Interview Preparation Tips

Preparing for an interview can be stressful. Consider potential interview questions and prepare your answers. The following are a few common interview questions.

Tell Me About Yourself.

This question will likely be asked, and your response can generate an engaging interview discussion. Use the opportunity to provide a response that highlights your areas of expertise. Keep your answer brief while also stating your value. For example, you may respond with something like

“In May I moved to Colorado from California. In my last job I led high-performing firmware teams ranging from five to thirty technical staff. I contributed to the team’s success by planning, scheduling outlining goals, assigning responsibilities, facilitating weekly team meetings, resolving issues, and managing complex projects. Last year my team implemented a firmware solution that boosted product advances and contributed to revenue growth. In addition to my career, I enjoy outdoor activities like skiing and hiking with my family.”

Why Should We Hire You?

This is a question most employers want to ask, but usually won’t state the question in this way. The question may be stated as a behavioral question such as “tell about a time when….” One response strategy is to prepare your answer by creating a few challenge, action, and result (CAR) stories to convey relevant career contributions. CAR stories provide a structured way to discuss your experience and contributions.

“The team had to deliver a robust database solution in five days using SQL and Access. I started by gathering 275+ spreadsheets, and then I worked with three cross-functional colleagues to identify common fields. Together we created a master database in SQL with an Access user interface. The project was delivered in four days, and the original database we created is still in use after two years.” 

Your Turn To Ask

Ask hiring managers questions to decide if you want the job. Research the organization before your interview to avoid asking questions that may be answered on the organization’s website. Some questions you may want to ask during an interview are:

“What have been the two biggest team challenges this year?”

“What is the department priority for this quarter?”

“How do you and the team communicate—email, scheduled meetings, text?”

“In this position, what are the three most immediate needs/challenges?”

During the first interview refrain from asking self-serving questions about salary, benefits, or vacation time. 

Finish Strong

Close interview meetings by thanking the interviewer for her or his time. Express your interest in the opportunity and restate a few of your talents that align with the job need.

“Thank you again for your time today. After this meeting, I am even more excited about this job because my digital marketing experience, social media messages, and audience engagements could accelerate the marketing team’s efforts.”

Interviewing without preparation is a recipe for disaster. If you need interview assistance, contact me, and we can discuss options.