Pre-Interview
What is a résumé?
A formal document used to apply for jobs that summarizes your professional qualifications, including work experience, skills, education, and achievements.
Tell me about yourself.
Looking for something creative here! Don’t repeat what’s already on your résumé!
How do you handle stress and pressure?
Looking for examples; be specific!
What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
An employer is trying to get a basic understanding for how you work, and if they will have to manage you or if you can manage yourself. Be specific. Is this a strength?
What is an appropriate time frame for follow up with an interviewer after an interview?
1 week or less.
What can/should you do in order to prepare for an interview?
Research the company, practice mock interviews, familiarize yourself with common interview questions, print copies of your resume, create a list of your relevant accomplishments, get your clothes organized, plan your route there etc.
What are two of your strengths, explain?
Be creative and elaborate; provide examples. Bonus for incorporating how your strengths play into the job you're applying for!
Describe a time when you made a mistake.
The here key is to be honest without placing blame on other people. Explain what you learned from your mistake and what actions you took to ensure it didn’t happen again.
What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
Often times when people have to speak on behalf of others, they are more honest and accurate. Questions regarding how others portray you and what they think about you can be more insightful than self-reflection.
Name two appropriate ways to follow up with an interviewer?
Personal Card, Email, Connect on LinkedIn
What are three categories you should include on your résumé?
Name, contact information, education, experience, honors and awards, activities and affiliations.
What is an area of improvement that you need to work on? Explain.
Often called weaknesses, but you should refer to them as areas of improvement! We all have them, be vulnerable and honest. Most importantly, be reflective enough to answer how you are addressing and working on your areas of improvement!
Why should we hire you?
Discuss the strengths and skills you have that would make you a good fit for the position.
Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
Do you pick up the slack? Do you say something to that person? Do you gossip or report them to your supervisor? An employer wants to understand how you’re going to interact with others.
What should you say in your follow up with an interviewer?
Thank them for the opportunity to interview and give a specific example of something they said that was impactful for you.
Why is your social media important to look at before an interview?
Employers will research your profiles! If you have spelling mistakes, profanity, inappropriate pictures, etc. it could spoil your opportunity for the job.
Have you ever had a job before or done volunteer work? Tell us about it.
Talk about a previous job or a job you want to have and if you have done any volunteer work.
What type of work environment do you prefer?
Think broadly AND about the company that you are interviewing with! What type of work environment do they promote? Team oriented vs. Individual? Quiet vs. Loud? Open to ideas/change vs. Sound in their history?
What questions do you have for the interviewer?
1. How would you describe a typical day in this position?
2. When can I expect to hear from you?
3. What are the biggest challenges of this job?
4. What type of skills do you feel are needed to be successful in this position?
5. What is the best part about this job?
When is an acceptable time to bring up the topic of pay/salary?
After you have been offered the job.
Who can you list as a reference on your resume?
A previous employer, teacher, coworker, coach.
Tell me about a time you had to work with someone you didn't like and how did you handle it?
Be honest and authentic. It is important to emphasize how you handled it and what were the results that followed!
Why do you want to work here?
Discuss the reasons you applied to the job and why you are interested in the company/position.
What would you like to be doing 5 years from now?
Five years is a long time from now, but if I am hired, I would like to see myself in a higher position from which I started. Finished college and working in your chosen career field.
When offered a job; what is an appropriate time frame to accept or decline?
48 hours maximum.