Interview preparation

1. Interview
Workshop
How to prepare and practice for an
interview.

2. BEFORE
THE
INTERVIEW

3. Preparation
• Research the Company:
– Company website
– Social media
– News
– Other websites

4. Company Website
• Product or services
• Mission, vision statement
• Awards
• Culture
• Job description
• Employees

5. Social Media: Culture
• LinkedIn company page & interviewer personal pages
• Facebook
• Twitter
Questions to consider: Do the employees at that organization care about the
same things you care about? Will you get along?
Examples of things to look for: organizations where people bring dogs to work,
play ping pong in the middle of the workday, chef or free meals, shuttles, have
paid time off to do community service together.
Look up the people interviewing you on linkedin and bring up questions that
relate to their backgrounds later, or people you know in common.

6. News
• Google news, yahoo news… search filters
• Startups: Techcrunch, Venturebeat,
Pandodaily, Mashable,
• SF/SJ/SV Business Journal
Look for: Financials and key figures, recent or new products or
services, any mergers & acquisitions, what makes company unique.
Current events in not only the company but also their industry.

7. Other Websites
• Wikipedia
• Glassdoor: INTERVIEW TIPS!!!
• Startups: Crunchbase
Look for: employee #s, offices, founding team, funding if startup, story of how
company was created, what its growth has been and what its growth
potential is for the future
Glassdoor: prior interview tips from people who have interviewed in the past.

8. Glassdoor.com

9. Practice
• Create an accomplishment sheet
• Prepare & practice answers to most common
interview ?s
• Using your research, come up with ?s tailored
to the company AND industry to ask the
interviewer
• Using job description, prepare ?s in regards to
the role/responsibilities
• Practice interviewing with a friend

10. Interviewer Wants to See:
• A track record of high energy and team
leadership
• A demonstrated record of comparable past
performance
• A strong ability to adapt and produce results
in a new environment

11. Accomplishment Sheet
• Create a chart of each of your prior jobs, internships,
experiences (can include being an officer in an
organization)
• Take note of your major accomplishments in each role that
relate to this job
• Ensure you bring up these accomplishments when you are
being interviewed! Try to sneak them into your answers &
tie them to specific things found in the job description.
• Using job description, try to give examples of how you have
done each role/responsibility listed.
TRY TO MARKET YOURSELF BASED ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION!

13. Introduction
First Impression= VERY important
• Offer to shake hands upon meeting, smile “I’m
Sarah Clifford, it’s a pleasure to meet you”
• “Tell me about yourself”
– Explain background
– Why interested in job/ company
– Focus on recent experiences/qualifications that will
allow you to excel in the job you are interviewing for
– Tidbit about you personally in order to connect on a
person level
– Short & sweet

14. Interview Questions
• Traditional Questions
– Get to know you
– Relate to your resume
• Behavioral Questions
– Past performance to predict future performance
– Require you give specific examples
– STAR Technique

15. Traditional Questions
• What is your typical work day like? Break down into % and give examples
• What is your biggest accomplishment at work? Hiring manager wants SPECIFIC examples
• What are 2 strengths you possess? A weakness? What have you done about it? Give example
for strength. Weakness: show what you have been doing to overcome it
• What is my biggest challenge at work? Make sure it’s not an important / essential duty for
this position for which you are interviewing
• What is the most difficult thing to communicate? They are looking for you to demonstrate
leadership
• What is important in your next job? Make SPECIFIC to the job description
• Do you have any regrets with decisions you have made with your career? They are trying to
understand if you have made a definite career plan for yourself starting off and why you
made the moves you made
• What is your typical work day like? Break down into % and give examples
• What is your current salary and bonus? What do you expect from this company? DO NOT
give a specific figure, tell them you are looking for an opportunity to grow, in an exciting
company, if they really hone in on this, give a range, the recruiters job is to do the negotiating
for you
• What is the most challenging project you have worked on? Explain why it was challenging
and then show how you successfully accomplished it

16. • Tell me about a time you lead a cross functional team?
• What is your 5-year career plan? 10-year etc Don’t say you will have the interviewers job,
comes across as cocky
• Why do you want to leave your current job? Try not to say anything bad about your prior (or
current job) be positive.
• Why are you considering our company? Basically what do you know about this company,
have you researched it
• What are 5 products that this company produces / sells? Research ahead of time!
• Why are you interested in this role/company/industry?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What extracurricular activities have you been involved in? How do you spend your spare
time? What are your hobbies?
• Why should we hire you?
• Do you have any questions for me? YES always have questions!
• How do you add value to your clients?
• Why did you choose this particular role? What do you really want to do in your next career
move?
• What style of management gets the best from you?
• What interests you about our products or services?
• What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held? Which did you enjoy most?
• Are you willing to relocate? Travel?
• What does 'teamwork' mean to you?

17. Behavioral Questions
• Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your
way.
• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
• Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
• Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.
• Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
• Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.
• Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
• What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.

18. • Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual ma
y not have personally liked you (or vice versa).
• Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
• Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed.
• Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
• Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.
• Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
• Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
• Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
• Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
• Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
• Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
• Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.
• Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low)

19. STAR Technique
Situation or Task
Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish.
You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you
have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. Th
is situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience or any relevant event.
Action you took
Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Even if you are discuss
ing a group project or effort, describe what you did -- not the efforts of the team. Don't tel
l what you might do, tell what you di
Results you achieved
What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn

20. Questions for Interviewer
Show CONFIDENCE & remain positive at all times. Make sure the hiring
manager sees that you want this job!
• What are the main areas of responsibility of the position? Try
and get a % answer.
• What will be the greatest challenges? This will allow you to
demonstrate how you will add value to the organization.
• Why do the people you meet like working for your company,
Why did they come here?
• Do you have any concerns about my abilities to perform this
function? This shows you are confident, interested and allows
you to address the concern with the hiring manager.
• In your view what are some of the biggest challenges which
your company faces at this time?

21. • A detailed description of the position?
• Reason the position is available?
• Culture of company?
• Anticipated induction and training program?
• What sorts of people have done well?
• Advanced training programs available for those who
demonstrate outstanding ability.
• Earnings of those successful people in their third to
fifth year?
• Company growth plans?
• Best-selling products or services?
• The next step?

22. Top 10 Things Not to Say In a Job
Interview
1) “How much does this job pay?” Don't be the first to bring up salary
2) Don’t bad mouth your boss
3) Anything that assumes you have the job
4) “I hate my job”
5) Anything flirty
6) I have no weaknesses, just make sure the quality isn’t a big part of
the job. Show how you have worked towards improving this weakness.
7) Why have earnings dropped this past quarter? Nothing negative!
8) Can I work from home? Vacation policy? Ask after offer
9) “You will regret it if you don’t hire me”
10) “I have no questions for you”

23. Remember…
• Be able to explain reasons for leaving all prior
opportunities and ensure that the response is
positive.
• Rather than lack of opportunity at your former
employer, “I was looking for some new
challenges in my career that were not
available” is a much better answer.

24. Closing the Interview
• Always ask questions
• Leave with final statement expressing your
desire for the job
• Get interviewer’s contact information or
business card for follow up
• Firm handshake and thank them for their time
• Thank you note or email due in 48 hours!

25. THE
INTERVIEW

26. Dress to Impress
• Dress conservatively and preferably in darker
colors, pay attention to all facets of your dress
and grooming
• Go to the bathroom right before to ensure you
look presentable.

27. Make a Good Impression
• Sit upright in your chair.
• Look alert and interested at all times.
• Be a good listener as well as a good talker.
• Smile.
• Shake hands firmly
• Appear confident but not cocky
• Act as if you are determined to get the job you are
discussing, even if you are no longer interested in it.
Never close the door on opportunity. It is better to be
in the position where you can choose from a number
of jobs.

28. What to Bring
• List of references, preferably former managers
or peers (3-4)
• Resume
• Business cards
• Directions to interview location
• Notepad & pen

29. Arrive 10 minutes
EARLY!!!
• Know the exact place and time of the
interview, the interviewer's full name, the
correct pronunciation and his/her title

30. POST
INTERVIEW

31. Thank You Note
• Send out an email thank you note immediately
within 48 hours (better if 24 hours) thanking the
interviewer and reiterating your interest in the
job.
• Use your thank you note as a way to provide
information on anything regarding your
qualifications you didn't get a chance to mention
during the phone interview.
• Try to add a personal touch such as something
you guys spoke about. Ex) Upcoming ski trip