ACE THEINTERVIEW

The interview is an opportunity for an employer to learn more information about you through a question-and-answer exchange. Most interviews include behavioral questions and open-ended questions.

During a behavioral interview, the employer asks questions that are designed to get you to provide specific examples of how you have developed the required skill set for the job. Interviewers rely on this method to evaluate experiences and behaviors as indicators of your potential for success.

What employers look for?• Work-specific skills (examples: computer programming language or CAD)• Transferable skills that remain the same from one job to another (examples: communication or customer service skills)• Self-management skills (examples: team player or problem solver)

• Review our Career Readiness and Interview Questions Resource for more info

Situation or Task

• Describe the situation you were in or the task you needed to accomplish. Your description should reflect a specific event or situation, not a generalized sense of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a job, an internship experience, academic assignment or any relevant event.

Action you took

• Describe the action you took. Be sure to keep the focus on you, even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what you did, not the efforts of the team. Don’t tell what you might do, tell what you did.

Result you achieved• What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn?

*ProTip: Always quantify your results.

Examples: • The project resulted in a 20% increase in revenue• The marketing campaign resulted in 100 new customer inquiries

Popular behavioral interview questions• Give an example of using good judgment and logic in solving a problem.• Give a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.• Tell about a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty to get a job done.• Tell us about a difficult decision you’ve made in the past year.

Other popular interview questions will be open-ended. These questions cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. They may feel intimidating because there are so many different ways you can answer them. Keep in mind a strong answer will focus on why you are an ideal candidate for the job. The answer will be in-depth, and it might include an example from past work or college experience.

Before your interview, make a list of past experiences that have prepared you for the job. Develop and rehearse a brief description (30 seconds) of your education and previous experiences that will highlight how you would be the ideal match for the job. Keep your response concise and emphasize the positive. Do not discuss anything negative or personal like age, children, family, or religious affiliation.

Popular open-ended interview questions• Tell me about yourself.• How would you describe your ideal job?• How would a friend or professor who knows you well describe you?• What is your greatest strength and weakness?

ACTIVATE THE STAR TECHNIQUE TO ACE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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