Interviewing

CUSSW Office of Career & Leadership Development

When you have an interview, you know that your resume and cover letter have done their job! The next step is up to you. Keep in mind, successful interviewing is a skill that can be learned. The key is to adequately prepare.

Overview of Interviewing Process

What do employers look for?

Written & Verbal Communication
Interpersonal Skills
Teamwork/Leadership Skills
Analytical Skills
Flexibility
Motivation/Initiative
Honesty/Integrity
Creativity

Types of Interviews

Screening Interviews

Typically a short in-person or phone interview, usually 30 minutes or less to assess whether a follow-up interview is worthwhile

Group Interview (when there is more than one person interviewing you) -

Pay equal attention to all interviewers
Pay the most attention to the person who has asked the question, but occasionally shift your gaze briefly to others in the room
A common mistake is to try to assess which person is the most senior and to focus all of your attention on that person

Case Interviews

The hallmark of consulting interviews; the case will involve a short presentation of a business problem followed by a discussion where you will be asked how you would approach the problem.

Behavioral Interviews

Questions that seek demonstrated examples of behavior from past experience and concentrate on job related functions.
Open-ended questions are asked, which require more than a YES or NO response. These questions begin with “Tell me….”, “Describe a time…..”, “When…” as opposed to close-ended questions, which are used to verify or confirm information.
These questions pull from what you have actually done in the past, and focus on both positive and negative aspects of yourself (accomplishments and mistakes)

Prepare

Preparation helps you to be able to articulate your true abilities, skills, and accomplishments in an interview. It is essential to do your research and practice!

Research the organization or agency

Take the time to learn as much as possible about the employer. Go to their website and review the values and mission of the organization. Review the different departments and programs and how they work together to accomplish the organization’s goal.

Research the department or division

After understanding the overall perspective of the employer, hone in on the department or division specifics. Look at the programs and/or services offered by the area you are interviewing for. Review the staff makeup and profiles if possible.

Research the position

Closely examine the job description. Identify the key qualities they are looking for and the specific responsibilities the position entails.

Research the interviewer

If you know who will be interviewing you, take the time to research her/him/them as well. Understand their roles in the organization and their respective backgrounds. Take a minute to “google” them to see what they are involved in professionally (keep the focus on their professional involvement- not on their personal lives).

Research yourself

Review the cover letter and resume you submitted thoroughly. Note the experiences you have had that are most relevant for the position. Analyze your own background. What are your skills (content, functional, adaptive) that relate to the desired role? What types of work cultures do you prefer? This prepares you to think on your feet! Identify examples from your past experience in which you demonstrated those skills. How can you “tell a story” about your particular skills or knowledge? Set your internal agenda for the interview by conducting a strengths exercise. Quickly brainstorm 50 strengths you possess. After compiling the list, go back through and identify the top five that best pertain to this position and this employer. Use this list to guide you through the interview process as your internal agenda. Your goal during the interview is to successfully convey these qualities and your related experiences. Give some thought you areas you would like to improve. Be prepared to talk about mistakes, when things didn’t go as planned, self understanding and exploration, things you might have done differently. Career Changers: Relate and link past work experience to common themes or common experiences that connect to the position.

Prepare questions for the employer

Asking the employer questions reflects your motivation, interests, priorities, energy, etc. This is also your opportunity to set the agenda for the interview and to determine if this opportunity is right for you. Good questions for the employer are related to the job to which you are applying and demonstrate your knowledge of their organization. Ask about job duties, the department, departmental goals, and growth opportunities. Avoid questions about benefits, salary, etc.

Suggested questions to ask the employer:

What do are you looking for in your ideal candidate for this position?
What do you perceive to be the most difficult part of the job? What types of challenges would I face in this position/department?
How would you describe the working environment?
How would you describe the management style of the area?
What professional development opportunities are available to me in this department?
What is your timeframe for making a hiring decision? (ask this last- it lets you know what to expect)

Questions NOT to ask the employer:

How many sick days can I claim as a new employee? Do I have to dress up in the office?
How much will I be paid? (Salary questions should be asked after the job offer)

Portray a Professional Image

Send a positive non-verbal message.
Sell yourself enthusiastically but avoid arrogance; there is a fine line between the two-rehearse
Smile, sit up straight, and exude confidence….project positive body imagery
Keep your answers as concise as possible and stick to the point
Dress professionally! Wear business attire (even if the organization is business casual)
Bring a copy of your resume and references
Arrive 10 minutes early

Practice

Be prepared for the KILLER interview question- “tell me a little about yourself.”

This is a difficult question to address since it is so open ended. Give some thought to what you want to share up front. Keep in mind that all information should be connected to “why they should hire you.” It is recommended that you jot down the key points you want to make in advance, so you know where you are going and when you are finished. Your response should not exceed 2 minutes. Practice this question- it is asked at the beginning when you are most nervous.

Review common interview questions

It is impossible to prepare for every potential question. But reviewing common questions and verbally responding to them can help you focus and increase your confidence level. Do NOT write out responses to these questions. You do not want to sound like you are reciting. Keep in mind every question is asking you the same thing, “Why should we hire you? Why are you the best candidate for this position?” Use that knowledge to help guide your responses.

General questions

Tell me about yourself (your response should not be longer than 2 minutes)
Why are you interested in this position?
Why are you interested in a career in XYZ field/industry?
What do you know about XYZ agency/organization?
What makes you stand out from your peers?
What would your team members say about you if I asked them about your leadership style?
What are your top 2-3 strengths and your top 2 areas in need of improvement?
Where do you see yourself in 2-3 years?….in 5 years?

Self assessment questions

How do you manage your time in order to meet deadlines? Have you ever had more to do than you could accomplish? How did you handle it?
What kinds of things do you feel most confident doing?
What things frustrate you most? How do you usually cope with frustration?
In what area have you shown your greatest improvement in the last two years?

Education based questions

Why did you pursue your graduate degree in social work?
What skills did you develop through your education? How will these help you in a job?
What was the most important thing you have learned in your graduate program?
If you had to start again, what graduate program would you select? Why?

Career focused questions

What type of work do you feel you are best suited for? Why?
Describe a previous work experience you really enjoyed & explain what you liked about it.
Describe a previous work experience you really disliked and explain why you disliked it.
In past jobs, what achievements were recognized by your supervisor?
Can you recall a time when your work was criticized? Describe the situation and your response.
Describe your ideal work environment.
In previous work positions (part-time, volunteer or summer), did you initiate any new procedures, systems, programs, or activities?

Prepare yourself for Behavioral Questions

Behavioral questions are increasingly popular. You can recognize them by the wording- “tell me about a time when you….. or give me an example of an instance where you….” Behavioral questions are based on the rationale that past behavior can serve as a predictor of future behavior. These questions can be focused on just about anything depending on the position. You cannot prepare for every hypothetical behavioral question, but common themes of questions are included below:

Difficult situations

Tell me about a difficult problem you had to solve
Tell me about a time you made a mistake that cost the company money
Describe a time when you had to handle a difficult customer/student/client

Adaptability

Can you provide me with an example of a time when you had to deal with a big change?
Describe a time when you decided you should change your actions or approach in order to respond to the needs of a situation

Analytical Skills

Describe a time when you recognized a problem before your boss or others
Give me an example of the most complex analysis you have ever undertaken
Tell me about a strategic plan you helped develop

Oral & Written Communication Skills

Sometimes people may not like what you are saying. Can you describe a time when you were able to successfully communicate under these circumstances?
Give me an example of a time when you had to speak up in order to get a point across that was important to you
Tell me about the most challenging report you have ever written
What barriers have you run into when writing a report?

Decision Making Skills

What was the most difficult decision you had to make in the last six months?
Can you give me an example of a kind of decision you make quickly?
Describe a decision you made that you wish you could do over

Flexibility

How do you get around obstacles that prevent you from doing something?
Describe a situation when you had to work with someone who had a totally different way of doing things. How did you manage?

Initiative

Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty to get a job done
Give me an example of a project/task that you started on your own
What was your biggest achievement at ___ and what steps did you take to achieve it?

Leadership

Tell me about a time when you motivated someone to work hard and do a good job
Tell me about a time you checked on the status of an important project and discovered it wasn’t being done correctly. What did you do?

Organizational Skills

Give me an example of when you had to handle multiple tasks at the same time
Give me an example of where planning paid off

Persuasiveness

What was the best idea you ever sold to your boss? Why did she/he buy into it?
What was the best idea you ever sold to a peer or group of peers?
Can you think of a time when you had to persuade someone to change her/his mind?

Teamwork

Describe the best/worst team experience you ever had
Describe a time when a team member strongly disagreed with your ideas or actions. How did you handle the situation?
Describe a situation in which you became frustrated or impatient when dealing with a peer, team member or other employee. What did you do?

Schedule a MOCK INTERVIEW with the Office of Career & Leadership Development

Final 10 Suggestions for Interview Success

Know yourself – Be able to apply your skills, interests, strengths and goals to the job you’re applying for
Include concrete, quantifiable data in your responses – include measurable data when possible
Keep your answers brief and concise
Be prepared to articulate your key strengths and explain how your strengths can benefit the organization
Prepare five or more success stories – make a list of your skills/accomplishments and think of times when you have utilized your skills successfully
Put yourself on their team – demonstrate that you are thinking as a member of the team and would fit in. Do your research!
Remember that image is often as important as content – the majority of the conveyed message during an interview is nonverbal – gestures, physical appearance and attire are highly influential
Ask the employer questions – but don’t ask about salary and benefits
Research the organization, its products and its competitors before your interview
Be able to answer why you want to work for the organization and what value you can bring to them - Don’t be afraid to sell yourself!