1. Office of Career Services
Interviewing Basics
MSU Denver
Office of Career Services

2. General Interview Prep:
1. Know yourself & your skills.
2. Know why you want the job.
Review the job description
Research the organization
Prepare copies of your resume and references
Relax!

3. Dress Appropriately

4. Make a Great First Impression
Be courteous and smile
Make eye contact
Shake hands firmly, but don’t crush bones.

5. Types of Interview Questions
Open-ended: “Tell me about yourself.”
Specific: “Why did you choose your major?”
Behavioral-based: “Tell me about a time when...”
Illegal: “What country are you from?”

6. Answering Interview Questions
General Tips:
Tell the truth but don’t over-share
Pay attention to non-verbal cues
Be confident
Be professional and positive at all times

7. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practice answering with friends & family, or come to Career Services for a mock interview
Have a good understanding of the job description.
Review common interview questions
Have appropriate stories to tell for behavioral based questions.

8. Use the STAR Technique

10. Common Questions Always Prepare for these Questions
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why are you the best candidate for the position?”
“What are your greatest strengths & weaknesses?”
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

11. Sample Behavioral Questions
Tell me about a time you had to present findings to a group and persuade them to make changes to something.
(communication, presentation)
Tell me about a challenging problem that you had to solve. What was the result?
(problem solving)
Tell me about a time when you had to work on a team. What was the project and what was the outcome?
(collaboration)

12. Always have Questions for the Employer
Remember you are interviewing the employer for fit as much as they are interviewing you.
Your questions should demonstrate interest and be informed.
Should NEVER be about salary or benefits in the first interview

13. Interview Follow up
Send a thank you letter or right after the interview. Follow up with additional questions.

14. Office of Career Services
Questions?
Tennille Hamler, MA
Career Specialist – STEM Majors
Office of Career Services
AD 270
Thank you!