Interviewing

Interviews can be held in different formats, depending on the interview stage, hiring company, and applicant pool. Preparation for the nuances of each format can make a big impact. 

VIRTUAL

Virtual interviews have become common and can be facilitated on many different platforms such as Zoom, Webex, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Google. 

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL INTERVIEW

• TECHNOLOGY
  • Test your tech! Make sure all of your technology is functional: computer, software, microphone, camera, wi-fi connection, etc. You can test your wi-fi speed connection at speedtest.net to ensure it is strong enough.
  • Make sure you're charged! Conduct your interview close to an outlet and have your charger nearby just in case.
  • Make sure you have the appropriate software downloaded and familiarize yourself with it prior to the interview. 
  • Make sure you have access to the link / meeting ID beforehand. 
  • Do not disturb! Turn off calls, text messages, and email notifications during your interview. 
  • Provide the employer with your cell phone number in advance in case of technology challenges during the interview.
    
    
• ENVIRONMENT
  • Find a quiet location where you will not be interrupted by background noise.
  • Turn off ceiling fans and minimize any other background movements or noises that can be distracting.
  • Ensure you are in a well-lit room, and you have a neutral background. If you have difficulty finding a neutral background, consider virtual backgrounds if applicable.
  • Place your web camera at eye level. If you have to, prop up your computer.

• NON-VERBAL CUES
  • Look at your camera rather than your screen as much as possible. This will help to better simulate eye contact with your interviewer.
  • Just as an in-person interview, be mindful of your body language and positioning. Sit up straight, do not cross your arms or position yourself in a closed off manner, and avoid fidgeting or frequent movements.
  • Make sure to smile! Smiling makes you appear more friendly and more confident. 

PHONE

Phone interviews are often used as initial screening interviews and generally take 30 - 45 minutes. Employers use screening interviews to narrow the pool of candidates before the more intensive in-person interviews.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PHONE INTERVIEW

• Stand up to increase the volume and clarity of your voice.
• If you are speaking with more than one interviewer, picture them in a room as they speak to better associate the sound of each voice.
• You can have notes at hand, but make sure you are well versed enough with your responses that you do not rely upon your notes to answer.
• Keep a blank sheet of paper and pen in front of you to take notes during the conversation. Make sure to write down the name of each interviewer when they introduce themselves.

ON-CAMPUS

A company or organization comes to the university to interview multiple candidates. These are usually screening interviews before an on-site visit. If an info session is held the night prior to the interview, the employer expects you to attend. This way, the recruiter will not have to repeat company information in your interview. You will also know more about the organization so your answers and questions during the interview will well-informed.

ON-SITE

On-site interviews offer an opportunity to see the physical location of a company and meet different people within the organization. These interviews can range from one hour to multiple interview rounds that make take several days. 

Tips for a successful on-site interview

• Show up early. You may want to plan your route beforehand, so that you know exactly where to go and how much time you will need. Be prepared to stay late if the interview runs longer than expected.
• Take note of who you are interviewing with and be prepared to share that information with whoever greets you.
• Be friendly and respectful to everyone you meet on-site, not just your interviewers.
• You may be evaluated during meals and travel, so treat every aspect of your experience as part of the interview.

PANEL

Panel interviews involve two or more people interviewing you at the same time. Questions may be rapidly paced or framed as follow-ups to your responses to an initial question.

Tips for a successful panel interview

• If possible, try to get the names and roles of everyone on the panel beforehand. If not, make sure to take note of all interviewer’s names during the interview.
• Bring multiple copies of your resume, including a few extra, in case there are more panel members than expected.
• Make eye contact with each panel member. Remember, you are interviewing with everyone, so make sure to interact with and engage each member on the panel.
• Make a list of everyone in attendance, so you can follow up with a thank-you note. You can request business cards or contact information.

GROUP 

Group interviews consist of multiple candidates being interviewed at the same time. Group interviewing is much different from an individual interview, because you are directly interacting with other candidates. It is important to find balance between communicating your skills/experience and dominating the conversation. 

Tips for a successful group interview

• Make sure to respectfully acknowledge other’s opinions, express your views, and work collaboratively within the group. Interviewers are also taking note of how well you work on a team.
• Speak first on occasion, but not every time. Balance when you speak first and/or last.
• Be respectful to other candidates. Do not interrupt anyone or negate their skills/experience.
• Take your time to answer your questions fully, but be mindful that there are other candidates who must answer as well. In group interviews, your speaking time is cut significantly, so try to stick to key points and be effective in your answers.

During interviews, employers will likely ask various types of interview questions. This mix of question types gives employers a well-rounded idea of you as both an employee as well as a person. Having a good understanding of these question types can better prepare you for your interview.

BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral interviews questions are based on the premise that past behavior predicts future behavior on the job. These are the most commonly used questions in interviews. Through these questions, employers evaluate a candidate's skills, abilities, and interests and allows the candidate to demonstrate their willingness to change and grow from experience, including both successes and failures. 

EXAMPLES

• Tell me about a time when you had to work with a team to accomplish a goal.
• Tell me about a complex problem you've solved at work. What was your approach to finding a solution? 
• Describe a time when you had to learn something new. In what ways did you approach the learning process? 

How to master behavioral interview questions

S.T.A.R. Method | The STAR Method is the most effective approach to answering behavioral questions. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result + Reflection. 

EXAMPLE

Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills. 

Situation | My student organization is planning a display for Engineers Day (E-Day). We came up with a great concept for the display, but the team struggled to complete the work. The display was quite demanding, requiring a team effort and many hours of work. 

Task | I could see the effort from the team was not very efficient or well organized, so I decided I needed to do something if we were going to produce a high-quality display. 

Action | Although I was not an elected leader, I approached the organization president and volunteered to help put a plan and schedule together in order to complete the display on time. 

Result + Reflection | The president was very appreciative of the support I offered and quickly accepted. I presented the plan to the organizational members who supported the approach I proposed. We successfully completed our E-Day display and spoke with over 50 prospective students and their family members about our club’s engineering projects. 

You are not limited to the experiences on your resume. You can pull from any experience in your life, so long as it is relevant and effective at demonstrating your fit and competency for this role.  

Prepared! Brainstorm a few examples and use the STAR method to formulate your answers. Having these examples prepared can ease anxiety in the moment and make you feel more confident going into the interview.

CASE AND TECHNICAL

Case and technical interview questions present the interviewee with problem, or case, to solve. Your answer is not as important as your analysis of the problem and how you communicate your analysis and approach. Case interviews are commonly used for consulting firms. Technical interviews are often used for engineering and software development roles. 

EXAMPLE  A major product your company produces has been reported as defective 10% of the time. You want to take it off the line, but there will be significant profit implications for doing so. Provide a cost-benefit analysis for your leadership team.

How to master case and technical questions

• Think out loud so the interviewer can see your problem-solving process.
• It is okay to ask for more information when you need it.
• You can ask for a pencil and paper to take notes or write out your process. To be better prepared, bring your own. 

RESUME-BASED

Resume-based interview questions use your resume as a source for questioning. Employers inquire about past experiences in academics, employment, and activities to better understand your role and performance.

EXAMPLE  Tell me about your experience at your internship with Boeing. 

How to master resume-based questions

• Become very familiar with your resume. Know everything that’s on it and be prepared to speak in detail about each item.
• Bring a copy of your resume to have on you and to go over shortly beforehand.
• You can have a copy of your resume in front of you during an interview. Feel free to do so if it will help you.

The STAR response method is most commonly used to respond to behavioral interview questions, however the method can be applied to resume-based questions as well. 

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result + Reflection.

• Situation | Briefly provide context for your example. Set the scene! 
• Task | Describe the task you were responsible for or the goal you were trying to achieve. If working on a team, make sure to focus on your own contributions. 
• Action | Explain what actions you took in this example. How did you handle the situation? 
• Result + Reflection | Explain the outcome of your actions, as well as what you learned and how you've grown from this experience. 

EXAMPLE

Question | Tell me about a time you worked on a team. 

Response

Situation | During my first year, I was part of a four-person team in my Introduction to Engineering class. Our semester-long project was to design and prototype a device that could transport a small object across a one-meter gap using only mechanical energy. 

Task | Our goal was to collaboratively design a device that was both efficient and creative, while meeting the project's strict criteria - no electricity, minimal materials, and an emphasis on mechanical simplicity. I was responsible for helping design the propulsion system and contributing to the CAD modeling. 

Action | To start, we divided the project into three phases: research, design, and prototype testing. I suggested we use a torsion spring-based launcher, which required careful calculations and testing. I used SolidWorks to model our design and ran basic simulations to test feasibility. During team meetings, I made sure everyone had a voice and helped mediate between conflicting ideas about materials and mechanisms. I also coordinated our shared documents on Box and helped keep our project timeline on track by setting mini-deadlines before each class review.

Result + Reflection | Our final prototype not only met all the design criteria but also traveled the furthest distance among all the teams in the class - earning us first place in the class competition. Beyond the technical success, I learned how important clear communication, flexibility, and mutual respect are in a team setting, especially when everyone brings different strengths to the table.

PREPARE + PRACTICE

It can be difficult to generate specific examples in the moment during an interview. While you cannot necessarily prepare for every possible question, you can consider and prepare in advance by brainstorming specific examples that provide evidence of your skills and competencies.

Personal Background and Company Research

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why do you want to work for this company, and what made you interested in the position?
• What has been your favorite major-related course in college? Which one has been the most challenging for you?

Behavioral 

• Tell me about your proudest professional achievement.
• Describe a time when you were persistent in the face of obstacles.
• Share a time when you willingly took on additional responsibilities or challenges. How did you successfully meet all the demands of these responsibilities?
• Provide an example of a time you had to work with a diverse group of people and what challenges came along with that.
• Tell me about a time you failed. How did you deal with the situation?
• Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you go about ensuring you would meet your objective?
• Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How did you handle that?
• Tell me about a time when you developed your own way of doing things.
• Tell me about a time you faced a conflict with a coworker. How did you handle that?
• Give me an example of a time you were able to be creative with your work. What was exciting or difficult about it?

Professional Development

• What new technical or specialty skills related to your field have you developed during the past year?
• How can you best use your engineering education and prior experiences to help our company grow?
• What is your long term career objective? Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• How does this position fit into your professional goals?

RESEARCH

Thoroughly research the organization and industry to impress the interviewer and allow more time to discuss specifics of the position. Lack of research is consistently cited by employers as a reason candidates do not advance in interviews, so make time for it. This will also help you understand the company values and culture, as well as form questions for employers.

How to master research:

• Review the organization's webpage, social media, LinkedIn, etc.
• Check recent news headlines about the company.
• Review industry publications to learn more about recent trends and issues.
• If provided, familiarize yourself with key information (name and role) about your interviewers. You can use the company website, LinkedIn, or CareerShift.
• Make note of the company’s mission statement and company values.

KNOW YOURSELF

• Identify key strengths and examples from your past experience to help the employer visualize you as a strong candidate. 
• Evaluate problem areas in your record and be prepared to offer explanation for these during the interview. Do not volunteer negative information about yourself and try to balance anything negative with a positive outcome.
• Review the job description and take note of key skills, characteristics, or other qualifications. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of your experiences that match those qualifications.

PRACTICE

Practicing for interviews is essential in order to speak with confidence, provide specific examples, and feel prepared for a wide variety of questions. Interviews can be very anxiety evoking, and practice helps ease our nerves.

How to master interview practice

• Meet with an Engineering Career Coach for interview preparation or a mock interview.
• Be prepared to dress professionally.
• Prepare key points you want to communicate about yourself and how you plan to address them.
• Drawing from your experience, prepare several specific examples for potential behavioral questions. Practice describing those examples using the STAR response method.
• Prepare 3-5 questions ready before your interview. You will likely think of more during the interview.
• Practice! You can practice answering questions by yourself or with another person. Getting used to the art of thinking on your feet will break the ice and boost your confidence going into the interview.
• Know exactly how to get to the organization or access the virtual platform and be prepared to arrive 10 minutes early.
• Print additional copies of your resume, list of references, work samples, and/or transcripts. If virtual, have all your documents saved as PDF files in an easily accessible location.

Your first goal will be to build rapport with the person who greets you at the organization and eventually your interviewer(s). Building rapport consists of attitude, affect, non-verbal behaviors, and how you speak. When interviewing virtually, this process may look slightly different and be more rushed, but make sure to develop some kind of rapport with your interviewers with a warm smile and introduction.

ATTITUDE + AFFECT

Remaining calm and collected portrays confidence. You may be nervous, as this is perfectly normal, but try to maintain a calm affect to your interviewers. If you are especially anxious, try some grounding techniques. Working to reduce your anxiety can help you focus and perform better in your interview.

Be positive and kind. Practice kindness throughout the entirety of your experience, not just during the interview. If you are greeted by someone, treat them with respect and be warm and friendly.

NON-VERBAL BEHAVIORS

Non-verbal communication are often just as important as verbal communication. 

Eye Contact 

Maintain open and direct eye contact when listening, asking, and responding to questions. Eye contact is easily broken when concentrating on what you want to say or reflecting on what has been asked. During a virtual interview, keep your camera at eye-level and look at the camera as often as possible, not at the screen. This better simulates in-person eye contact.

Facial Expressions 

Be conscious of your facial expressions. They can convey sincerity and interest and can add to or detract from your words. When actively listening, provide minimal encouragers to acknowledge that you are listening and engaged in the conversation. Don’t be afraid to smile!

Voice Tone 

Your tone of voice should be confident, warm, and relaxed. Make sure to speak at a good volume and clearly articulate your words so that your interviewer(s) understand everything you are saying. Pay attention to the pace of your speech ensuring it is not too fast for your listener. 

Timing 

Contrary to popular belief, it is perfectly okay to pause before answering a question. Take some time to gather your thoughts when you need it. You can either simply sit with the silence for a moment (it is truly not as awkward as you think), or you can say something like, “I’d like to take a moment to think about that.”

Hands 

Gestures and speaking with our hands are normal and can be used in a relaxed way to show animation, communicate excitement, or be a visual aid. Be wary of overusing hand gestures, as they can be distracting if overused. Be mindful of potential fidgeting, as this is another habit of being nervous.

Handshake 

Typically, a firm handshake is a signature greeting at the start of an interview. Handshakes are held for around 2-3 seconds. Make good eye contact and smile. Don’t overthink it! During virtual interviews, simply use good eye contact, a friendly smile, and make a warm introduction.

Posture 

Your posture is an important non-verbal cue. Do not have closed posture (crossed arms, slouched shoulders, clenched hands, lack of eye contact), but rather open posture (open arms, relaxed shoulders, upright, forward-facing, mirroring).  

DRESS 

Standards of dress will vary between industries and companies. Always research prior to the interview to adhere to company culture. Don’t be afraid to ask! Business professional should be assumed unless indicated otherwise by the employer.

Guidelines for professional dress and attire

Don’t forget to prepare a list of questions to ask employers! Typically, at the end of an interview, the employer will open up the floor for questions. You want to make sure you have some prepared beforehand. Asking the right questions can help confirm you are the right candidate for the position and help determine if this organization/role is the right fit for you. When you prepare questions, you want to accomplish 3 things:

• Find out if you feel the organization is the right place for you.
• Make sure the interviewer has no reservations about you.
• Demonstrate your interest in the employer and your motivation to prepare for the interview.

Focusing on these three goals can help you determine the questions you really want to ask. Be prepared with at least 3-5 questions and prioritize them based on the time available. You should always have questions for the employer at the end of an interview.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Do not ask questions that are readily available on the employer’s website or any information already provided by the employer. Doing so reveals that you have not prepared. Do not ask questions that are clearly stated in the job description, but you may want to inquire further about certain aspects.

You can demonstrate how you’ve done your homework by asking questions that emphasize the content you’ve learned about the organization. For example, “I’ve read that your organization is expanding product and service offerings. Would this be an opportunity I could assist with?”

Make sure to ask open ended questions instead of closed ended. You want to allow for more than a “yes” or “no.”

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

• What skills and experiences would make an ideal candidate for this position?
• What is your work environment like?
• Where do you see the company going in the next 10 years?
• How would you describe a typical work day or week in this position?
• Do you offer continuing education and professional training? Approximately how many individuals go through your training programs each year?
• How much travel is normally expected?
• What are you most proud of about working here?
• What are the most immediate projects I would take on?
• What is the average length of stay of this position?
• What do you find most challenging about this position?
• What is your favorite part about working here?
• How are promotions typically handled?
• If you could change anything about this organization, what would it be?
• How would you describe the culture of the team?
• What are the common career paths in this department?
• Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?
• What are your next steps in the hiring process?

Questions to avoid

• What's the starting salary? 
• Can you tell me about your health insurance? 
• What are your paid leave policies? 

While you absolutely want to ask these questions, the initial interview is too early. You are not yet in a position to negotiate, as you have not yet been offered the job. Save this for a later stage!