Telephone Interview.
A Recruiter may call you to do a phone screen. This helps us learn more about you and get a better idea of whether your skills and experience match the needs of our position. It’s important that we talk to you at a time when you are not distracted or rushed. Please let us know if we need to schedule the call for a better time.
In-person interview.
You’ve made it past the initial screening and now you have an interview. This is your chance to make your case why you are the best candidate for the position.
Click here to learn handy interview do’s and don’ts.
Preparing for your interview.
The following information is provided to help you put your best foot forward in your job interview.
• Understand our company and our work.
It is helpful if you are familiar with our business prior to your interview. You can learn about us by exploring our website. The career section has valuable information about our mission, values and culture that will help you decide if we are the right place for you.
• Review your skills, interests, values and accomplishments. Practice interview questions. Make sure you can answer some basic questions about:
--- Who you are and what you have accomplished so far
--- What you want to do
--- Where you want to go in the future
--- Why you are interested in this specific position and how your experience makes you the ideal candidate
• Be prepared to talk about anything that is on your resume.
It helps to practice answering some pointed questions that may be asked. These may involve:
--- Your experience level
--- Why you left your last job
--- Gaps in employment
---Your greatest weakness – be honest with this one and also address how you are working on it
Click to see typical interview questions and helpful hints for answering them.
• Practice interviewing out loud.
Try it in front of a mirror or with an audience. The key is not to memorize your answers, but to become comfortable enough with them that you can talk naturally about them when asked. It’s a skill. You will improve with practice.
• Prepare your own list of questions.
Decide what you need to know about us to help you make a decision. Ask questions about the position you are applying for. Questions of this type show that you are prepared, eager and interested! Direct questions about salary and benefits to the recruiter.
• Know where to go and be on time.
Do a test drive to the facility if that’s reasonable. If not, allow plenty of time to find your way. If you’re early, you can always find a coffee shop nearby. If you’re late, it’s hard to recover.
• First impressions do matter. Wearing professional attire to the interview conveys respect and is always appropriate. Don’t wear clothes that are uncomfortable to the point of being distracting. Too short, too tight, too loose or too low might make you memorable in a negative way.
Shake hands firmly. Make eye contact. Good eye contact conveys honesty. The goal for both you and the interviewer is to build a personal connection that will allow you to relax and have a natural conversation.
• Bring copies of your resume. Job candidates often forget to do this. They assume that the interviewer will have all the necessary paperwork. Whatever the case, it doesn’t hurt to be fully prepared. Bringing copies of your resume demonstrates your ability to be detail-oriented and think ahead.
• Bring a notebook. Taking notes is often a good thing, but don’t let note taking interfere with the interview.
After the Interview - Take a deep breath. Congratulations! You did it! Before you leave, ask the interviewer when a hiring decision could be reached.
Do this.
• Dress well — wear business attire that also feels comfortable.
• Offer a firm handshake.
• Make eye contact naturally.
• Express yourself clearly using good diction and grammar.
• Know the interviewer's name and use it during the interview.
• Display confidence and enthusiasm.
• Gather as much knowledge about the position as possible and know how you fit the requirements.
• Know where you want to go in your career (at least have an idea; you can always change your mind).
• Prepare questions about us and the position you desire.• Show that you have researched us.
• Show your sense of humor.
• Bring a pen and small notebook with you to jot down key things like names.
• Think before answering difficult or unexpected questions (silence while thinking is okay).
• Bring an extra copy of your resume and a list of references.
• Contact the employer by phone if the recruiter does not contact you one week after the time from which he or she indicated you would be notified.
What not to do.
• Don't be late to the interview; that’s a sure way to make a stressful situation worse.
• Make eye contact but don’t stare down the interviewer (you want to convey honesty, not power).
• Don't interview unless you are really interested in both the job and the location of that job.
• Keep comments positive (don't speak badly of past employers or co-workers).
• Don't be overbearing, overaggressive or conceited (know the line between confidence and arrogance).
• Don't show a lack of enthusiasm or a lack of sleep.
• Don't expect too much too soon (understand the level of the job for which you are interviewing).
• Explain, but don't make excuses for unfavorable items on your resume.
• Don't take extensive notes during the interview; don’t let anything distract you from having a productive conversation.
Why should we hire you?
Again, don’t give a long-winded answer about your life goals. Focus on what you can bring to make the company successful: a strong work ethic, teamwork, willingness to learn, sense of humor, special skills/knowledge, etc.
How have your education and employment prepared you for this position?
Take the same approach as above. Provide a focused answer.
Tell me about a recent accomplishment you are proud of.
Provide an answer that is work related. If you do choose to cite a personal accomplishment, try to tie it into the company’s work or the nature of the position you are pursuing.
Tell me what you learned from a recent failure.
In answering this question, it’s best to be honest. Having said that, don’t feel you have to ‘bare your soul.’ Just show that you learn from your mistakes and they can motivate you to achieve better, stronger success.
Of you past jobs, which one did you like best, like least?
When talking about the best job, try to cite examples that correlate to the job you are interviewing for. For the least example, try to list examples of tasks that you performed well, but you felt were a bit routine or unchallenging. And (really important) do not speak badly about a past supervisor or previous employer.
Provide an example of how you saved an employer time or money.
If you cannot cite a specific example, it is a fact that performing your previous job with skill and dedication saved and made money for your last employer.
Describe how you organized a large task or complex project.
Your answer does not have to be work related. You can describe a college project you worked on, or a project for a charitable/civic cause.
How do you perform as a leader?
Much like the answer above, your response does not have to be all about work. It can involve your participation in group projects, athletics, volunteer organizations, clubs, etc.
How do you keep track of multiple priorities and materials?
Almost any answer you give will work here, if you are detailed. (Hint: Don’t say that you ‘just automatically remember everything.’).
Do you consider yourself to be creative?
This is not a yes or no answer. Cite an example of how you are creative. If you can’t come up with a work-related example, ask yourself this: Do you enjoy music (listening or playing), writing, art, photography? Talk about that.
List your greatest strengths.
Here, a job-focused answer is best. Play to the nature and responsibilities of the job you are interviewing for (e.g., communication skills for a sales job, technical skills for a computer science or engineering job, etc.).
What is your greatest weakness?
First, acknowledge that you have weaknesses, everybody does. But then quickly show how those weaknesses can work in your favor. You may have learned a valuable lesson from one of your weaknesses. Or, a perceived weakness may not be one at all. Being ‘too detailed” may make you a great project leader!
What were the circumstances under which you left your last job?
Take a positive tone here. Cite elements such as ‘opportunity for advancement, finding work that better fits your skills’ etc. Or you can list things that were out of your control such as a company’s move to a new location, downsizing, and the like. If you were let go, fired, or simply did not like your last job, remain positive in your response. Do not speak badly about the employer or its people.
How would your peers, friends, supervisors or teachers describe you?
Answer honestly. Those who are part of your life and with whom you interact all see you differently. Emphasize your positive traits. Let the real you come out.