Interview Skills
What is one good way to prepare before an interview to show you are interested in the company?
Research the company mission/values or review the job description.
What does "active listening" mean?
Giving full attention and responding to show you understand.
What is miscommunication? Give a one-sentence definition.
Failure to accurately send or receive a message.
What is one thing you should include at the top of a resume?
Your name and contact information.
What should a professional email subject line include?
A concise summary of the email purpose (e.g., "Request: meeting to discuss internship")
During an interview, what is one professional way to answer a question you don't fully understand?
Ask for clarification: "Could you please clarify what you mean by...?"
Name two differences between formal and informal verbal communication at work.
Formal = professional tone, full sentences; Informal = casual words, slang, short phrases.
Name one common cause of miscommunication in email.
Vague wording or missing context.
Why is it important to use active verbs (e.g., "managed," "created") on a resume?
Active verbs show impact and make accomplishments clearer.
What is an appropriate professional greeting to start an email to a teacher or employer?
"Dear Ms. Smith," or "Hello Mr. Johnson," or "Hi Dr. Lee," depending on formality.
Name two examples of questions you can ask at the end of an interview that show engagement and curiosity.
"What does success look like in this role?" and "What are the next steps in the hiring process?"
How can eye contact affect an interview or meeting? Provide one positive and one negative effect.
Defensive or closed-off; misleading because it could mean cold or just tired.
Provide two steps someone can take to clarify a confusing instruction from a supervisor.
Repeat the instruction back, ask specific questions for details.
Name two sections commonly found on a resume.
Education and Experience
List two things to check before sending a professional email.
Spelling/grammar check; correct recipient(s) and appropriate attachments.
What are three key qualities employers look for in interview responses?
Clear examples, relevance to the role, concise and honest responses.
Explain how tone of voice can change the meaning of a message. Give one short example
A calm tone makes a request sound polite; a sharp tone can sound angry even if words are neutral.
Describe how assumptions can lead to workplace errors and give one practical way to avoid making assumptions.
Assumptions skip verification; avoid by asking clarifying questions.
How should you tailor a resume for a specific job or internship? Give two actions.
Use keywords from the job description; reorder bullet points to highlight relevant experience.
Explain the difference between "Reply" and "Reply All" and when to use each.
"Reply" responds only to sender; use when only the sender needs the response. "Reply All" responds to everyone included; use only when all recipients need the reply.
Respond to the following question:
Tell me about yourself?
Relevant professional attributes and personality traits that make you suited to the position
Explain how cultural differences can affect interpretation of nonverbal communication and give one classroom-safe example.
Different cultures use eye contact differently; e.g., in some cultures steady eye contact is respectful, in others it may be rude.
Present a short scenario where poor communication causes a problem at work, then state three corrective actions to prevent that problem in the future.
Team misunderstands deadline → corrective: confirm deadlines in writing, hold quick check-in meetings, assign responsibilities clearly.
How many jobs or years of experience should your resume include?
no more than 15 years, or all relevant jobs if less than that
What is a professional way to close a business letter or email?
Sincerely, or Respectfully,