THE EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW
PACKET
The Employment Interview is the most significant and final accomplishment in securing a job offer.
Understanding and preparing for interviews will build your confidence and enable you to be successful.
This CDC Packet provides information and activities in the following areas:
1. Overview & Types of Interviews
2. Interview Research & Getting Ready Before the Day
3. Arriving and Meeting the Interviewer
4. The Stages of the Employment Interview
5. 50 Challenging Interviewing Questions
6. Examples of Good Replies
Appendix A - Interview Preparation Worksheet
Appendix B - Personal Statement/Commercial
Appendix C - PAR/STAR Worksheet
Appendix D - Using Employer Information for Successful Interviewing
(Answering Questions and Asking Questions)
Appendix E - Interview Preparation Resources
Career Development Center
Mellencamp 128
414-229-4486
[Link]/Dept/CDC
© Career Development Center, 2005
Information from this packet can only be reproduced with written permission.
Lp:H:cdc/packets/Employment_Interview/11-05
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1. OVERVIEW & TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
The interview is a “two-way conversation” with a two-fold purpose:
1. The employer gains information about your strengths/skills and background and how they add value
to the organization
2. You, the candidate, gain a better understanding of both the position and the organization in
determining if there’s a match with your needs and goals.
There are several variations of interviews but most will include elements of the General/Situational and
Behavioral types.
• General or Situational Interview
Employers ask questions about your academic and career experiences--they make connections between
them and the requirements for the position. Employers will ask you to elaborate on experiences from
your resume. They will also ask you how you see your skills/background meeting the position
requirements. They will evaluate your answers on both content and presentation.
• Behavioral Interview
Most managers, recruiters and human resource professionals have been trained to conduct a behavioral
interview. The basic premise of the behavioral interview is that past and present behavior is the best
predictor of future behavior. Therefore, the interviewer structures a discussion in order obtain specific,
behavioral examples from the candidate.
Your answers will be evaluated on the extent to which they reflect the specific competencies necessary
to perform the job at an outstanding level.
Notice the difference between the general vs. the behavioral question in the following examples:
General Question: How are you at managing deadlines?
Behavioral Question: Give me a specific example of a time when you had to meet an
important deadline. What specifically did you do in order to meet it?
General Question: How would you describe your team building skills?
Behavioral Question: Describe for me a work situation in which you developed a team.
What specifically did you do? How did you concretely deal with the
challenges you encountered in your team building effort?
It’s advantageous to answer questions in behavioral terms--- even if the interviewer is not conducting a
formal behavioral interview. You may want to use some of the language from the job description in
describing your skills and accomplishments.
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Other types of interviews include:
• Case Interview
A case interview is an analysis of a business issue which tests your problem-solving abilities. The
interviewer will present you with a business problem and ask you for your perspective. Employers use
these interviews as a way of assessing your analytical and creative thinking as well as your demeanor under
pressure. A successful response to a “case question” is more about how you approach the issue or problem
and less about a specific answer.
• Second or Final Round Interview
Before making an offer, employers usually have candidates back for a second round of interviews often
involving multiple interviewers. Questions are typically more in-depth and will be focused on how your
skills, knowledge and experiences add value to their organization—beyond the position for which you’re
being considered. Usually, 3-5 candidates are given 2nd or final round interviews before a decision is
made. It’s important to have a few different examples prepared as you answer the same or similar
questions from multiple interviews. Same advice goes for having multiple questions to ask.
The Final Round interviews also focus more on your “fit” with the organization and its culture as
well as your value over the longer term.
• Group or Panel Interview
As part of a second round or final day of interviewing, some organizations will build in a group or panel
interview. This is an opportunity for the organization to evaluate your ability to think “on your feet” and
interact in a group situation.
Preparation for this type of interview is the same as for any interview in that you still need to have your
content for typical questions you’ll be asked—and for the questions you will ask—prepared beforehand.
The difference is in the presentation. Your challenge is to make eye contact with each member of the
group as you’re speaking. This needs to be accomplished in a relaxed and confident manner—not easy
for most people. Additionally, you need to be sure you’re not excluding anyone—and look at everyone
approximately the same amount of time.
The group or panel interview is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate how you can “build”
conversation and discussion based on what group members are saying. Example:
Interviewer A--Mr. Todd: “In your role as event manager for the Plays in the Park Summer Series,
it must have been stressful to know it was your job to “fill the seats”---when not one ticket had been
sold one week before opening night.” “How did you handle that?”
Your response: “I did feel the pressure, but also knew I had a good team around me. We met several
times and developed an outstanding strategy for publicizing the Plays through a variety of print and
web resources.”
Interviewer B-Ms. Smith: “It would be helpful if you could talk about the larger role you played as
event manager for the Plays in the Park series last summer.
Your discussion building response: “I’d be glad to—one additional comment however to Mr.
Todd’s question—which also relates to your question. Managing pressure was the key challenge for
this position—not just in terms of sales and marketing—but other responsibilities including set
design, dealing with daily scheduling problems and several budget issues……..”
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2. INTERVIEW RESEARCH &
GETTING READY BEFORE THE DAY
Researching the organization before the interview is a must—and it results in a more productive discussion
between you and the interviewer. You should not go into an interview without a clear understanding of
the job. Always obtain a position description as well as web or print information on the employer.
The employer’s website will help you gain an understanding of other posted positions, special programs,
services, processes and characteristics of the organization which contribute to their unique culture. It’s also
advantageous to understand where their products and services rank in the marketplace and how they gain a
competitive advantage over other organizations.
Resources for employer information include:
• Hoover's ([Link] - Provides comprehensive company information.
• US Securities and Exchange Commission ([Link] - Government website that houses
all of the required filings for publicly traded companies.
• UW Systems or UWM On-Line Libraries - Check the Lexis-Nexis Database
([Link] for current news articles about business and companies.
Both VAULT ([Link] and WetFeet ([Link] provide
insider profiles on major corporations and emphasize information, ideas and intelligence which make the
organization unique. There is a charge for the profiles or guides but the information is unlike anything
found on a free site. VAULT also has message boards where you can read comments from employees
and people who have gone through the recruiting process.
Researching beyond the website through industry reports, competitive analyses, and business and
professional journals/websites will give you a deeper level of information.
Other Pre-Interview suggestions include:
• Activate your network---find out who you know that knows something about the company, job or
person with whom you’re interviewing.
• Be sure you know exactly who you are to see, the location, date and time.
• It’s permissible to contact the office to get the exact name and title of the interviewer.
• Determine how you will get there – how long will it take? Map Quest is great for this—but double
checking with someone who knows the location is also advisable.
• Decide what to wear – look like you’re ready to step into the job. If in doubt, be conservative. Check
out what current employees wear. Suits for both men and women are always appropriate. Minimal
jewelry, minimal makeup for women is the rule.
• Prepare your responses to questions for the interviewer – write them down. Two things usually
happen if you haven’t written down answers or bulleted points for answers before the interview—
both bad. Most candidates will either say too much or too little. Your goal is a 1 ½ --2 minute
response, depending on the question. Your response will be sometimes longer if asked to describe
a complex issue or situation.
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• Prepare your questions. Always have 2-3 well researched and thoughtful questions prepared. Never
ask about salary, benefits or anything easily answered on their website.
• Review your resume as part of preparation—there’s nothing worse than being asked to elaborate on
an experience and you’re unable to do so. Examples, evidence and anecdotes are always required
when you respond to a question about your skills or accomplishments.
• Take along extra resume copies, a list of references, plus the name, address and telephone number of
the interviewer. The latter is invaluable in case you are running late. Never be late—but if
something should cause you to be late, always call, apologize, explain your circumstances and let the
interviewer know how late you will be.
3. ARRIVING AND MEETING THE INTERVIEWER
It’s trite but true—you never get a second chance to make a first impression. How you are perceived in the
first few minutes can influence both the start as well as the outcome of the interview. Research shows that if
a first impression is very positive, then you have to make serious errors throughout the interview to wind up
with a poor performance. Conversely, if you start poorly, you have to work extra hard to make it up
throughout the interview. Other suggestions include:
• Be on time – be on time – be on time! And even better, be early. Getting there early allows you to
practice some relaxation techniques, deep breathing, or positive visual imagery before you actually
go into the interviewing room. It’s helpful to find a space (e.g. a park if the weather is nice; nearby a
coffee shop or bench in the main lobby) to sit, relax and go over some final points.
• Check your appearance in the restroom. Don’t check your appearance or apply makeup, comb hair
etc. in the waiting room.
• Take a breath mint—do not--do not chew gum!
• Find the receptionist and present yourself with confidence…..”Hi, I’m Tom Lopez and I’m here to
see Ms Davis for a 2:30 interview.”
• When taken to office or interviewer comes out, remember your body language – eye contact, smile,
firm (not bone crushing) handshake, maintain relaxed but erect posture.
• Observe the interviewer. Is he or she relaxed, nervous, friendly, hurried, and disorganized? If
hurried or disorganized, you may have to take extra measures to be calm, confident and insure that
your strengths and accomplishments come out in the interview.
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4. THE STAGES OF THE EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW
Most employment interviews can be divided into 5 stages where the interviewer is hoping to accomplish
different objectives—and will use various types of questions.
1. Greeting
2. Information from the employer (not all the time)
3. Light questions
4. Connecting questions
5. Your questions
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Greeting and chit chat—they’re important because they are a part of your first impression. Greetings
are what you’d expect----
“How are you today?”
“Did you have any trouble parking?”
“How was the traffic on 94?”
“How’s the weather out there?”
Keep your responses brief—but have some idea on how you’ll handle them beforehand so as to not
get “wordy.”
2. Information from the Employer--background about the position and organization is sometimes
provided by the interviewer. Even though you probably know this through your research, many
interviewers can’t resist telling you about the opportunity. Hopefully, they keep it under 3 minutes.
S/he may ask, “Would you like me to tell you something about the opportunity?”
You don’t automatically have to say “yes”. It’s acceptable and even at times preferable, to say
something like,
“I believe I’m pretty knowledgeable about the job; the focus is customer service and I’ve done that
exceptionally well for two different major companies. I also know that ABC is the industry leader in
most mid-to mid/high consumer lines and have studied about your Team and Associate focused culture.
If there are specifics about the position which are critical to performance—I’d very much like to hear
them.”
3. Light Questions These are “ice breaking” and intended to get the conversation started in a
non-stressful way. Examples include:
• “So tell me why you picked UWM and how do you like it?”
• “How do you like your professors in Biology? “Do you have a favorite?
• “You grew up in Green Bay—what was that like?”
• “Your 3.6 GPA is impressive—tell me about your success in the classroom.”
4. Connecting Questions This is where you need to make the sale. Your skills, background and objective
must connect to the job requirements and add value to the organization. Questions can include:
• “Your internship looks challenging—how do you see what you learned there being relevant to this job?”
• “Well, you’ve obviously been a leader at UWM—how will that specifically help you in this position?”
• “Tell me why we should make you the offer---what will you bring to the job that others won’t?”
5. Your Questions Don’t miss out on this final opportunity to distinguish yourself. Never say—“I don’t
have any questions—you answered them during the interview.” And don’t ask about salary or
fringe benefits—your questions need to show professional curiosity and research—and reinforce that
you are the best candidate for the position.
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10 IDEAS FOR EMPLOYMENT – RELATED QUESTIONS
1. What is the main challenge of this position?—and what separates the outstanding performers
from the average?
2. What financial, personal and professional incentives are there for exceeding job performance
expectations in this position?
3. Can you tell me about a recent outstanding hire for this position and the qualities she or he had
in order to achieve excellence?
4. What programs are there in the organization which will help me set job performance goals,
achieve them and support me in the process?
5. How important is life-work balance in this organization—and what are some examples or
illustrations?
6. What are some suggestions you’d make for answering the question (name one specific one) in
the on-line applicant system for your organization?
7. My coursework and college experiences are pretty well set so with only one semester to go
before graduation, what can I do to make myself even more qualified for this position?
8. What specific personal skills or qualities are most important in advancing up the career ladder
in your organization?
9. What 2-3 key resources could I access which would help me to learn more about this filed and
be successful in this job?
10. What technology competencies are most important for me to have in advancing my career
with your organization?
You may be asked at the end…. “Would you like to add anything else about yourself which will help me
better understand your qualifications?”
A concise response like the following is helpful….
“Thank you for this opportunity to meet with you; I’ve learned more about the position and ABC
Corporation…...and believe my leadership with the clubs I’ve started and academic success in my
Communications major provide a great match for your requirements. I look forward to a possible follow-
up interview---could you tell me what the process looks like beyond today?”
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5. 50 CHALLENGING QUESTIONS
Many of these questions (or variations of them) will come up in almost every interview. Going over them;
writing down 2-3 bulleted points for each one; insuring you have specific, concrete examples and evidence
for each one is the very best way to begin preparing for interviews. Then, practice them---the key is to strike
the right balance between concise, well articulated answers and a spontaneous, friendly yet business-like
tone.
If you attempt to “wing it” in an interview—one of two things happen to most people (both bad)—they either
say too much or too little. Most questions should take 1-3 minutes and include 2-3 focused points. And—
always give examples and evidence to back up your points.
You’re encouraged to meet with a Career Counselor in CDC to try out some examples and enhance
your interviewing skills---a mock interview can also be scheduled.
1. Tell me about yourself?
2. What do you know about our organization?
3. What value would you bring to this position? What can you do for us that someone else cannot?
4. Why should we hire you?
5. What are you looking for in a career?
6. Using your own words, please give your definition of the position for which you are being
interviewed.
7. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to this organization?
8. How long would you stay with this company?
9. How would you react if I said you may be over qualified or too experienced for the position we have
to offer?
10. Tell me why you could become an effective manager or supervisor?
11. What do you see as the most difficult challenge of this position?
12. Who is your favorite and least favorite professor?.......tell me why?
13. Describe for me a project you did for a course and what you learned in your own personal career
planning?
14. Describe what you believe to be an ideal work environment.
15. How would you evaluate your education and your work in college?
16. Name a job you’ve had and tell me how you made a real difference there.
17. Tell me about a time when you worked with a budget or finances.
18. What would your co-workers say about you?
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19. In your current or last position, what tasks did you like the most? Least?
20. In your current or last position, what are or were your two most significant accomplishments?
21. Why haven’t you found a new position yet?
22. If you could start college over again, what might you do differently?
23. What kind of boss do you like?—and tell me how that influences your work.
24. Please describe a situation in which your work was criticized?
25. If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he/she say are your greatest strengths and
weaknesses?
26. Tell me if and how you work under pressure and tight deadlines.
27. In your present position, what problems have you identified that had previously been overlooked?
28. If you had your choice of jobs and companies, what would you choose?
29. What are your salary expectations if we offer this position to you?
30. Why do you want to work for us?
31. Leadership can be defined in many ways—how have you been a leader either on or off campus?
32. Tell me about some of the schools you were considering besides UWM…..why did you choose UWM?
33. What’s been the best thing about going to school here?.......the worst?
34. What other types of positions and companies are you considering?
35. Describe some things you’ve done to stay at the leading edge of your field.
36. What was the last book you read? Movie you saw? Sporting event you attended, etc.?
37. How would you respond if I offered you this position right now?
38. How would you describe your own personality?
39. Are you a leader? Give examples.
40. What would be your first move if you obtained this position?
41. What are your strong points? What are your weak points?
42. How do you see your career path developing over the next 5 years?
43. Tell me about a situation where you were in the middle of a conflict—how did it come out?
44. According to your definition of success, how successful have you been so far?
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45. What has been the toughest assignment in a class or job you ever had and how did you handle it?
46. Have you ever hired anybody?--what do you look for when you hire someone?
47. How would you describe the “culture” at UWM?
48. I see you have a new Chancellor—do you see any changes in the wind?
49. Describe for me the process you went through to choose a major.
50. What do you think about your Career Development Center at UWM?
THE CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATING WITH EMPLOYERS
When preparing and rehearsing questions, be sure you use your own words and language. If you simply
memorize and mimic these questions, you will come across as insincere—even phony. Not the impression
you want to make. It’s a difficult but important line to walk—using the language of the jobs and the
organization…..but in sentences with which you are comfortable and consistent with the way you speak.
These are the types of job search challenges where talking with a Career Counselor/Advisor can be helpful.
Express Lane hours at CDC, 128 Mellencamp, are as follows:
WALK-IN ADVISING THROUGH EXPRESS LANE
Monday 4:00 pm -5:45 pm
Tuesday 9:30 am-11:30 am
Wednesday 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Thursday 9:30 am-11:30 am
Friday 10:30 am-1:00 pm
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6. EXAMPLES OF GOOD REPLIES
Used with permission from The 250 Job Interview Questions you’ll Most likely be Asked, by Peter Veruki
Note: A majority of these responses are for positions requiring more than entry-level experience.
If you are interviewing for entry-level positions, use them for ideas and frameworks for your
individualized responses.
Q: What are your key skills?
A: After working six years as a senior systems analyst, I’ve developed a number of key skills, including
business modeling, process re-engineering, software package evaluation, and excellent
programming
skills in UNIX and C environments. I was very pleased to discover that these are the skills you’re
seeking. Do you want to hear about specific examples of my work?
Talk about your key skills and how you’ll use them in this job. Avoid clichés or generalities. Offer specific
evidence, drawing parallels from your current or previous job to the job you’re interviewing for.
Q: Tell me about a time you didn’t perform to your capabilities.
A: The first time I had to give a presentation to our board, I failed to anticipate some of their questions.
I was unprepared for anything other than what I wanted to report. Now my director and I brainstorm
all the what-ifs in advance.
This question forces the candidate to describe a negative situation. Do so in the context of an early career
mistake based on inexperience; then demonstrate the better judgment you now have as a result of that
learning experience.
Q: How do you regroup when things haven’t gone as planned?
A: I start by trying to imagine the worst possible outcome; then I back up and identify precautions I can
take to avoid that scenario. In this way, I usually end up with a result close to the original goal. The
training example I described earlier is proof of that skill.
Describe a time when some obstacle forced you to change your original plan, but you were still able to
achieve the desire result. Did you rally the support of others to make this happen? With hindsight, how
might you have better predicted the obstacle?
Q: What accomplishment was the most difficult for you to achieve?
A: I found it intimidating to work with the marketing-research staff when I started my job, mostly because
I
hadn’t done well in statistics or market research during college. What I decided to do was enroll in an
executive seminar on market research, which really boosted my confidence. Now I don’t feel at a
disadvantage when I meet with the research group, and I know what questions to ask to get information
that’s meaningful to me.
Describe something you’ve accomplished despite obstacles, lack of training, or inadequate experience. This
question allows you to talk about overcoming a weakness.
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Q: Tell me about a project in which you were disappointed with your personal performance.
A: In my last job for a manufacturing company, I had to analyze all of the supplier bids and present
recommendations to the vice president of logistics. Because the supplier bids weren’t in a uniform
format, my analysis often consisted of comparing dissimilar items. This caused some confusion in
my final report, and by the time I’d reworked it and presented it to the vice president, we’d lost the
critical time we needed to improve our approval process for these bids. In hindsight I should have
taken a simpler approach to the problem and not tried to make it so complex or all inclusive. Ever
since, I’ve paid more attention to making recommendations in a timely manner.
Describe roadblocks and what you’ve done to try to get around them. How have your skills come into play?
In hindsight, what could you have done differently? What lessons have you learned?
Q: What would you do if I told you that I thought you were giving a poor interview today?
A: Well, the first thing I’d do is ask you if there was any specific part of the interview that you thought I
might have mishandled. After that I’d think back and try to remember if there had been any faulty
communication on my part. Then I’d try to review possible problems I had understanding your
questions, and I’d ask for clarification if I needed it. Finally, if we had time, I’d try to respond more
fully and appropriately to the problem areas you identified for me.
Interviewers like to ask stress questions like these to see how well you hold up under pressure. Your best bet
is to stay calm and relaxed; don’t allow your confidence to be shaken.
Q: What aspects of your work are most often criticized?
A: I remember in my first job as marketing assistant I spend endless hours analyzing a particular
problem. I came up with a revised marketing plan that was extremely well received. Unfortunately,
when it came time to present the plan to top management, I hadn’t prepared the fine points of the
presentation – overheads and slides – and the proposal was turned down. I’d failed to make clear
savings that would result from the plan. I spent the next two weeks working on my presentation, and
on my second try management approved it, and my recommendations were carried out to everyone’s
satisfaction.
This question is similar to the question on weaknesses. Try to give an example from an early job. Discuss
what you did to overcome the situation and to improve your work. You could also discuss how the failure
has inspired you to pay more careful attention to detail in all your work.
Q: Tell me about a time when your employer wasn’t happy with your job performance.
A: That would be during my first week on the job as a paralegal. I have her two letters that had typos in
them. Frankly, I’d simply been a little sloppy – but that’s the only example that comes to mind. Ms.
Heilman did tell me regularly that she was very happy with my work.
Again, be sure to discuss a relatively minor incident here. Also, show a willingness to accept responsibility
for the problem – don’t blame others or make excuses. Simply describe what happened and how you
successfully resolved the situation.
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Q: Sell me this stapler.
A: This is a professional-quality stapler, designed to be functional as well as attractive. It will help you
reduce clutter on your desk by enabling you to fasten pages together. And since papers relating to
the same subject will not be attached, you’ll be more efficient and will save time searching for
papers. Finally, its sleek shape and black color are coordinated to match the rest of your office
furniture.
With this kind of question the interviewer will want to determine how quickly you think on your feet, as well
as your ability to communicate effectively and succinctly. Be prepared to give a thirty-second speech on the
benefits and advantages of virtually any common office object, from a paper clip to a telephone, particularly
if you’re interviewing for a sales position.
Q: Tell me about yourself.
A: I’m a production assistant with a B. A. in communications and three years of solid broadcasting and
public-relations experience. I have extensive experience developing and researching topics, pre-
interviewing guests, and producing on-location video tapings. I have a tremendous amount of
energy and love to be challenged. I’m constantly trying to take on additional responsibilities and
learn new things.
I’ve been watching your station for some time now, and I’ve been impressed with your innovative
approach and your fast growth. I’d like to be a part of that winning team.
This is a perfect opportunity to sell your qualifications to the interviewer. Using the sixty-second pitch you
developed in chapter 1 as a guideline, briefly describe your experience, skills and accomplishments, goals
and personal qualities. Explain your interest in the company you’re interviewing with and how you plan on
making a contribution there. If you’re a recent college graduate, be sure to discuss your educational
qualifications as well, emphasizing the specific classes you took that are relevant to the position.
Q: What is your biggest weakness?
A: I admit to be a bit of a perfectionist. I take a great deal of pride in my work and am committed to
producing the highest-quality work I can. Sometimes if I’m not careful, though, I can go a bit
overboard. I’ve learned that it’s not always possible or even practical to try to perfect your work –
sometimes you have to decide what’s important and ignore the rest in order to be productive. It’s a
question of trade-offs. I also pay a lot of attention to pacing my work so that I don’t get too caught
up in perfecting every last detail.
This is a great example of what’s known as a negative question. Negative questions are a favorite
among interviewers, because they’re effective for uncovering problems or weaknesses. The key to
answering negative questions is to give them a positive spin. For this particular question your best
bet is to admit to a weakness that isn’t catastrophic, inconsistent, or currently disruptive to your
chosen professional field, and to emphasize how you’ve overcome or minimized the problem.
Whatever you do, don’t answer this question with a copout like “I can’t think of any,” or even worse,
“I don’t really have any major weaknesses.” This kind of response is likely to eliminate you from
contention.
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7. ILLEGAL QUESTIONS
Q: What religion do you practice?
Answer 1: I make it a point not to mix my personal beliefs with my work, if that’s what you
mean. I assure you that I value my career too much for that
Answer 2: I’m not quite sure I understand what you’re getting at. Would you please explain to
me how this issue is relevant to the position?
Answer 3: That question makes me uncomfortable. I’d really rather not answer it.
Q: How old are you?
Answer 1: I’m in my fifties and have over thirty years of experience in this industry. My area
of expertise is in…..
Answer 2: I’m too young to retire, but I’m old enough to know better than to answer a question
like that.
Answer 3: I’m not quite sure I understand what you’re getting at. Would you please explain to
me how this issue is relevant to this position?
Answer 4: That question makes me uncomfortable. I’d really rather not answer it.
Q Are you married?
Q. Do you have children?
Q. Do you plan to have children?
Q. Are you a US Citizen?
Q. Do you have a permanent resident visa?
Legal Q. What is your authorization to work in this country?
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APPENDIX A
THE INTERVIEW PREPARATION WORKSHEET
Instructions: Below are 4 frequently asked interview questions. Use this sheet to develop a narrative
consisting of 2-4 bulleted points for each one. Be sure to incorporate the use of “skill verbs” using the
following page. Skill verbs create pictures of you performing tasks and accomplishing objectives which the
interviewer connects to job requirements.
1.“Tell me about yourself.”_________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. “Tell me about your primary strengths.”_____________________________________________________
3. “Name a weakness you have and how do you compensate for it?”________________________________
4. “Help me better understand how your skills and background will be of value in this position and organization.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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APPENDIX B
THE PERSONAL STATEMENT / “COMMERCIAL”
The personal statement or commercial is “a must have” in your job search arsenal. You’ll need it in many
employment, networking and recruitment situations. Basically, it’s a 1-2 minute statement to let others
know…..who you are….what you do well….and what you are looking for in a career or job.
First impressions are critical—and with a well prepared personal statement, you are letting employers,
managers, colleagues and contacts know that you are confident and clear about where you are going and the
contributions you can make to an organization.
It’s all part of the “game.” Few students know exactly where they’re heading career wise or how they can
specifically add value to a company---but it’s critical to convey that message early and throughout the
employment interview/communications process.
As you move ahead in the process, you’ll gather intelligence about the job and the organization as well as
picking up cues how they feel about you. And you’ll start to know if it’s a good “match” for you—as well for
the employer.
But at the beginning, your personal statement needs to be……specific……concise……..memorable.
________________________________________________________________________
The Personal Statement will help you:
• Introduce yourself in social or networking situations
• Begin the interview with a strong foundation when asked “Tell me about yourself.”
• Approach employers at a career day or job fair
EXAMPLES
• “My name is Barry Xiong; I’m a sophomore in Letters & Science at UWM, majoring in English. I
enjoy writing and have two articles on the web. I’ve had two great courses in the Communications
Department which have challenged me to write more clarity and conciseness. I believe in the power
of the written word and want to also work on my public speaking and group presentation skills. I’m
excited about the possibility of an internship where I can contribute to either the public relations or
marketing functions of a major Fortune 1000 company. I’m still exploring--- but I think I could be
very successful in a fast-paced, large corporate environment.”
• Hello—I’m Tim Hernandez, I’m graduating in December with a 3.2 GPA and a double major
Sociology and Psychology at UWM. I’ve been very active in several volunteer capacities including
Habitat for Humanity, cancer and diabetes walk-a thons and the Center for Volunteerism and
Leadership. My career goal is a challenging client services role –and eventual advancement to
management in community services. I’m interested in entry-level opportunities with a non-profit
organization concerned with helping people solve personal challenges—and raise the quality of their
lives in Milwaukee. I also want to pursue an MSW or MBA –depending on which would be most
valuable for my career path.
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WRITE YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT / “COMMERCIAL”
Who you are:____________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What you do well:________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What you are looking for:__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_
What contribution you will make - Value you add:_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FINAL COMMERCIAL
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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APPENDIX C
P.A.R. / S.T.A.R. WORKSHEET
PAR (Problem, Action, Result) or STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) are helpful “formula’s for
planning your answers to interview questions. Make copies of the worksheet and write out descriptions of
specific problems you’ve solved or situations handled. The benefits from this approach are twofold:
[Link] the employer see how your skills were used and valuable; 2. Providing proof, evidence and the
“business case” for how you can make a difference in a work-related situation.
The % guidelines are for amount of time you’ll generally spend speaking about each part of your problem or
situation.
PROBLEM/SITUATION/TASK 15-20%
ACTION (what you did.... how you did it) 70%
RESULT (measurable outcome, what happened? impact?) 5-10%
PROBLEM/SITUATION/TASK___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ACTION_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
RESULTS______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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APPENDIX D
USING EMPLOYER INFORMATION FOR SUCCESSFUL
INTERVIEWS
Knowledge of the employer and position for which you are applying is crucial, but it is only the first step in
preparing for a successful interview.
Knowledge by itself has limited value—but when translated to intelligence i.e. knowledge applied to
your interview which demonstrates your professionalism, insights and seriousness about the
opportunity….. then it has great value.
The central accomplishment here is knowing how to integrate this information into your interview without
sounding as if you’re simply relaying or “preaching” memorized facts.
The objective for using website and print resources is to identify information which you find
interesting and from which you can “frame” some answers and questions.
And the trick is not to impress employers with knowledge—but rather use the information in a way which
demonstrates your curiosity and sincerity about learning more about the organization.
Example of poorly using information:
“I see where your market-share dropped last quarter—can you tell me why and what strategies
are in place to get back to your previous industry leading position?”
_____________________________________________________________________
Example of translating information to intelligence and making a favorable impression:
“I understand that the industry is moving towards new technology to better track outsourcing for
government procurement—could you talk about some of the advantages of this technology for
your company—and which software vendors appear to have the best product?”
USING INFORMATION IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS
Most of the questions you will be asked in an interview will relate the job functions described in the position
description. You are not being tested on how well you’ve memorized the information about the organization.
Using the information you have researched, however, there are ways to show how your skills and
background meet the employer’s needs. Most interview questions can be answered in three to four statements
(1-3 minutes) if you’ve thought about the points you want to make beforehand. Some examples:
________________________________________________________________________
Question:
“Why do you want to work for this company?”
Response:
“As I understand the position, there is an opportunity to be involved in the both the planning of marketing
strategies and the actual selling of the product. Besides using my communication skills and knowledge of
chemicals in direct selling, I believe I’m creative in designing marketing strategies. The product launch team
I headed for our Small Business Association assignment exceeded our sales forecasts.”
________________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
Question:
“I see you’re involved with the Latin America Culture Club. What did you learn from that experience?”
Response:
“As an officer for the Latin America Culture Club, I was responsible for organizing a display on Hispanic
literature for the university-wide Multi-Cultural Fair we sponsored. Most of my correspondence with the
publishing houses was done in Spanish and I feel this experience added new business-related competencies
to my fluency. I would feel very confident communicating with your Central American customers on the
quality control issues mentioned on your website.”
________________________________________________________________________
Question:
“What courses did you like best?”
Response:
“I enjoyed my Sociology of Learning class the most. During one in a series of field trips, I observed first-
hand some of the problems in a rural day care center. That experience confirmed for me that this type of
setting…..and working with children with special needs is how I want to begin my career.”
________________________________________________________________________
USING INFORMATION IN ASKING QUESTIONS
One of the worst things you can do is an interview is to NOT ask thoughtful questions at the end. You will
almost always have that opportunity. There are effective ways to use the knowledge you’ve gained about the
position or organization and integrate it into your questions. As in using this knowledge in answering
questions, you’ll be translating the knowledge to intelligence in the interview.
________________________________________________________________________
From Print or Web Research:
“After about 12-15 months from the time you begin your career with us, if you’ve demonstrated your ability,
you’ll be ready for promotion to Merchandising Manager. Your increased responsibility will include larger
sales volume and a number of sales associates reporting to you.”
Questions
“I understand that after 12-15 months of training, promotion to Merchandising Manager is a possibility…”
• …could you talk about the criteria and methods by which trainees are evaluated?”
• …what kinds of communication channels are used between the trainees and the supervisors during
the evaluation period?”
• …what is the major quality or accomplishment that distinguishes those who are promoted from those
who are not?”
________________________________________________________________________
From Print or Web Research:
“Today’s large Store Manager usually has gained experience in district of regional staff work.”
Question:
“In viewing some of the background that your large store managers have in district or regional staff work,
could you describe some of their responsibilities….and their primary challenge in making the transition from
staff to management?”
________________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
From Print or Web Information
“From the start, ABC Company has had the vision of being the leader in intra-office communications for
southeast North Dakota. That’s why we have acquired competitive companies in both internet and
conventional publishing industries.”
Question:
“When ABC examines strategic objectives and lists both web and print in the future, what are some of the
existing product areas that might be less important in the future and could be disappearing?”
________________________________________________________________________
From Print or Web Information:
“At Evergreen, sales success translates to both personal recognition and generous financial rewards based
totally on the results of your day-to-day efforts. Opportunities to be creative and resourceful in advancing
our product exposure to a wide variety of people and market environments is also integral to your work. A
sales career can offer all this and more…”
Questions:
• “What are some of examples of how employees are personally rewarded in a large dynamic company
like Evergreen?”
• “Could you give an example of a situation where one of your top Sales people demonstrated
initiative and creativity when serving a client?”
________________________________________________________________________
Examples of Poor Questions:
1. “Tell me about your training program.” (Too general—shows you didn’t do your homework.)
2. “At what salary level would I be if I progress to Step 3 in my second year with the company?” (Shows
your concern is money and not contribution you can make.)
3. “Could you explain your fringe benefits package?” (Standard, boring question- need to be more specific.)
4. “I noticed that on the second half of last year, your dividends dropped 2 points-was that due to your
plants closing in Winnebago County or just the general economy?” (Sounds critical and you’re
showing off. The question is a bit technical for most interviewers. A better question would be…
“Could you discuss a few of the business and political issues regarding the plant that closed in
Winnebago County?”)
Criteria for Examining Employers
Asking and answering interview questions in a prepared and professional manner is the key to successful
interviewing. Use the following list as a guideline for what you need to find out about an employer before
you choose to interview and in actual preparation for the interview.
• Details and Functional Descriptions of Positions • Employee Review/Evaluation Process
• Training Program Outline • Travel/Relocation Expenses
• Hiring Process (timing, evaluation criteria) • General Hiring Patterns
• Basic Employer Information (history, size, etc.) • Regional Lifestyle/Cost of Living
• Requisite Qualifications for Entry-Level Positions • Organizational Chart Structure
• Typical Career Paths • Profiles of Typical Employees
• Introduction to Employer Products/Services • Organization position in industry or profession—
• Starting Salaries/Compensation and Benefits best practices, awards, etc.
• Financial stability and forecasts
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APPENDIX E
INTERVIEW PREPARATION RESOURCES
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER RESOURCES
PRACTICE/MOCK INTERVIEWS
You may make an appointment with a CDC staff member to address your interviewing
questions/concerns and may also participate in a practice "mock" interview.
WORKSHOPS
Improving Your Interviewing IQ and Advanced Interviewing workshops are held throughout the
fall and spring semesters. Check the CDC Website for dates and times.
VIDEOS
These video resources are available for viewing in the Career Development Center.
• Effective Answers to Interview Questions
• Marketing Your Liberal Arts Skills in the Interview
• How to Get the Job You Want
• Answering Problem Interview Questions
• The Employment Interview: American Style
__________________________________________________________
ONLINE RESOURCES
MONSTER INTERVIEW CENTER
The Monster Interview Center has a number of virtual interviews which can help prepare you to be
confident and competent. They present you with a series of questions e.g.
If you are hired, how long will you stay with this company?
As long as the work is challenging and I have the opportunity to learn and advance, I see no
reason to consider leaving.
I certainly wouldn't consider leaving this or any job after less than one year. It takes that long
to really assess a position.
I would like to stay with your company as long as possible, and I don't anticipate leaving in
the foreseeable future.
Get to the Monster site through the CDC website at….
[Link]
QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS - [Link]
The Quintessential Careers website provides numerous links to information on interview preparation,
styles, tips, frequently asked questions, techniques for answering questions, questions you should be
asking, and follow-up.
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