• Learn as much as possible about the position, the team you would be working on, and who is interviewing you. 
• Review the company website, social media pages, and news. 
• Look for alumni: Use LinkedIn to see if any Temple alumni or people in your network have ever been associated with the organization that can help you learn more about the company and position. 

You know who you are, but sometimes it can be a challenge to describe yourself in just 30-60 seconds! Practice your pitch. Have an idea of what your goals are for the future and be ready to answer how that aligns with a future at that company. 

• Schedule a mock interview or brainstorm answers to common interview questions with a Career Coach! Interview prep appointments are available in-person and virtually. 

• Practice interviewing with Big Interview! With Big Interview, you can review common interview questions and answers by industry and experience level, draft your own answers to popular interview questions, record mock interviews, get AI generated feedback, and more! 

• Familiarize yourself with the STAR Method. The interviewer will likely be asking behavioral based questions. These are questions designed to see how you behaved in a situation, not what you know about a subject. In answering these questions, the interviewer will be expecting specific examples of a Situation you were in, a Task you had to complete, the Action you took, and the Result (STAR). Use your experience to answer questions.  

1. Situation: What was the context? 

2. Task: What was the goal? 

3. Action: What did you do? 

4. Result: What was the accomplishment because of these actions? 

You may have time at the end of the interview to ask questions about the position and organization. Prepare at least three relevant, thoughtful questions beforehand. For example: 

1. What kind of training will I receive? 

2. What kinds of growth and development opportunities are available? 

3. What's a typical day like in this role? 

4. See more sample questions from our Career Coaches! 

• In-person: Know how to get there, where to park or get dropped off - and arrive a few minutes early. 

• Virtual or phone interview: Find a quiet space with no distractions, a solid connection for your computer or phone, like one of our Career Nests! 

Wear appropriate attire for the organization’s setting! Learn more about what to wear with our resource about interview and workplace attire!  

Your resume 

• If you’re interviewing in person, bring a few physical copies of your resume. The Career Center will print copies of your resume for free on resume paper!  

• Virtual Interview: Be ready to share your resume virtually

A notebook or padfolio 

• Have something to write down questions in and bring the questions you want to ask your recruiter at the end of the interview 

A pen/pencil 

A water bottle 

Eliminate distractions. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or Airplane mode – or turn it off!  

• Be enthusiastic, reiterate your interest in the role, and use STAR answers to show why they should hire you! 

• Tell the truth! If you don’t know something or don’t have a certain experience, be honest. Recruiters don’t expect you to know everything. Share what other relevant experiences you have and show that you are excited to learn what you don’t know. 

Let the employer initiate the conversation about compensation. This should come later in the interviewing process if you are offered the role. 

Send a thank you email later that day after your interview. Learn more and see examples. 

Often, there are multiple rounds of interviews for positions. Make sure you prepare for all your different interviews. Continue to meet with a Career Coach to ensure you are prepared. 

If you haven’t heard anything about your interview after a week, it is a good idea to follow up. Send an email to let them know you are interested and are a good fit for the role. Recruiters are busy and sending an email can show you are enthusiastic about the role. 

Rejection is a part of the job search process. If you receive an email that you have not been offered a job, respond. Thank them for taking the time to interview you and use this as a way to continue the conversation. Ask: 

• To be considered for opportunities in the future 

• For feedback! Ask them how you can improve for the future 

If you get a job offer, congratulations! Be sure to evaluate all elements of the offer, including salary and benefits like vacation, education and training, health insurance, and retirement plans.

If you need more assistance, review these resources and make an appointment with a Career Coach to consider your options. Research the average salaries of professionals in your field and calculate what you need:

• NACE Salary Calculator 
• Salary.com 
• Cost of Living Calculator 
• Cost of Living Comparison