Interviewing
- How can I prepare for an interview?
- Most importantly, you will need to develop an interviewing strategy. We strongly recommend scheduling a mock interview and attending an interviewing workshop. You will also want to invest time to research your target industry and employer prior to an interview. Brainstorm your accomplishments and skills be prepared to discuss how they relate to the position. Practice answering questions out loud and time them to ensure you are being concise. The more you prepare, the more confident you’ll be.
- I’ve never been on an interview before, what should I expect?
- No two interviews are identical. Each interviewer has his/her own style. While some follow a standard format and ask you a list of prepared questions, others are more informal and will let the conversation follow its own course. You should be prepared to handle either approach. By researching the style of the company, you may be able to determine how formal or informal the interview may be.
- How do I schedule a mock interview?
- Identify the job description that you are interested in pursuing. Write a cover letter specifically for that job description. Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor by calling (919) 660-1050. Submit the job description and cover letter at least 2 business days prior to your interview. Prepare and dress for the interview! It’s not useful to do a mock interview unless you take it seriously. Towards the beginning of the semester, some employers volunteer to conduct mock interviews. These mock interviews can be scheduled through eRecruiting.
- What are Case Interviews and how can I prepare?
- Case interviews are usually used by management consulting firms and occasionally by other businesses. The purpose is to give you an opportunity to solve interesting business problems. Most consulting firms provide sample case questions on their Web sites. There are also a number of useful guides available in the Career Center Resource Room that will help you prepare. Our favorite is the Vault Guide to Case Interviewing (available online and in our resource room).
- It's been a few days since my interview and I haven't heard anything, should I follow up?
- If the interviewer told you that you would be contacted within a specific time frame and that time frame has not passed, be patient and wait the full amount of time before you call. If you do not know when they plan to contact you, it is generally acceptable to call your interviewer after a few days to check the status of your application with the organization. However, a good way to avoid this situation is to ask in the interview, "What are the next steps?" or "What is your timeframe for making a decision?"