What it is:
- An interview is an opportunity to convince an employer the you have the skills, experience, knowledge, and qualities to do the job in question
- Explain how you will help the organization and why you specifically want to work there
- Find out if this organization or job is the right match for you
What an Employer Wants to Know:
- “Why do you want to work for us?” (Why are you interested in us?)
- “Why should we hire you?” (What can you do for us? What are your skills?)
- “What are you like as a person?” (Personal qualities, strengths, weaknesses, cultural competency, motivation)
Prepare for the Interview:
Evaluate
- Evaluate how your education, skills, experiences, strengths/weaknesses, and past successes/failures will meet the employer’s needs
- Identify your top 5 skills for the job (What would your boss say are your strengths? What makes you different?)
- Identify 5 different scenarios that demonstrate those skills (a class project, volunteering, student org, etc.)
Research
Practice
- Make an appointment with a Career Advisor at The UNH Career Center for a practice interview
- Practice answering questions on your own, out loud
- Ask a roommate, family member, or friend to perform a practice interview with you. Be sure to choose someone who will take on the interviewer role in a serious fashion
During the Interview:
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early, have extra copies of your resume and your list of references
- Make a good first impression:
- Turn off your cell phone
- Smile, offer a firm handshake, make eye contact and introduce yourself using your first and last name
- Establish yourself immediately as prepared and confident
- Keep answers brief and to the point ― If in doubt, you can always ask, “Does that fully answer your question?”
- If you lack experience in an area the interviewer asks about, say so, but go on to describe similar experiences or examples indicating your willingness and ability to learn new things
- Never bad-mouth previous employers or co-workers
- Your interviewer may ask if you have any final questions or comments ― Take that opportunity to ask thoughtful questions or make a final, compelling personal sales pitch. Express confidence in your ability to succeed at the job and your excitement about the opportunity
- At the close of the interview, get the interviewer’s business card and offer another firm handshake ― Ask about the next steps in the interview process
- Above all: show interest, be pleasant and enthusiastic
After the Interview:
- Always send a thank-you note or email within 24 hours
- Keep it short, thank them for their time, express interest in the position and company, and make or a remake a key point(s)
- Proofread before sending
