ASU Career Services/Career Education Center

Student Services Building, Room 329

(480) 965-2350

INTERVIEWING SKILLS

The purpose of the interview is to obtain information from the candidate and evaluate the candidate’s qualifications. Interviewers also inform the candidate about the position and the organization. It is important to note that interviewing is a two way communication for both applicant and employer. Applicants need to determine from the interview whether they want to work for that particular organization.

There are several types of employment interviews. The screening interview is generally of relatively short duration and is used to determine if the candidate has sufficient basic qualifications to warrant a more in-depth, formal interview. It is usually conducted by one interviewer, often over the phone, and used to narrow the field of candidates. The unstructured interview could be a group interview (more than one interviewer) and involve unstructured questions such as “Tell me about yourself.” Team members are usually allowed to free-lance or probe any area of the candidate’s background. The structured interview could also involve one or more interviewers. If it is a group interview each interview team member will be assigned a specific area of the candidate’s background to probe and the questions asked are usually behavioral in type.

Prepare for the interview

Candidates should do a thorough self assessment:

  • Know your skills and what skills are required on the job for which you are applying. Be ready to talk about transferable skills that can be valuable on any job such as problem solving, decision making, organizing, planning, communication, etc.
  • Knowing your career related interests can help when answering questions about future career goals (where do you plan to be five years from now?)
  • Having a solid understanding of your values will help you sort through what is important to you (how many hours you work, how much money you want, benefits you require) and what “corporate culture” fits for you

Research the company with which you plan to interview:

  • Find out what products and services the company provides
  • Look at the organization’s functions and types of positions that exist there
  • Determine what individual departments do and their relationship to other functions and departments
  • It can be very helpful knowing hiring policies, organizational goals and objectives, management styles and company philosophy

Your attitude and appearance can significantly impact the outcome of the interview;

  • Dress appropriately
  • Be positive, interactive and proactive
  • Project enthusiasm, confidence
  • Smile, be friendly
  • Show respect for the interviewer

This is what employers typically look for in candidates:

  • A professional image - what you look like as well as how you present yourself
  • Self-concept - Confidence, personal management and a realistic assessment of strengths and weaknesses
  • Mature behavior and judgment
  • Interaction with others - How you get along with peers and bosses will certainly be measured
  • Interviewers often attempt to determine how your personality fits with their corporate culture
  • Team work is an important dimension measured in the interview
  • A good work ethic will be expected of each candidate

Additional qualities employers expect from ASU students:

  • Academic performance - Your GPA does matter to most employers
  • Demonstrated leadership experience
  • Co-op/Internship experience
  • Communication skills which includes both verbal/presentation skills as well as written skills
  • Extra-curricular activities
  • Computer literacy

The structure of the interview will generally include an introduction designed to develop rapport and exchange basic information about the position and company. The body of the interview will consist of the acquisition of specific information relating to job performance, background, education and skills. Decisions on second interviews or hiring are usually based on what you say here. At the close of the interview be sure to:

  • Re-emphasize your specific qualities, skills
  • Ask questions not previously answered
  • Obtain information about follow-up time frame/next steps
  • Must follow-up with a thank you letter

Additional Resources:

The Career Education Center

  • Walk-in advising
  • Books on interviewing, for example
  • Dynamic Answers to Interview Questions
  • Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed
  • Knock ‘Em Dead With Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions
  • Hiring the Best: A Manager’s Guide to Effective Interviewing
  • Effective Employment Letters Workshop
  • Video Mock Interviews (if available)
  • Behavioral Interviewing Workshop
  • The Second Interview Workshop

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Arizona State University Career Services/Career Education Center, Form 228, Revised 8/00, NSS

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