Prepare for an Interview

Prepare for an Interview

It’s common to be nervous about interviewing, but don’t worry – Career Services is here to help!

First – reframe interviews as meetings – you and the employer are both trying to figure out if this is going to be a good fit.

Second – put yourself in the employer’s shoes – they’re simply trying to hire the right person. If you were hiring for that role, what would you want to know or hear from candidates?

Third – the importance of preparation and practice cannot be overstated – going into an interview unprepared is a waste of time for everyone – for you and for the employer.

Career Services is happy to work with you to prepare for and practice interviewing – schedule an appointment with us any time! You can also check out the information, tips, articles, and resources below.

Interview Practice Tips

• Mock Interview with Career Services – Book an appointment with Career Services under “Interview Skills & Practice”. We can help you find practical interview questions for upcoming or prospective interviews, practice your answers, and discuss interview etiquette. Use the link at the bottom of this webpage to book an appointment.
• Practice With Someone You Trust – A family member, a friend, a mentor – just make sure it is someone who will be honest and you can trust to provide constructive and professional feedback!
• Video Record Your Interview – If you’re too nervous to practice in front of family and friends or you want more practice, this is a great option! This will help you to identify areas where you may be struggling, mumbling, rambling, etc.
• Practice Different Scenarios – Some questions could be asked 1,000 different ways and you don’t want one to trip you up. It’s best to try answering variations of the same questions to prevent yourself from being thrown off in the interview. (Example: “Tell us about yourself” and “Walk us through your resume” are asking for the same info!)

Prep Before the Interview 

Know Yourself

• What are your skills, abilities, values and strengths?
• Why are you qualified for this position – why should they hire you?
• Review behavioral/situational interview questions – you can have a few situations/examples ready ahead of time that you are comfortable talking about

Know Your Potential Employer

• Research the organization – know their mission and culture, think about how you will fit in.
• Read up on any new, upcoming or exciting products/services/initiatives going on.
• Know what role the interviewer is in at the organization and what type of interview it will be.
• Review the job description, HR benefits and any other materials that are sent ahead of time.

Practice, Practice, Practice

• Attend a mock interview with Career Services.
• Ask Career Services to help come up with answers to questions you’re unsure about.
• Video record yourself practicing, practice in Zoom with a camera on, practice in front of a mirror, etc.
• Practice with a friend, spouse, parent, mentor or other trusted professional.
• Become familiar answering different types of questions.

Things to Remember

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early and do not bring anyone with you.
• Treat everyone as if they are making the hiring decision – receptionists, custodians, etc.
• For virtual interviews, set up lighting and background beforehand, make sure all technology is working.
• Maintain good eye contact – with all interviewers.
• Bring paper and pen to write down names of interviewers for following up after the interview, along with any other important information about the position they share.
• Do not use slang or abbreviations that aren’t specific to their industry/company.
• Be concise: do not ramble, make sure to use complete sentences and know when to stop.
• Be honest, but always in a positive light – even when describing any shortcomings.
• Be friendly and engaged – don’t be afraid to show enthusiasm!
• Turn phone off.
  

Common Questions and Topics

• Tell me about yourself (or some form of this)
  • Create an answer for this ahead of time, and practice! Give an overview of the things that make you a great fit for the position (a combination of education, skills, experience, and strengths) and how/why you are excited about this opportunity. Do not include personal information here. 
• Greatest strengths and/or achievements
  • Be ready with examples of strengths, work or projects that you are proud of.
• Questions asking how your skills, education, and experience make you great in this position
  • Know why you would be great in the job, practice talking about each of these areas. If you’re not sure, look at the key skills/qualifications section of your resume – this should be listing all of the best/most relevant things about you as a professional!
• The negatives: weakness, conflicts, challenges
  • Always flip to a positive! Use a professional example, not one about your personal life, and start by saying that you used to struggle with/dislike/get nervous about ______, but over the last couple of years (or during your time at KCKCC), you were able to learn and work on it, and now it’s not really a problem anymore – maybe it’s even become something you’re good at!  
  • See STAR method below for explaining situations.
• Behavioral/Situational Questions – “Tell us about a time when…” or “What would you do if…”
  • Keep answers relevant to the job/industry – practice talking about challenges or other situations ahead of time.
  • AI can be helpful in giving you lists of common questions for the industry/job role.
  • Use STAR method to organize your answers (below).
• Why should we hire you?
  • This is going to be similar to the “Tell me about yourself” answer – a combination of education, skills, experience, dedication/passion for the field and personality. If you don’t know why they should hire you, it’s going to be hard to convince them to give you a chance, so practice talking about what you have to offer as an employee!
• Why are you leaving/have you left your current/previous position?
  • Be positive. Focus on why you want to move into the new role instead of why you left/are leaving. Do not badmouth your previous company or supervisor. 
    

The STAR Method

• First, describe the SITUATION and context for what happened.
• Next, describe the TASK, or what challenge/issue needed to be addressed.
• Then explain the ACTION performed – what did you do? What resources or tools did you use? Did you collaborate with anyone? 
• Finally, make sure to describe the positive RESULT or outcome. How did it all turn out? Give specific numbers or other facts about the results if possible.
  

Questions for the Interviewer

Always prepare 3-5 questions to ask at the conclusion of the interview to gather information and see if the employer will be a good fit for you.

It is not a good idea to ask about salaries or benefits during the interview. Wait until an offer is made to ask for specifics, that’s when you have the most negotiating power. Visit our Salary Negotiation page for more info!

Good questions to ask might include:

• What characteristics are most important to excel in this role?
• What are some future goals or projects for this organization/department?
• What are your expectations/plans for the first 30 days, 90 days, and year for this position?
• What do you think is the best (or most challenging) thing about working here?
• How would you describe the work environment/culture at your company and in this office?
• Specific questions related to their mission, company principles, etc.
• What is the timeline for hiring this position, or what are the next steps in the hiring process?
  

After the Interview

• Record your observations – Doing this helps if you need to ask the employer additional questions.
• Self-Evaluation – How did you feel during the interview? What questions did you answer well? Are there any questions you stumbled over? Did you learn new information about the organization? Do you think the interviewers now have adequate knowledge of your background and skills?
  • In case there is a second interview or if this doesn’t end up being the job for you, this is a really good way to help you prepare for your next interview.
• Record any information they gave concerning salary, benefits, other job information, etc.
• Always write a “thank you” email after an interview. Do not turn in a pre-written note at the end of the interview – it needs to be specific to the interview just completed.

Thank You Email

After every interview, you should follow up with a thank you email – most people skip this step, and it can make a difference, especially if deciding between two equally qualified candidates!

Send to everyone you interviewed with – if you interviewed with a panel/committee, send one to each person separately. Keep it short – thank them for their time, include important points from your interview, and restate your interest in the position.

Send within 24 hours – they should receive it while you are still fresh in their minds.

Appearance/What to Wear

The goal is to make sure their focus is on what you’re saying, your qualifications, your professionalism

• Understand the organization and industry’s dress code
• Dress a level above what you would wear on the job
• If you are touring a large building or campus, wear shoes you can walk in!
• If your interview is virtual, set up lighting and check clothes/colors on camera beforehand
• Avoid extremes in clothes, hair styles, makeup, or jewelry (unless it is a core part of the job)
• Be thoughtful about the bag/purse you bring with you (should close completely, not too bulky, etc.)

When in doubt, choose simple and polished!

Grooming & Personal Care

Grooming matters just as much as clothing.

• Clean hair, trimmed or well-maintained nails, fresh breath
• Jewelry kept simple, light or no fragrance, makeup and hairstyles should not distract

Check out our Professional Appearance Guide for more info!

Next – Learn more about salary negotiation