Prepare for the Job Search ~ Interviewing ~ Before the Interview

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Research Is Critical!
The applicant who has worked hard to prepare is much more likely to get a call back for a second interview or an offer of employment.  Prior to an interview, clarify the skills and abilities you have to offer an employer, thinking of an example for each one.  Research the career field/position you are pursuing to convince yourself this is an occupation you would enjoy (it’s much easier to convince a potential employer once you’ve convinced yourself).  Conduct thorough research on the organization, developing a checklist of information based on your research to share with the interviewer during the interview.

Researching Yourself

1. Think back on your previous experiences (work, academic, extracurricular) to determine the skills and abilities used in each.
2. Develop a list of your five to seven strongest skills for a particular position.  Also, review the work-related values inventory, selecting the nine top values as factors to help you find the right organizational fit.
3. Work with a counselor to explore your skills, interests, personality style, and values as they relate to your career choice.

Researching the Position/Field

1. Review CDC and online resources describing various career fields.
2. Talk with personal contacts and alumni -- available through the Stanford Career Network (www.stanfordalumni.org) and the Young Alums in Public Service Packet -- about the nature of their work and the organization they represent.  The Networking guide, available at the CDC and on its website, will help you prepare for this kind of informational interview.
3. When a job description is available, list the key skills being sought so that you can match your skills/strengths with the needs being listed.  It is helpful to develop an example from your experiences to demonstrate each skill.

Researching the Organization

1. View CDC publications and resources listing information on specific employers (including the Public Service Employers database, at http://cardinalcareers.stanford.edu/rainbow/).
2. Visit the organization’s website.
3. Review the resources in the Rosenberg Corporate Research Collection located in Jackson Library at the Business School.
4. Prepare questions to ask about the organization during the interview (see Questions to Ask Employers section).

Mock or Practice Interviews
Practice Makes Perfect!  Review the commonly asked interviewing questions and prepare answers in advance.  You don’t want to appear rehearsed, but you do want to sound prepared.  The more practice you have answering typical questions, the better able you are to convey your ideas in a clear, concise manner.

1. Attend one of the many Interviewing Workshops conducted each quarter at the CDC. 
2. Have a friend play the part of the interviewer to enable you to practice your responses; ask for constructive criticism.
3. Talk with a CDC counselor about how to present yourself most favorably in an interview.

Preparing for Questions

1. Whenever possible, answer questions using specific examples to support your response. Think of the acronym STAR (situation or task, action, and result), a simple three-step process that will enable you to focus on specific experiences to support your responses:

   •     Situation or Task - describe a task or project for which you had responsibility

   •     Action - talk about the approach you took to deal with the situation

   •     Result - discuss the outcome of your action, making sure to mention accomplishments or improvements resulting from your action

2. Emphasize the most relevant and impressive aspects of your background and qualifications (including paid and volunteer work).
3. Stress that the skills you have developed in the past are transferable to the employer’s organization.
4. Speak in positive terms about previous experiences and employers.
5. Don’t be afraid to talk about accomplishments and skills (assume that what you don’t tell an interviewer, she/he won’t know).  Also, don't assume they have read your resume in depth.
6. If possible, include an example (either extracurricular or in a work situation) of your ability to work as a part of a team.

Next: Typical Stages of an Interview