A formal and structured conversation between two or more people

Usually involves the interviewer asking questions and the interviewee providing answers

Most importantly, it is just a conversation

Allows potential employers to gain insight about a candidate's skills, experiences, and personality to decide if they are suitable for a role

Can be used for job application processes, academic admissions, journalism, and research

To have a conversation and discover if you are a good fit

Virtual

In-person

Multi-stage

Hybrid

Prescreening

One on one

Panel

Formal

Informal

Government

University

Community college

Private company

Start up

Non profit

Permanent role

Short-term contract

Volunteer

Study the employer, learn mission, values, and who they are.

Study

Study the job, review responsibilities, duties, qualifications, and KSA’s with feds.

Study

Practice with others and/or yourself.

Practice

Consider your Appearance and cleanliness.

Consider

Prepare answers and practice them.

Prepare

Gather and ensure proper supplemental information.

Gather and ensure

Build good habits.

Build

Item used is plugged in and/or fully charged, lighting/ background appropriate, background sounds controlled, and communicate with family/room mates.

Virtual

Timeliness, cleanliness including odor, eye contact using bookending for panels, use water if needed, supplemental information, and proper attire.

In-person

Same rules as virtual but remember appropriate location and attire.

Prescreen

Tell us how you dealt with something in your past.

Behavioral

Explain how you would handle a hypothetical situation.

Situational

Asks one question with one part.

Singular

Asks one question but can have multiple parts within the question.

Compound

Employer types can very with question types. Example of public safety focusing on ethical and moral vs skills and competency.

Core Q’s

Reflect on your hard vs soft skill sets and growth vs fixed mindset and use them within your answers.

Hard

Vs

Soft Skills

Prepare to answer questions to the full length of the time given.

Full Time

Ask for more time to reread or repeating of questions if needed. It’s important to understand what is being asked.

Time and Repeating

Rehearse your Situation, Task, Action, Result stories

Keep to the facts, don’t place blame, and demonstrate problem solving.

S.T.A.R.

Act vs Don’t Act, how will you act to resolve the problem, why you are doing it.

Act, How, Why

Problem, Response, Example, Plan

PREP

Have a closing question prepared for interviewer/s. For example, ask about organizational culture or potential for training and development/ any others that may be important to you.

Questions

If you have no questions, prepare a closing statement thanking the interviewer/s.

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Also remember to follow up with a thank you email including any further supplemental information.

Closing Statement