Receiving an interview invitation means they already see your potential! This is a chance for a dynamic conversation, where you can confidently highlight your skills for the employer, and discover if the role is a perfect fit for you as well. The more you prepare, the more you'll enjoy the process and showcase your best self.
The following techniques and practice will help you ace your interview:
A Summary Statement is a brief introduction of your skills and abilities as they relate to the position. It is used to answer questions about your past experience and education. The Summary Statement is made up of three parts.
Sample Question: Tell me about yourself.
Answer: I have over five years of experience as an Administrative Assistant. Throughout my career I have worked in fast-paced business environments. My key skills include typing 60+wpm, working with the advanced features of MS Word and Excel, and responding to customer questions. I have extensive experience coordinating and scheduling travel, special events, and projects for senior management. I am dependable, self-motivated, and known for producing high quality results.
Download the Summary Statement worksheet.
Practice your Summary Statement with sample interview questions.
A Problem-Solution-Result (PSR) is a short story that describes your skills and experience. It is used to answer questions about your strengths, skills, and abilities. The PSR framework provides a logical structure to paint a memorable picture for your interviewers, helping them to remember you and your accomplishments long after the interview ends. Each PSR story contains three parts.
Sample:
Here’s how that might sound in an interview:
Question : Tell me about a time you came up with a solution to solve an existing problem at work.
Answer: When I was working as a program supervisor I was spending a lot of time reviewing and correcting time cards. Our time cards were done manually by each staff member. I decided to create an automated time card using excel. The new template automatically checked hours for each day and allocated time to different charge codes. The new system reduced the number of errors and cut the time it took to review weekly time cards down by 75%.
Practice the PSR technique with sample interview questions.
A Sandwich is used to respond to negative questions. This is a three-part reply that sandwiches negative information between two positives. Sandwiches show a positive attitude - the ability to see and present things in the best light.
How to construct a sandwich:
Here’s how that might sound in an interview:
Question: Tell me about one of your weaknesses.
Answer: Although I really like people, I get nervous when I speak in front of large groups. So I am working on this by taking public speaking classes at the local college. I think this will benefit your organization with the quarterly presentations that you mentioned.
Download the Sandwich Worksheet.
Practice the Sandwich technique with sample interview questions.
How to address questions regarding salary:
Employers operating in California can not ask an applicant for information on their salary history. Also an employer must, upon reasonable request, provide an applicant with the pay scale assigned to the position sought.
Strategies to Pass Salary Screen Questions
It is in your best interest to know the current market rate for the positions you are applying to. Please use the following resources:
Here’s how that might sound in an interview:
Question: What are your salary expectations?
Response: What is your range for this position?
After they give you their range, get more information about the scope and responsibilities of the job in order to start building your value. You might say “Your range seems fair. Would you tell me more about the position?”
Independent recruiters may push for salary information. Since they are not the direct employer they may not provide the salary information. In this case, use the salary data you have collected to provide a range. "Based on my research I am looking for a salary or compensation package between X and Y."
The end of the interview is your final opportunity to ask questions, express interest in the position, and determine next steps.
Three steps to an effective closing:
Here’s how that might sound in an interview:
Question: Do you have any questions for me?
Answer: Although I learned a lot today, I do have a few remaining questions. Can you please tell me the key project you would like the person you hire to complete within the first three months on the job? Also what do you think is the biggest challenge for the person coming into this position? I want to thank you and your team for meeting with me today. I really enjoyed speaking with everyone and I learned a lot about the position and the team. I am excited about this opportunity. Can you tell me the next steps in the hiring process? Thanks again for your time, would you happen to have a business card?
Practice an effective closing with sample follow up questions to ask the interviewer.
Thank-you letters are your chance to go the extra mile and put yourself in front of the hiring manager one more time. Very few candidates follow up after an interview with a thank-you letter, so this is your chance to stand out.
Following Up With a Thank You Letter:
Sample Thank-You Letter
Dear Ms. Wright,
I want to thank you for your time and the intriguing conversation concerning the unique requirements for your design engineer position. I was especially excited that our ideas about the future of D-Zine were so similar.
Your team is impressive, and I believe I could work quite effectively with them. My technical expertise in industrial robotics equipment could be a perfect complement to the talents they already possess. I also see my project management background and capacity for details benefiting you in getting all projects scheduled to utilize your team efficiently.
I look forward to hearing from you regarding our next steps. Thank you, again, for such an informative and enjoyable meeting.
All the best,
Behavior-based Interviewing is a form of interviewing that assesses past behavior as an indicator of future performance. They are used by employers to
How Are Interview Questions Developed
What Questions Can You Expect
How Should You Respond
Download the Behavior-based Interview Workbook to create your job profile and review sample interview questions based on your job profile.
There are thousands of possible interview questions and preparing for each one would be impossible. Instead of preparing for specific questions, prepare for the question behind the question.
In the following sections you will find interview questions that relate to different interview techniques we reviewed previously. Download the complete list of interview questions to refer to later.
Summary Statement
The employer is asking for a description of your abilities and background as they relate to the prospective job. Common questions that can uncover this information are:
PSR
This is your opportunity to sell yourself by specifically focusing on the skills that will be used in this position. Common questions that can uncover this information are:
Sandwich
The interviewer is looking for any issues or red flags that would eliminate you from the candidate pool.
Salary Screen
The interviewer is trying to determine how much money it is going to take to make you happy.
Questions You Can Ask
This is your opportunity to learn more about the position, expectations, and realities of the position.
The top way to stand out as a candidate is to do your research ahead of time. The more informed you are, the more confidently and enthusiastically you will be able to build the bridge between your relevant experience and the employer's needs.
You’ll be able to answer interview questions such as:
Interviews come in all shapes and sizes, and the format can vary depending on the role or the company. Some companies prefer the traditional one-on-one chat, while others might go for a panel. Each format has its perks and challenges, but knowing what to expect can help you feel more prepared and confident going in.
To convey professionalism:
To make a good impression:
The panel interview is an opportunity to talk to multiple people involved in the hiring process at the same time. The panel members will most likely represent different departments within the company that this position will interact with on a regular basis. Although it can be unnerving to be talking to multiple people at once, you are able to condense the interview process from multiple hours to 30-60 minutes.
Techniques to help you effectively handle a panel interview
If your interview will be virtual (with a live person or a computer asking you questions), it is important to be comfortable with the technology including the virtual platform, lighting, and your computer.
Zoom, Google Meets, MS Teams, WebEx and FaceTime are the most commonly used technologies because they are free and relatively easy to download and use. Here are some tips on how to manage a video interview:
Getting the job offer is a very exciting time. All of your hard work and efforts have finally paid off. A small, thoughtful negotiation can pay off, as many employers expect it. You risk leaving money or benefits on the table by not asking — and it’s not just about salary. Just be sure to research first, since some roles offer little leverage to negotiate.
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Attitude
A little thing that makes a BIG difference! Your attitude plays a pivotal role in the interview and sets the stage for your success. Even though you have the requisite skills and abilities to do the job, it is equally important to know that employers are also evaluating how you will fit into the work environment there. In fact, employers say that 58% of applicants do not get the job in the first interview based on their attitude.
People communicate with more than just words, revealing a great deal about unspoken thoughts and feelings through body language. In the interview situation, remember to pay attention to what your body is communicating.