DEPARTMENT OF LABOR &
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
RE -EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ASSESSMENT
Interviewing Skills
Workshop
Interviewing -What is it?
•A structured meeting
between you and an
employer.
•Interviewing is a skill-
like riding your bike,
PRACTICEmakes
PERFECT
Interviewing is a two-way
street
•Employers are
attempting to determine
if you are an
appropriate fit for the
job and their culture
•You decide if the
environment is right for
you.
Types of Interviews
Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to narrow the
pool of applicants.
One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you
with the potential employer.
Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once.
Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a social setting.
Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of the
facility, meet the staff, and additional questioning from different
employees and/or administration.
Pre-Interview Preparation
Always research position, company, & industry.
Know yourself and be able to articulate skills,
strengths, accomplishments, and career goals.
Prepare necessary materials (Copies of resume,
references, portfolio/pen, notepad or organizer,
breath mints).
Ask for directions and where to park.
Arriving
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to
arrive at your destination (you may want to
conduct a dry run prior to your interview day).
Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to
allow you to park, walk to the interview, use
the restroom, or just gather yourself.
Greeting & Introduction
Only 1 chance to make a
good 1
st
impression:
Dress appropriately
Smile
Maintain eye contact
Firm handshake
Remain poised and
confident
Body Language:
What signals are you sending?
Positive Signals
Leaning forward = interest
Smiling = friendly
Nodding = attentive and
alert
Eye contact = curious and
focused
Negative Signals
Crossed arms = defensive
Fidgeting hands or tapping
feet = nervous or bored
Lack of eye contact =
untrustworthy
Leaning back= discomfort
Types of Interview Questions
Standard / Traditional
targeting your education,
work experiences, and
career goals
Sample Questions
Tell me about yourself?
What is your greatest
strength? Weakness?
Why did you choose to
interview with us?
What did you like most about
your last job? Least?
What are your short and long
term career goals?
Types of Interview Questions
Behavioral Questions
•These focus on your actions
and/or behaviors in a previous
setting.
•Past behavior provides clues
to future behavior
Sample Questions
Describe a time you had to
make a difficult decision?
Tell me about a time you
worked under a deadline?
What do you do when a team
member is not pulling his/her
weight?
Think about a time you made a
mistake. What did you learn
from it?
Types of Interview Questions
Inappropriate or unethical questions
•Questions which probe into
your private life or personal
background
•Questions about your
ethnicity, religion, sexual
orientation, disabilities, marital
status
Sample Questions
How old are you?
Do you have children?
Do you have a
disability?
What religion do you
practice?
Types of Interview Questions
Questions asked by you, the
Interviewee
To determine if you are an
appropriate fit for the company
and position, prepare a list of
questions for the interviewer
Sample Questions
What type of assignments can
I expect within the first year?
What do you like most about
this company?
What is the biggest challenge
facing this department right
now?
What skills are you looking for
in this position?
What is the next course of
action?
General Interview Strategies
Be prepared to talk about yourself and your
experiences.
Master the art of storytelling.
Provide specific and concrete examples of your
results/accomplishments.
Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident
throughout the interview process.
General Interview Strategies
Remember an interview is a formal conversation--
avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know”.
Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,”
“probably,” or “pretty good”.
Think before speaking.
Avoid long verbose answers--limit your response to
1-2 minutes.
If you do not hear or understand a question, ask
them to repeat or clarify it for you.
General Interview Strategies
Remain calm, relaxed,
and be yourself.
Try to focus on the
message you are trying
to convey--NOThow
well you are doing!
Dressing for Success-Men
Suit-Single or double
breasted
Polished shoes
Solid white shirt
Conservative tie
Neatly groomed hair, beard,
and mustache
Avoid strong colognes,
earrings, and body piercing
Dressing for Success-Women
Pant or skirt suit
Pumps with small to
medium heels
Light makeup, perfume,
and jewelry
Wear neutral color
hosiery
FOLLOW-UP
Ask good questions.
Thank the interviewer.
Request a business card.
Inquire about next steps in the process.
FOLLOW-UP CONT
Send a thank you note
within 24 hours.
Letter may be handwritten
or typed; e-mail is also
acceptable.
Tailor each one to the
individual.
Final Thoughts
Remember that only 15% of the success of
an interview is out of your control.
Take some time to reflect…
Overall, how well did I do?
What went well?
What steps can I take next time to improve?
Suggestions
Conduct a test run the day before the interview.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Refer to the list of practice interview questions provided in the
packet and jot down short answers.
Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers.
Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with Career
Services.
Get a good night’s sleep and be well rested and alert for the
interview.
Remain relaxed and be yourself!
Interviewing Skills Workshop
Congratulations!
You have completed
the Interviewing Skills
Workshop.