Mastering Interview Preparation Tips for Success

The Art of Interviewing

Before the Interview: Go Beyond the Homepage Example: What s Google s biggest opportunity in the next 5 years? Weak: I think wearable technology will be big because Google Glass and Apple Watch represent a new trend that shows 7 Strong: Call me geeky, but I was listening to Google s quarterly earnings call and was blown away by the fact that display advertising hit over $5 billion in the past few years. Therefore, I think that It s like we re writing an essay on The Odyssey without quoting a single passage from the book. (Forbes, 2014)

Before the Interview: Use Google Alerts Example:If you re applying to Creative Artists Agency, follow these steps: 1.Go to www.google.com/alerts 2.Type in Creative Artists Agency 3.Put in your email address if you re not already logged in to Gmail

Before the Interview: Craft Your Story Statement How did your childhood influence you? How did your Bonner experiences shape you? Why does this job move you? Chances are, we ve all had experiences we can connect to where we re trying to go. It s just a matter of selecting the right ones to tell our story. (Forbes, 2014)

Before the Interview: Plan Logistics Determine the interview location and plan your route in advance. Aim to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to allow for any unforeseen circumstances. 7

Before the Interview: Prepare PAR Anecdotes Example: University of Pennsylvania Senior Hunter Horsley has a PAR anecdote for his interviews. Problem: When I worked on Lore, an education tech startup, our big marketing challenge was finding a way to get professors to try our product. Ads are inefficient and competitors like Blackboard and Canvas had sales teams call IT administrators to sign multi-year contracts a very slow and expensive process. We needed to move faster." Action: "We realized that students preferred our product so we teamed up with about 200 students from 100 colleges. They developed a custom outreach plan for their campus and we provided resources to support them. Result: This was highly effective in creating awareness with professors. In fact, it became a competitive advantage. During our first two semesters, our team of 15 people drove adoption that outpaced a competing product launched by Pearson at the same time. An additional benefit was that the approach created brand affinity. Because professors heard about the tool from students instead of an ad, the value proposition came across more authentically."

During the Interview: Ask Questions That Tell More About You Example: Weak: Will this role provide opportunities to work with diverse clients? Strong:I m passionate about supporting underrepresented groups and minored in social justice in college. Will this role provide opportunities to work with diverse clients?

During the Interview: Be honest and authentic Be truthful in your responses and avoid exaggerating or misrepresenting your qualifications or experiences. Interviewers appreciate honesty and authenticity. Focus on highlighting your genuine strengths and accomplishments, rather than trying to present a perfect image.

During the Interview: Clarify and ask for clarification If you don't understand a question or need further clarification, don't hesitate to ask for it. It's better to seek clarity than to provide a misguided response. This demonstrates your attentiveness and ensures that you address the question accurately.

After the Interview: Email a Personalized Thank You Note Hi Samantha, I appreciate your time chatting with me today. I really enjoyed learning more about the Congressional Hunger Center and specifically your work developing the Zero Hunger Academy. I m thankful for the opportunity to connect with you. (I also hope you had a good meeting with your mentee!) Best Wishes, Laura

Practice Makes Perfect Improvements