Interviewing



Interviewing Basics

Just the thought of interviewing for a job or internship can make many students extremely nervous.  You may imagine yourself sitting across from an employer, palms sweaty, breath uneven, mind racing, while the interviewer drills you relentlessly with question after difficult question.   If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.


Interview Questions

Obviously, the interviewer’s goal is to hire the best person for the job.  To do so, the focus is typically on three issues: can you do the job, will you do the job, and will you fit in with the team.  Your answers need to be honest, thorough, and substantive.  Similar to the bullets on your resume that describe your experiences in detail, you need to back up your interview answers with specific, tangible examples.


Case Interviews

Some fields, like consulting, use the case interview technique to screen candidates.  Unlike traditional behavioral questions that focus on your past experiences and accomplishments, case interviews focus on the way you think and how you go about addressing complex issues and solving problems.


Lunch/Dinner Interviews

Being interviewed by an employer in a restaurant setting carries with it some unique challenges.  Though you may feel more relaxed being interviewed over a meal, do not forget that this is a very important part of the interview. 


Phone Interviews

Many employers will conduct their first round interviews via the phone. These interviews typically last from 15-60 minutes, and are used as a precursor to an in-person interview. Since so much of how and what we communicate is done non-verbally, the phone interview can present some unique challenges.


Informational Interviewing

One of the most effective ways to explore and learn about different careers and to make contacts is to talk to people who are already working in the fields you are curious about.