Session 3

Job Interview

You may or will have a job interview. For that, you should prepare yourself well. In this section,
you will learn about job interview preparation, tips on how to impress an interviewer, and job
interview questions with one of the best sample answers to each question.

A. Tips Before an Interview

In the days before your job interview, set aside time to do the following:
1. Start by researching the company and your interviewers. Understanding key information
about the company you’re interviewing with can help you go into your interview with
confidence. Using the company’s website, social media posts and recent press releases will
provide a solid understanding of the company’s goals and how your background makes you
a great fit.
2. Practice your answers to common interview questions. Prepare your answer to the common
question: “Tell me about yourself, and why are you interested in this role with our company?”
The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you will bring to the company
and the role—it’s your personal elevator pitch.
Tip: You should come prepared to discuss your salary expectations. If you’re unsure what
salary is appropriate to ask for, visit Indeed's Salary Calculator for a free, personalized pay
range based on your location, industry and experience.
3. Reread the job description. You may want to print it out and begin underlining specific skills
the employer is looking for. Think about examples from your past and current work that align
with these requirements.
4. Use the STAR method in answering questions. Prepare to be asked about times in the past
when you used a specific skill and use the STAR method to tell stories with a clear Situation,
Task, Action and Result.
Situation
What is the context of your story? In setting the situation, you are telling your listener when
or where this event took place. For example, “We were working on a six-month contract for a
high-value client when our agency merged with another, larger firm…”
Task
What was your role in this situation? For example, “It was my role to lead the transition for
my group while also communicating with our client to keep the project on track.”
Action
What did you do? For example, “I set up weekly check-ins with the client to update them on
the progress of the merger. This cemented an important level of trust between us. I also had
regular one-on-ones with each person on the team, both to assess how they were handling the
change and to make sure we would meet our deadlines.”
Result
What did your actions lead to? For example, “We ended up completing the project on time,
meeting all of their specifications. It was incredibly rewarding to navigate a lot of change and
succeed under pressure.”
5. Recruit a friend to practice answering questions. Actually, practicing your answers out loud
is an incredibly effective way to prepare. Say them to yourself or ask a friend to help run
through questions and answers. You’ll find you gain confidence as you get used to saying the
words.
6. Prepare a list of references. Your interviewers might require you to submit a list of references
before or after your interview. Having a reference list prepared ahead of time can help you
quickly complete this step to move forward in the hiring process.
7. Be prepared with examples of your work. During the interview, you will likely be asked about
specific work you’ve completed in relation to the position. After reviewing the job description,
think of work you’ve done in past jobs, clubs or volunteer positions that show you have
experience and success doing the work they require.
8. Prepare smart questions for your interviewers. Interviews are a two-way street. Employers
expect you to ask questions: they want to know that you’re thinking seriously about what it
would be like to work there. Here are some questions you may want to consider asking your
interviewers:
• Can you explain some of the day-to-day responsibilities this job entails?
• How would you describe the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?
• If I were in this position, how would my performance be measured? How often?
• What departments does this teamwork with regularly?
• How do these departments typically collaborate?
• What does that process look like?
• What are the challenges you’re currently facing in your role?

B. Tips for during the Interview

After you’ve spent time preparing, you can be successful on interview day by practicing these
tips:
1. Plan your interview attire the night before. If you’re speaking to a recruiter before the
interview, you can ask them about the dress code in the workplace and choose your outfit
accordingly. If you don’t have someone to ask, research the company to learn what’s
appropriate.
2. Bring copies of your resume, a notebook and pen. Take at least five copies of your printed
resume on clean paper in case of multiple interviewers. Highlight specific
accomplishments on your copy that you can easily refer to and discuss. Bring a pen and
a small notebook. Prepare to take notes, but not on your smartphone or another
electronic device. Write information down so that you can refer to these details in your
follow-up thank-you notes. Maintain eye contact as much as possible.
3. Plan your schedule so that you can arrive 10–15 minutes early. Map out your route to
the interview location so you can be sure to arrive on time. Consider doing a practice run.
If you’re taking public transportation, identify a backup plan if there are delays or
closures.
Tip: When you arrive early, use the extra minutes to observe workplace dynamics.
4. Make a great first impression. Don’t forget the little things—shine your shoes, make sure
your nails are clean and tidy, and check your clothes for holes, stains, pet hair and loose
threads. Display confident body language and a smile throughout.
5. Treat everyone you encounter with respect. This includes people on the road and in the
parking lot, security personnel and front desk staff. Treat everyone you don’t know as
though they’re the hiring manager. Even if they aren’t, your potential employer might ask
for their feedback.
6. Practice good manners and body language. Practice confident, accessible body language
from the moment you enter the building. Sit or stand tall with your shoulders back.
Before the interview, take a deep breath and exhale slowly to manage feelings of anxiety
and encourage self-confidence. The interviewer should extend their hand first to initiate
a handshake. Stand, look the person in the eye and smile. A good handshake should be
firm but not crush the other person’s fingers.
7. Win them over with your authenticity and positivity. Being genuine during interview
conversations can help employers easily relate to you. Showing positivity with a smile
and upbeat body language can help keep the interview light and constructive.
8. Respond truthfully to the questions asked. While it can seem tempting to embellish on
your skills and accomplishments, interviewers find honesty refreshing and respectable.
Focus on your key strengths and why your background makes you uniquely qualified for
the position.
9. Tie your answers back to your skills and accomplishments. With any question you
answer, it is important that you tie your background to the job by providing examples of
solutions and results you’ve achieved. Use every opportunity to address the requirements
listed in the job description.
10. Keep your answers concise and focused. Your time with each interviewer is limited so be
mindful of rambling. Practicing your answers beforehand can help keep you focused.
11. Do not speak negatively about your previous employers. Companies want to hire problem
solvers who overcome tough situations. If you’re feeling discouraged about your current
job, focus on talking about what you’ve gained from that experience and what you want
to do next.

C. Tips for after the Interview

When the interview is over, give yourself the best chances of moving forward by doing the
following:
1. Ask about next steps. After your interview, it is appropriate to ask either your interviewer,
hiring manager or recruiter about what you should expect next. This will likely be a follow-
up email with results from your interview, additional requirements like an assignment or
reference list or another interview.
2. Send a personalized thank you letter after the interview. Ask for the business card of each
person you speak with during the interview process so that you can follow up individually
with a separate thank you email. If you interviewed in the morning, send your follow-up
emails the same day. If you interviewed in the afternoon, the next morning is fine. Make
certain that each email is distinct from the others, using the notes you took during the
conversations.

D. Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers

Here are the top 10 interview questions employers are likely to ask, plus 100+ more common
job interview questions, example responses, tips for giving the best answer, and advice on
how to ace the interview.
1. Tell Me About Yourself
This is one of the first questions you are likely to be asked. Be prepared to talk about
yourself, and why you're an ideal candidate for the position. The interviewer wants to
know why you're an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer questions about yourself
without giving too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing
some of your personal interests and experiences that don't relate directly to work, such
as a favorite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education, and what
motivates you. You can even share some fun facts and showcase your personality to make
the interview a little more interesting.
Sample answer:
The past few years, I’ve gotten really into geocaching. I love the challenge of finding
caches and spending time outdoors with friends. I like using my problem-solving skills
to find the ones that are really well-hidden. Learning how people hide things—and
where people are likely to look—has helped me tremendously in my design work. It’s
all about learning to see things through someone else’s eyes.
2. Why Are You the Best Person for the Job?
Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you
have all the required qualifications. Be prepared to explain why you're the applicant who
should be hired. Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that
explains what you have to offer and why you should get the job. This is a good time to
review the qualifications and the requirements in the job listing, so you can craft a
response that aligns with what the interviewer is looking for.
Sample answer:
I am a self-motivated person who is willing to go above and beyond on any project,
and to learn valuable skills on my own time. For example, I taught myself five
computer programming languages in college, simply out of a passion to learn how to
code. I know you are looking for a self-motivated computer technician with both skills
and passion, and I am that person.
3. Why Do You Want This Job?
Why are you a good fit for the position? What would you accomplish if you were hired?
This interview question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know
about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the
company, its products, services, culture, and mission. Be specific about what makes you
a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to
you most.
Sample answer:
This job is a good fit for what I've been doing and enjoying throughout my career. It
offers a mix of short-term projects and long-term goals. My organizational skills allow
me to successfully multitask and complete both kinds of projects.
4. How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role?
Hiring managers use this question to learn how your previous work experience and
educational background fit the job. To prepare to respond, make a list of the most relevant
qualifications you have and match them to the requirements listed in the job description.
It's important to explain how your experience will help the employer if you were to be
hired. You can use the STAR interview method to prepare examples to share with the
interviewer. You don't need to memorize your answers, but do be ready to share what
you've accomplished in your previous roles.
Sample answer:
My years of experience have prepared me well for this position. You mentioned that
customer service is a big part of this job; I spent three years working in a high-volume
call center, answering customer calls, and identifying solutions.
5. Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job?
Be prepared with a response to this question. You'll need to give an answer that’s honest
and reflects your specific circumstances but keeps it positive. Even if you quit under
challenging circumstances, now isn't the best time to share what could be construed as
too much information with the interviewer. The interviewer wants to know why you left
your job and why you want to work for their company. When asked about why you are
moving on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct, and focus your
answer on the future, especially if your departure wasn't under the best circumstances.
Sample answer:
After several years in my last position, I am looking for a company where I can
contribute more and grow in a team-oriented environment.
6. What Is Your Greatest Strength?
This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask to determine how well you
are qualified for the position. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it's
important to discuss the attributes that qualify you for that specific job, and that will set
you apart from other candidates. When you're answering this question, remember to
“show” rather than “tell.” For example, rather than stating that you are an excellent
problem solver, instead tell a story that demonstrates this, ideally drawing on an anecdote
from your professional experience.
Sample answer:
I have a solid work ethic. When I'm working on a project, I don't just want to meet
deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. Last year,
I even earned a bonus for completing my three most recent reports one week ahead
of time.
7. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
Another typical question that interviewers will ask is about your weaknesses. Do your
best to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an
employee, turning seeming “weaknesses” into strengths. This question is an opportunity
to show the hiring manager that you're well qualified for the job. In addition to learning
whether you've got the right credentials, the hiring manager wants to know whether you
can take on challenges and learn new tasks. You can share examples of skills you have
improved, providing specific instances of how you have recognized a weakness and taken
steps to correct it.
Sample answer:
I have a very strong attention to detail. Sometimes, this can turn into a tendency to
perfectionism. In the past, I found this leading me to triple-check every item on a
spreadsheet, closely proofread emails to ensure I’d communicated what I was trying
to get across in a clear, concise way, or fiddle with the layout of a presentation to
ensure that it was perfect. I’ve since learned to successfully budget my time and
gauge which tasks require and actually benefit from this level of precision.
8. How Do You Handle Stress and Pressure?
What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? How do you deal with difficult
situations? The employer wants to know how you handle workplace stress. Do you work
well in high-stress situations? Do you thrive on pressure, or would you prefer a more low-
key job? What do you do when something goes wrong? The best way to respond to this
question is to share an example of how you have successfully handled stress in a previous
position. Avoid claiming that you never, or rarely, experience stress. Rather, formulate
your answer in a way that acknowledges workplace stress and explains how you’ve
overcome it, or even used it to your advantage.
Sample answer:
I try to react to situations rather than to stress. That way, I can handle the situation
without becoming too stressed. For example, when I deal with an unsatisfied
customer, rather than focusing on feeling stressed, I focus on the task at hand. I
believe my ability to communicate effectively with customers during these moments
helps reduce my own stress. I think it also reduces any stress the customer may
feel.
9. What Are Your Salary Expectations?
What are you looking for in terms of salary? Questions about money are always tricky to
answer. You don't want to sell yourself short or price yourself out of a job offer. In some
locations, employers are legally prohibited from asking you about salary history—but they
can ask how much you expect to get paid. Do your research before the meeting so that
you’ll be prepared to name a salary (or salary range) if you’re asked. There are several
free online salary calculators that can provide you with a reasonable range based on your
job title, employer, experience, skills, and location.
Sample answer:
My salary requirements are flexible, but I do have significant experience in the field
that I believe adds value to my candidacy. I look forward to discussing in more
detail what my responsibilities at this company would be. From there, we can
determine a fair salary for the position.
10. What Are Your Career Goals?
Are you a job hopper? Or do you plan on staying with the company, at least for a while?
Where do you envision your career going? Do your plans for the future match the career
path for someone typically hired for this position? This question is designed to find out if
you’re going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a better opportunity. Keep
your answer focused on the job and the company, and reiterate to the interviewer that
the position aligns with your long-term goals.
Sample answer:
My current short-term goal is to develop and use my marketing and communications
skills in a job like this one. However, I eventually want to develop into a position
that allows me to continue to use these skills while also managing a marketing
group. I will prepare for this goal by taking on leadership positions in team projects,
and by developing my professional career through attending leadership conferences
such as the one put on annually by your company.

See the sample job interview here.