Around the same time of the semester last school year, I interviewed for my first-choice summer job, which I, unfortunately, didn’t end up getting. Part of the reason why, I later realized, is because I didn’t prepare well enough. I had expected a traditional interview that required straightforward answers with questions like “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and “What major challenges and problems did you face?” Instead, I was asked a series of questions about my past experiences, which I had minimal of, considering I was a college freshman.
As if preparing for traditional interviews wasn’t stressful enough for my college freshman- self, I hadn’t realized that there were different types of interview styles potential employers could use. What my interviewer had used was a behavioral interview. I was asked not how I would behave in a particular situation, but how I had behaved, and not what I might do in a particular situation, but how I have handled a particular situation. The questions required me to answer quickly and concretely, but I couldn’t do so confidently because I wasn’t expecting that type of interview.
Case in point, properly preparing for interviews is crucial to maximizing your chances of obtaining that coveted job or internship. After researching the subject of interviewing, I’ve put together what I’ve found to be most important. Read on for four ways to prepare for your job and internship interviews:
1. Research the organization and the position
No matter what type of interview you’re preparing for, you should have a clear understanding of the organization you’re applying to work or intern for and the position you are applying for within that organization. Read the job description and visit the organization’s website, paying special attention to their mission statement. The better you understand the position, the better you can better predict what questions an interviewer might ask.
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2. Know what questions to expect
In preparation for your interview, review examples of interview questions and carefully think about how you would answer them. This is especially important for behavioral interviews, where you should expect open-ended questions that are trying to gauge skills such as conflict resolution and time management. Behavioral interviews are more challenging because not only are you forced to think on your feet but the interviewer also has an infinite number of situations and circumstances to potentially use.
Traditional interview example questions:
- “If you found out an employee was stealing from the business, how would you approach this employee?”
- “What would you do if your supervisor asked you to do something that you felt was unethical?”
- “Imagine you have a deadline and you are running out of time. What would you do?”
- “If your supervisor makes a decision you do not agree with, how would you handle this?”
Behavioral interview example questions:
- “How do you handle a challenge?”
- “Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?”
- “Describe a decision you made that wasn’t popular and how you handled implementing it.”
- “Give an example of how you worked on a team.”
- “Describe a stressful situation at work and how you handled it.”
- “Did you ever make a risky decision? Why? How did you handle it?”
- “Have you gone above and beyond the call of duty? If so, how?”
- “Have you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker? How?
- “Do you listen? Give an example of when you did or when you didn’t listen.”
3. Be ready to answer with concrete examples
Rather than answering interview questions with just what you would do in that situation, be sure to give evidence of your skills and abilities by applying what you have learned from past situations. Have in mind past internships, jobs, and volunteer experiences and review difficult situations you might have faced within these experiences. Think about how the experience you have solving a problem in past can be applied in a new situation.
4. Have a plan of attack
One strategy to answer behavioral interview questions is with a 3-step model. Describe a similar problem or situation from past experience, including the task you were asked to accomplish; follow with specifically saying what you did to resolve or influence the situation; and conclude with the results of your effort. You should spend no more than a couple minutes answering each question.
For situational questions in traditional interviews (e.g. “If your supervisor makes a decision you do not agree with, how would you handle this?”), you should have a similar strategy. However, the emphasis should be more on your future actions, rather than on your past experiences. Still, you should not be afraid to draw on your past experiences! Good luck!
Sources:
http://www.clarkpersonnel.com/2011/06/behavioral-job-interview-prep/
http://www.certmag.com/read.php?in=3624
http://www.international-programs.com/internship-programs
http://www.job-interview-wisdom.com/situational-interview-questions.html
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/behavioral.htm
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/behavorialinterviews/a/behavioral-interview-questions.htm
http://newhomesalesleaders.com/hiring/interviewing-salespeople
http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-handle-situational-job-interview-questions
http://www.womansday.com/life/etiquette-manners/career-guide-series-interview-dos-70999