Winning Interview

Techniques

Presented by:
Heather Bois Bruskin,
Rachel Greenberg &
Emy Goldsmith

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Seminar Agenda

• Mock Interview – Part I

• Review purpose of interviews, what to
expect, and how to prepare for an
interview
• Review Different Types of Interviews
• Mock Interview – Part II

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Mock Interviews: Part I
Please write down:
• 3 things the interviewee does well
• 3 things the interviewee could do
better/improve

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Mock Interviews:
Small Group Practice
• Break into predetermined groups
• Practice answering questions: Take turns
asking one of your questions to the person to
your left. Go around your group twice until
everyone has answered two questions. Keep
answers to no more than one minute in length.
• Give feedback: One at a time, turn to the
person to your left and give them feedback on:
– One thing he/she did well
– One thing he/she can improve upon

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Purpose of the Interview

• Sell your strengths and skills as they relate to the

employer and position.

• Learn as much as you can about the position and

the employer so that you can assess if this
employer and position are a good fit for your
career goals, values and needs.

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Types of Interviews

• Informational
• Traditional: In-person
• On-campus
• On-site

• Telephone
• Group

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Preparing for the
Day of the Interview
• Practice
• Dress Professionally- appropriate to industry
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early
• Bring only your resume into the interview (and
portfolio, if relevant). No food, bags, notes, etc.
• In general, interviews will be approximately 30
minutes in length

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 The Interview

• Shake hands and address interviewer by Mr.__,

Ms.__, or Dr.__.
• Small talk
• Questions
• Last 5 minutes: Ask 2-4 specific questions
• Shake hands and thank the interviewer

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Telephone Interviews:

Your strategy:
• Determine whether it is a call or an interview;
calls are primarily informational, while interviews
include job-related questions
• If it is an interview, decide quickly if this is a good
time to talk
– If not, simply ask if you can arrange a mutually
convenient time to conduct the interview
• Apply your best interviewing skills

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Tips for Phone Interviews

• Project comfort
• Smile
• Give succinct answers and examples
• Prepare a list of questions (based on your
research!)
• Have your resume on hand to reference
• Follow- up as you would for any interview

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Before you hang up…

• Offer a strong and confident closing

• Get contact information for follow-up questions
and thank you note
• Find out their timeline

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 After the Interview
• Record your thoughts and impressions from
the interview. Ask yourself:
– What did I do well?
– How could I prepare to answer better next time?
• Send a thank you note to your interviewer(s)
within 24 hours
• Follow up with the employer based on the
timeline they outlined for the process

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Types of Interview Questions

• Traditional

• Behavioral / Story Telling

• Case-Method / Case-Based

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
Traditional Interview Questions

• Require you to relay factual information

• Employer is taking your word at face value
• Sample Questions:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why are you interested in this position?
• What is your greatest strength/weakness?

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Behavioral Questions
• Require you to offer specific examples to reveal
skills
• Use the STAR framework:
• What was the SITUATION?
• What was your TASK?
• What ACTION did you take?
• What was the RESULT?
• Sample Question:
• Tell me about a time when you confronted a
challenge and how you dealt with it.

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Case Based Interviews

• Require you to analyze a problem / situation and

present a solution based on the information
available to you.
• Employer is assessing your analytical
ability/thought process (not whether or not your
answer is correct).
• Sample Question:
How many gas stations are there in the U.S.?

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 The Meaning Behind
the Question
• What are employers looking for when they ask
certain interview questions?
• Using the cards provided, break-up into your small groups
and deconstruct the interview questions.
– Take turns reading a question from your card
– As a group, guess what the interviewer is looking for
– Discuss briefly why this information is important to the
interviewer
– The reader then reveals the “meaning behind the question.”
– Select one of your questions to present to the class, including
reading the question and sharing the highlights of your
discussion.
Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship
Program
Handling Difficult Questions

• Uncomfortable Questions
– Pay/Benefits
– Timeline
– Interviewing with other companies?

• Illegal Questions

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 How to Present Yourself
• Always speak positively about yourself
and others.

• Use body language to show interest.

• Follow your interviewer’s lead.

• Be concise, yet thorough.

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Mock Interview: Part II
• Return to your small groups. As before, you will
take turns going around your group answering
two questions.
• First question: Pick one of your original two
questions that you would like to try again. Adjust
your response to this question based on feedback
received and what you learned in the lecture.
• Second question: Go around the group again,
asking the person to your left the new question
on the blue question slip.

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Mock Interview:
Feedback Guidelines
The “HOT SEAT”
Taking turns, each student will receive feedback from every group
member on:
– One thing he or she improved
– One thing he or she can improve upon
Feedback should be based on:
– Nonverbal communication
– Ability to identify skills and support claims with concrete
examples
– Ability to speak positively about him/herself and others
– Enthusiasm
Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship
Program
Mock Interview Assignment

• Review sample interview questions and

consider your possible responses.
• Conduct a mock interview:
– Schedule a session with your F/ASIP point person
OR
– Participate in Mock Interview Nights on February 12th
& 13th (Advance sign-up required)
• Practice makes perfect!

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship

Program
 Homework & Announcements
• Mark down dates for spring seminars
• Pre-register for F/ASIP (SP.800) for Spring term: 3
units
• Paper #3: Professional Informational Interview
• Review your Internship Search Plan with your
F/ASIP Advisor by your Cap & Compass seminar (March
6, 7, 8)
• Complete a F/ASIP mock interview by March 30th
• Submit your resume to the F/ASIP resume book
• Apply for Internships!
• Survey Monkey Evaluation
Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship
Program