Interviewing

An interview that ends in a job offer is not the result of luck, but of careful preparation. If you take the time to prepare thoroughly and effectively, you will reduce your chances of being rattled by unexpected questions. Instead of being flustered, you will present a positive, relaxed image to a prospective employer. After all, the interview is basically a conversation between two people who desire information from one another.

Preparation, the key to interview success, should be approached from three perspectives:

Skills Identification

• Research your desired career field(s) to determine skills necessary for that particular field.
• Job listings and resources in the CAPS Career Information Center will provide background on necessary skills.

Self-Assessment

• It is up to you to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job. Learn to be comfortable discussing your strengths and abilities as they relate to the position you seek. Give examples from previous positions, coursework, and experiences. Be prepared for "bahavioral-based interview questions" - those which focus on your past behavior to predict how you will behave in th4 future. Such questions may begin "Tell me about a time..." or "Describe for me..."
• Be prepared to discuss your personal weakness or inexperience. Try to present a personal weakness in a positive light, and indicate how you are improving. If the question relates to inexperience, discuss similar jobs that you have held, especially those that required the same skills necessary for the position for which you are interviewing. Advance preparation will enable you to present yourself favorably, even though you are didcussing a weakness.

Employer Research

• Gather as much information as possible about the organization/position prior to the interview. It will be a positive reflection on you if you show you care enough about the job to do a little "homework" in advance.
• This information will also help you formulate questions to ask the interviewer. Good questions display your enthusiasm about the job and your understanding of the company. you want to be sure that you don't ask questions of the interviewer which are answered in employer literature.
  

Career Advising and Planning Services
Victory Hall

Widener University
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013
tel: (610) 499-4176
CAPS@widener.edu 

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