Oregon State University Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 40
Interview Tips
» Practice: Ask friends, family and
advisors to rehearse with you and
take advantage of StandOut, an online
interviewing practice tool. Log into
standout.com using your OSU email.
» Research: Look up information about
the organization in advance so you
can talk about your connection or
interest in it.
» Know your strengths: To prepare
for common interview questions,
spend some time thinking about
good examples you can share during
interviews. What types of projects
do you thrive at? What roles do
you prefer to play when working
as part of a team? Which of your
jobs or volunteer experiences were
exceptionally enjoyable, and what
made them so?
» Anticipate questions: Before the
interview, read the job description and
highlight all the skills the organization
wants. Try to formulate possible
interview questions related to each
skill and anticipate in advance how
you will answer each, highlighting
your positive aspects. Consider using
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OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
an AI tool to generate potential
questions based on the position
description (See page 24 for
more on AI).
» Answer strategically: It’s OK to
pause and gather your thoughts
before answering or to ask clarifying
questions. Try to structure your
answers so that you’re clear and
concise, such as “Yes, I’d like to
mention two examples of that.
Number one, _____. Number two,
_____.”
» End with a summary: One of the
hardest parts of answering is knowing
when to stop. Once you’ve given
evidence of your abilities, give a
summary statement. “So, based on
my design experience, I know I could
create a great new website for the
launch.”
» Pay attention: Make sure to respond
to all components of a question.
» Be aware of body language: Take
a second to breathe. Sit up straight,
give a 昀椀rm handshake, make frequent
eye contact and smile. Pay attention
to your tone of voice and make sure
you don’t speak too rapidly. Don’t
cross your arms. If you need to do
something with your hands, interlock
your 昀椀ngers and hold them loosely in
your lap or hold a pen and notepad.
» Come with questions: Prepare two
or three questions about the position
ahead of time and ask them at the
end of the interview. Do not ask about
salary in a 昀椀rst interview.
» Try to connect with everyone:
You will likely meet multiple team
members, especially if you are invited
for a follow-up interview. Do your
best to remember names and make a
positive impression with each person,
regardless of their role with the
company. Recruiters often consider
the opinions of all the people you
meet.
» Thank them for their time and
consideration: Say thank you verbally
at the end of the interview, and within
24 hours via email.
