Interviewing
- Research the Company: Understand their mission, values, products or services, and recent news. This will help you tailor your answers and ask insightful questions.
- Analyze the Job Description: Review the required qualifications and responsibilities. Be prepared to provide specific examples of how you meet each requirement.
- Prepare Your Stories: Brainstorm examples from your work, academic, and extracurricular experiences that demonstrate your skills.
- Use the START Method: For behavioral questions (“Tell me about a time when…”), structure your answers using the START method:
- Situation: Briefly describe the context. What was the event or situation?
- Task: What was your goal or responsibility?
- Action: What specific steps did you take to address the situation?
- Result: What was the outcome of your actions? Quantify your results whenever possible.
- Takeway: What did you learn? How did it shape your skills or relate to the position you’re interviewing for?
- Prepare Questions for Them: Have at least 3-5 thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewer. This shows your interest in the role and the company. Examples include:
- “What does a typical day look like in this role?”
- “How would you describe the team culture?”
- “What are the biggest challenges someone in this position might face?”
- “What do you enjoy most about working here?”
- Plan Your Logistics: For in-person interviews, know the location and plan your route. For virtual interviews, test your technology (camera, microphone, internet connection) and ensure your background is professional and free of distractions.
More Help
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Big Interview is a free, interactive, virtual interview platform. Use this resource to learn about and practice interviewing techniques, approaches for various industries, and how to answer common questions. Access your account with your UNCG email address.
