The Ins and Outs of

Interviewing

Saint Louis University Care

er Services
Interviewing-What is it?

- A structured
meeting between
you and an
employer
- Interviewing is a
skill- like riding
your bike
- PRACTICE makes
PERFECT
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Interviewing is a two-way street

- Employers are
attempting to
determine if you
are an appropriate
fit for the job and
their culture
- You decide if the
environment is
right for you.

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 Types of Interviews

Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to

narrow the pool of applicants
One-on-One: most common interview style and
incorporates you with the potential employer
Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview
you at once
Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a
social setting
Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a
tour of the facility, meet the staff, and additional
questioning from different employees and/or
administration

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Pre-Interview Preparation

Research position, company, & industry

Know yourself and be able to articulate
skills, strengths, accomplishments, and
career goals
Prepare necessary materials (Copies of
resume, references, portfolio/pen, palm
pilot or organizer, breath mints)
Ask for directions and where to park

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Arriving

Be sure to allow yourself plenty of

time to arrive at your destination
(you may want to conduct a dry run
prior to your interview day)
Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at
the site to allow you to park, walk to
the interview, use the restroom, or
just gather yourself
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Greeting & Introduction

Only 1 chance to make a

good 1st impression
Dress appropriately
Smile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshake
Remain poised and
confident

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 Body Language:
What signals are you sending?
Positive Signals Negative Signals
Leaning forward = Crossed arms =
interest defensive
Smiling = friendly Fidgeting hands or
Nodding = attentive tapping feet = nervous
and alert or bored
Eye contact = curious Lack of eye contact =
and focused untrustworthy
Leaning back=
discomfort
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Types of Interview Questions

Standard or Sample Questions

Tell me about yourself?
traditional- What is your greatest
strength? Weakness?
targeting your
Why did you choose to
education, work interview with us?
experiences, and What did you like most
career goals about your last job? Least?
What are your short and
long term career goals?

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Types of Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions Sample Questions

Describe a time you had
-These focus on your to make a difficult
actions and/or decision?
behaviors in a Tell me about a time you
worked under a deadline?
previous setting. What do you do when a
- Past behavior team member is not pulling
his/her weight?
provides clues to
Think about a time you
future behavior made a mistake. What did
you learn from it?

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Types of Interview Questions

Inappropriate or Sample Questions

unethical questions
How old are you?
- Questions which probe
into your private life or Do you have
personal background children?
- Questions about your Do you have a
ethnicity, religion, disability?
sexual orientation,
disabilities, marital What religion do
status you practice?

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Types of Interview Questions

Questions asked by Sample Questions

What type of assignments
the interviewee can I expect within the
first year?
To determine if you
What do you like most
are an appropriate about this company?
fit for the company What is the biggest
challenge facing this
and position, department right now?
prepare a list of What skills are you looking
for in this position?
questions for the
What is the next course of
interviewer action?

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General Interview Strategies

-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your

experiences
-Master the art of storytelling
-Provide specific and concrete examples of
your results/accomplishments
-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and
confident throughout the interview process

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General Interview Strategies

Remember an interview is a formal

conversation--avoid filler words like “Um”,
“Ah”, & “You know”
Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I
guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good”
Think before speaking
Avoid long verbose answers--limit your
response to 1-2 minutes
If you do not hear or understand a question,
ask them to repeat or clarify it for you
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General Interview Strategies

Remain calm,
relaxed, and be
yourself
Try to focus on the
message you are
trying to convey--
NOT how well you
are doing!

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Dressing for Success-Men

Suit-Single or double
breasted
Polished shoes
Solid white shirt
Conservative tie
Neatly groomed hair,
beard, and mustache
Avoid strong colognes,
earrings, and body
piercing

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Dressing for Success-Women

Pant or skirt suit

Pumps with small to
medium heels
Light makeup,
perfume, and
jewelry
Wear neutral color
hosiery

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 FOLLOW-UP

Ask good questions

Thank the interviewer

Request a business card

Inquire about next steps in the process

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 FOLLOW-UP CONT

Send a thank you

note within 24
hours
Letter may be
handwritten or
typed; e-mail is also
acceptable
Tailor each one to
the individual.
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Final Thoughts

Remember that only 15% of the

success of an interview is out of your
control
Take some time to reflect
- Overall, how well did I do?
- What went well?
- What steps can I take next time to
improve?
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 Suggestions

Conduct a test run the day before the interview

Practice! Practice! Practice!
•Obtain a list of practice interview questions and jot down short
answers
• Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers
•Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with Career
Services
Get a good night’s sleep-be well rested and alert for the
interview
Be relaxed and be yourself!

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Need additional help?
Call (314) 977-2828 or
email careers@slu.edu to
schedule a mock interview
Stop by during our walk-in
hours to meet with a peer
advisor if you have a quick
question
Schedule an appointment
with a career counselor if
you have a concern about
your career or job search

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