Oregon State University Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 37
INTERVIEWING AND NEGOTIATION
Succeeding in interviews is key to being selected for the
opportunities you want. The interview is a chance for organizations
to assess your knowledge and skills, get to know your personality and
examine your verbal and nonverbal communication. To do your best,
practice and prepare.
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
Traditional Interview: This includes broad questions to determine your skills and
your 昀椀t for the organization. Examples might include:
» Why did you choose your major?
» Tell me about yourself.
» What are your strengths and weaknesses?
» Why are you interested in this position?
Behavioral Interview: This is a common interview technique, based on the idea that
past behavior is the best indicator of future performance. Questions in a behavioral
interview usually start with “Tell me about a time when you….” When preparing for
these interviews, follow the STAR format on page 41.
Case or Technical Interview: These can be used in any industry where you are
showcasing a technical skill in the hiring process. During this type of interview,
a candidate might be asked to solve a problem, do a brain teaser, take a test or
complete a challenge such as writing code or editing a document.
See more sample questions
and interview tips online:
beav.es/pNZ
TIPS FOR DIFFERENT
INTERVIEW FORMATS
Phone interviews: These are typically
used as a preliminary interview round.
» Have some notes or key points written
down for reference, but don’t read o昀昀
a page.
» Ensure you are in a quiet, distractionfree place with good phone reception.
» While most nonverbal signals won’t
come across, a smile will come through
in your voice. Try to answer as though
the interview team could see you.
Video interviews: These can be live or
prerecorded. Treat a video interview with
the same level of etiquette and importance
that you would an in-person interview.
» Check your internet connection ahead
of time and make sure you are in a
quiet, private and well-lit environment.
» Make sure your entire out昀椀t (not just
your clothing from the waist up) is
appropriate for a professional setting.
» When speaking, try to look at the
camera, not the screen.
In-Person interviews: These can be
one-on-one, with other candidates or
conducted by a panel of interviewers.
» Arrive at least 10 minutes before the
scheduled interview time.
» Pay attention to your body language,
昀椀dgeting and other nonverbal
communication.
» Employers make decisions based on
limited data and 昀椀rst impressions. Be
intentional about the messages you
convey and learn from each interaction.
If you make a mistake in an interview,
try something di昀昀erent next time.
CAREER GUIDE
36
