Types of Interviews

The following video will describe and give helpful tips on how to master each of the following interview styles. There are some benefits and pitfalls to each type so it is important to be prepared for whatever type you are going into!

• One-on-One
• Team/Panel Interview
• Telephone Interview
• Video Conferencing

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Understanding Interview Formats

Be Prepared

• Participate in a Mock Interview through Career Services - Make an appointment with one of our counselors for a practice interview and an individualized follow-up to help you improve.
• Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend, using these commonly asked interview questions.
• Be aware of nervous habits and body language.

Understanding Types of Interview Questions

Logistics and Planning

• Study the job description and research the organization. Be educated about the position!
• Plan your attire and make sure things are ready to go the day before. Don’t wait until the morning of your interview to learn how to iron.
• Prepare your materials: Copies of your resume, backup copies of your presentation printed or a backup version saved in another location.
• Plan your time for travel, and know the parking situation. Odds are you will need additional time to find parking and find your way to the interview.
• Be well rested.

• Arrive 10 minutes early
• Firm handshake
• Be mindful of your nervous habits (Verbal-slang, filler words, profanity and Non-verbal, posture, enthusiasm, hand gestures)
• Establish Eye-contact with all interviewers
• Smile, Be yourself! The interviewer is nervous too
• Keep answers concise, if you feel yourself rambling pause to collect your thoughts
• Never say anything negative about an individual or an organization. You never know who or what someone has a personal connection to
• Use the STAR Technique when answering questions
  S - Situation (the context, what was happening)
  T - Task (over-arching goals and objectives)
  A - Action (how did you achieve XYZ)
  R - Result (if it’s not positive say what you would change)
• Be sure to ask the interviewer 2-3 questions as well. Check out CareerOneStop for ideas on what is appropriate to ask!

• Send an email thank you and a formal thank you after the interview, or leave a thank you card the day of.
• Evaluate your performance post interview. What did you do great? What could you improve on next time?
• Make notes from the interview to prepare for a possible second interview. Things that stuck out as important to the interviewer you want to bring up or elaborate on.

• Is This Offer Right For Me?: You got an offer! As exciting as this is, you don’t always have to take the first one that comes along. Maybe they are asking you to compromise on something you realize is very important to you. How do you know what offers to negotiate or take and which to pass on?
• Reality Check Tool: How much money do you even need? How do you know if they are offering enough for you to live on? Use this website to find your desired salary range bases on your expenses and needed income.
• How much should I expect to make in my field? Knowing the average salary for not only your profession, but for your region will give you an edge when analyzing an offer!
  • Educate to Career: How much should you be getting paid, based on your experience, location, and education.
  • Salary Finder: Use this tool to find salary information for more than 800 different occupations. To start, either search for an occupation by keyword, or select an occupation from the list below.

Remember that salary is only one part of job compensation. Often better benefits — like flexible schedules or excellent health insurance — make up for a lower salary. The list below is a great place to get ideas for negotiables!

If money is what you are planning to negotiate check out our Current Market Trends page or the Why Negotiate section on this page to view what other professionals in your field are making.

Check out the NACE Salary Survey, this contains annual salary projections for the Class of 2017 college graduates based on their field of study.

• How Do I Negotiate?: Now that you have considered the offer and decided it is the right one for you to pursue, let’s talk about negotiating! Where do you start? How do you navigate through? When is it appropriate? Use this link to get yourself familiar with the process!

Appearance matters, whether it is an interview, networking event, or a normal day on the job. Often individuals don't know the difference between professional, business and business casual attire. The variations between the three can make a big difference in the way you are viewed. Learn the ins and outs of business dress all the way from your hair to your shoes.