This document provides guidance on preparing for and conducting a job interview. It recommends researching the organization, being prepared with stories highlighting your skills and accomplishments using the STAR method, dressing professionally, practicing answers to common questions, asking questions of the interviewer, and following up with a thank you note after the interview. The document covers topics like small talk, answering questions, concluding the interview, accepting or declining a potential job offer, and handling rejection. The overall message is to thoroughly prepare your experiences and skills, conduct yourself professionally during all stages of the interview process, and maintain polite contact with the employer afterward.

1. Interviewing Practices and
Preparation
2019 Summer Scholars Program
Adrian Bryant
Course-Embedded Consultant
Noel Studio for Academic Creativity
adrian_bryant44@mymail.eku.edu

2. Module Format
1. Preparing for the Interview
1. Conducting the Interview
1. After the Interview

3. Preparing for the Interview

4. General Preparation
● Research the organization
○ It is very important to employers that you know the basics of what they
do. What product/service do they offer? Who is their clientele? What
changes have they undergone recently? The more you know, the better.
● Be updated on current events
○ You may have to engage in small-talk, and an ill-informed candidate is
not appealing. Know the gist of current events in general, but be up to
date on happenings in the employer’s field. If interviewing at a library, be
prepared to answer questions like How do you feel about the governor’s
proposition to cut funding? or What’s your view on X library’s censoring
of offensive books? Stay engaged in the broader conversation.

5. Practicing Answers
● When practicing answers to potential questions (will be discussed in next
slide), structure questions around the S.T.A.R. Method
○ Situation: Where you were and what the context was.
○ Task: What you were expected to accomplish.
○ Action: What specific steps you took to complete the task.
○ Results: What did you accomplish after completing your task through
your action?
It is good to have a few stories of your accomplishments (and challenges)
prepared, but don’t script it out. You don’t know for sure what they will ask you;
give yourself flexibility.

6. Questions to Expect
● “Tell me about yourself.” Do not just restate the info on your resume. Use this as
quick pitch to sell yourself. How, as an employee or student, have you excelled?
Give a general overview of your accomplishments and experiences with specific
examples.
● “What is your biggest weakness?” Do not try to weasel your way out of this
question. Answer it honestly, but be sure to use the S.T.A.R. Method to show
what actions you are taking to overcome that weakness and how it is working for
you.

7. Questions to Expect
● “Why do you want to work here?” Talk about why the position appeals to you
(don’t be afraid to show excitement!), what you think you can bring to the
employer, and also what the employer can bring to you.
● “What do you know about this company?” Start your answer with their overall goal
and business structure. Perhaps mention specific products/services you find
impressive or give a personal story relating the company to you.

8. Dressing for the Interview
● Prep a nice outfit! Your clothing and appearance not only say a lot about your
personality, but also your desire for the job.
○ For men, it is best to default to a full suit: matching jacket and dress
pants, shirt and tie that match or complement one another.
○ For women, the best options are a pantsuit, skirt-suit, or dress.
○ For non-binary individuals, express your gender identity however you see
fit. You can use any of the above options or wear gender-neutral
business attire (a list of androgynous outfitters can be found here).
You do not want the employer to have to imagine what you would look like as a
professional--show up as a professional!

9. Conducting the Interview

10. Beginning Stages
● Eat a hearty breakfast or lunch beforehand.
● Bring a physical copy of your resume (and other relevant professional
application materials such as a portfolio, transcript, etc.).
● Arrive 10-15 early so as to give the interviewer time to prepare for you.
Approach whoever is at the front desk of the location and state your name,
who you are interviewing with, and what time the interview is.
● Give the interviewer, when they approach you, a strong handshake. It may
seem unimportant, but an employer will absolutely judge you based on how
firm your handshake is.

11. Small Talk and Soft Skills
● Be prepared for small talk. For social and shy people alike, small talk can be
painfully awkward. But small talk can be a way to display your soft skills.
● Soft skills are skills that are not task specific (such as skills with Microsoft
Office, C++, Wordpress, etc.), but broader, personal skills like leadership,
communication, critical thinking, and work ethic.
● Interview questions will likely assess soft skills, but small talk can be a way to
advertise your skills before the interview formally begins.
● Zippia has a list of 9 small talk tips to use in an interview.

12. Answering Questions
● Remember the S.T.A.R. Method! While you may not know exactly what the
interviewer will ask, keep your prepared question-and-topic answers in the
back of your mind.
● If you need a moment to think about an answer to a question, say, “That’s a
great question. I’d like a moment to think about that.” Answer the question
when you have thought of a strong answer (once again, structured around
S.T.A.R. if relevant).
● If you do not understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat it or clarify.
● Feel free to be appropriately humorous. You don’t want to be a robot; make
light (and PG) jokes in your answers to build a good foundation with the
interviewer.

13. Answering Questions
● You will likely be asked about previous conflicts you have had with
supervisors, coworkers, or customers. Be upfront about these conflicts (use
S.T.A.R. to discuss how you addressed them), but do not be mean about the
discussed individuals. You want to present yourself as a cooperative worker,
and disparaging others will make you look aggressive and unfriendly.
● When asked about previous experience, be sure to highlight the skills of your
past work. If you have worked with the specific software this company uses,
highlight that. Also if you have transferable skills (skills that can be used in
multiple settings such as collaborative skills or creative skills), highlight those
and discuss their relevance to the position.

14. Asking Questions
● You will most likely be asked at the end of the interview if you have any
questions. Be sure to have 3-5 questions prepared for the interviewer--they
love receiving questions from candidates. It shows you are interested in the
employer’s work and what you would be doing for them.
● Try to keep the questions centered on your position, but consider asking a
question or two about the institution at large. For example:
○ What kind of projects can I expect to be assigned?
○ Who will I report to?
○ How often, if at all, will I be working with the public?

15. Concluding the Interview
● The interviewer will let you know when the interview is coming to a close.
● Thank the interviewer for their time and consideration.
● You may ask them when you can expect to hear back about the position.
● Give them one final great handshake before thanking them again and leaving.

16. After the Interview

17. Contacting the Interviewer
● Send an email to the interviewer 1-2 days after the interview thanking the
interviewer for their time and consideration. On top of being a generally nice
thing to do, it keeps you in the interviewer’s mind and reinforces your
appearance as a thoughtful person.

18. Accepting the Job
● If offered the job, you can accept immediately but do not feel pressure to do
so. If you want to take time to consider before accepting:
○ If offered the job over the phone, thank the employer for the offer and ask
for it to be confirmed in writing via email. Let them know that you will
consider it and get back to them with your decision by the deadline they
establish.
○ If offered the job via email, follow the same protocol as above with the
exception of the request for the job offer in writing.

19. Declining the Job Offer
● If you wish to decline the offer, be sure to thank the employer for their
consideration, interview, and their offer.
○ Give a brief, valid reason for why you’re declining--you’ve accepted
another offer with another company; you have had personal issues come
up; you have decided to stay with your current company; etc.
● End on a kind note so that if you apply for the company again in the future or
you cross paths with them, they will remember you fondly.

20. Job Rejection
● If you have not been accepted for the position, the employer will send a
rejection email stating so and giving a reason (we have selected another
candidate; we do not believe you are a fit for the position, etc.). Rejections will
generally be done via email.
● Reply to the email kindly, stating that while you are disappointed, you are
thankful for the employer’s time and consideration. You may apply for the
company again--for the same position or a different one--in the future and you
want to leave a positive impression on them.

21. Complete the Reflection for Module 4:
“Interviewing Preparation and Practices”