2. OVERVIEW
Purpose – What Are Interviews For?
Attire – What to Wear
Resume – Top Attributes
Interview Structure
Interview Question Types
S.T.A.R Method
Wrapping Up the Interview
Interview Tips
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
3. Purpose - What Are Interviews For?
Your Goals:
Showcase Skills,
Accomplishments
Learn about the
Employer
Create a Positive
Impression
Overview
Purpose Employer’s Goals:
Establish Rapport
Learn about your
Skills
Introduce
Organization
Evaluate Fit
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
4. Attire - What NOT to Wear
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
5. Attire - What NOT to Wear
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Casual Clothing (e.g. Jeans and T-shirts) unless
‘casual’ is specifically stated
Expensive jewelry
Low-cut tops and other revealing clothing
Sunglasses
Very high heels
Non-traditional colors (e.g. bright pink shoes)
6. Attire - What to Wear
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
7. Attire - What to Wear
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Standard dark-colored suit, preferably black or
dark grey
Black formal shoes
Any articles of clothing required for religious
purposes are perfectly acceptable (the formal
rule still applies, of course)
8. Resume – Top Attributes
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
9. Interview Structure
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Opening/Small Talk
Questions/Discussion
about your background
and experience
Your turn to ask questions
Closing/Wrap up
Follow-up
10. Two Interview Question Types
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Traditional – Open-ended,
situational, future
oriented
Behavioral – Specific
questions about past
behavior
11. Traditional, Open-Ended Questions
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Examples:
Why did you choose this field?”
“Tell me about yourself.”
“One of your
strengths/weaknesses?”
“Why should we hire you?”
12. Behavioral Questions
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Examples:
What has been your most
challenging project and why?
Give me an example of a time you
worked on a team and…
Someone wasn’t cooperating.
You took charge of the situation.
Your team did not meet it’s goals.
13. STAR Method
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Method of comprehensively responding to behavioral
interview questions: Situation, Task, Action, Result
Situatio
n
Task
Result Action
Behavioral interview response visual example
14. STAR Method – Example 1
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Tell me about a time you took a leadership role on a project.
S) During my sophomore year at Purdue I was appointed
chairperson of the XYZ Committee at my residence hall.
T) The committee was responsible for organizing a Women’s
health fair to bring community resources within the reach
of hall residents.
A) I first led the group on an analysis of similar events that we
wanted to see 300 attendees and representatives from 10
community organizations. I organized the committee into
a marketing subgroup and a community outreach subgroup
each responsible for achieving the afore-mentioned goals.
R) In the end, the event was a great success. We had 500
attendees and representatives from 12 community groups.
The fair was later chosen for the “event of the year” award
amongst all residence hall events that year.
15. STAR Method – Example 2
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Describe a time you went above the call of duty to achieve an
outcome.
S) When I arrived at XYZ company they were just beginning to
launch a new product.
T) I took the opportunity to recommend an online
complement to the launch and offered to lead the project.
A) I created a prototype web advertisement along with
associated market data to demonstrate the need for the
online complement.
R) The director of marketing approved the concept, my team
executed the advertisement, and sales in week one were
30 percent greater than forecasted without the
complement.
16. STAR Method – Practice Questions
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Tell me about a time when
you worked effectively in a
team.
What is one of the most
challenging tasks you have
faced and how did you
handle it?
17. Wrapping Up the Interview
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Thank the interviewer
Ask when you can expect to hear from
the company (if appropriate)
Ask for his/her business card
Send a thank you email/card when you
get home!
18. Tips
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Prepare questions ahead of time
Don’t ask questions for which you should
already know the answer.
Ask questions to get them to sell the
organization to you!
19. Need More Help?
Overview
Purpose
Attire
Resume
Structure
Question Types
STAR Method
Wrapping Up
Tips
Come to the Center for Career Opportunities, located at
YONG 132
Our Services:
Resume Drop-In Assistance
1 on 1 Career Counseling
MyCCO (Job listings/On-campus)
Career Advice Video
Interview Stream
Mock Interviews
