Transcript Making it Happen: Your Job Search Timeline

POWER HALF HOUR:
INTERVIEWING
Center for Career Education
East Campus, Lower Level
2007-2008
PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW
Sell your strengths and skills.
Learn as much as you can about the
position and employer.
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW
Before the interview, you need to do four
things:
Research yourself
Research the industry
Research the organization
- Vault Company Tracking
Practice
TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Traditional:
Requires you to relay factual
information
Case Based/ Technical:
Specific Industries
Behavioral:
Offer concrete, specific examples to
reveal skills
‘Tell me about a time when..’
TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
For behavioral-type questions, the STARS
framework can be helpful in structuring
your examples:
What was the SITUATION?
What was your TASK?
What ACTION did you take?
What was the RESULT?
SUMMARIZE and conclude.
KEY QUESTIONS
Always be ready to answer four key questions:
Tell me about yourself (personal “pitch”)
Why are you interested in this field?
Why do you want to work here?
Why should we hire you?
Other common questions:
What are your weaknesses?
Do you have any questions for me/us?
ON THE INTERVIEW DAY
What to bring:
Extra resumes
Reference list
Portfolio with pad and pen
Professional Image:
It generally takes most people two
minutes to form their first
impression.
WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR?
Employers are looking for critical skills
such as:
Communication (verbal and
written)
Technical/Quantitative
Analytical/Problem solving
Drive/Motivation/Enthusiasm
Team Player/Cooperative
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Send a thank-you note to everyone you
met with.
Follow-up during the appropriate time
frame if you have not heard from them
East Campus, Lower Level
(212) 854-5498
[email protected]
http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu
Mon – Fri, 9am-5pm
Wed (term time), 9am–8pm
Walk-Ins, 1pm-4pm