Interviewing
The Interview
Beyond the resume and cover letter, interviews help employers learn more about how your academic background, skills and experience match the requirements of a job opening. At the same time, employers are evaluating your communication skills and other traits to determine if you will fit with the organizational culture.
You want to answer the employers’ questions competently, smoothly and professionally. You also want to use the interview as a means of learning more about the position and the organization to see if you would be happy and productive in the job. Remember that the interview is the main determinant of whether or not you receive a job offer. Preparation is the key!
To prepare properly for an interview:
- Appropriately research an organization and the position.
- Prepare your 30-second commercial or elevator pitch for employers to learn more about you.
- Practice, practice, practice by using Big Interview to prepare STAR responses and understand how to answer industry specific questions.
- Prepare a few questions to ask the employer.
- Review tips for appropriate interview attire.
- Negotiate and accept (or reject) a job offer.
Big Interview
As a UD student you have access to Big Interview, a platform that allows you to record your mock interview and send it to others for feedback. This platform includes pre-prepared mock interviews, but also allows you to build your own based on the questions you think you will be asked by that particular employer.
You can find interviewing practice sets in the “Interviews Menu” under the “Practice” section and your recorded interviews will be saved in the “My Videos” section.
Getting Started with Big Interview: youtube.com/watch?v=HSsPgVfQs4E
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your long- and short-range goals? How are you preparing to achieve them?
- What are three of your strengths and weaknesses?
- What failures have you experienced? What have you learned from your mistakes?
- Why did you leave your past jobs?
- How did you become interested in this field or industry?
- How do you determine or evaluate success?
- Do you have plans for continued study?
- Tell me about a recent problem and how to solve it.
- What, if any, extracurricular activities have you participated in? What did you learn from them?
- Tell me about your leadership experience.
- Give me an example of how you exercised leadership in a recent situation.
- Think about the changes you have seen and tell me how you handle change.
- Tell me about a decision you made recently and how you reached it.
- Tell me about a time when you were criticized and how did you handle it.
- Tell me how you use your communication skills, written and oral.
- Please tell me about a recent team you worked on. What was the outcome? What was your role?
- Tell me about a time when you were under a great deal of pressure. What was the source of the pressure and what did you do?
- What criteria are you using to evaluate the organizations for which you hope to work?
- What do you know about our organization?
- What do you see as the biggest challenge currently facing organizations such as ours?
- Why did you decide to seek a position with us?
- What two or three things are important to you in your job?
- What criteria are you using to evaluate the organizations for which you hope to work?
- What do you know about our organization?
- What do you see as the biggest challenge currently facing organizations such as ours?
- Why did you decide to seek a position with us?
- What two or three things are important to you in your job?
- How have your education and other experiences prepared you for this position?
- Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
- Why do you feel we should hire someone with your background?
- Describe two satisfying accomplishments.
- What unique talents would you bring to this position?
- Describe a contribution you made to the University of Delaware or in your last job.
Generative AI tips for Interviewing
Interviewing:
Do: Use Generative AI to practice common interview questions and responses.
Don't: Use AI to generate false information or exaggerate your qualifications.
Advice: Use Generative AI to analyze job descriptions and company information to prepare thoughtful questions to ask during interviews.
- Example Prompt: "Generate interview questions for a marketing coordinator position and provide sample responses."
The UD Career Center is part of the Division of Student Life, which advances equity and inclusion, deepens student learning and drives holistic development through education, experiences and communities.
