The interview process can be scary if you do not know what to expect. The interview is a screening process where you and the employer get an opportunity to evaluate yourself and potential employer/employee. The two (2) basic types of interviews follow:

Traditional Interview – uses broad based questions such as “tell me about yourself” and where do you see yourself the next five (5) years.

Structure of an interview:

Opening
Lasts about 5 minutes. This begins when the interviewer greets you and is usually followed by small talk in an effort to relax you.

Company Sell
Lasts about 5 minutes. This is designed to provide information about the company or organization. The responsibilities of the position are discussed during this part of the interview.

Candidate Sell
Lasts 15 – 30 minutes. This is where you “Sell yourself”. Describe your abilities, skills and contributions that you can make to the organization.

Closing
Lasts 5 minutes. This is when the interviewer asks if you have any questions. ALWAYS have questions. (See interview questions you can ask). Also, during the time, ask about the next step in the interviewing process. Remember to thank the interviewer for their time. Get a business card and send a thank you note within 48 hours.

For more information:

• Attend one of our interviewing workshops
• Make an appointment with a staff member to conduct a mock interview

 

Behavioral Interview

The purpose is to gain evidence or examples of a specific competency or skill set you possess. It is based on the premise that the best way to predict future behavior is to determine and evaluate past behavior.

Behavioral questions can be identified by phrases like “tell me about a time”, “describe a situation when you”, and “give me an example of a specific situation when you.”

For more information:

• Attend one of our interviewing workshops
• Make an appointment with a staff member