Interviews

Every company has its own way of conducting job interviews. However, there are a few ways that are commonly used.

Individual Interview –

This is one of the most common types of interviews and probably the type of interview you are expecting. You and the hiring manager meet one-on-one.

Panel –

This is becoming more common. In this setting, two or more people interview the applicant. Typically the interviewers will rotate asking you questions. This practice is often used to help ensure fair hiring practices.

Group –

Group interviews are not common and are often used when filling sales or internship positions. In this setting, many applicants are interviewed at the same time. Companies use this type of interview to pre-screen applicants who move on to a second interview.

Phone –

Phone interviews are becoming more common. You will receive a phone call from the hiring manager or their representative and they will ask you some questions. If they like what they hear, you will often be offered a more formal interview. In rare cases, you may be offered the job on the spot.

Video –

As the world has moved to using virtual platforms to conduct business, video interviews are becoming commonplace, particularly for jobs in office environments. In this setting, instead of meeting in person, you will meet via video. A video interview could be conducted as an individual interview or a panel interview.

After you submit your job application, resume and cover letter the waiting begins. When a manager likes what they see, they will usually give you a call to see if you are still interested in the position. They may ask you some questions (phone screen/interview) and then ask to schedule a time for a formal interview. How you handle yourself on this call matters.

• Always be friendly and professional – Every time you interact with the employer, you are making an impression.

• If they called you at a bad time, ask if you can call them back – If you are at the bowling alley with friends, or there are screaming kids around, it is better to get the caller’s contact information and call them back. Trust me, it is better to do that than to be distracted by all of the commotion in the background. Then, be sure to call back when you say your are going to call back.

• Smile when you are speaking – That may sound strange since the person on the other end of the phone can’t see you, but smiling when you speak actually impacts the way your voice sounds. Try it.

• Confirm the address for the interview site – The interview location may be different from the location you will be working if hired. You don’t want to show up at the wrong place on the day of your interview.

• Ask about the type of interview that will be conducted (individual, panel, group) – This information will help you better prepare for your interview.

• Make sure to get the name and phone number for the person you should call regarding the interview – You want to make sure you are able to reach the right person if you need to reschedule the interview or are running late for the interview.

Now it is time to do your homework and prepare for the interview.

Research the company – Pull out the information you gathered to write your cover letter. Be sure you know what they do, their mission, and their values. This information is good to include in your responses to questions when it fits. You can use the keywords in your answers to their interview questions.

Plan your commute to the interview – Use Google maps to determine how long it will take you to get to your interview and what the best route is. Schedule your departure time in your calendar and be sure to include extra time for traffic or public transit delays.

Plan what you will wear – Check out our Dress for Success page for tips.

Practice interviewing – It is incredibly helpful to do a mock interview before you show up for the real thing. Find someone to “interview” you; ideally, someone who has experience hiring people.

Make sure your online presence is positive and leaves a good impression – Check out our Job Search page to review tips about your online presence.

Think about a couple of follow-up questions that you can ask at the end of your interview – At the end of most interviews you will be given the opportunity to ask questions. When you ask a good follow-up question, it shows that you are serious about wanting the job. Your questions should never be about benefits. Good questions should be about the organization or what the ideal candidate looks like to them. Example: What qualities does your ideal candidate possess?

Have strong references – Make sure you have spoken to the people you have listed as references. Let them know that you are scheduled for an interview and that they may be getting a call.

You are probably wondering what questions you will be asked during your interview.

Each company has its own approved questions. Some companies stick to questions about your skills and experience while others ask behaviorally based questions (how you will behave in certain situations). Truth be told, there are several types of questions that can be asked during an interview.

While there is no way to predict what an interviewer will ask you in a live interview; there are some sites that can help you have a general idea of what might be asked. Here are some strategies to select some practice questions.

→ Research on Google – Google is a powerful search engine that does a great job providing results for general questions. Try entering “interview questions for XYZ Company” in the search bar. If it is a well-known company, you are more than likely to get some reasonable results. If it is not a well-known company, try putting something like, “interview questions for florist jobs”.

→ Research the company on Glassdoor.com – Glassdoor is a great resource. They strive to provide workplace transparency. You can find job postings, employee reviews, and sample interview questions on Glassdoor. A free account must be set up to access site content.

Here is a list of 15 practice questions to get you started.

1. What are your strengths?

2. What are your weaknesses?

3. What situations make you feel tense or nervous?

4. How do people know when you are upset?

5. Tell us about a time when you had to work on a team?

6. How would you handle a customer who is angry?

7. What is your definition of customer services?

8. Tell us about a time that you provided excellent customer service?

9. Why do you want this job?

10. Tell me about yourself.

11. What motivates you?

12. How do you do working under pressure?

13. What are your goals for the future?

14. Have you ever disagreed with a manager? If so, what was the situation and how did you handle it?

15. What is your greatest personal achievement?

It is normal to be nervous on the day of the interview. People who have had several jobs are still nervous when they interview.

Breathe – This is the simplest thing you can do. Make sure you are breathing so you can reduce the stress your body feels.

Review the information you gathered when you did your research – Take a few minutes to review the company’s mission and vision. This will make it easier to remember during the interview, allowing you to use some of those keywords.

Review your answers to the interview questions you practiced – You can’t predict exactly which questions you are going to be asked in the interview. However, making sure you are able to answer some of the most commonly asked questions will help you do better during the live experience.

Don’t rush – Give yourself enough time to get ready and get to your interview with time to spare. Feeling rushed increases stress.

Be on time for your interview – It is ideal to be about 10 minutes early for your interview. Being too early is not good and being late sends a bad message.