In today’s competitive hiring landscape, companies lean on interviews to help them determine their top candidate(s). The interviewing stage can, and often does, have multiple parts. Companies often first complete a brief phone screening to confirm a candidate’s technical skills and experience before moving them on to the formal interviewing stage. This stage can involve multiple one-on-one or group interviews and can take place in-person, remotely, or via a recorded, one-way virtual interview format. Interviewing is an opportunity to share your skills and qualifications in more detail than is possible on a resume. Your goal should also be to provide helpful examples and memorable stories about your accomplishments. This is an excellent opportunity for both the company to get to know you, and for you to get to know the company!
What are businesses looking for?
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight career readiness competencies for all college graduates, regardless of field: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology. To find what each specific company is looking for, the skills and qualifications desired for individual opportunities are featured in job postings. It is essential to review these as you prepare for an interview.
- Interview preparation
- Common questions to expect
- Interview attire
- Interview preparation – Types of questions
Most interviews are considered behavioral interviews. Technical interviews are often used for technical positions as a way to verify the technical knowledge and skills referenced within application materials. An additional interview type, the case interview, is much less common and often used in industries that are highly analytical or rely on computation and presentation, or within consulting. You may find the Management Consulted Case Library helpful to prep for case interviews.
While behavioral interviews do not have a default format, there are general tendencies they tend to follow. The company will want to get to know you as a person and be able to envision you as a potential employee. To do this they often ask you to introduce yourself and share why you are interested in the role. You are also commonly asked about your time management skills, how you manage conflict, and how you see this role fitting into your larger career. It is helpful to think about your answers to these questions, but avoid attempting to memorize a “canned” response.
Whatever interview questions you receive, it is helpful to provide an authentic and compelling story that illustrates your skill or experience in the area the interviewer is asking about. One storytelling format that you may consider is the “STAR” method. This acronym stands for:
- Situation: Describe the context of the example you are about to share
- Task: Identify the problem that needed to be solved, or describe your responsibilities as it relates to the situation
- Action: Share, with detail, exactly what you did to improve or address the situation
- Result: Illustrate how your action created a favorable result—or what you learned from a situation that did not end in a favorable result
Using, and practicing, the STAR method is a great way to align the skills you demonstrate in your story with the qualifications and skills listed in the job posting.
Finally, the best way to prepare for an interview is to practice! Leverage the W. P. Carey Career Coaching team by scheduling an in-person or virtual appointment to run through a mock interview. Another great tool to lean on is the recorded, virtual interview platform Big Interview.
- Questions to expect?
Each interview you participate in will be unique. While there is not a standard set of interview questions that all companies use, there are some common questions that many employers use to get to know you, your qualifications, and tendencies better. Consider practicing your answers to this list of common questions as your starting point:
- Tell me a little bit about yourself.
- Where do you see yourself in five years and how would this position help you reach that goal?
- What would you say is your greatest weakness?
- Tell me about a time you experienced a conflict with a coworker.
- How do you manage your time to complete projects on schedule?
- What are your salary expectations?
- What questions do you have for us?
Students often find it helpful to journal or write out their answers to these questions as part of their interview preparation. Bringing a list of more challenging questions to answer in a mock interview appointment with your career coach is also a great way to practice and refine your answers.
- Interview attire
For any interview, it is best to wear a business suit to present yourself in a polished and professional manner. Classic colors like black, navy, or gray are always safe and reliable choices that convey confidence and professionalism. Pair your suit with a collared shirt or blouse in a neutral tone—something like white, cream, or light blue—that complements your jacket without drawing attention away from your face.
Whether you choose a pant suit, skirt suit, or a business dress with a blazer, make sure your outfit fits well and feels comfortable. Keep accessories simple and choose a hairstyle that’s neat and low-maintenance, allowing the focus to stay on your qualifications and what you have to say. Your goal is to appear confident, capable, and well-prepared—your attire should help you do just that! Always dress for success!
The expectation for virtual interviews is the same—at least for the parts of you that will be visible to the camera. Test your lighting beforehand to ensure your clothing choices come across well on camera.
