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Interview Preparation

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Phases of Acing the Interview 

Before the Interview 

  • Research the organization to learn as much as possible about the position! Review the company website, social media pages, news, etc. Use LinkedIn's ‘People’ function to see if any Temple alumni or people in your network have ever been associated with the organization.  

  • Practice! Take advantage of Big Interview and see mock interview details below. 

  • Draft questions for the interviewer(s)! You will have time at the end of the interview to ask any remaining questions about the position and organization. Determine what to ask based on what you find out during your research. You may also think of a question during the interview. Prepare 3 questions beforehand and jot down any questions that come to mind.

  • Determine where to conduct a virtual interview: find a quiet space with a blank background and solid internet connection, like one of our Career Nests!

During the Interview 

  • Plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early for an in-person interview OR 2–5 minutes for a virtual interview. 

  • Have a copy of your resume handy to provide in-person or drop a file in the video chat. 

  • Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or Airplane mode to eliminate any distractions.

  • Be enthusiastic and reiterate your interest in the role.

  • Answer questions using the STAR method

  • Always be prepared to discuss compensation at any time during the interview process. 

After the Interview 

Resources by Interview Type

Phone Interview

Phone interviews are typically the first of multiple rounds of interviews. It is usually 20-30 minutes where the employer screens candidates to gather their qualifications and fit for the role. 

Virtual Interview

A virtual interview can be a first or second round and is hosted on a video conferencing platform such as Zoom, Microsoft teams, Cisco WebEx, Google Meet, and more. 

Case Interviews
Situational and Stress Interviews

Prepare for Behavior Based Questions Using the STAR Method

Based on the idea that what you have done in the past is a predictor of your future workplace behavior, the interviewer will be asking behavioral based questions. In answering these questions the interviewer will be expecting specific examples of a Situation/Task, Action, and Result (STAR).

  • Sample Behavior Based Interview Questions
  • Organizational skills: Tell me about a big project you had to plan for school or work. How did it turn out?
  • Ability to set priorities: Describe a situation when you had several things to do in a limited time, such as study for exams. How successful were you at completing everything?
  • Ability to delegate: Tell me about a big project you were in charge of and had to let others help you. How did your delegation work out?
  • Interpersonal skills: Tell me about a time when you have had to deal with members of the public. What was the result of that interaction?
  • Being a team player: Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a group problem. How did the problem get solved?
  • Ability to deal with people: Tell me about a time when you had to work closely with someone in a position above (or below) you. How did you collaborate successfully?

Ask Questions

Have several questions prepared to ask the interviewer! Three or four is usually a good number. Some examples of questions to ask about are:

  • What kind of training will I receive?
  • What kinds of growth and development opportunities are available?
  • Is there a lot of team/project work?
  • What is the company culture like?

 

    Mock Interviews 

    Visit Handshake to schedule a virtual or in-person 30-minute mock interview with the University Career Center. Here is what to expect: 

    • The interview is designed to help you learn to effectively present your skills, experience, and communication. 

    • Your interview will be approximately 20 minutes.

    • The remaining time will be used for you and your Career Coach to discuss your strengths and improvement areas and to address questions you may have.

    • This is meant to IMPROVE your skills and therefore constructive criticism is essential! 

    Negotiate Salary

    Do not ask about salary during the interview. Let the employer initiate the conversation; however, always be prepared to discuss compensation at any time during the interview process.

    For example, if asked salary requirements, it’s always best to ask the employer for provide a range but, if they would rather you do so then always suggest a range instead of a specific number. This range should have your target salary as the base and then calculate a 10% increase for the top of the salary range. To learn more on these steps, sign up now to start your free online salary negotiation workshop.

    In addition to the free workshop, the links below will provide more information on how to discuss salary. Remember, it's a conversation, not a confrontation!

    Research the average salaries of professionals in your field.

    Know what may be included in your total compensation package.

    • Salary
    • Vacation
    • Education and training
    • Expenses (ex. commuting costs)
    • Equipment (ex. laptop, cell phone)
    Resources