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Career Corner
Interview Preparation
by Emy Goldsmith

preparation is key in the interview process. Always know the company where you are interviewing and prepare answers to commonly asked questions.

Before the Interview
Prepare answers to these basic interview questions.

Even if the interviewer doesn’t ask you these exact questions, if you arrive at an interview with these answers in your head, you will find other places in the interview to use the information you’ve prepared. You should always have three points, reasons, or examples for each of these questions.
  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Why should we hire you? Why do you feel that you will be successful in the position?
  3. Why do you want to work at this company?
  4. Describe two achievements that have given you the most satisfaction.
  5. Tell me about a time when you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker. What happened? What did you do? What was the result?
  6. Tell me about a time when you worked effectively under pressure. What happened? What did you do? What was the result?
  7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  8. What questions do you have for us? Prepare 3 questions ahead of time. Please see the Questions to Ask at the Interview.
Know the company where you are interviewing.
Make sure you have looked at the company website and are familiar with the products and services the company offers. Also, try www.hoovers.com for company information.

After the Interview
Evaluate the interview: What went well? What could have been better? Note areas that you can improve for next time.

Send a Thank You Note
Sending a thank you note shows the employer that you are serious about the job and reminds the interviewer of your skill set. See the Thank You Note Examples for ideas.

Follow up
If you don’t get a response from the recruiter by the time specified, give him or her call.
Career Corner