Interviewing

Practicing Interviewing

Interviewing is a skill that must be developed and fine-tuned, and the purpose of an interview is to take what is written on your resume and cover letter and personalize that information through a conversation. During this process, the hiring organization and potential employee both have an opportunity to explore whether or not a fit exists.

Practice interviewing techniques, or practice your interview skills online with Big Interview (you will need your University email).

Practice with Big Interview!

The Interview

Researching the company not only helps you to be well prepared, it also sends a message to the employer that you are very interested in the position. Your research allows you to tailor your resume and cover letter to a targeted organization or position and thoroughly prepare for a specific job interview.

One method to distinguish yourself from the other candidates is to be well informed, interested, professional, and prepared—take the time to do your homework by researching the company. Research the company and write down a few questions that you’d want to ask; write a few notes about the company, or jot down things you’d like to bring up in your interview.

Company research does not mean that you have to learn every possible detail about the company. It does mean, however, that you select several key areas and become knowledgeable about them. Here are some areas to consider:

Size of the organization
Location of headquarters
Organizational structure
Mission of organization
Production line or services
Geographical locations
History of the organization
Names and titles of key professionals
Diversity initiatives
Recent news/press releases, etc.
Growth pattern over the past 5 years
Clients or customers
Major competitors
Number of plants, stores, etc.
Financial status or rating
Current trends in the field

Do Your Research - Avoid Employment Scams!

Be cautious if an online/e-mail job posting claims “no experience necessary.”
Be cautious of exaggerated claims of possible earnings or profits.
Beware when money is required up front for instructions or products.
Never apply for a job that is emailed to you out of the blue. Be wary when replying to unsolicited e-mails for work-at-home employment.
Research the employer. Do they have a reputable website or professional references? Is the job listing you want to apply for also on their main career page? Note: work-study jobs may not be advertised on employer websites.
Never give out personal information like your Social Security or bank account number over email or phone.
Trust your instincts. If a job sounds too good to be true, it is likely a scam.

Even before COVID-19, more organizations were moving to video/virtual interviewing as a cost-saving measure. Many of the tips in the Making a Positive Impression section are still applicable, but virtual interviews also have their own nuances. Be sure to take these as seriously as any in-person interview, and prepare for it in a similar way. When you are preparing for your virtual interview, keep the following in mind:

Technology:

Utilize an Ethernet cable when possible, unless your WiFi is very stable
Know which tool the company is using; download it (if necessary) and practice with it to get comfortable before the day of the interview
A few hours before the interview, test everything - camera, sound, up-to-date version of the software, etc.

Set up:

Set your environment: no window behind you, camera at eye level, simple background, lighting, etc.
Have the following ready: resume/cover letter, job description, pad of paper and pen, and references saved and ready to email
Dress in neutral colors (navy, black, dark gray) - be careful not to blend with your background!
Get fully dressed: make it feel like you are at the interview in person (avoid pajama pants)
Silence your phone and alerts on your computer to avoid distractions during the interview
Minimize all other programs on your computer

During:

Check your posture - consider the chair you sit in, avoid leaning or slouching
Avoid looking away from your computer or using your computer during the interview (use the notepad to jot down questions or notes instead if taking notes on your computer)
Minimal hand gestures and avoid crossing arms/legs or playing with hair/touching face
Keep eye contact, smile, & be yourself!
Minimize distracting mannerisms/nervous gestures (no gum chewing)
If other people will be in the house where you will be interviewing, inform them of the time/day to avoid interruptions

After:
Always send a thank you message to the recruiter. It's okay to ask for the person's email address so that you forward a thank you email.

Interview Practice

During the interview process, the hiring organization and potential employee both have an opportunity to explore whether or not a mutual fit exists. Interviewing is a skill that must be developed and fine-tuned.

Employers use Behavioral Based Interviewing questions to get detailed answers during an interview to extract examples of your past behavior during actual situations. This allows you to describe your accomplishments and your behavior during these situations leading up to a result. To successfully answer a behavioral based interview question, use the STAR method (check out the video at the bottom of this page). Focus on positive outcomes, and try to give quantifiable data/numbers when possible!

Action	Method
Describe the	Situation
Explain the	Tasks
Describe the	Action
Communicate the	Results (keep it positive!)

Note that many Talent Gateway challenges are behavioral based interview questions, so reviewing challenges (and your responses!) before an interview is good practice.

Example:

Recruiter: Can you give me an example of your leadership skills?

Candidate: Two years ago, I was elected Student Government president, based on my platform to increase community outreach programs. Through volunteer programs, we provided transportation to 100 elderly residents and a tutorial program for 85 elementary school students. The results were significantly improved community relations.

For more practice questions, try out Big Interview (no charge for UM-Dearborn students) or visit The Interview Guys.

Category	Questions
Background	Tell me about yourself. What do you consider your outstanding achievements? Give me an example of a time when you dealt with pressure? Describe a time when you used your leadership skills?
Work Experience	Explain a project you completed or tell me what you have learned from previous jobs? Do you prefer working independently or on a team? How do you organize and plan for major projects? What kind of people do you like to work with? What kind of people do you find difficult to work with? What would your past supervisors say about you?
Career Goals	What do you want out of your career? What would you like to be doing five/ten years from now? What are your short-term career goals? What motivates you to build a career in this field?
College Experience	Describe your most rewarding college experience and tell me why it was so rewarding? Why did you choose your particular major? Why did you choose to attend UM-Dearborn? Tell me about some things you learned in school that could be used on the job? Provide examples of how college has prepared you to take on greater responsibility? Is your GPA indicative of your ability? Why/Why not?
Company Research	Why are you interested in working for this company? What do you know about my organization? How do you feel you'll contribute to our company? As described to you, what about this position appeals to you?
Personal Characteristics	Tell of a time when you where faced with a stressful professional situation. How did you manage it? Explain a situation when you received criticism and how you handled it. Tell me about a time you faced an ethical dilemma. What is your greatest weakness/ strength? How will you contribute to our company? How will you contribute to your company?

Practice makes perfect! The following questions were gathered from school hiring officials and are representative of those that you are likely to encounter in your job interviews.

Category	Question
Motivation/Experience/Teaching	Tell me about yourself. Why did you enter the field of teaching? What experience have you had related to teaching? What qualities do you have that make you an effective teacher? What grade levels or subjects do you prefer to teach? Have you taught or are you interested in teaching combination classes? Do you have experience with special education students? Why do you want to teach in our school district? Do you have (multicultural, urban, learning disabilities) teaching experience? What do you remember most about your own education?
Teaching Effectiveness	How do you meet the range of skills and needs commonly present in a classroom? When do you use an individual, group and/or whole class teaching approach? Why? Let’s imagine we are going to observe a teacher teaching a lesson. I tell you in advance to expect a superb lesson. What would you expect to see in that lesson? If a teacher wants to be sure pupils will learn a skill to be taught, what should he/she be sure to do when teaching? How do you diagnose your students’ needs? How do you make sure your lessons are taught at the correct level? How do you stimulate active participation in the classroom? How would you use parents in the classroom?
Teaching Planning/Preparation	What kinds of planning do you see a teacher doing? How do you plan for a year? A week? A day? How do you know what you will cover?
Classroom Management/Discipline	What are some characteristics of a well-managed classroom? Talk to us about classroom control. What discipline methods work for you? What is your primary goal with student discipline? What are some examples of rules you would have in your classroom? How would you be sure your rules are carried out? How much responsibility for their learning do you feel students should have to take? Are you a "let em go to the pencil sharpener whenever they want" type of person or a "raise your hand and ask permission" type of person? What types of rewards and consequences would you use? Describe your most difficult student discipline situation and how you handled it.
Staff Rapport/Relations	As a teacher new to a school, what would you see yourself doing to contribute to healthy staff relationships and to become part of the staff? What should a principal expect from teachers? What should teachers expect from the principal?
Grading System	What grading system works for you? Under what conditions, if any, would most of your pupils receive D’s and F’s? How and why could this happen?
Closing Comments/Questions	What additional talents and skills do you have? What extracurricular activities can you supervise? Do you have questions or additional comments for us?

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In this section

Interviewing

Career Services can help with interview prep!

The Interview

Do Your Research - Avoid Employment Scams!

Interview Practice

Example:

Career Services

In this section

Interviewing

Career Services can help with interview prep!

The Interview

Before the Interview

Research the Company

Do Your Research - Avoid Employment Scams!

Making a Positive Impression

Tips for Virtual Interviews

Sample Questions to Ask Employers

Interview Practice

Behavioral-Based Interviewing & the STAR Method

Example:

Sample Interview Questions

Sample Interview Questions for Teachers

"Tell Me About Yourself" - the 90-Second Response