sales position, you can mention how you were successful at persuading the participants to enjoy your programs. WHAT REASONS DO RECRUITERS GIVE FOR REJECTING CANDIDATES? Lack of knowledge and preparation. Unaware about the company, career, and/or industry in which candidate professes to have an interest. No career direction. Have no idea what they want in a job. Unable to show how their skills and experiences prepared them for work in any field. No enthusiasm. Answers often short. Tone of voice lacks interest or color. Vague answers. No details given, words are general and not relevant to the type of job. Very fidgety. Little eye contact, many nervous mannerisms, such as playing with hair, rubbing hands, etc. Know-it-all attitude. Lack sincerity. Try to show off all they know about the field. Make superficial remarks to impress the interviewer. WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE THE BEST IMPRESSION? (See Page 5) You make the best impression if you ask questions concerning the organization and job in which you have a sincere interest. Make certain you do thorough research on the organization prior to your interview so your questions reflect your knowledge of and interest in the organization. What do you want to know more about?. If many of your questions have been answered by organizational literature, tell the recruiter, mentioning some of the more important questions and perhaps even briefly summarizing what you have learned. Stay away from questions about benefits and salary. Do not ask for the same information that is in any literature you received.

3 Interviewing with Confidence and Success 3 POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR INTERVIEW The interview is a two-way conversation. Try to relax and enjoy the opportunity. Don t be vague; be specific. You ll be much more interesting. Be prepared to describe why you are interested in that employer, and give specific characteristics about the kind of position that you want. Sell yourself. If you don t state what your strengths, skills and accomplishments are, the recruiter will be unable to sell you as a good candidate. Genuine self-confidence and confidence in your ability to perform well at the job are your best assets in any interview. This attitude of confidence is one of the best indicators to the employer that you are the person needed for the position. WAYS TO HANDLE ILLEGAL QUESTIONS IN AN INTERVIEW It is illegal to ask job applicants questions if (1) the answers would vary depending upon the applicant s race, national origin, sex, religion, age, or handicapped status, and (2) the questions are not based upon valid job requirements. Employers sometimes do ask question that are technically improper or illegal. Many of them do so unintentionally because of their ignorance of the law. Others may do so to get to a legitimate concern, e.g., dependability. Deciding how to respond during an interview is often not easy and may depend on a variety of factors in any given situation. How do you answer such questions in a way that will meet your objective a job offer? When you are asked an illegal question, you have three options: 1. You can say you don t see the relevance of the question and don t answer. When completing a job application form, the answer can simply be omitted, without explanation. You may feel better by doing these things, but chances are likely that you wouldn t get the job. 2. Answer the question. After being hired you can go to the personnel manager or other appropriate person and explain why, for the organization s legal protection, the question(s) should be eliminated. 3. You can respond to the legitimate concern that probably lies behind the question, and ignore the illegal question itself. In other words, relate your answers to job performance in a very general way. A few things judged in an interview: Punctuality arrive to the interview 5-10 minutes before it s scheduled Attire: Dress/Personal Grooming Inappropriate actions (i.e., smoking, chewing gum, being distracted by using or hearing your cell phone, etc.) Waiting to be offered a seat Keeping the interviewer s attention (use of inflection, tempo, tone, etc.) Honesty, Enthusiasm, Sincerity, Tact, Courtesy Selling yourself know what you have to offer to the position and don t be afraid to share that in a humble way! Knowledge of resume information Verbal communication skills Use the interviewer s name throughout the interview Knowledge of organization, Asking knowledgeable questions Attitude, Attentiveness to questions being asked Pause (time for reflection and thought before answering a question), Specificity and detail of responses Body language counts! Remember these body language tips: Maintain eye contact and good posture Lean forward, listen attentively Gesture only when needed Smile sincerely Mirror, but don t mimic, the interviewer s body movements Be mindful of the interviewer s body language Close confidently and politely, even after what you think might have been a poor interview

4 Interviewing with Confidence and Success 4 Job Tracking Form use this form to keep track of where you are in the stages of interviews for each position Organization Job Title Unit/Department Date Applied Applied In Person Online Via Mail Via Fax Other: Organization Address City State Zip Code Recruiter s Name Title Phone Fax Website Hiring Manager Phone Fax Interview Preparation: Have you practiced responses to expected interview questions? Do you know what you want to be sure to say in this interview? How does your experience set you apart from others? Phone Interview Date Time Interviewer/Title Key Points Follow-up In-person interview Date Time Interviewer/Title Key Points Follow-up Decision will be made by (date) Your References: Have you contacted each to ask permission that they re listed? Have you described the position and related your experience or sent them a copy of your resume for reference? Reference #1 Reference #2 Reference #3 Benefits: Do you know the salary and benefits for this position? Details Offered position Date offered Date to respond by Decision Accepted Date Turned down Date Contact Date Reason for not accepting position

5 Interviewing with Confidence and Success 5 Additional Notes Personal 1. Tell me about yourself. 2. What are your hobbies? 3. Why did you choose to interview with our organization? 4. Describe your ideal job. 5. What can you offer us? 6. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? 7. Can you name some weaknesses? 8. Define success. Failure. 9. Have you ever had any failures? What did you learn? 10. Of which three accomplishments are you most proud? 11. Who are your role models? Why? 12. How does your college education or work experience relate to this job? 13. What motivates you most in a job? 14. Have you had difficulty getting along with a former professor/supervisor/co-worker and how did you handle it? 15. Have you ever spoken before a group of people? 16. Why should we hire you rather than another candidate? 17. What do you know about our organization (products or services)? 18. Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years? 19. Do you plan to return to school for further education? Education 20. Why did you choose your major? 21. Why did you choose to attend your college or university? 22. In what ways do you think you received a good education? 23. In which campus activities did you participate? 24. Which classes in your major did you like best? Least? 25. Which elective classes did you like best? Least? Why? 26. If you were to start over, what would you change about your education? 27. Do your grades accurately reflect your ability? Why or why not? 28. Were you financially responsible for any portion of your COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED DURING INTERVIEWS college education? Experience 29. What job-related skills have you developed? 30. Did you work while going to school? In what positions? 31. What did you learn from these work experiences? 32. What did you enjoy most about your last employment? Least? 33. Have you ever quit a job? Why? 34. Give an example of a situation in which you provided a solution to an employer. 35. Give an example of a time in which you worked under deadline pressure. 36. Have you ever done any volunteer work? What kind? 37. How do you think a former supervisor would describe your work? Career Goals 38. Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own? 39. What kind of boss do you prefer? 40. Would you be successful working with a team? 41. Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why? 42. What other types of positions are you considering? 43. How do you feel about working in a structured environment? 44. Are you able to work on several assignments at once? 45. How do you feel about working overtime? 46. How do you feel about travel? 47. How do you feel about the possibility of relocating? 48. Are you willing to work flextime? Before you begin interviewing, think about these questions and possible responses and discuss them with a career advisor. Conduct mock interviews and be sure you are able to communicate clear, unrehearsed answers to interviewers. SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO ASK EMPLOYERS DURING AN INTERVIEW 1. Please describe the duties of the job for me. 2. What kinds of assignments might I expect the first six months on the job? 3. Are salary adjustments geared to the cost of living or job performance? 4. Does your company encourage further education? 5. How often are performance reviews given? 6. What products (or services) are in the development stage now? 7. Do you have plans for expansion? 8. What are your growth projections for next year? 9. Have you cut your staff in the last three years? 10. How do you feel about creativity and individuality? 11. Do you offer flextime? 12. Is your company environmentally conscious? In what ways? 13. In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors? 14. Is this a new position or am I replacing someone? 15. What is the largest single problem facing your staff now? 16. May I talk with the last person who held this position? 17. What is the usual promotional time frame? 18. Does your company offer either single or dual career track programs? 19. What do you like best about your job/company? 20. Once the probation period is completed, how much authority will I have over decisions? 21. Has there been much turnover in this job area? 22. Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from within first? 23. What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills this position? 24. What skills are especially important for someone in this position? 25. What characteristics do the achievers in this company seem to share? 26. Is there a lot of team/project work? 27. Will I have the opportunity to work on special projects? 28. How much travel, if any, is involved in this position? 29. What is the next course of action? When should I expect to hear from you or should I contact you? Practicing for your interview really pays off! CES offers mock interviews to help you work out any kinks, nervousness, or uncertainties that you may have about your upcoming interview.

6 Interviewing with Confidence and Success 6 Call to schedule your mock interview. ATTIRE FOR HIRE: DRESSING FOR THE INTERVIEW In most business and technical job interviews, when it comes to your appearance, conservatism and conformity are in order. For your interviews, some of your individual style might be kept in your closet. When in doubt, it s better to be conservative than too flashy. MEN Suit (pants/jacket) solid and tailored in conservative colors (navy, gray, brown, or black) White or business blue dress shirt; solid colors and tighter-woven fabrics are safer than bold prints or patterns Tie conservative; no distracting designs or loud colors. The bottom should touch the top of the belt. The top should fit snugly around the neck. Shoes slip on or lace up dress shoes; no athletic-type shoes Socks solid; calf-length; should match the color of the shoes; no skin is visible when you sit down and cross your legs. Belts conservative; no flashy buckles. Should match the color of the pants and preferably the shoes Fingernails and facial hair well groomed, clean, and trimmed WOMEN Pants solid and tailored in conservative colors Jacket solid and tailored in conservative colors. Ideally part of a suit, but a close match is acceptable (black pants/black jacket) Dress Sheath (one piece) tailored, with coordinating cardigan or jacket. Hemline at the knees. Skirt solid. Ideally part of a suit but a close match is acceptable. Hemline at the knees. Shirt white or solid. May opt for some color but still conservative. Watch the neckline! Shoes low heeled, conservative colors, clean and polished. No open toed or backless styles. Stockings neutral color; no bare legs. Jewelry Conservative, nothing flashing or noisy. Fingernails well groomed, clean, and trimmed. Length should be at the end of your fingertip Make-up/perfume use sparingly. Simple is best. Hair professional, conservative, simple, and out of your face and eyes Staying Within a Budget For recent graduates just entering professional life, additions to wardrobes are likely needed. Limited funds, however, can be an obstacle. The most important piece in any wardrobe is a jacket that is versatile and can work with a number of other pieces, according to one fashion expert. This applies to men and women. If you focus on a suit, buy one with a jacket which may be used with other pants or skirts. A Final Check And, of course, your appearance is only as good as your grooming. Create a final checklist to review before you go on an interview: Neatly trimmed hair Conservative makeup No runs in stockings Shoes polished (some suggest wearing your sneakers on the way to an interview and changing before you enter the interview site) No excessive jewelry; men should refrain from wearing earrings No missing buttons, crooked ties or lint You want your experience and qualifications to shine. Your enhance appearance should your presentation, not overwhelm it. CES PROFESSIONAL CLOTHES CLOSET You ve worked hard to get the interview, now it s time to make sure you re dressed for success. But you don t have to break the bank to look like a million bucks! As a resource for UAA students and alumni, the Professional Clothes Closet accepts gently used, professional attire donated by UAA staff and faculty to provide a selection of clothing free of charge that can be used for interviews, internships, and as a good start for their own professional attire closet. There is a good inventory of professional attire in stock.

7 Interviewing with Confidence and Success 7 Stop by the Professional Clothes Closet whenever CES is open, Monday Friday from 8 am 5 pm and browse the selection of professional attire for yourself!