Interview StrategiesMurray State Career Services100 Oakley Applied Science Bldg270.809.3735 | murraystate.edu/career

Before the Interview

▪ Research the company/position▪ CareerShift (use in Career Services)▪ LinkedIn▪ Glassdoor

▪ Know yourself▪ 16personalities.com▪ MyNextMove.org▪ Kuder (request pin from Career Services)

▪ Evaluate your fit▪ Prepare to communicate your fit

Before the Interview

▪ Put together an appropriate outfit▪ Practice greeting/handshake▪ Update and print resume on high quality paper▪ Print/digital portfolio if applicable▪ Design business card: contact & academic

information▪ Notify references▪ Access transcript (if applicable)▪ Determine location and travel time▪ Schedule Mock Interview

Do you dress for fun or success?

Business Professional…Good

▪ High Quality, Dark Tone Neutral▪ Classy, experienced, high-quality professional

▪ Quality Silk Tie▪ Detail-oriented, fashion-conscious

▪ Nice Black Belt▪ Successful

▪ Three-Piece Suit▪ Lawyer, Banker

▪ Two-Piece Suit▪ Professional

▪ Good Tailoring▪ Able to finish a project all the way to the end

Business Professional…Bad▪ Double-Breasted Suit▪ Clueless, not up-to-date

▪ Wrinkled Suit▪ Unprepared, procrastinator▪ Bad with details

▪ Cheap Suit▪ Inexperienced

▪ No Tie▪ Arrogant, not a team player

▪ Character Ties▪ Tacky, poor judgment in professional

setting

▪ Short-Sleeve▪ Clueless, dorky

▪ Short Socks▪ Sloppy,

unprofessional

▪ Scuffed Shoes▪ Poor attention to

detail

▪ Mismatched Accessories▪ Disorganized

https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140508143641-284615-for-the-interview-does-your-suit-suit-you?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

Business Professional▪ Women▪ Conservative/tailored suit or suit dress▪ Skirt: hit top of knee and avoid extreme slits▪ Shoes: basic and medium/low pumps▪ Limit jewelry and select subtle options▪ Choose small handbag OR portfolio

▪ Men▪ Dark suit▪ Shirt: White/blue cotton▪ Shoes: Shined black or cordovan with dark, mid-calf

socks▪ Wear Tie and match belt with shoe color▪ Well groomed: Shaved, professional hair▪ Wear conservative watch; avoid earrings/other jewelry

Business Casual

▪ Men▪ Pressed slacks/khakis▪ Pressed button down shirts, sweaters or polos▪ Leather shoes with matching mid-calf socks▪ Still…avoid jewelry and appear well-groomed

▪ Women▪ Casual, not too tight pants/skirts▪ Skirt should still come to knee/cover thighs when

seated▪ Shirts/sweaters should be tailored, not gape or reveal

cleavage▪ Club friendly…probably a “no”

What you should never wear…

▪ T-shirts▪ Shorts/jeans▪ Short skirts▪ Flip-flops▪ Stilettos ▪ Tight/baggy fits▪ Excessive perfume or cologne▪ Missing buttons, tears or rips

During the Interview

▪ The entrance▪ Timeliness, handshake, eye contact, small talk (video)

▪ The conversation▪ Tell why you WANT and can DO the job▪ Tell why you are the PERFECT candidate

▪ The value proposition/why you are unique▪ Experience, entrepreneurial outlook, passion,

knowledge, leadership, etc.

▪ Your questions▪ Have questions!

▪ The close

Resource: wetfeet.com/blog/2012/

Interview Questions

▪ Interview goal… ▪ Communicate you can do the job▪ Communicate you are a fit with the

company/organization

▪ General questions▪ Evaluate relevant skills and personal traits to job▪ Tell me about yourself▪ Share your strength/weakness▪ Share anything else we should know about you

▪ Behavior based questions▪ Evaluate past behavior▪ STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method

Interview Tips

▪ Beware of verbal fillers: ▪ Um, uh, ya know, stuff like that, etc

▪ How to answer tough questions▪ Let me think about that for a minute.▪ Can we come back to that one later?

▪ Sit up straight in the chair▪ Don’t cross your legs▪ Men: Keep both feet planted on the ground▪ Women: Cross your ankles and tuck to side

▪ Dealing with a panel▪ To shake hands or not▪ Make eye contact with everyone

Phone Interviews

▪ Voice mail should be professional▪ Turn alerts off▪ Keep resume & notes close for reference▪ Have pen & paper close for note taking▪ Have glass of water available▪ Smile▪ Consider if your dress will influence mindset▪ Don’t smoke, eat, chew gum, gulp water▪ Use the person’s title and name▪ Take your time and don’t interrupt the

interviewer▪ Be succinct in your answers

Skype Interviews: Preparation

▪ Learn how to use/Practice with a friend▪ Create a professional username/find

good connection ▪ Background/Table/Desk▪ Eliminate site of personal items ▪ Blank or neutral background▪ Desk/table should be organized.

▪ Career Services’ interview or conference rooms

Skype Interviews: During

▪ Look the part (dress, hair, etc.) & smile▪ Look into the camera, not at the screen▪ Stay present and use verbal interjections

(“hm” or “yes”) to let interviewer know you hear them

▪ If getting repeated blips in communication, let the employer know. A redial or switch to phone interview may be needed.

Illegal Questions

▪ Questions must be relevant to the job▪ Focus must be on job performance

functions▪ Three options if asked an illegal question:▪ Answer the question, but remember you are

giving information that isn’t related to the job.▪ Refuse to answer the question, which is well

within your rights, but may appear confrontational.

▪ Examine the question for its intent and respond with an answer as it might apply to the job.

Resource: jobweb.com/resources/

End of/After the Interview

▪ Reiterate your interest in and fit for the position

▪ Ask for business cards▪ Write thank you emails & letters▪ Follow-up 7 – 10 days after

Resources

▪ Additional Tips▪ Career Handbook▪ Tip Sheet

▪ Practice: Mock Interviews▪ Call 809.3735 to schedule

▪ Research▪ CareerShift▪ GlassDoor

Questions?Murray State Career Services100 Oakley Applied Science Bldg270.809.3735 | murraystate.edu/career

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