Interview Preparation

Everyone has interviewed at some point in his life, it can be both an intimidating and exhilarating experience. However you view the interview process, the reality is that you need to understand and be prepared for this experience.

Information to Have on Yourself During an Interview

Be prepared to give examples and talk about yourself in terms of your skills.

  • Creative Skills: Develop models, experiment, apply theory, synthesize, predict, create new ideas, use imagination.
  • Organizing Skills: Keep deadlines, details, accept responsibility, reason, use logic, make contacts, arrangements, decisions, clarify, clerical skills.
  • Numerical Skills: Use computational and statistical abilities, inventory.

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Interviewers’ Pet Peeves

Here are seven of the most common peeves provided by experienced interviewers, along with some tips on how to avoid them:

  1. Smells: Too Much of a Good Smell Can Be Bad
    Pat Riley, author of Secrets of Breaking into Pharmaceutical Sales, has a pet peeve story to relate: “Preparing for an interview is not like preparing for a date. I had one interview with a

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You are the Expert

The interview is all about you; you are the expert in this situation. Your job in the interview is to make sure the recruiter has enough information to make a yes decision at the end of the meeting. It is important to talk about your strengths and achievements throughout the interview. Try to make a strong case for the good fit between you and the … [ Read more ]

Information to Have on the Employer During an Interview

  • Organizational goals
  • Relative size of firm
  • Growth potential for security
  • Percent of annual sales growth last five years
  • Array of product or service line
  • Who are competitors?
  • Reputation
  • Organization structure by product line
  • Geographical locations –

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The Key is Preparation

It is imperative to prepare yourself for this meeting, do not wing it!

Preparation is two fold. You must do a self-assessment of how your abilities and experiences match the job and also research the organization well.

Acing the Interviews

Following are ten tips to help you be your best as you interview.

  1. Research the industry and company beforehand; over-prepare. Use every resource to your advantage: fellow students, professors, career-center resources, informational interviews with alumni of your school, the company’s recruitment literature and website, WetFeet’s Insider Guides, and databases and websites such as Lexus/Nexus, the U.S. Business Browser, and Hoovers.
  2. Know what you’re looking for,

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Lisa Haneberg’s Questions

  • To what degree do departments proactively collaborate and share information? Can you share a recent example?
  • How do senior leaders assess the health and success of the company? What metrics do they consider most important?
  • Tell me about how the company plans for the future.
  • How does the company decide whether to create and launch new products and when are products retired?
  • Would the average team member feel

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Focus On You

Review your resume with the job you are interviewing for in mind.

  • Identify all your achievements both from your work and education. Quantify when possible.
  • Identify leadership roles, honors, internships, class projects and volunteer experience.
  • Be prepared to answer the key question “Why do you want to work for this company and this industry?
  • Practice (yes, this is necessary!) Role play the interview, have someone ask

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How to Handle Your First-Round Interview

The types of questions you are most likely to encounter in your first-round interview include:

  1. “Tell me about yourself.”
    The perfect opening for your two-minute presentation! Describe your educational and work background, identify your key strengths and provide a couple of illustrations, and state your intended career direction. Usually, this is the first question asked. If it isn’t, you can usually defer answering a different

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Questions About Culture

  • Who are the company’s star employees? And what are they like?
  • How are conflicts resolved?
  • How are decisions made?
  • How does the boss communicate?

Focus on Company Organization

  • Get financial information and research new developments in the company. Some resources are: a company’s web page, annual report, Lexis/Nexis, research in the Wall Street Journal and business sections of major newspapers for key articles about a company.
  • What niche does this company have in the market?
  • Make a list of questions that could be a problem for you in the interview; rehearse how you will

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What Your Body Language Tells Interviewers

Here are some examples of body language cues and their possible interpretations.

  • Crossed arms—closed off or defensive
  • Fidgeting, running tongue along teeth, playing with hair or jewelry, or tapping feet—nervous or bored
  • Lack of eye contact or, conversely, staring too intently without breaking a gaze—untrustworthy
  • Leaning back—uncomfortable
  • Clasping hands behind the head while leaning back—looking to gain power
  • Leaning forward—interested in the conversation
  • Smiling or attempting to be humorous—friendly
  • Eye contact

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Questions to Ask Recruiters

Ask questions about new products, how research and development is structured at the company, management strategies at the company, how the company has changed, and potential product growth.

Basics of Interviewing

  • Arrive early for the interview- get mentally prepared.
  • You are interviewing the company, it is a two-way street.
  • Be enthusiastic – you must show that you are interested in the job. This leaves a big impression on the interviewer.
  • Dress to your advantage- conservative is best.
  • If at all possible, do not discuss salary in the initial interview. This might be tempting, but you do not have enough

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Interview strategies for fighting age bias

The key to coping with age bias is to provide the right feedback and dismiss concerns about age right off the bat. Most times, a subtle age bias will appear in questions and comments from interviewers. The trick is identifying the questions and knowing the best way to answer them. Here are nine practice questions and suggested replies.

  1. Tell me about yourself. Focus on your

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How To Ace A Consulting Firm Interview

Because McKinsey, Andersen Consulting, Mercer, and the rest are only as good as the people they recruit, and because a job as a consultant demands that you be intellectually rigorous and nimble, all while keeping your poise in front of clients paying six-or seven figure sums for your wisdom. Here are four main types of interviews consultants use to test these skills, plus tips on … [ Read more ]

How to Answer Questions About Your Weaknesses

To make sure this question doesn’t trip you up, here are seven possible strategies that you—as an interviewee—can use to frame an effective response. Remember that context is as important as content. Whenever you cite a weakness, be sure to remind employers of your strengths. Be honest about your shortcomings, but never cite anything that might genuinely interfere with your ability to do the available … [ Read more ]