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So what is an interview? An interview is simply an exchange of information between a candidate and someone who can make a hiring decision. While interviews are usually formal, you are interviewing any time you meet someone who can influence whether you advance in the search process.

Interviewing is typically one of the last stages of a job search, it is also one of the most important. All the other steps of your search process leading up to the interview. This is where it all comes together – the opportunities you discovered, your research, resume and cover letter preparation, and your conversations with networking contacts.

So how do you prepare for the interview? Before the interview, prepare by reviewing the research you gathered, the job description, your resume and cover letter, and any information the organization may have provided. Try to determine the type of questions the interviewer may ask. You can use the Researching Worksheet to help you organize the information.

Pay close attention to the skills and experience they are seeking and match it to your experiences that demonstrate these abilities in a positive way. Take some time to reflect on skills, experience, successes, strengths, and weaknesses, and most importantly why you want their specific opportunity and how you can help them fulfill their needs.

We have all heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.” This is certainly the case with interviewing. You can practice interviewing by having a friend role-play an interview with you, or scheduling an appointment for a mock-interview with one of our coaches. Also, make sure to review all the information on this page.

Helpful Resource

DoreWays Virtual Interview Module: This online tool, built into DoreWays, allows you to practice answering interview questions using your computer’s webcam and speakers.

Types of Interviews

Interviewing styles vary from employer to employer and from interviewer to interviewer. To better prepare for an interview, you should be familiar with the different types of interviews that you may encounter.

Behavioral Interview. This interview is based on the idea that your past behavior is useful in predicting future performance. Typical questions center on how you have handled past situations where skills, abilities, and teamwork have been demonstrated. Topics could include project work, relevant work experiences, difficult situations, accomplishments and leadership roles. The questions usually begin with, “Tell me about a time when you… ?”


Group Interview. A group interview could involve several people taking turns asking questions or presenting scenarios for you to answer or solve. It may be structured as a group discussion that can help determine how you interact with potential colleagues.


Phone Interview. This interview is sometimes used as a screening interview if you are located a long distance from the employer. These interviews are often used to decide whether you should be considered for an on-site interview. Occasionally, students seeking internships and summer jobs have been interviewed and hired using this method alone.

Screening Interview. The goal of this type of interview is to get the facts from you by identifying relevant skills and abilities while verifying the resume and looking for a solid potential employee. It usually lasts less than one hour and, depending on the employer and location, can take the form of an on-campus, site visit, video or telephone interview.

Stress Interview. This format may involve the interviewer posing rapid-firing questions, and he or she may seem angry, may use harsh tones, or contradict and challenge everything you say. You are being tested on how you respond to pressure. Do not take it personally; rise to the challenge and respond like the cool-headed professional you are becoming.

Team Interview. The purpose of this interview is to see how you perform on a team. You will be observed as teams are developed, and projects distributed to test each team member. To emerge as a leader and a good team player, take time to receive ideas and suggestions as much as you give them. The worst thing you can do is to sit in silence and not participate.

Technical Interview. This format is used by employers recruiting for engineering, science or IT positions. The activities or questions (e.g., brainteasers, coding challenge, etc.) are designed to gauge if your understanding of technical concepts and problem-solving abilities align well with the scope of the position.

Video Interview. Video conferencing equipment is used by employers to conduct screening, behavioral and other types of interviews. The following are tips to help you prepare for this type of interview:

  • Dark clothing is best suited to a video interview.
  • Allow the interviewer to finish speaking before beginning a response.
  • Smile and follow basic rules of interviewing etiquette.

Types of Questions

Commonly Asked Interview Questions:

  • What do you consider to be your greatest strength? Weakness?
  • How do you think a friend, classmate, or professor who knows you well would describe you?
  • Why should I hire you?
  • What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful in this job?
  • Do you have plans for continued study?
  • In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
  • Why did you decide to seek a position with our organization?

By carefully constructing your answers to these questions, you should be better prepared for the interview. Take as much time as you can and start early. The longer you practice your answers, the more polished your answers will become.

Questions to Ask During an Interview:



  • Which parts of the job are most challenging?
  • What do you enjoy most about your job? Least?
  • What activities are routinely performed in this job?
  • What other departments/divisions do you interact with the most?
  • How much travel is involved and where?
  • How are new product teams formed?
  • Where will the position be located?
  • Will relocation be required in the future? To where?
  • What is the length of the training program/period?
  • What is the average time to move within this particular career path?

Need more help? Check out the ultimate guide to asking questions to your interviewer.

Behavioral Interview Questions:

The concept behind behavioral interviews lies in the notion that your past performance is the best predictor of future performance. Interviewers ask for specific examples of specific events in order to draw a conclusion as to how you would perform in a similar situation. The questions are more probing than those in traditional interviews and discourage vague, canned or hypothetical answers. The interviewer determines the capabilities and traits that are necessary for success in a position and then asks questions that are designed to determine whether or not the candidate has the ability based on specific past experiences.

  • Give an example of a time when you could not participate in a discussion or could not finish a task because you did not have enough information.
  • Tell me about a time when you had to use your verbal communication skills in order to get a point across that was important to you.
  • Describe a situation where you felt it necessary to be attentive and vigilant to your environment.
  • Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to gain the information needed to solve a problem. Then tell me how you analyzed the information and came to a decision.
  • Give me an example of an important goal you had set and tell me about your progress in reaching it.
  • Describe the most significant written document, report or presentation that you’ve completed.
  • Describe a time when you felt it was necessary to modify or change your actions in order to respond to the needs of another person.
  • What did you do in a project or class to contribute toward a teamwork environment? Be specific.

CAR Method. Using the CAR (Challenge-Action-Results) method provides you with a framework to use when responding to behavioral interview questions.

  • Results: What results directly followed because of your actions? Before the interview process, identify two or three of your top-selling points and determine how you will convey these points (with demonstrated CAR stories) during the interview.

It is helpful to frame your answer as a story that you can tell. Typically, the interviewer will pick apart the story to try to get at the specific behavior(s) they seek. They refer to this as “digging a well.” The interviewer will sometimes ask you open-ended questions to allow you to choose which examples you wish to use. When a part of your story relates to a skill or experience the interviewer wishes to explore further, he/she will then ask you very specific follow-up questions regarding your behavior. These can include “What were you thinking at that point?” or “Tell me more about your meeting with that person,” or “Lead me through your decision process.”


Example of a CAR Answer:


Improper or Illegal Interview Questions:

If you believe you have been asked an improper or illegal question at any time in the interview process, do not accuse the interviewer but do bring your concern to the Director of the Center for Student Professional Development. In this way, the issue can be addressed without harming your job prospects. Illegal interview questions include the following:

  • Age
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Disabilities
  • Marital/family status
  • National origin


  • You can answer the question.
  • You can ask the intent of the question and answer as you see fit.