Interviewing Preparation/Networking

Interview Preparation/Networking Mt SAC Career Center

How to Prepare

 Know Yourself – Know your resume; Know the position; Know the organization

 Research career fields using resources on the Career Services Website

 Talk with personal contacts and your extended network. Get the “insider scoop” on what the job is really like.

Prepare for Questions

 Use the STAR (situation/task, action, and result) model to help craft your answers to “tell me about….” questions

o Situation/Task - describe a task or project for which you had responsibility

o Action - talk about the approach you took to deal with the situation

o Result - discuss the outcome of your action, making sure to mention accomplishments or improvements resulting from your efforts

 Don't assume that the interviewer has read your resume in depth – unless you say it, they may not know it.

Sample Questions

 Tell me about yourself?

 Why are you interested in this job?

 What are you professional goals now and in 5 years?

 What are your strengths?

 What is a weakness you are working on about yourself?

 How would a past supervisor or teacher describe you?

 What from your experiences or background would help you succeed in this role?

 What one characteristic/skills and qualities do you possess that would make you stand out from other candidates?

 What accomplishment are you most proud of?

 Describe a time you worked on a successful team project. What was your role? What was the outcome?

 Tell me about a mistake you made. What did you learn from it?

 Describe a frustrating experience you've encountered and tell me how you dealt with it.

 Tell me about a time you had to persuade a person or group.

 Do you have any questions for me (us – if group interview)?

Practice Interviewing

 Set up an appointment with a Career Specialist- call the Mt. SAC Career Services Front Desk: Phone:

 Have a friend play the part of the interviewer to enable you to practice your responses; ask for constructive criticism

Helpful Hints

 Arrive early - Ten to fifteen minutes can provide you with a cushion should some unforeseen problem occur

 Bring along extra copies of your resume

 Maintain eye contact - Unwillingness to look someone in the eye is often taken as evasiveness

 Stalling when you’re stumped - Ask for clarification; Repeat the question out loud; Pause and think about it (letting the interviewer know you’re doing so)

 Ask questions at the end if possible! Shows enthusiasm for the job.

After the Interview

 Write down as much as you can remember (questions, how you answered, who you talked to, etc.)

 Send a thank you note! Can be emailed.

Phone Interview Tips

Phone interviews are typically "screening" tools in which organizations interview a large selection of candidates, checking to see who possesses the necessary skills and qualities. Upon completion of the phone interview, a smaller number of candidates will be invited to participate in in-person interviews.

Do…

 Be prepared for employers to call at any time (ie. early morning)

 Can reschedule for another time, if the initial call is bad timing (ie. going to class, meeting, etc.)

 Have a list of employers to whom you have applied in an easily accessible location

 Have your resume and any other helpful notes/accomplishments in front of you during the interview

 Use your voice to show enthusiasm (and any other emotion you might express through nonverbals). Smile, it actually changes the tone of your voice!

 Project your voice clearly and enunciate. Stand if you feel it would be helpful for voice projection or nerves

 Ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you did not hear it or if you need clarification

 Remember to use the STAR method when answering questions so your responses will be detailed and effective without monopolizing the conversation

 Make sure that your environment is quiet and free of distractions

 Disable or ignore call waiting

 Establish how to reconnect if using a cell phone and the call is dropped

 Dress up if that helps with your mental preparation

 Have a pen and paper handy for note taking

 Keep a glass of water handy, in case your mouth becomes dry

Don’t…

 Read your resume or other information verbatim

 Eat, drink, or chew gum

 Yawn into the phone

 Walk around the room with the phone

 Put the employer on hold, unless it’s an emergency

Zoom Interview Preparation Tips

Candidates who take the time to prepare for an interview tend to stand out. Here are my top recommendations for successfully interviewing online, whether this is your first or fiftieth Zoom call:

 Test out the interview platform in advance.

 Use the best internet you can access.

 Have a plan B if your internet is shaky.

 Find the quietest place you can.

 Consider using a virtual background.

 Choose your outfit based on company dress code.

 Research your interviewers. (Linked In/Websites)

 Prepare personalized questions for each interviewer and be sure to ask at least one to two questions at the end of your interview. (Organization website mission, projects, etc).

 Send your thank you note — or any follow-up questions — promptly.

Networking

LinkedIn Online networking site that can help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have. LinkedIn is an online network of more than 16 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. Need help building your profile? Use this LinkedIn Profile Checklist and feel free to set up an appointment with a Career Specialist to review your profile.

Job/Internship Search Websites

General

 indeed: General listings

 internbound: Internship

Non-profit/Government/Arts Jobs

 Idealist: Non-profit, internships and volunteer

 USAJobs: Jobs with the federal government

 CalOpps.org: CA govenment employment

 ArtJobs: Jobs in the art

 USAJobs For Students: Federal jobs for students and recent graduate

 America's Job Center of California: Access to the states employment related services

Business/Communications Jobs

 mediabistro: Marketing, sales, and creative jobs

 Publishing Professionals Network: Job openings in all areas of publishing

 Jobs In Sports: Positions related to sports

Environmental Jobs

 ECOjobs: Environmental career opportunities

Science/Engineering

 BioSpace: Life sciences jobs

 NCARB: Becoming an architect

 RIT: Science jobs at RIT

 Healthcare

 AAPA: Jobs for physician assistants

 AACN: Career planning for nurses

 CPHA-N: Jobs in public health in northern California