Prepare for an Interview

Congratulations on receiving an interview!

Preparation and practice are your keys to success. You can learn about what the employer might do in the interview, but you can’t control it. What you can control is how well prepared you are for every interview.

Know the Job

• Study the employer’s job description and understand the tasks you’ll be asked to perform, the desired outcomes and where they fit into the bigger picture of what the employer is trying to do.
• Understand the skills, traits, knowledge base and experiences possessed by their ideal candidate.
• Within the organization, look at jobs at higher levels so you can speak to career paths and your goals.
• Research the employer and talk to your network about the work environment, culture and values.

Know Yourself

• Be prepared to discuss how your skills, traits, knowledge areas and experiences align with the job.
• Envision yourself making a good impression, answering the employer’s questions, asking your questions and then closing the interview.

Practice, Practice, Practice

• Practice interviewing, so you’ll know when you’re hitting your mark and can identify areas of improvement.
• Gain experience with different styles and types of questions.
• Interview Questions

What to Bring and How to Dress

• Prepare questions in advance. Write out questions and let the employer literally see how prepared you are.
• Bring material to take notes, this will be helpful when reflecting on the experience following the interview.
• Dress for success and the company culture.

For additional information and suggested questions to help identify work culture, position responsibilities, practice interviewing and more, schedule an appointment with your Career Development Specialist through your Handshake account or emailing Central Career Services at careerservices@mail.wvu.edu.

Your next interview may not be face-to-face—it could be through Zoom, Skype, HireVue, or another virtual platform.

According to one recent survey, 55 percent of employers have used video interviewing as a college recruiting tool and more and more employers are recognizing video as a useful interviewing tool.

Getting ready for your video interview isn’t hard, but there are specific steps you can take to ensure you interview at your very best.

The good news is: Everything you do for an in-person interview is needed for your video interview. Research the company. Practice answering potential questions. Have a list of questions you would like to ask. Dress professionally for the interview. Write a thank-you note after the interview.

Here’s how to turn a regular interview into your video interview:

Check first with your university’s career center. It may be set up for video interviews. Plus, staff there can help you practice—and practice is key to a successful interview. If you are doing the video interview on your own, be sure to practice.

If you are handling the video interview on your own, choose the device you’re most comfortable using. You can use your computer, a tablet, or your smart phone. Test your equipment well in advance of the interview. On the day of the interview, make sure the battery is at full power and the camera lens is clean.

Check your Internet connection. If you share a connection, you may want to ask others to stay off the Internet while you are interviewing. Be sure to check your connection an hour before the interview to ensure everything is working. And, have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

Choose a good location. You want a quiet place—no roommates, no pets, no distracting noises. You want a plain background (in front of a solid color wall is perfect) and you want your desk or table to be free of clutter. (You can have your notes, your resume, and paper to take notes.) You want the room to be well-lit so that the interviewer can see you clearly. Use diffused lighting—nothing harsh or direct so that you won’t have shadows or glare.

Position your camera so that it is level with your head or angled just slightly downward (you don’t want the camera looking up your nose). The camera should be far enough away that it captures you from the waist up.

Now that you’re ready, do a test interview. Ask a friend to help you practice your interview using the technology you’ve just set up. Fix any problems (sound, lighting, camera placement) now. If you can, record the interview so that you can review it and improve your performance.

On the day of the interview, dress in your complete interview outfit. Do not just dress from the waist up: You may need to stand up during the interview, and don’t want to be wearing pajama bottoms.  In addition, make sure your clothing doesn’t blend in with your background.

Turn off all your apps prior to your interview. You don’t want distracting noises during the interview.

When the connection between you and the interviewer opens, look directly at the camera, not the screen, so that you’re making good eye contact. Use positive body language. Smile and nod when appropriate. Keep your hands off your face. Speak in a conversational tone.

Pause briefly—about three seconds—after each question before you respond so that you don’t talk over the interviewer. Nod at the interviewer to show you’ve heard the question.

Use your notes if you need them, but remember that this is a conversation between you and the interviewer. Avoid looking down at your notes as much as possible.

Once the interview is finished, thank the recruiter for the interview. Then, be sure the connection is closed before you do anything else.

Finally, don’t forget to e-mail your thank-you note to the person who conducted the interview.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The interview process begins the moment you interact with the organization—whether you’re entering the building, starting a virtual meeting, or making a phone call. It’s essential to make a strong and lasting impression on everyone you meet, including the interviewer, the receptionist, and any other staff members. Remember, their opinions may play a crucial role in the final decision-making process. Strive to showcase your professionalism, approachability, and enthusiasm at every step; it can set you apart as a standout candidate.

Additionally, interviews may be focused on gathering additional information surrounding your resume, experience, behavior and/or a combination of hypothetical client case experiences.

First Impressions

From being on time, confident, engaging and dressing for success and the company culture, you can make a good first impression.

The Interview

From introductions to small talk, the interview will likely transition to focusing on you in relation to the available position. Topic highlights include the following.

• Your interest in the position and/or organization.
• Your background, experiences, skills, strengths and weaknesses.
• Your academic choices.
• Your career and future goals.

When asked a question, we suggest the following best practices.

• Listen, pause to think, ask clarifying questions if necessary.
• Use examples to demonstrate skills or traits.
• Avoid rambling when a shorter summary will do.
• Keep your responses specific to the opportunity, work environment, its challenges and/or features.

Asking Your Questions

It is a best practice to always have questions prepared and we encourage you to explore the list of questions below. Doing so shows your interest in the position and it allows you to assess your fit with the opportunity and the organization.

• A year from now, what will success look like for this position?
• What challenges do you see for the person in this role?
• Are there opportunities for growth?
• Where do you see the company 5 or 10 years from now?
• How did you get your start at this company?
• What’s it like working for this company?

Closing the Interview

When you reach the end of your questions, summarize your interest and always express appreciation for the interview opportunity. During this time, you may also highlight your desire to work at the organization, confidence in your skills to help the organization and ask about next phases of the interview process.

For additional questions, information on interview styles or review follow-up message suggestions, schedule an appointment with your Career Development Specialist through your Handshake account or emailing Central Career Services at careerservices@mail.wvu.edu.

Sending a follow-up message after an interview to express your gratitude and appreciation can help you stand out from other candidates. Follow-up messages allow you to thank the interviewer for their time, remind them of the position you applied for, highlight examples of your skills that align with the position, and reiterate your interest and enthusiasm for the role.

Follow-Up Messages Best Practices

• Send the thank you via email or note by mail within 24 hours after your interview.
• Address the message to specific individual(s).
• Keep the message brief, while expressing appreciation, highlighting the position and your skills.

Alert Your References

From applying to a position and throughout the interview process, ensure to let your references know to expect a call or email from any organizations you are speaking with. Throughout the process, keep your references up to date with timely messages, highlighting the position description, employer profile and employer contact information.

For additional questions or to review follow-up message suggestions, schedule an appointment with your Career Development Specialist through Handshake or by contacting Career Services at careerservices@mail.wvu.edu.