Sweating Through It: The Interview

What will they ask?

That’s the million dollar question. You can spend hours working through questions with your roommate, know everything about the company, and still feel totally side-swiped by their line of attack. Here are some basics.

Here are some standard interview questions you should always be prepared to answer:

• Why are you interested in our company/organization/this job?
• What is your greatest failing/flaw/challenge?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What drives/motivates you to succeed?
• What qualities should a successful (your job here) possess?
• What makes you the best candidate for this job?
• What questions do you have for me?
• Why did you leave your last position? (less relevant for a new graduate)

The most important thing to remember about interviewing is that it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. Prepping for an interview has less to do with the questions than with how you formulate your answers.

There are two preferred structures to answering most questions: the list and the story.

A list style answer to a question means that your respond with two or three specific items. By offering pieces of information in twos and threes you provide a structure that is easy to understand and remember. Lists are particularly useful for general interview questions like, “why did you choose your major?” or “what are the most important skills you have to offer?” These questions are set to probe who you are and what you think. A list answer might sound like this:

I chose my political science major for three reasons, really. First, I wanted to do something that allowed me to learn about people. Second, I wanted a major that offered a lot of different career opportunities. And third, I have always had a passion for politics and government.

Simple, easy to understand and keeps you from talking too much.

Stories, on the other hand are used to provide examples, are easy to follow, and offer a
smooth way of livening up the interview. People remember stories better than they remember facts or lists, so a good story can help an interviewer remember you and understand your skills.

Here's a story answer to the same question about why you chose your major:

When I was a kid my parents used to volunteer for the campaign of our county judge. I would go with them to the campaign office and help stuff envelopes. I loved the energy and the excitement. I've really been addicted to politics ever since that time.

The risk of talking too much is greater with this answer, but it allows you to paint a picture for the interviewer. Stories are the best way to get people to feel your passion for a job or to understand your experience.

Sample question: What has been your biggest failure?

Sample answer: At the beginning of last year, I applied for a position with Davis law firm in their internship program. I worked incredibly hard and spent a great deal of time on the application process. In the end, I wasn’t selected, and that was a tough blow. I contacted the firm’s recruiter and talked about where other candidates had been stronger, and I was able to use that critique in my next application. It was a devastating blow, but in the end, I had to look forward and learn.

In some cases you can blend stories and lists together:

Sample question: Have you ever had to supervise people?

Sample answer: I was fortunate to receive supervisory experience when I worked at Camp Illini. I was placed in charge of four junior counselors. This included managing schedules, ensuring duties were evenly distributed, and working through any performance issues. It really gave me a great insight into the challenges and reward of leading people.