Interviewing

Preparing for an interview:

1. Research company and industry

•  Research helps you decide whether you’re interested in the company and gives you important data to refer to during the interview.

2. Prepare

• Practice five or more “success stories” that highlight your key skills, assets, and strengths.
• Reflect on past experiences where you used your talents successfully.
• Write these in STAR Technique for practice and to get comfortable using this technique.

3. Image

• Dress the part: suit or business casual, depending on the position and type of company.
• Give a firm handshake, use strong eye contact, sit upright, and remember to smile.
• Go in as unscented as possible. Allergies or aversion to scent can harm the interview.

4. Give Examples

• Provide examples to give concrete evidence of your strengths and skills.
• Expect 2-3 minutes for each question in most 30 minute interviews.
• Be concise.
• End every answer, including a discussion of weakness, with a positive spin or something you’ve learned.
• Avoid generalities! Think of examples as short, informative stories. Stories connect on a personal level, and the employer will remember you.

STAR Technique:

The STAR Technique is a wonderful structure to follow when answering questions during an interview. It provides some insight and highlights your skills and experience.

S-Situation: Set the stage

Begin answering the question by giving your interviewer context around the specific situation or challenge you faced.

“While I was a cashier at BiMart, a customer came into the store to purchase a particular color of paint. The item was not in stock and the customer became very upset.”

T-Task: Explain where you fit in

Describe the task you had to complete and what your involvement was.

“As the cashier it was my responsibility to provie quality customer service by greeting customers and helping them find the products they are looking for in the store.”

A-Action: Decsribe each step

Explain what steps you took to overcome the challenge or each your goal. Be as specific as possible, describe each step in detail. Use “I” statements and talk about what you specifically did. not what was accomplished as a team.

“I was able to asist the customer by acknowledging their frustration and communicating with them when the product would be coming into the store. I also, with the approval of the manager, was able to offer them a discounted price due to the inconvenience.”

R-Results: Impress with your achievements

What postitive impact were you able to achieve? How did you resolve the situation? Make sure the outcome is always a positive one, even if you’re asked to describe a time you made a mistake, you should focus on what you learned from the experience.

“As a result, the customer walked away happy and continued to shop with us at BiMart.”

Questions to be prepared for:

• Tell me about yourself. Keep this related to the job you are interviewing for.
• Describe your strengths and weaknesses. Talk about weaknesses first, and address how you are overcoming it, or how it will not affect your ability to get the job done.
• How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict? Think about what you learned as a result of the conflict and talk about that.
• What motivates you to go the extra mile on a project or job? Try not to list people, dig deeper, maybe it was their work ethic, or passion to serve that inspires you.
• Do you have any hobbies? If you can tie your answer in with your position, do it! Maybe you go hiking regularly, how does it help you in this position? Is it a stress reliever?
• Name one or two accomplishments that have given you the most satisfaction. Why? Make sure to describe why as the interviewer may not see your challenge as much of a challenge. Set the stage and give them the full picture.
• Do you have any questions for me? Always have questions, but make sure they cannot be easily answered by the job description or website. Do not ask about salary or benefits.

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