Interviews
Interviews are frequently the aspect of the applcation process which make people the most nervous. The best was to combat that is to be prepared. The UMD Career Center frequently offers mock interviews, complete with critiques and suggestions, so be sure to keep an eye out on campus list servs.
In interviews, whether on the phone or in person, it is crucial to be professional. In person, dress appropriately. On phone interviews, it's best to stand up (studies have shown you sound more formal that that) and speak professionally (it's a lot easier to feel like you're talking to your friends when on the phone).
Also, come prepared. Be ready to ask intelligent questions about intern expectations with the organization. Bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter. Also, be familiar with your resume, as the inteviewer will frequently be looking at it and asking questions based on what you have written. Finally, mentally prepare youself. Think of potential questions and organize answers to them. The University of Maryland Career Center prepared this list of frequently asked interview question to think about before you arrive.
Three-Steps to Answering Certain Traditional Interview Questions
- What I know how to do.
- Example of using skill, personal characteristic, or knowledge successfully.
- Benefit to the organization.
When answering questions, be concise, to the point, and answer the question.
Questions interviewers might ask you are:
- Tell me a little about yourself.
- How would your friends describe you?
- What are your strengths?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- How do your skills relate to our organization?
- Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achieve them.
- What do you know about our organization?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What concerns you about our company?
- Why should I hire you?
- How do you plan to succeed with our company?
- What are your long-range and short range goals?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What do you really want in life?
- Why did you pursue this career?
- What does "success" mean to you?
- What does "failure" mean to you?
- What are your three major accomplishments?
- What have you disliked in your past jobs?
- What kinds of people do you enjoy working with?
- What kinds of people frustrate you?
- What is your ideal job?
- Tell me about your last job?
- What qualities should a manager possess?
- What characteristics of a supervisor are most important to you?
- Who do you admire and why?
- What two attributes are most important in your job?
- What values and/or characteristics do you see as most important in your job/career?
- What are you passionate about?
- What college subjects did you like best?
- How has your college experience prepared you for this career?
- What was the last non-academic book that you read?
