How To Interview

How To
Interview
by Eric R. Anderson






Provided by Capital University Career Services
Campus Center, Lower Level, 614/236-6606
www.capital.edu/careers careerservices@capital.edu

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H O W T O I N T E R V I E W

?2005 Eric R. Anderson




Three Distinct Parts of the Interview Process


1. Preparation before the Interview


2. The interview itself


3. Follow-up after the interview


Each of these parts is essential.



This can be scary. You can be the best person for the job, but if you don’t make a good
impression in the interview, you can lose your chance at the position.

If you think you’re just going to go in there and have a casual conversation with the interviewer,
you’re likely to fail. You need to prepare for the interview by planning a strategy.
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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P R E P A R A T I O N B E F O R E T H E I N T E R V I E W


Know yourself and your reasons for wanting this job

By the time you interview, you must know yourself very well. You must be aware of your skills and
interests. You must be aware of your liabilities. You must be aware of the kind of job that you want.
This is the most important knowledge that you can have. The interviewers will be able to tell whether
you are really aware of your qualities. Those who exhibit good self-knowledge will be ahead of those
who don't.

If you need help in this area, come to Career Services. We'll show you self-assessment materials that
you can use to learn more about yourself (your values, interests, and skills).


Know the organization

Another essential part of your preparation is thoroughly researching the company. Get to know as much
as you can about a company before the relatively rapid interview and decision-making process. Don't
make the interview a blind date.

What to look for when researching:

Size
of
organization
Potential
growth
areas
Product lines and/or services


Competitors
Clients and their products



Type of training program
Promotional path or career path in your field
Trends/major issues in your field


Where to find the information (all resources listed are in Capital's library):

• Vault.com (go to Career Services home page and click the link)
• Annual
Reports
• ABI Inform (1st floor of Capital library--use this to find articles on specific employers)
• Lexus/Nexus, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe (or through our library=s web site)
(You can find up-to-date industry and company/organization news, including
articles about specific employers)
• Index of Wall Street Journal Articles
• Standard and Poor’s Directories
• Moody’s
Manuals
• Ward's Business Directories
• Ohio Industrial Directory
• Specific professional journals/publications

Capital's library has more resources for locating information on specific organizations including on-line
databases. Ask a librarian to show you where they are and how to use them!
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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Read corporate information and current news information about the companies. Call people whom you
know in order to get the name and phone number of someone who works for the company! Find out if
any Capital alumni work there!

The interviewer will respect and trust you much more if you have taken the time to learn about the
organization. This shows preparation and a true interest on your part. You must show an intelligent
interest in them! If you don't research an organization, how can you know whether or not you
want to work there?


Simply being informed about an employer doesn’t guarantee a successful interview
unless you can effectively use the information. It is only helpful when you know how to
tactfully Aweave@ your knowledge into the interview instead of spouting out facts or
statistics.




Practice responses to possible
Practice the interview
questions


If possible, stage a mock interview with a Career
Although it isn't good to have "canned" answers Services staff member, a faculty member, or a
that you blurt out when asked, it is a good idea
friend. By doing this, you can try out some of
to review some of the most common questions.
your answers, and receive feedback on the way
That way, you can calmly remember what you
that you present yourself. You can also learn
want to say. You have a better chance of
about any distracting habits, which can then be
speaking without forgetting. A list of popular
eliminated before you interview. Some people
questions can be found on the back page of this find it helpful to videotape or audiotape mock
booklet.
interviews.


For more comprehensive lists of possible

interview questions, see Knock 'Em Dead, by
Get dressed
Martin Yate.


Yes, you must wear clothes. In general, dress

conservatively. Men should wear a suit, tie, and
Practice questions that you will ask them a plain shirt (usually white is your best bet).

Women should wear a suit or blazer/skirt
You will be expected to have some intelligent
combination. You want the interviewer to
questions to ask. Don't enter into a relationship remember you, not your clothing, your hair, your
without first asking questions of your potential
jewelry, or your cologne/perfume. If you don't
partner. A list of possible questions can be
already have a couple of good interview outfits,
found on page 15 of this booklet.
go to a good store and buy a versatile set of

interview clothes and shoes. Keep these items
In addition to these, develop specific questions
specifically for interviewing.
about the company based on information that

you have read in newspapers, magazines, and

annual reports.
Arrive



Arrive between 5 and 10 minutes early for the
Learn about the interview
interview. If you come too early they won't know

what to do with you. Sit in your car for a few
If possible, find out how long the interview will
minutes if you have to. If you arrive late, you'll
be. Will you talk with one person, or more?
be seen as irresponsible.
What are the names and positions of the
interviewers?

© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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T H E I N T E R V I E W


The introduction

You should know the interviewer's name, and how to pronounce it. When meeting this person for the
first time, be sure that you look at the interviewer and say, "Good morning, Ms. Steele", or "Good
afternoon, Mr. Brandt".

Shake hands with a firm grip, but not one that crushes bones. You are expected to shake the
recruiter’s hand upon being introduced; don’t be afraid to extend your hand first. Palms sweating?
Unobtrusively wipe them first.


Strategy

Two guidelines are (1) Be yourself, and (2) Think of the interview as both a selling and a matching
process. You and the employer are trying to determine whether you are a good match for each other.
You both want to make the best decision. You must know yourself well enough to give the employer a
good idea of who you are and what you are like. The employer must know the company and work
environment well enough to give you a good idea of what it is like to work there.

Your roles change during the process. In the interviews, you are selling yourself to the employers.
When they are ready to make an offer to you (not until you’ve been invited back for a second interview),
the tables turn; they are trying to sell the position to you. This is why you should defer discussion of
salary and benefits until you are offered the position. It is at this point that you can actually negotiate
from a position of strength.



Length of time

Interviews come in all lengths of time. They can range from fifteen minutes to a couple of hours. The
most common for you will probably be 30 minute interviews. You may also have several of these
interviews in a row, within one day of interviewing. This is especially true if you have Amade it@ through
the screening interview and have been invited back for more in-depth interviewing.

A typical structure is:

FIVE minutes - Small talk.

FIFTEEN minutes - A discussion of your background and credentials as they relate to the
employer’s needs. In the screening interview, the employer might go into detail about their
organization.

FIVE minutes - You ask questions.

FIVE minutes - Conclusion of interview.
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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The first few minutes

First impressions ARE the most important, and these first few minutes (or seconds) could be crucial for
you. Most interviewers make an immediate judgment about you. Stand up straight, smile, think things
through before you say them, and be yourself. Relax if you can, but don't let your guard down.

The interviewer usually wants to put you at ease. He or she will get better information from you if you
are not tense. It is during this period of time that the interviewer may ask some simple questions about
your background, or comment on a common interest that you have listed on your resume. Even though
small talk seems relaxed, it has a definite purpose. They may be judging how well you communicate
on an informal basis. This means you must do more than smile and nod.



The time in the middle

This is the time for questions, both from the interviewer and from you. In the next section, I will discuss
some different ways in which questions might be asked.



The last few minutes

This is usually an opportunity for you to say anything or ask anything that you were unable to address
earlier in the interview. If you think that you screwed up, this is the time to redeem yourself. If the
conversation was dominated by the interviewer and you were unable to talk about yourself, or ask
some questions, this is a good time to do that.

Before you leave the interview, you must remember to ask: "What is the next step in this process?" If
you do not ask this question, you will probably wait a week and then start to call friends and ask for
their advice on whether or not you should call the company and inquire about your status. You can
avoid all of that by asking the question, and then following up. For instance, if the response is, "We'll
call you within two weeks,@ you can ask, "If I don't hear from you within two weeks, may I call?" Press
them gently for specific information that will guide the way in which you should act.

If you know that you really want the job, and you feel that you are a great candidate for the position, you
can say so! Say something like, "I am very interested in this position, and I'm confident that I would do
a great job [Be specific here...why are you so sure? Briefly name two or three key qualifications]."
Then say, ”I hope that you offer the position to me." Shake the recruiter’s hand and thank him or her
for considering you.

If you clearly have no interest in the position, thank the interviewer, and explain that after learning more
about the job, you realize that it isn't a good match. The interviewer will appreciate it.


Never leave the interview without knowing the recruiter’s name (including correct spelling), title and
address. Ask for a business card! This information will be invaluable when you begin your
correspondence with the organization.
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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D I F F E R E N T T Y P E S O F I N T E R V I E W S


There are a number of different interview styles, and you should be prepared for any of them, even
though some are rare. Never be caught off-guard.


The structured interview

The interviewer asks questions from a sheet of paper, and writes responses in spaces provided on the
sheet.

If the interviewer is taking questions from a sheet of paper, chances are you will have prepared for
similar questions. It is important that your answers are complete, yet concise; no more than one or two
minutes each. This interviewer needs to complete a series of specific questions, and you should try to
make that as easy as possible.

Another kind of structured interview is The Behavioral Interview. In this type, the interviewer asks for
specific situations in which a desired characteristic or behavior was exhibited. He or she is using past
behaviors to predict future behavior/performance on the job. For example, if the job for which you are
interviewing requires that you work without supervision, you may be asked to relate an experience in
which you were given a project or task to complete without any direct guidance from a supervisor. If
the interviewer wants to know how you handle adversity, you may be asked for an experience in which
you had to explain something to someone and failed in your first attempt.


The non-structured interview

This occurs when the interviewer knows what information is needed, in general, and lets your
responses take them in the direction of the questions that they need to ask. Many interviewers conduct
these because they can learn much more about you from the way that you respond in a more informal
interviewing situation than from your responses to overused interview questions.

You can prepare for this type of interview by carefully thinking through what kind of person you are,
how you react in different circumstances, what kinds of qualities you are looking for in a job, and what
you think they are looking for in an employee. If you don't know what specific qualities you are hoping
to find in the perfect job match, it's okay to say that you are looking for a job in which you can grow and
learn about a particular field while contributing to the organization. Be honest without disqualifying
yourself.


The stress interviews

There are many kinds of stress questions and interviews. You'll find two examples on the next page.
For a comprehensive list of stress questions, see Knock 'Em Dead, by Martin Yate.

Example 1: You have 30 minutes. Tell me why I should hire you.
The purpose of this type of question is to see how you react to stress, not whether you can talk about
yourself for 30 minutes. You should tell briefly (less than five minutes) why you are appropriate for the
job. After this, change the focus of the interview. "There are a few questions that I'd like to ask you" is
a good way to change it. Refer to your sheet of questions, and begin a dialogue with the interviewer.
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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Example 2: They sit and stare at you after you've answered the question.
This is another attempt to observe your behavior under stress. If you are nervous and unsure of
yourself, you'll likely cave in to the pressure. You might continue to talk, thinking that interviewers stare
because they want you to say more. You might sit silently, waiting for the next question.

If you feel that you have answered a question completely, and an interviewer continues to look silently
at you, do not be uncomfortable (or at least don't look it!) Prepare yourself with additional comments or
information about yourself. Be bold! Change the subject! You'll show your social skills and your
initiative!

Additional stress questions from Knock 'Em Dead:
!What's your greatest weakness?
!Are you willing to take calculated risks when necessary?
!See this pen I'm holding? Sell it to me.
!What's the worst thing you've heard about our company?
!Tell me about a time when you put your foot in your mouth.
!What did you dislike about your last employer?
!I'm not sure you're suitable for the job.

The windbag interview

The interviewer dominates the conversation, even after asking questions of you. For instance, "What
kind of work environment are you looking for? (and then, without pausing) Let me tell you about the
work environment here...”They end up telling you about their experience and what they are looking for,
but don't give you a chance to tell them anything about yourself.

This is dangerous, because at the end of the interview they will know nothing about you. They can't
easily consider you for the position because they don't yet know you.

The solution: Even windbags need to inhale. During an appropriate breath, interject with a comment,
like: "You mentioned speaking skills...I've obtained speaking experience in classroom presentations
and in programs that I have facilitated as a Resident Assistant at Capital University." Then continue to
describe your experiences so that you will leave the interviewer with a solid impression of you.

Telephone Interviews

Be prepared for the telephone interview. It is used often as a screening device because it is
inexpensive to conduct. Sometimes they are set up in advance, and other times you will be surprised
during lunch by a recruiter on the phone. Some things to remember are:

• Avoid babbling or lapsing into trite language to stall for time while you think.
• Instead, say, "Let me think about that,@ and be quiet for five seconds.
• Talk into the phone using your mouth, not your chin.
• Stand up. You'll sound better.
• Smile. It will reflect in your voice.
• Keep a copy of your resume in front of you.
• Take notes, especially on the key points you want the employer to know about you, and refer to
them when you need to during the interview.
• Think before you talk. We’re often conditioned to Athink out loud@ on the phone.
• Say that you are interested (if you are) in the position, and that you’d like to visit the company.
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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O T H E R I N T E R V I E W I S S U E S

Types of Interviewers

In the interviews, you might be talking with your future boss, a colleague, or a member of the support
staff. You will want to react differently to each one. Consider what each of your interviewers will want
to know about you.


Illegal Questions

You need to be prepared for these questions. In case you're not familiar with them, these are
questions like, "Are you married?”, "Do you have plans for (marriage/ children) in the future?", "Would
you describe yourself as religious?". Your choices for a response may seem limited:
(1) answer the question and compromise your values, or
(2) refuse to answer and lose a chance at a job
My suggestion in most cases is to answer the question that they are really asking. For instance, if the
interviewer asks, "Do you have plans to have children?", they are most likely really concerned about
how long you will be working there, and whether you will have problems coming to work on time in the
future. You respond, "My personal life will not affect my job performance." It answers the question
without compromising your values.

I am just touching on this subject here. For a comprehensive response to this important topic, see:
Knock 'Em Dead.


Salary Requirements and Offers

If asked what salary you require, you don’t want to be high and scare them, and you don’t want to be so
low that you undersell yourself. Try to avoid being the first to state an amount. If an interviewer asks
you about your salary requirements (this usually doesn't happen until at least the second interview),
you can ask them for the salary range for the position. They will usually tell you. If it seems fine, tell
the interviewer that the range meets your expectations. Later, when they offer a specific salary, you
can negotiate. At times you may have to cope with more complex situations. For a complete overview
of salary negotiation, see Knock >Em Dead.

!Your compensation includes more than just salary--consider the whole package (vacation, insurance,
etc.).

!You can ask for a couple of days to think about an offer (after you've confirmed to the employer that
you are interested in the position). Ask them, Awhen is a decision required?”
© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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F O L L O W - U P A F T E R T H E I N T E R V I E W

Within one day, send a thank you letter to the person who interviewed you. If two people interviewed
you, send two different letters. (see examples on next two pages).

If several people interviewed you, you can generally send one letter to the main person who is
supervising the selection process. Thank this person for the interview and for the other interviews, and
ask him/her to extend your appreciation to the other interviewers.

The letter should be typed (the informational interview thank you letter can be an exception to this).

The following is a good format:





Your
Address

City, State, Zip Code
Date

Interviewer’s Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. _______________________,

Thank him/her for he interview. Mention the position for which you interviewed and
the date of the interview.

Reinforce your interest in the position if you are still interested or inform them that
you are no longer interested, if that is the case. It is a good idea to respond in
either situation. If possible, mention something significant that you learned or
discussed in the interview. You may add any additional information you wish in
order to clarify pertinent aspects of your resume.

Let the interviewer know that if they need any additional information, they can
contact you by phone or email. (List your contact information).

Sincerely,


(Your signed name)


Your typed name


© Eric R. Anderson, Capital University
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