Interviewing Tips
A common situation when applying for employment, graduate school, an internship, or a competitive scholarship is an interview. Preparing and utilizing effective communication techniques during the interview will enhance your prospects in attaining the desired position. Below, you will find some helpful communication strategies for a successful interview.
Do Your Homework — Before the Interview
- Create an "interview kit" — Include a notepad, pens, folder, reference sheet and resume in your bag, but leave your phone at home. Taking notes and safely storing valuable handouts in your folder and bag will show the interviewer that you are engaged and responsible.
- Prepare questions — Frequently the interviewer will ask if you have any concerns or comments. "Uh, no," is not a good response. Asking specific questions about the position or company shows the interviewer that you have initiative and interest. This enhances your credibility. See our handout "Interview Questions" for ideas.
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Use the STAR method — Many interviewers ask how you solved a challenging problem in a difficult environment. Remember the STAR method to ensure thorough yet concise answers:
- Situation — Briefly tell them the situation
- Task — Tell them the task at hand you were responsible for completing
- Action — Describe what action you specifically took to get the job done
- Results — Emphasize the positive results from the action you took
- Practice — After you practice interviewing, practice again. Becoming familiar with tough questions and preparing thoughtful responses will make for a better interview. Speaking Center tutors are equipped to provide conferences where you can hone your interviewing skills.
Communication Techniques — Face-to-Face Interview
- Eye Contact — Make eye contact with the interviewer. This conveys interest, trust and confidence.
- Appearance — Dress for the occasion and situation. What you wear to an interview with CNN is different than what you wear to an interview with a graduate studies program at the University of Georgia. Your appearance, an important form of nonverbal communication, speaks volumes about yourself (whether we like it or not). Some interviews call for a suit, others business casual or sportswear. It's probably a good idea to over dress than to "dress down."
- Grooming — Yes, this is important as well.
- Articulation — Articulate clearly and employ proper pronunciations of words.
- Relate / Connect — When speaking about previous experience, achievements, studies, or similar factors, try to relate those to the position, company, or organization to which you are applying.
- Listen — Listen carefully to the question posed by the interviewer to insure you provide an appropriate and accurate response. If a question is difficult to understand, repeat the question back to the interviewer. Asking the interviewer if the question was adequately answered will prevent misunderstandings.
- Show enthusiasm — If you appear disinterested or complacent during the interview, you provide little reason for the interviewer to offer you the position.
Communication Techniques — Telephone Interview
- Get off the couch! — Prepare for the telephone interview at a desk or table with your "interview kit" handy. Choose a location that is quiet and free from distractions so that you may completely concentrate.
- Speak clearly and not too fast — A telephone interview is mediated communication. Oftentimes, a telephone interview is a conference call, that is, there are multiple people on the other end of the conversation who do not have a headset. Thus, you need to speak clearly with enough volume so that all participants can hear you. Articulation is key.
- Avoid speakerphone — While putting your phone on speaker frees up your hands, it provides a less effective means of insuring the interviewer can hear you clearly.
- Charge your phone — If you are doing a telephone interview using a cell phone, the last thing you want to happen is a dead battery midway through the interview. If possible, use a landline to prevent losing service.
Number 035 in the Speaking Center Handout Series