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Company research

Understanding as much as you can about a company, the position and those who are interviewing you not only helps prepare you to be more thoughtful in your answers but also demonstrates a solid work ethic and interest in the role. General information about the company or interviewers can be found by looking on the company’s website or .��Internal initiatives, current priorities and nuanced details about company culture are things easier to gauge when talking to someone in an informational interview. Reach out to a current acquaintance working at the company or find an alum from ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ or your undergraduate alma mater using the Forever Buffs Network or LinkedIn’s .

If you are not sure what topics might be the most helpful to study before an interview, consider some options below:

• How the company identifies in their market: Do they fill a particular niche or deliver unique services or products? Check the company website and marketing materials.
• Any recent news they have made and why: Try a Google search and set up alerts for companies you are interested in.
• Their biggest current initiatives/projects/products: Schedule an��informational interview��or check recent news stories.
• Specific demographics they target as customers: Read the company website.��
• Company culture and values: ����������ý�Ļ���Ʒ the company website and check out their social media channels.��
• Major sources of funding or business: ��������library company research databases like or .
• Roughly what size they are and where they have locations: �������� or or company website.
• Who their key players are:��So you recognize names and know what sorts of backgrounds they bring. Review the company website or schedule��informational interviews.

This is not research for you to recite in the interview to show you prepared. It is for your own background information, to inform your understanding of the company – which will help you have a more intelligent conversation with your interviewers because you will better understand their context. It is the type of research you would do if you were an independent consultant about to meet with a prospective new client so that you were not starting from scratch in your conversation.

Understand the role

Of primary importance to your interview is a deep familiarity with the role. Save the job posting to your computer as you tailor your resume and cover letter. This will allow you to refer back to it even after the job closes as the company finalizes their pool. Often, the posting will be pulled offline and you will not be able to find it when you are contacted for an interview. If possible, use LinkedIn��to find people on the same team and see how they describe their work. Check out the company website for more information about the department or team. If you know someone at the company, see if you can schedule a meeting to talk about what the role does from a colleague’s perspective. The goal with any research on the job or company is to come to the interview as prepared as possible with educated ideas about how you would approach the role and what is appealing about it.

Practice interviewing

Answering questions in an interview format is different than any other type of communication to which you may be accustomed. The primary way to feel prepared and calm at an interview is to verbally practice giving examples of your previous work, descriptions of your work style and answers to general questions that are expected in some form during interviews. Talking through your answers aloud will help you evaluate where you need to clarify your thoughts or tighten your timing.

Behavioral interviews

Behavioral interviewing is a technique used by most hiring professionals. The questions address more interpersonal topics and are designed to encourage using specific examples as you describe your work style and communication skills. Interviewers tend to remember and believe answers that use prior experience to demonstrate your approach to various situations. Follow the START formula to prepare great behavioral examples.

Situation: Set the stage for the story. Where and with whom did this experience take place?

Task: What task needed to get done or problem needed to be solved?

Action: What was your part in finding the solution or completing the job? Make sure to focus on what you personally contributed. After all, you are the one being interviewed and whose work is being evaluated.

Result: Make sure to choose scenarios where there was a clear success or contribution and make sure to mention it.

Tie itback to the position: You do not need to choose examples only from work directly related to the role. Just make sure the last thing you address in your answer is how this experience demonstrates your approach to your work in this new role.

Although you will rarely have advanced knowledge of questions to be asked in a given interview, collecting and practicing five or six examples of successful experiences will prepare you to give the rich, memorable information your interviewer needs. Choosing a specific example focused on the following areas will help build a library of complete stories applicable to a variety of questions:

• A time you worked successfully on a team
• A time you failed and what you learned from it
• An example of your approach to leadership/management
• A time you had to address conflict with a team member or boss
• A time you successfully collaborated cross-functionally
• An example of an accomplishment that makes you proud

General questions

Regardless of the role for which you are interviewing, there are some topics you need to be prepared to address. After you have constructed a first draft of your answer, think about it from the interviewer’s perspective.

• Does the answer help you answer one of your three core questions:
  • Can they do the job?
  • Will they do the job?
  • Do we want to work with them?
• Does the answer raise any flags about their fit for the role or team?
• Does the answer focus on what the applicant gets from the position or what the employer will get? Hint: focus on what you, as the applicant, can contribute and what engages you with the work.

Be ready to discuss

• What attracts you to the role and company
• Why you think you would be successful in the role
• What strengths or experience you possess that would help you do the job well
• Where you might need additional orientation or information to perform well in the role
• How you would approach the role in the initial stages

Additional sample questions are included at the end of this page.��

Your questions for them

The questions you ask in an interview can tell an employer just as much about your readiness for a job as your answers. By seriously thinking through elements of the role that will be crucial to your success and engagement you demonstrate your ability to effectively “project manage” your role. Ask questions that clarify essential components of the role.

• With whom will you be collaborating most directly?
• How does your role connect with the larger work being done at the company?
• What kinds of deliverables are expected during the first six months and how is success measured?
• Is this a role someone has vacated (and therefore has a history of successes, failures, expectations and/or politics) or is it a new role developed to fill a need or created due to expansion?

Ask questions that will help you understand the role, expectations and resources more fully. Initial interviews are not the place to ask benefit-related questions; address these after an initial offer has been made. Once you are the candidate of choice, there is more willingness on the part of the company to negotiate.

Additionally, discussing those details too soon in the interviewing process can be seen as presumptuous or uncouth.

Show the interviewers that you are interested in jumping in, getting up-to-speed and making a positive impact in the role as soon as possible.

The interview format can bring with it special considerations. Below are tips for making the best impression in each method of interviewing.

Phone

Phone interviews have both bonuses and drawbacks. A bonus is you can have as many notes and aids in front of you as you need. Make sure to have a copy of the job ad as well as your application materials and a notepad of quick references for related questions. It can be difficult to gauge the engagement of your interviewer(s) without the capability of reading nonverbal messages; make sure to check in verbally to see that you have answered a question to their satisfaction. It can also be harder to show enthusiasm without the use of facial expressions, so stand while you talk. This changes the quality of your voice to be stronger and more energized. Talk on a landline and in a quiet, non-echoing room if at all possible to avoid connection problems and background noise.

Video

Zoom, Teams, Skype and Google Hangouts are the most common formats for video interviews. Test video lighting and sound quality ahead of time. Pay particular attention to what is behind you in the frame. It should either be blank or very clean and well organized, even staged. Wear clothing that is reflective of your identity and aligns with the context of the job you’re seeking. This can put you in a better mindset and help you make a good first impression.

This author will never forget the interview she conducted with a cat jumping on a cluttered bookcase hastily covered with a towel. Unfortunately, that is the only detail she remembers from that conversation.

Recorded

HireVue is a typical tool for this type of interview. Questions are posed in written format, a moment (usually 60 seconds) is given to prepare an answer and then the applicant has one chance to record their answer. The recorded answers are then forwarded to a hiring manager or committee and, possibly, reviewed by AI technology. Be sure and jot quick notes to remember points you want to make and try not to fill all allotted time with your answer. Do not ramble –��be concise and direct and pause briefly to gather thoughts and continue if you stumble. There is no chance to re-record. Whatever you do, do not yell profanity and stop the recording. This type of interview is not the most comfortable, but your candidacy will only advance if you choose to embrace the process.

Although often seen as peripheral to your interview process, how you handle the logistics and etiquette-related elements of interviewing speaks to your professionalism as much as your actual interview and will be noted.��

Timing

Make sure to map travel time, add a buffer for bad traffic or late buses and allow time to find parking and locate the office. Check in with reception – or be online, ready to connect via video conferencing – 10 to 15 minutes prior to your interview. On-time��is late in an interview scenario, but being too early might put undue pressure on your interviewers to rush what they are doing to get to you. So give yourself plenty of time for unforeseen delays but begin your interaction with the office in that 10- to 15-minute window.

Manners

Everyone you encounter – from reception to janitorial staff to strangers in the lobby, parking lot or in traffic – can potentially be offering impressions of you. From the moment you step out your door, be your most congenial, cooperative self. Acknowledge each person you encounter and show your appreciation for any help you get. Avoid any comment on interviews or companies via social media.

Dressing

There are three main things to consider when choosing how to dress for an interview:

1. Communicate an understanding of the field you hope to enter. Wear clothing that is reflective of your identity and aligns with the context of the job you’re seeking. Dress in a way that reflects the culture of the company, industry or institution. If more casual, you can dress casually; if formal, more formally. Your appearance should allow your interviewers to picture you in their context.
2. Show respect for the opportunity to interview by dressing more formally than you would for a normal day on the job. Consider what you would wear on an average day at work and choose an outfit a step or two above that to show you are being thoughtful and are appreciative of the opportunity to interview.
3. Your clothing and grooming should not distract from what you are saying. After all, your knowledge, capability and enthusiasm should be what is remembered afterward. Personal hygiene is imperative so weird smells, stray hairs and other bodily issues are not the focus of attention. Regarding clothing and accessory choices: Create a clean, cohesive impression that communicates forethought, like wearing items that fit well, are clean and wrinkle free.��Accessories should be fitting for your context and not distracting.

What to bring

Although interviewers will most likely have a copy of your application documents, you may want to bring one or two extras in case you need to refer to it or someone does not have a copy. Make sure you have a notebook or pad and a pen or two to take notes, record questions that occur to you in the midst of conversation or even to jot down names of people you meet. A water bottle can also come in handy, although they will probably offer you something to drink there. Never bring anyone with you, even if they just plan to sit in the lobby. Any buddies, partners, pets or family should be settled comfortably elsewhere while you interview.

Nonverbal communication

Smiles, eye contact (without intense staring) and handshakes should abound in any interview and should be offered to all present, regardless of position. You can show engagement by sitting upright and bending slightly forward in your chair while in conversation with others. Face them directly, keep an open posture (avoid crossing your arms) and nod when appropriate to communicate understanding. Take note of any nervous gestures or habits when practicing your answers and try to still those. To communicate confidence, take up space in your chair instead of shrinking by crossing limbs and slouching. Smile and laugh readily. Show your sense of humor and ability to connect with others through small talk or by “geeking out” about ideas.

Wrapping things up

Always end your interview with handshakes and thanks. Also, do not neglect to communicate your continued interest in the position. You have just spent a significant amount of time discussing the position and meeting potential coworkers. For all they know, you may have learned something that makes you lose interest in the role. If you are still interested and excited about the opportunity, make sure to tell them that. Collect business cards if possible so you’ll have correct spelling of names and accurate email addresses for quick thank you notes, which should be sent within 24 hours of the interview.

Much research has been done on ways to foster confidence and feelings of peace and wellness in the face of daunting circumstances. The hours before an interview are an ideal time to focus on positive, uplifting, confidence-building activities and people.

• If being around others helps to alleviate anxiety, make sure you choose to spend time with people who can encourage you and remind you of your strength and capability. Now is not the time for people who offer “doses of reality,” play devil’s advocate or tend to nit-pick.
• If quiet and solitude help to center you, put aside your notes and preparation materials. Spend some time praying, meditating, exercising or laughing.
• Whenever possible, have more than one application out when you go for an interview. It takes an amazing amount of pressure off your interview if you know this is not “your only hope.” Have multiple applications out in various stages to feel a sense of opportunity and control over your job search, not waiting for each process to complete before applying elsewhere. Never hang all your career hopes on one opportunity.
• Recognize that most people feel a bit of imposter syndrome going into interviews and almost no one is a perfect fit for a position. The most you can do is prepare well and present yourself authentically and positively. The rest is out of your control – timing, needs of team, experience and bias of interviewers, funding shifts, competitiveness of other applicants, specific priorities of the company, etc. – so stop worrying about it.
• Remember that an interview is a chance for you to vet an opportunity and company as much as it is an evaluation of you. Meet your interviewers with openness, curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring a potential fit.

Interview Prep: A tool that allows you to record yourself answering interview questions. Use the recordings to evaluate where you need to polish your answers, gather your thoughts quickly when you have little time to prepare and to check for any distracting non-verbals or rambling.

GoinGlobal: Are you interviewing in another country? Use GoinGlobal to discover country-specific guidance provided by in-country career professionals for applying and interviewing abroad. Sign in through Handshake initially to get full access.

Courtesy of our friends from the , here are some sample questions to consider as you prepare.

Traditional questions