On-Campus Interviews
Career Services hosts a variety of employers throughout the academic year. Students registered with Career Services are encouraged to participate in these on-campus interviews.
Notification of on-campus interviews is sent to candidates through the job vacancy notices. Upcoming interviews are also posted on the Career Services homepage and the bulletin board in Room 210 of the University Center.
Practice Interviews
Videotaped practice interviews are available free of charge to those who want to enhance their interview skills. Contact Career Services to set up a date and time. Be prepared to let us know your desired position and career field so we can make the interview as real as possible. Practice interviews are helpful to those seeking internships, part-time, or full-time jobs.
Seniors seeking full-time positions are encouraged to participate early in their senior year.
Interview Basics
Preparation
- Research company objectives - know the company goals, history, and demographics
- Obtain the job description to gain a clear understanding of the duties and expectations of the position
- Prepare a list of questions you would like to ask the interviewer
- Compose well thought out answers to the typical interview questions
- Develop a 60 second opening statement to answer the usual "Tell me about yourself" introductory question. Address the following
- education and training
- work experience
- motivation
- maturity
- career goals
- special accomplishments
- Dress professionally to project a professional image
- Demonstrate your organization skills by bringing extra resumes, paper, and a nice pen in a leather portfolio or attaché
Interview
- Arrive 10 minutes early
- Walk in confidently
- Give firm handshake, looking interviewer in the eye
- Practice good posture
- Speak distinctly; articulate clearly
- Be enthusiastic and positive
- Be honest and sincere
- Focus on relevant experience and skills--know your strengths
- If asked to identify weaknesses, share those professional areas that you are working to improve
- Show appreciation for the interview
- Send thank you notes promptly after the interview to highlight how you fit the position
Recruiters will want you to relate your skills and course work to the vacant position. Before the interview, write out your four or five most valuable strengths relating to the position, along with an example of how you have demonstrated each one. Be sure to convey these strengths in all questions you're asked. Consider the following skill areas to help the recruiter see you in their organization.
Transferable Skills
These are skills which you can use in any situation; usually probed during discussion of work experiences or academic projects.
- Problem-Solving Ability
- Teamwork Approach
- Communication Skills
Specific methods or procedures associated with your chosen career field. Usually explored in a series of "what if..."or "how would you..." questions pertaining to your field.
- Current trends in the field
- Successful methods
- Research or findings of notable experts in field
Characteristics that make you unique... personality related questions.
- Time/stress management
- Dealing with people/data/things
- Work ethic
- Initiative
- Attitude
- Leadership
- Tell me about yourself.
- Who or what has had the greatest influence on the development of your career interests?
- How have your educational and work experiences prepared you for this position?
- What factors did you consider in choosing your major?
- Why are you interested in our organization?
- What kind of work do you want to do?
- What is your GPA? Does your GPA reflect your ability?
- What goals have you set for yourself?
- How do you plan to achieve your goals?
- Tell me how you perceive your strengths? Weaknesses?
- How do you evaluate yourself?
- What work experience has been the most valuable to you and why?
- What has been your greatest challenge?
- What were the biggest problems you encountered in college? How have you handled them? What did you learn from them?
- How do you think you have changed personally since you started college?
- Why did you choose the extracurricular activities that you did? What did you gain? What did you contribute?
- What was the most useful criticism you received and who was it from?
- Tell me about a project you initiated.
- How do you solve conflicts?
- Give me an example of a problem you solved and the process you used.
- Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical skills.
- What one academic course did you have that had the greatest impact on you and why?
- Give examples of your "team player" qualities.
- Take me through a project where you demonstrated planning skills.
- How do you motivate people?
- What types of situations put you under pressure and how do you deal with the pressure?
- Tell me about a difficult decision you have made.
- Give an example of a situation in which you failed and how you handled it.
- Tell me about a situation when you had to persuade another person to see your point of view.
- What frustrates you the most?
- What interests or concerns you about the position or company?
- Give me a specific example of your work or learning in a multicultural setting and what impact did the experience have on you?
- What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
- Describe a situation where you had a conflict with another individual, and how you dealt with it.
- Describe your leadership style.
- In a particular leadership role, what was the greatest challenge?
- What characteristics do you think are important for this position?
- What can you contribute to our organization?
- What challenges are you looking for in a position?
- How are you conducting your job search and how will you make your decision?
- What are your expectations of your future employer?
- What two or three things are most important to you in a position?
- What do we need to know about you that has not been covered?
- Why should we hire you?
| Appearance Non-verbal communication Verbal communication Knowledge of employer Initiative and motivation |
Attitude Self-knowledge and career goals Academic record Involvement and interests Social and interpersonal relationship skills |
(show your interest in the position and organization by asking relevant questions)
- What is the employer's management philosophy?
- What is the nature of the training program and supervision given in the early years of employment?
- What will be expected of me as a new employee?
- Explain the evaluation process - how often and by whom will I be evaluated?
- How would you describe a typical day on the job?
- What are you looking for in a person to fill this position?
- Does the company anticipate changing its current structure soon?
- How do the people on this job allocate their time?
- What is the most important responsibility? The least important responsibility?
- Where are the last three people who held this job working now?
- What is the company's biggest problem? What role would you like me to have in solving it?
Remember the interview is a two-way process; you are evaluating them just as they are evaluating you!
Be sure to clarify your responsibility for payment of expenses relating to the interview. Some firms will pay all expenses, others may pay only if you accept the offer of employment.
Illegal Questions
Aim to overcome your discomfort and to avoid getting angry--you want to get the job offer. You can refuse the offer once it's made if the job isn't right for you.
Title VII is a federal law that forbids employers from discriminating against any person on the basis of sex, age, race, national origin, or religion. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects this important minority.
An employer may not ask about your ancestry, national origin, parentage, birthplace, native language, age, date of birth, marital status, number of children, or spouse's occupation. Your best bet is to be polite and straightforward, as you would in any other social situation. Stress your skills and abilities, not your status.
 Career Linkages 206 University Center 573-651-2583 |
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Career Linkages is part of the Transitions Program.
Maintained by Career Linkages, Revised: September 21, 2005, Disclaimer © 2008 Southeast Missouri State University |
