Transcript HOW TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP

Interview Strategies
Student Engagement Center:
Career Development and Internships
219 Reid Campus Center
509-527-5183
Workshop Objectives
At the completion of this workshop, you will:
• Start to articulate individual strengths and goals while
building an understanding of the big picture of your
“professional identity”
• Begin to develop strategies for sharing your skills and
experiences with a potential employer
• Demonstrate strong verbal and non-verbal communication
skills in the context of an interview
Purpose of an Interview
For the employer
• Evaluate your ability to express ideas
• Find out more about your skills/experience
• Determine if you would be a good match for the company’s
needs
For the candidate
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Expand on information in your resume/application
Demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills
Gather additional information about employer
Determine if the company would be a good match for your
needs
Setting Up the Interview
A company representative will contact you
• Be flexible about schedules!
• Be professional and respectful
The type of interview will be dependent on the company
or organization
• Funding
• Location
• Procedures
Types of Interviews
Screening interview
• Often by phone
• Good way for you and the company to collect
preliminary information
Selection interview
• Often “on-site,” can last several hours or even a whole
day
• Involves multiple people within company or
organization, panel style
Other: Skype, Group Interviews
Steps to Prepare for the Interview
• Review your strengths, experiences, and goals
• Practice strategies to answer anticipated questions
with thoughtful responses
• Research the organization
• Compile key questions to ask
Take Time for Self-Reflection
What is your “Professional Identity”?
• What are your values, interests, personality characteristics,
and skills?
Be able to answer introspective questions, such as:
• What about this field/position/company interests me?
• Why am I qualified to do this job?
• What strengths do I bring to the table? What are my weaknesses? What am I
doing to resolve those weaknesses?
• What do I hope to learn about this field/company?
• What do I hope to accomplish working for this company?
• What experiences have I had that will enhance my chances of success in this
field/company?
• What kind of relationship would I like to have with my supervisor?
• What are my short term and long term goals?
Answering the Questions
You might be asked…
• About your interest in or goals for the job or field.
Example: “What led you to a career in teaching?”
• About your personality.
Example: “How do you handle conflict situations at work?”
• Specific questions pulled from the position description.
Example: “Please tell us about web development experiences you have
had.”
• Behavioral and situational questions.
Example: “Please tell us about a situation when you…”
• Out-of-the-box questions.
Example: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how weird are you?”
See the SEC’s website for sample interview questions.
Answering the Questions
Respond to questions with brief but informative, relevant, and
focused responses.
• Keep it professional and avoid negativity.
• Recall previous experiences:
– Define the Problem or activity
– Describe your Action
– Describe your Result
• Don’t tell, DEMONSTRATE! Give specific examples and
connect these examples to the skills the employer wants.
• Make sure you are answering the question that is asked.
Do Your Research
• Review company profile, history, documents,
and reports
• Talk to current employees
• Search news archives for company news
• Talk to others in the industry
Asking Good Questions
Some topics that make good questions:
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Challenges faced by department/company
Interviewer’s history with the organization
News item involving the organization
New initiatives the company is taking on
Procedures, structures, operations of the organization
On your first interview, it is not a good idea to ask about
salary or benefits. It is a good idea to ask about the
timeline of the hiring process.
Interview Etiquette
Dress Code
• Good rule: Consider everyday dress code of
organization, then dress up one level,
i.e. Business Casual  Business Formal
• Clothes: clean, pressed
• Hair: neat, clean
• Muted fragrances if you must, prefer no fragrance.
What about piercings and tattoos?
Interview Etiquette
Body Language
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Sit up
Don’t fidget
Make eye contact
Smile!
Timing
• Arrive 10 minutes
early
• Know when the
interview is over
Verbal
• Always be respectful
– to everyone you
meet!
• Don’t bash anyone –
It could come back to
bite you!
• Say “Thank you!”
Let’s Give It a Try!
• Pair up with someone near you.
• Introduce yourself.
• Share with your partner the kinds of
jobs/internships you want to obtain or tell him/her
about the industry in which you are most
interested.
• Take turns asking the questions on your paper.
Feedback
Body Language:
• Did he/she make eye
contact?
• Did he/she smile?
• What was his/her posture?
Answering the Question:
• Was the response clear,
concise, and relevant?
• Did he/she answer the
whole question?
• Did he/she provide
relevant examples?
Overall, what did your partner do well? What could use some
improvement?
Problem Solving: What Ifs…
• What if I don’t understand a question?
• Ask for clarification
• What if I can’t think of an answer?
• Pause, ask them to clarify the question for more
time to think
• What if I forgot someone’s name?
• Ask for a business card
• What if I realize that I am not the right person
for the job (or vice versa)?
• Don’t be rude, but be honest
How to Deal with Nervousness
Before the Interview:
• Practice!! Answer questions out loud to friends or
parents, or set up a mock interview.
During the Interview:
• Don’t forget to breathe.
• Smile 
• Make it a conversation. Interviews are not
interrogations.
The Follow Up
• Always write a thank you note.
• Emails are appropriate for phone interviews
• Hand-written notes are appropriate for on-site
interviews
• What if I don’t hear anything?
• If indicated timeline has passed, call!
• What to say?
Now What?
• What if I don’t get the job?
• Don’t panic or lose faith in yourself
• Follow up with interviewer to inquire about
ways to improve interviewing skills
• What if I get the job?
• Be informed!
• Make thoughtful decisions – consult the
important people in your life.
What SEC Resources Are Available?
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Individual advising appointments
Mock interviews
MyPlan – self-assessment testing
Workshops like this one
• Resume and cover letters, networking, finding
internships
• SEC website:
http://www.whitman.edu/content/career_internships
• Career Consultant Network
Questions?