Interviewing

Big Interview - A free online interview available to our students. Log in via Handshake to create your free account. We strongly recommend that you use this tool to practice before scheduling practice interviews with employers.

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Career Services hosts thousands of job interviews each year, open only to students registered with Handshake. Log into your Handshake account, make sure your profile is updated, and click on Employers to access the interview schedule and see who's looking to hire you!

(Prepare by attending an "Interviewing with Confidence" workshop or by using Big Interview)

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Review and follow these guidelines to increase your effectiveness in employment interviewing.

Step 1: Know the organization

If you want employers to take interest in you, show interest in them by demonstrating a knowledge of:

• The position you're interviewing for
• The prospective employer
• The employer's industry

A few places to find this information:

• Employer websites
• Professional associations
• Annual reports
• Current employees
• Friends and family
• Magazines and newspapers 

Step 2: Know yourself

What are your top skills and strengths? You may want to emphasize 3 or 4 of these points when responding to interview questions.

Examples:

• I have strong sales experience.
• I am self-motivated.
• I work well in teams.

Illustrate each of your key points with a clear, relevant example. Also, be prepared to answer common interview questions, such as:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you choose to major in X?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What are your career ambitions?
• What motivates you?
• Why should we hire you?

Questions like these help interviewers assess your "fit" for the job and the organization (see more sample questions). The content of your responses shows how well you know yourself.

Step 3: Convey professionalism

Behaving professionally communicates that you're a serious applicant.

• Dress professionally and conservatively
• Arrive about 10 minutes early for an interview
• Be confident and approachable
• Smile, make eye contact, and use a firm handshake
• Be positive when describing your experiences

Step 4: Communicate with impact

A. The S/TAR method

Interviewers want to hear about specific experiences you have had. Structure your responses using the S/TAR method.

• S/T = Situation / Task (Briefly describe the context in which the behavior or action took place)
• A = Action  (Specifically explain the action you took to handle the situation)
• R = Result (Most importantly, describe the result or impact of your action)

For example:

Interviewer: "Tell me about a time when you demonstrated initiative."

Job candidate: "Last spring, I decided I wanted a summer internship, and I knew it was up to me to make it happen (Situation / Task). So I contacted a hiring manager I had met earlier in the year, and I told him how I might contribute to the organization through an internship. We came up with an arrangement that worked for both of us (Action). By the end of the summer, I had created a comprehensive procedures manual, which is now used by the entire organization. My supervisor said my work should save his department several hundred hours per year (Result).

B. Practice and prepare to answer questions

• Map out your answers to the most common interview questions.
• Practice saying your answers out loud.
• Practice making eye contact to convey confidence and respect.

C. Be prepared to ask questions

Also be prepared to ask questions, to build on what you've already learned about the position, the organization, and the industry. A few sample questions you might ask:

• How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?
• What would be expected of this person during the first few months on the job?
• What are the daily tasks and responsibilities of this position?
• What opportunities for advancement (or development) exist in this position?
• What are the biggest challenges currently facing your organization (or industry)?
• Could you describe the interviewing process for this position? What is your expected time frame for making a hiring decision?

You may need to wait until the end of the session to ask your questions. Also note that asking about salary and benefits is generally considered to be out of place during a first interview.

Step 5: Finish strong

If you are interested in the organization, be sure to communicate your enthusiasm before you leave the interview. Ask for the interviewer's card so you can follow up. Thank the interviewer and project confidence as you shake hands to say goodbye. A strong closing leaves a good final impression.

Always send the interviewer a brief thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview. Use email when appropriate or when time is critical. If you do not hear from the organization within a reasonable amount of time, it is appropriate to call and ask about the status of the interviewing process.

Highlight Your International Experience

Today's employers are seeking out culturally diverse and experienced employees who can work effectively in an increasingly global marketplace. SDSU's Career Services and College of Business have compiled information to help you highlight your international experience in an interview, cover letter, or resumé.

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Practice and prepare to answer common interview questions like the ones below.  Practice saying your answers out loud and making eye contact to convey confidence and respect.

• Tell me about yourself.
• What is your major? Do you like it? Why or why not?
• Where do you see yourself five years from now?
• Why are you seeking a position in this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• What contributions can you make to our company?
• What are your plans for continuing your professional growth?
• What kind of work environment are you most comfortable in?
• What type of position are you most interested in?
• What have you learned from some of the previous jobs / positions you have held?
• Give me an example of a work situation in which you were not proud of your performance. What did you learn from this situation?
• What quality or qualities do you have that would enhance our staff?
• Describe any school experience you have had that has prepared you for a full-time position at our school.
• Tell me about a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it.
• What four words would you use to describe yourself?
• What do you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why should this company hire you?
• What questions haven’t I asked you that you would like to answer?
• Do you have any questions for me?

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An informational interview is one of the most effective ways to meet people in a professional field of your interest. It gives you the opportunity to gather information whether you are still undecided about your major, or in the first stages of your job search. Informational interviews are arranged with professionals who can provide the information directly, or who can refer you to others.

Follow these 6 steps to an informational interview:

Step 1: Assess your interests

Your first step is to identify an occupation / industry you wish to learn more about. Assess your own interests, skills, values, and know how they relate to the career field represented by any person(s) you plan to interview. Review these Assessment Tools to get started.

Step 2: Gather information and learn all you can

Your next step is to read all you can about your areas of interest. This should be done prior to any interview. Check print materials found in the Career Resource Room for advice, industry guides, articles, and company websites. Then decide what additional information you need to obtain about the occupation / industry.

Step 3: Prepare a list of questions

Questions should include information on background, work environment, problems, lifestyle, rewards, salary, promotional potential, industry, advice, demands, hiring decisions, and job market. Make sure your questions are well thought out, and prepare to deliver them in a professional manner. Examples:

• What was your college major, and how did it prepare you for this position?
• How does your position fit within the organization / industry / career field?
• What do you like most and least about this position?
• What is the profile of the person most recently hired at my level? How could I prepare for a similar career?
• What are some of the current issues related to this field?
• What trade journals, magazines, or professional associations would be helpful to my professional development?

Step 4: Identify potential people to interview

Identifying the right people starts with a list of people you already know: friends, neighbors, relatives, fellow students, faculty, professional associations, present or former coworkers and supervisors. Also, use your career and job fairs to gather business cards and talk with representatives. They will be interested in you and will possibly contact you with someone who would be willing to do an informational interview.

Step 5: Making contact

To make contact, you should:

• Send a letter or email requesting a brief informational interview (15 to 20 minutes). Clearly indicate the purpose of the meeting and communicate that there will be no job expectation.
• Follow this up with a telephone call to confirm, schedule the appointment, and determine where you are to meet. Make sure the meeting will take place in a professional setting during daytime hours.

Remember that the best way to obtain an informational interview is by being referred from one professional to another. If you ask, this person may even make the appointment for you.

Step 6: The interview

When conducting your interview, remember it is always best to:

• Dress to impress (dress conservatively).
• Arrive early (by at least 15 minutes).
• Be polite to everyone you meet.

Ask your prepared questions, taking notes of important ideas; engage with the professional in a friendly, interested, mature manner. The whole idea is for you to shine, make a good impression, and get referrals to other professionals. When you do get referrals to others, ask permission to use your interviewee's when contacting those referred.

Following the informational interview:

• Be sure to note the information you have gathered.  Analyze the information to adjust your job search, resumé, and career objective as necessary.
• Within 2 days, send a thank you note to the interviewee and to each person who took the time to help you, including anyone who referred you to a new contact.

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Present yourself in a professional manner when interviewing. Your appearance affects how others evaluate you, your work style, attitude, and level of interest in a particular position. Additionally, professional dress helps build confidence and self-esteem, increasing the likelihood of interviewing success. Appearance matters!

The following instructions depict some guidelines for dressing appropriately in most interview settings. For more information, consult the 'interviewing' section of the Career Resources library or speak with a career counselor.

Both men and women

• Bring a folder/ portfolio  with extra copies of your resumé, list of resources, paper, and a pen
• No facial piercings or jewelry
• No food or gum

Women

• Minimal make-up and jewelry, no perfume
• Solid-colored suit with knee-length skirt or tailored pants, and conservative blouse
• Basic leather shoes in good condition, with low heels and closed toes

Men

• Clean-shaven, neat, trimmed hair
• No cologne
• Conservative tie with a simple pattern
• Clean, pressed 2-piece suit in a dark solid color (gray, navy)
• Leather belt to match shoe color
• Dark socks to match suit color
• Black or brown leather, polished shoes

Articles of Interest

• Dress for Success on Next Job Interview
• Glassdoor Blog: How to Dress for Success in Your Next Interview
• How to Dress for Your Next Job Interview
• What it Really Means to Dress for Success

Career Closet Basics

Use this dress guide as a fastpass to enhance your career closet and polish your professional look.

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• Behavioral: An employer evaluates your past experiences and behaviors as a way to determine your potential for success. Employers are interested in how you handle situations and how you react in certain circumstances.

• Case study: Examines skills that are critical to the position being applied for. These interviews present hypothetical problems where you are evaluated more for how well you deal with the problem and less on your specific answer. Most commonly used for consulting firms and investment-banking companies.
• Technical: Assesses candidates who are exploring technical or specialist job positions such as IT, Engineering, and Science. Questions can cover your specific knowledge about the company’s technical work, activities, and problems.

• Telephone: A convenient form of interview that employers like to use as a way to narrow down a large stack of applicants to just a few for an in-person interview. Phone interviews are also a quick and efficient way to interview candidates who live in distant locations.

• Academic: For graduates and postdocs interested in becoming a professor, teacher, or instructor at the university level.  Questions  likely focus on the applicant’s research, teaching approach, and previous work experiences.

• Grad & professional school: An interview for a graduate or professional school resembles a regular job interview but focuses more on educational, research, and experience. Not all schools require an interview in their admission application process, however it should be expected from an applicant who is applying into a competitive program, field, or school.

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