Interview Skills

Interview
A structured meeting of minimum

two people arranged to examine

the suitability of the candidate
The candidate is tested for

subject knowledge, skills and

desired behaviour in a very
limited time

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 and
the profile is right
for you.

Types of Interviews
Telephonic: An initial screening of candidates

or to narrow the pool of applicants or the final

step
One-on-One: Most common interview style
used by potential employers
Panel : allows many individuals to interview
you at once
Meal: used to see how you interact or function
in a social setting
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

Types of Interviews
Structured interview
Stress interview
Depth Interview
Group Interview

Pre-Interview Preparation
Know yourself and be able to articulate

skills, strengths, accomplishments, and

career goals
Research position, company, & industry
Prepare necessary materials
Ask for directions and where to park

Interview preparation
Interviewers assess:
- Clarity
- Depth
- Personality
- Application of concepts to real-life situations
- Communication skills

- Attitude

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

Greeting & Introduction

Only 1 chance to make a good 1st
impression
Dress appropriately
Perfumes
Smile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshake
Remain poised and confident
Tone

Body Language:
Positive Signals

Negative Signals

Leaning forward =

Crossed arms =

interest
Smiling = friendly
Nodding = attentive
and alert
Eye contact = curious
and focused

defensive
Fidgeting hands or
tapping feet = nervous
or bored
Lack of eye contact =
untrustworthy
Leaning back=
discomfort

Types of Interview
Questions
Tell me about yourself?
Standard or
traditionaltargeting your
education, work
experiences, and
career goals

What are your

strengths? Weakness?
Why did you choose to
interview with us?
What did you like most
about your last job?
Least?
What are your short
and long term career
goals?

Types of Interview
Questions
Behavioral
Questions
-These focus on your
actions and/or
behaviors in a
previous setting.
- Past behavior
provides clues to
future behavior

Sample Questions
Describe a time you had
to make a difficult
decision?
Tell me about a time you
worked under a
deadline?
What do you do when a
team member is not
pulling his/her weight?
Think about a time you
made a mistake. What
did you learn from it?

Types of Interview
Questions
Sample Questions
Inappropriate or
unethical questions
- Questions which probe
into your private life or
personal background
- Questions about your
ethnicity, religion,
sexual orientation,
disabilities, marital
status

How old are you?

Do you have

children?
Do you have a
disability?
What religion do
you practice?

Types of Interview
Questions
Sample Questions
Questions asked by
the interviewee
To determine if you
are an appropriate
fit for the company
and position,
prepare a list of
questions for the
interviewer

What type of assignments

can I expect within the

first year?
What do you like most
about this company?
What is the biggest
challenge facing this
department right now?
What skills are you looking
for in this position?
What is the next course of
action?

Dos
If provided a form, fill out neatly.
Do greet the interviewer & do shake

hands firmly.
Do make good eye contact with your
interviewer(s)
Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself
Do show enthusiasm
Do make sure that your good points
come across to the interviewer in a
factual sincere manner
Do stress your achievements

Donts
Dont ever lie. Answer questions

truthfully, frankly and to the point.

Dont answer questions with a simple
yes or no. Explain whenever
possible. Give examples.
Avoid negative statements or
complaining.
Dont leave unfinished sentences.
Avoid indecisive phrases like: I think,
I guess, probably.
Avoid answering a question if you are
not clear.

Interview Evaluation
Confidence
Interest
Initiative
Sincerity
Tact
Result Orientation
Positive Attitude
Aptitude
Team Player
General Ability

General Interview
Strategies
-Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences
--Provide specific and concrete examples of your
results/accomplishments
-Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident
throughout the interview process

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

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!

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
Get a good nights sleep-be well rested and alert for the
interview
Be relaxed and be yourself!

FOLLOW-UP
Ask good questions
Thank the interviewer
Inquire about next steps in the process

FOLLOW-UP
Send a thank you note

within 24 hours
Letter may be
handwritten or typed; email is also acceptable
Tailor each one to the
individual.

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?

Why I got Rejected?

Vague and irrelevant answers to the questions
Very fidgety: little eye contact; nervous mannerism,

such as playing with hair, nail biting etc.

Utter superficial remarks to impress the interviewer

project work