Interviewing

Good interviewing skills are a critical component to your job search. Resumes get you interviews and interviews get you job offers! In order to prepare for interviews, evaluate your related experience and skills, prepare examples to describe those qualifications, research the organization, consider your fit for the job and organization, and practice your interview skills.

Practice with Mock Interviews!

A practice interview is an opportunity to test your interviewing skills. Email to set up a mock-interview with CPD.

Set Up Mock Interview

two students look at a laptop and discuss what is on the screen

Mock Interview – Online

InterviewPrep is a self-guided mock interview platform that supports students in developing effective communication and interview skills. Users can select from curated question sets or create custom interviews, record and review their responses, and share recordings with mentors, advisors, and career staff for constructive feedback, all at their own pace and convenience.

Set Up an Online Mock Interview

Interview Prep

Evaluate Your Related Skills and Experience

Review the job description and research the organization to better understand what the employer is seeking.
Then, review your experience and skills to identify those things which best qualify you for the position. What is your best case for why the employer should hire you? How are you uniquely qualified for the job? What can you offer the organization?

List your best qualifications and consider examples to describe those experiences and demonstrate relevant skills. Remember, proof is better than words. You “prove” your qualifications by providing detailed examples of when you demonstrated relevant skills. It’s one thing to say “I’m a good leader.” It’s another to provide an example of your leadership skills in context.

Provide Examples: the STAR Method

Many employers utilize “behavioral interviewing,” asking candidates to use examples to describe their skills and experience. One of the best strategies for organizing answers to these questions is the STAR method:

Situation: Provide an overview of the situation and any important background information. Keep it short and simple.
Task: Explain what you were trying to accomplish.
Action: Describe the actions you took to address the situation. Give enough detail to explain what you did and why you did it. Use “I” statements to take credit for your contributions.
Result: Describe the outcomes of your actions. Take credit for your accomplishments and acknowledge what you learned and how it might apply to the job at hand.

Research the Organization

Research is essential for good interview preparation. You cannot demonstrate how you will fit in with an organization until you know something about the organization. Research also helps you evaluate if you want to work at an organization and determine questions you should ask in your interview. Browse their company website along with any social media sites. Search for articles. Conduct informational interviews or reach out to alumni to learn more about the organization.

Attire

It only takes fifteen seconds to form that first impression, much of which is based on your appearance. In professional settings, your clothing sends a message about you, your organization and your position. The impression you make is critical, especially during first meetings. Students have access to professional attire through our Career Closet. Here are some general tips.

Suits

A suit is the most professional attire. Choosing a conservative, classic style is a versatile and good investment. The best choice is a pure wool or wool-blended suit in black, navy or charcoal gray. Single-breasted styles are more conservative.

Color/Pattern

Build your professional wardrobe around a neutral color.

Shirts

Wear a simple blouse or traditional cotton or cotton-blended shirts with long sleeves and straight or buttoned colors. White and light blue are recommended for interviews. Do not select a distracting color. Be sure to iron your shirt.

Shoes

Make sure your shoes are clean, polished, and comfortable. The best shoes for interviews are either leather or simulated leather lace-up shoes, or closed-toed pumps, with heels no higher than three inches. Choose dark colors like black or dark brown. If you’re wearing a belt, your shoe color should match. Dress socks should match the color of your pants and reach mid-calf.

Ties

Choose a silk tie with a solid color, a classic pattern such as stripes, or repetitive patterns in dark colors. The tie should just reach your belt buckle.

Accessories

Coordinate handbags, belts and scarves with your outfit and choose neutral colors to coordinate with many outfits.

Jewelry

Avoid dangling earrings, multiple rings and noisy bracelets. Choose small and simple jewelry that doesn’t distract. Watches, wedding rings and conservative rings are appropriate. Remove facial jewelry.

Hair

Go for clean, neat and controlled. Long hair should be pulled away from your face.

Nails

Aim for short and well-groomed. If wearing polish, use a neutral or clear shade.

Makeup

Use a natural look that enhances your appearance, nothing too heavy.

Informational Interviews

Often, the best information about a career field comes from people who are actually working in the field. An informational interview is an informal conversation with someone working in an area that interests you who will give you information and advice. It is an effective research tool in addition to reading books, exploring the Internet and examining job descriptions. It is not a job interview, and the objective is not to find job openings.

Benefits of Informational Interviewing

Get firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field
Find out about career paths you did not know about
Get tips about how to prepare for and enter the field
Learn what it’s like to work for an organization
Gain knowledge that can help you in writing your resume or interviewing
Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network within the field

Tips for Informational Interviews

Research Career Fields
Identify People to Interview
Prepare for the Interview
- Develop short (20-30 second) overview/elevator speech about yourself
- Write down open-ended questions to ask
Initiate Contact
- Contact person and mention how you found his or her name
- Emphasize you are looking for information, not job
- Ask for a convenient time to set a 30-minute appointment to talk
- Be ready with questions if the person says it is a good time now
Conduct the Informational Interview
- Have open-end questions ready to ask
- Listen well and take notes if you’d like
- Respect person’s time and keep to agreed timeframe
Follow Up
- Send thank you note to express appreciation of time and information given
- Keep in touch with the person after your interaction

Informational Interview Questions

What are your main responsibilities as a…?
What is a typical day (or week) like for you?
What do you like most about your work?
What do you like least about your work?
What kinds of problems do you deal with?
What kinds of decisions do you make?
How does your position fit within the organization/career field/industry?
How does your job affect your general lifestyle?
What current issues and trends in the field should I know about/be aware of?
What are some common career paths in this field?
What kinds of accomplishments tend to be valued and rewarded in this field?
What related fields do you think I should consider looking into?
How did you become interested in this field?
How did you begin your career?
How do most people get into this field? What are common entry-level jobs?
What steps would you recommend I take to prepare to enter this field?
How relevant to your work is your undergraduate major?
What kind of education, training, or background does your job require?
What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field?
What is the profile of the person most recently hired at my level?
What are the most effective strategies for seeking a position in this field?
Can you recommend trade journals, magazines or professional associations which would be helpful for my professional development?
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?
I’ve read that the entry-level salary range for this field is usually in the range of ______? Does this fit with what you’ve seen? (Don’t ask about the person’s actual salary.)
What advice would you give someone who is considering this type of job (or field)?
Can you suggest anyone else I could contact for additional information?