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How to Prepare for Interviews

The interview is one of the most important parts of your job or internship search. It is your opportunity to shine, to sell your strengths, and to present yourself as a unique candidate. With preparation and practice, you can learn the skills necessary to interview effectively.

You already have the talent, the intelligence, and the strong credentials. Now you must learn to communicate your unique strengths in a compelling manner. If you do so, your interviews will become an interesting challenge rather than a cause for anxiety.

Your Next Steps:

• Read more in the Interview Handout (pdf)
• Prepare answers for Commonly Asked Questions in the Interview Handout using the SAR Method (Situation, Action, Result.)
  
• What to Wear - Professional Attire
• Business Etiquette
  
• Prepare for your Interview - Employer Research.
• Prepare questions to ask the employer.
• Meet with a Career Counselor
  

How to Further Develop Your Interviewing Skills:

• Attend one of the Career Center's Interviewing workshops to learn the essentials of interviewing. Check the Career Calendar for upcoming workshops.
• Review the company's website not only for company information, but to see if the organization lists interview tips for applicants.
• Know about the industry: Use the Hopkins Career Profiles, Vault and Career Beam to learn more.
• Practice: Practice answering questions, especially "Tell me about yourself and why you are interested in this position."
• Prepare questions to ask the employer.
  Review general examples in the Interview Handout. Excellent industry specific question can be found in Career Beam's industry section in the Call Prep Questions.
• Review some of the books on interviewing available in the Career Center's library.
• Schedule an Interview Preparation appointment with a counselor.
  This half hour appointment will include:
  • How to prepare for the interview
  • Tips on answering key questions including “Tell me about yourself,” and behavioral interview questions
  • Questions to ask the interviewer
  • Counselors may also role play a few questions with the student to help him/her prepare
  • Follow up with a 1 hour mock interview appointment with a Career Counselor. Click here to learn more about the mock interview process.
• If you are interviewing at a consulting firm, be prepared for a case interview. Vault and in the Career Center library the book, Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation, are two resources students should use in preparing for a consulting interview.

Remember:

1. It’s the person who best convinces the employer that they have what it takes to do the job who will get the job.
2. Much of your success in the interview results from what you do beforehand.
3. The key to marketing your skills and strengths in an interview is to relate them as closely as possible to the employer’s needs.

Additional Resources
Handling Illegal Questions
Interview Center —Monster.com
Case and Finance Interviews -Vault (Login through your J-Connect account)