Interview Tip Packet

WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN AN INTERVIEW

Some questions are asked in almost every typical interview. They include:
● tell me about yourself
● why do you want to work here
● what are your goals

Even when we prepare for these questions, sometimes we wonder "Why did they ask that
question?" or "What were they really looking for during the interview?" Also note many
interviews are now performed as a team. Two or more people will be asking questions. This can
cause further difficulty in positioning, eye contact, and feeling overwhelmed by the
questioning. It may help to focus on the person who is asking the question and not glance at
the other people. Trying to pick up on the reactions of others in the room may distract you from
answering the questions with clarity and enthusiasm.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS – INTERVIEW ATTIRE

First impressions often begin with appearance. As you walk into the interview, all eyes are on
you! Does your appearance reflect your desire to work for this company? Are you dressed for
success? Experts say that less than 10 percent of a first impression is based on what we say.
First impressions are based on appearance, including facial expression, clothes, posture, and
gestures. Tone and projection of voice and smells can also have a significant impact. It is
important to prepare yourself from head to toe.

Head
_____ Get a great haircut. Your hairstyle should reflect confidence and an appropriate style for
the company you are going to interview with.
_____ Facial grooming is important. Men should have a fresh shave and women should wear
appropriate makeup.
_____ Cologne should be minimal.
_____ Check your facial expression. Are you smiling? Make good eye contact.
_____ Make sure your teeth are clean and you have fresh breath. Do not chew gum or candy
during the interview.
_____ Accessories – You are the main attraction, not your jewelry. Make sure nothing jingles,
glitters, or draws the attention of the interviewer away from you.

Torso
_____ Wear a great-looking suit. The suit does not need to be expensive, but it should fit well
and reflect a professional image. For men, this could be a business suit, or a blazer, tie,
and dress slacks. A business suit, slacks or skirt and jacket, or dress and jacket are
appropriate choices for women. You may gather information about the company’s attire
through research on their web page, acquaintances in the industry, or through a phone
 call or informal visit before the interview. Remember, you are going to the interview to
make a positive impression.
_____ Clothes should be clean and pressed.
_____ Make sure you do not have body odor. Wear deodorant.
_____ Offer a firm handshake. Groom your hands and nails before the interview.

Feet
_____ Dress shoes should be polished and in good condition. Women should wear closed-toe,
conservative shoes with a moderate heel.
_____ Socks should be dark and long enough to cover your legs when you sit down. Women
should wear flesh-toned hose.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

IMPORTANT: Begin by smiling, shaking hands and introducing yourself!

1. Tell me about yourself.

Hidden Opportunity:​ To hit the ground running, show that you know what’s important, and
demonstrate why you are an excellent choice.
Preparation:​ Identify four or five key skills that will be of most value to the company in the role
you seek. Identify and practice your success story for each of those skills.
Response:​ Immediately cut to the chase! “Based on what I know about the position, it seems
you would be most interested in my ______, ______, and ______ skills. Which one would you
like to hear first?” Offer the success story that demonstrates the skill, and then ask, “Would that
be useful in this position?” Follow up with, “What would you like to hear about next?”
Variation:​ Tell me about your background.

2. What courses do you like best in high school, and why?

Hidden Opportunity:​ To demonstrate how you can solve the interviewer’s problem and become
an asset to the company.
Preparation: ​ Assess your strengths before you begin your job search. Identify five skills you
possess that are essential for the work you seek. Include both technical skills and soft skills.
Remember that most employers are looking for computer skills, interpersonal skills, strong work
ethic, analytical skills, honesty/integrity, motivation/initiative, teamwork skills, flexibility/
adaptability. Review the job requirements and identify which key skills that you’ve learned an
enhanced through your classes will best match the employer's needs.
Response:​ Describe three key skills you’ve learned in classes that best fit the job requirements.
For each one, offer a specific example or success story from class that demonstrates your
expertise.
Variation: ​What are your key skills as they relate to this position?

3. What subjects do you like least in high school, and why?

Hidden Opportunity:​ To respond in a way that strengthens rather than weakens your candidacy.
Preparation:​ This question is easy if you’re prepared. Prior to the interview, prepare two
answers using one of the approaches below. If asked about a second weakness, tell the
interviewer you will have to think about it.
 Response:​ #1 Offer a weakness (class) that is not related to the position or that teaches
something not related to top skills and qualities of a perfect candidate.
#2 Offer a weakness that you have overcome or a class that you started out doing poorly but
greatly improved your grade.
#3 Offer a weakness (class) that is really strength. (This is the approach most commonly
attempted and the most difficult to demonstrate successfully.)
#4 Offer a weakness that the interviewer already knows about and has dismissed as
unimportant.
Variation: ​ What is your greatest weakness?

4. If I were to ask your teachers to describe you, what would they say?
Hidden Opportunity:​ To show that you work well with authority and that your current or
previous manager (teacher) respects you.
Preparation:​ If you know your manager (teacher) thinks highly of your work this is a cinch to
answer. If, on the other hand you have a less than wonderful relationship with your manager
(teacher) or he or she has been highly critical of your work you need to carefully think through
your answer to this question ahead of time.
Response:​ Be positive and identify a work habit or trait that the boss (teacher) praised you for
or at least didn’t criticize.
Variation:​ If I spoke to your previous manager (teacher), what would he or she say are your
greatest strengths and weaknesses?

5. What are your interests, strengths and weaknesses?

Hidden Opportunity:​ To focus on the employer’s agenda and demonstrate how you can solve
the interviewer’s problem.
Preparation: ​ Assess your interests and strengths before you begin your job search. Identify five
skills you possess that are essential for the work you seek. Include both technical skills and soft
skills. Review the job requirements and identify which of your key skills best match employer
requirements. Also, identify your interests to show a passion for the job and positive attitude!
Response:​ Describe three key skills that best fit the job requirements. For each one, offer a
specific example or success story demonstrating your expertise and interests.
Variation: ​What are your key skills as they relate to this position?
Hidden Opportunity:​ To respond in a way that strengthens rather than weakens your candidacy.
Preparation:​ This question is easy if you’re prepared. Prior to the interview, prepare two
answers using one of the approaches below. If asked about a second weakness, tell the
interviewer you will have to think about it.
Response:
#1 Offer a weakness that is not related to the position.
#2 Offer a weakness that you have overcome.
#3 Offer a weakness that is really strength. (This is the approach most commonly attempted and
the most difficult to demonstrate successfully.)
#4 Offer a weakness that the interviewer already knows about and has dismissed as
unimportant.
Variation: ​ What is your greatest weakness?

6. Have you ever had a conflict with a teacher or classmate? How was it resolved?
Hidden Opportunity:​ Demonstrate your professionalism and willingness to work
through conflict.
 Preparation:​ Identify one or more situations from your past when you had to work with
a difficult person and the strategies that made it easier for you to do so.
Response:​ Pick a situation that had a positive outcome. However, if the only situation
you can think of had a less than positive outcome you must describe what you learned
from the experience and how that knowledge will ensure a more positive result in the
future.
Variation: ​ Give me an example of an individual with whom you had a conflict and how
you handled it.

7. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? Describe a situation in which you did so.
Hidden Opportunity:​ For this question, it is important to demonstrate that you truly do have
motivation and that you will take initiative on the job. This means that you will do things
without being asked. Show that you have internal motivation and drive to do your best!
Preparation:​ Think of some examples of times that you have been eager to complete a task to
the best of your ability. Practice telling stories that highlight you taking initiative and being
motivated to do your best and go above and beyond.

8. What accomplishments have been most rewarding for you? Why?

Hidden Opportunity:​ Entertain the interviewer with a powerful story demonstrating why you
are the best person for the position.
Preparation:​ Practice telling success stories that highlight your accomplishments. Always
prepare more than what you think you will need!
Response:​ This is another opportunity to highlight what you can do for the company. Describe
one of your most stellar accomplishments from the last twelve months. This is your big chance.
Make the most of it! Briefly set up the problem, and then explain what you did to solve it, and
finally talk about the spectacular results you achieved. This is the time to toot your own horn!
Variation:​ Talk about a special contribution you’ve made to an employer.

9. Describe a situation in which you worked as part of a team. What role did you take on? What
went well and what didn't?
Hidden Opportunity:​ Show the employer that you know how to work with other people and
that you can take responsibility for anything that went wrong. You never want to say anything
negative about another person in an interview.
Preparation:​ Practice telling stories that highlight successful teamwork projects where you
showed leadership and communication skills. Always prepare more than you will need!
Response:​ This is another great opportunity to highlight what you can do for the company.
Describe a time when you used teamwork and leadership. You might also demonstrate
responsibility. Do not say anything negative about another person in the interview so be careful
of the “what didn’t go well” question. Try to focus on a problem that you overcame or solved to
answer this question. Explain the results that your group achieved.

10. What careers do you think you may be interested in and why?
Hidden Opportunity:​ To convince the interviewer of your interest in the current
position/company while leaving the door open for future promotions.
Preparation:​ Research the career field and carefully consider why it is potentially the right
position for you now and how it would be a springboard for future career growth.
 Response:​ Give a broad answer rather than identify a specific job. Ask what opportunities exist
in the company. Refer back to trends or new directions that your research uncovered or that
the interviewer touched upon earlier in the conversation.

11. Are you currently working part-time? What do you like about your job? What do you not like
about your job?
Hidden Opportunity:​ The things that you like about your job probably relate to your strengths,
and you want to convince the interviewer of your strengths!
Preparation: ​ Use this opportunity to be convincing with specific examples from your work
experience. Brainstorm examples of how you show your strengths on the job!
Response:​ Tell short examples of ways that you exemplify your strengths on the job. Be careful
not to talk too long or ramble. Also, when you are discussing things that you do not like about
your job, do not bad mouth your boss or co-workers. It is never a good idea to talk bad about
other people in a job interview. Be careful in how you answer this question. When discussing
things that you do not like, try to discuss tasks that you know would not be required for this
position.

12. If you are not currently working, have you had any past work experience? Tell me about that
experience.

13. What qualities should a successful employee possess?

The top skills and qualities of a perfect candidate for any job include: computer skills,
interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, analytical skills, honesty/integrity, motivation/initiative,
teamwork skills, and flexibility/adaptability.

14. Last month, how many days of school did you miss? How would you relate absence from
school and performance on the job?
You should not lie about your absences from school, however, be aware that interviewers might
relate school absenteeism to work absenteeism!

15. What things would be most important to you in a job?

Hidden Opportunity:​ Show that you are motivated by saying that you want to be challenged.
Show that you treat others with respect and would like to be treated in the same manner. Show
your values, such as honesty, strong work ethic, interpersonal skills.
Preparation: ​Think of times when you have been treated well by teachers or former employers
and how you would hope to have similar experiences in the future. This will also allow you to
show that you have strong interpersonal skills and that you were a good student/employee.

16. If I had a job opening, why should I hire you?

Hidden Opportunity:​ Demonstrate how hiring you will solve their problem.
Preparation: ​ Identify the problems and challenges facing the organization. Match your skills to
their needs and prepare specific examples of when and how you have solved similar problems in
the past.

Response:​ This is another opportunity to sell yourself! Use it! Take a moment to reflect on the
challenges the interviewer previously indicated he or she faced. Respond by explaining how you
can successfully meet those challenges.
 Variation:​ Why should we hire you over any other candidate? Ignore the “over any other
candidate” part of the question since you have no way of knowing enough about other
candidates to comment.

17. What are your plans after graduation?

Hidden Opportunity:​ Show that you are goal-oriented and that you do have realistic, specific,
and attainable goals.
Preparation:​ Brainstorm specific, realistic, attainable goals that you might achieve in the next
1-2 years.

IMPORTANT: Please remember to thank the Interviewer and SMILE. It is always appropriate to send
the interviewer a thank you note, and it will set you apart from other candidates.

A Job Interview Checklist activity

Directions​: Use this checklist to prepare for your interview. If you can answer "yes" to all the
questions, you are ready. Refer to this list before every job interview.

YES NO
___ ___ 1. I can list five things about myself that make me a good candidate for this job.

___ ___ 2. I can discuss in detail each item on my résumé or job application.

___ ___ 3. I can list the experience or skills that qualify me for this job.

___ ___ 4. I have the training or education that qualifies me for this job.

___ ___ 5. I have hobbies or activities that might help me qualify for this job.

___ ___ 6. I can write down my employment history with accurate names, addresses,
and dates for each job (if applicable).

___ ___ 7. If I am asked for personal references, I have the names and telephone
numbers of three individuals who have agreed to be my references.

___ ___ 8. I have documents needed for the interview, such as social security card or
driver's license.

___ ___ 9. I am dressed properly for the job I am applying for.

___ ___ 10. I have directions and have made transportation arrangements so I can get to
the interview on time.

___ ___ 11. I have prepared some questions to ask the interviewer.