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How to Prepare for Job Interviews
Before the
Interview
Preparing
well for your job interview is the best way to make a good impression and to
avoid anxiety that can weaken your presentation. Interviews come in many formats. They may be driven by the
interviewer's questions, or they may feel like a conversation you help to steer.
They may be with one person or with several. They
may be with supervisors, co-workers, or even with people you will serve. They may be in
person or by phone.
Be ready for any of these types.
Seven Key Stages of Preparation for the Interview
1. Obtain information about interviewers, itinerary, and format
if possible. Usually
some information about the interview will be given to you. If it is not, ask for it.
Ask also about receiving organizational literature. Even with small organizations, once you obtain names
of interviewers,
you will likely be able to find information about them using the web or
organizational literature. This
should increase your comfort level, help you remember names, and also help you
anticipate questions and central concerns. An itinerary is desirable if you will move between various
interviewers, especially since in such cases, interviewers frequently do not
think of little things you will have to attend to, such as making sure you get a
drink of water or a restroom break. Information about format is usually more difficult to get, but can
be quite valuable as you anticipate questions.
2. Know
the organization, position, and field.
If you have
landed an interview, you probably did some research prior to applying. Ideally, you also learned about the
field over time.
On the other hand, you may need to do some cramming; and, in any case, it
is advisable to do in-depth research prior to your interview, especially
concerning the organization and position. Include
all four of these elements:
- Learn as much as you can about the organization.
- Look closely at the position description.
Note specific skills and traits desired, as these should be at the heart
of your preparation. You may also learn about the position by looking closely at
the organization's website or annual report.
- Know something about the general field, especially
competitors, associate organizations, and clients. What are current trends and best practices? What are clients
looking for? Know as much as you can, but also consider posing these questions
during the interview.
- Do an internet search on this organization as well as its
director and/or the person that will be interviewing you.
3. Know yourself.
Think
through the following questions thoroughly, and commit responses to memory.
If you find yourself at a loss for words in response to some
unanticipated questions, fall back on these responses, as you will find them
very flexible.
- What are you very good at? (3 verbs)
- What are your areas of expertise? (2 or 3 areas)
- What are your most significant accomplishments? (3)
- What types of problems are you best at solving? (3 types)
- What qualities best describe you? (3 adjectives)
- What skills do you have? (These should be relevant to position.)
- What job title best describes what you can do best? (1)
- What are your professional weaknesses? (1)
- How do you handle or work on this weakness?
- Why did you go to divinity school?
4. Know what
makes you a good match.
During this stage, you should think very carefully
about how your answers to stage 3 meet your findings from stage 2. In your answers, be as specific as possible, both about yourself and
about the organization.
- What makes you a good fit for this position/organization?
- What qualities make you stand out as a candidate?
- How did divinity school prepare you for this type of
position?
- How did your other experiences/education prepare you for
this position?
- How will you address any skills the job requires but that
you do not currently have?
5. Know
additional information that you want to gain during the interview. The interview
focuses largely on you, but should be a conversation. You are considering the organization as well.
Good questions say a lot about you. Here are some examples:
- Can you tell me more about your clients/customers/parishioners/etc.?
- What kinds of projects will the organization become involved with in coming years?
- What opportunities might become available as I gain more experience?
- What are some key issues the organization is facing currently?
6. Have all logistics worked out ahead of time. Double-check travel times, and have key phone numbers so you can call if there is a
problem. If possible, practice
getting there.
7. Anticipate questions and practice responding to them.
If you moved quickly over stages
3 or 4 of the interview preparation, go back because good answers to those
questions will focus your response to almost all others, and they will be
flexible enough to meet most questions you do not anticipate. Practice responses to these additional common questions.
Keep answers fairly short, even if questions are very open-ended.
- Tell me about yourself.
Avoid a long narrative.
Use some personal history, but not too much. Focus on key skills, strengths, traits, professional values, and achievements.
- Why do you want to work for our organization?
Be careful of questions that set
you up to focus on your own wants. Focus on the match between you and the organization, not on what you will get out of
it exclusively.
- Why should we hire you?
Discuss core requirements and desirable traits of candidates, but give considerable attention to
qualifications that likely set you apart from other candidates.
- How long would you stay with us?
Try to answer in terms of what is
necessary to keep you there instead of time commitments. E.g.: "I would stay as long as this position is sufficiently challenging
to me. I would also be interested
in new challenges with the organization down the road."
- You seem a bit overqualified for this position . . .
The questioner is probably worried you will not stay long.
Do not lie about this even if only because your next employer may contact this one.
Instead, consider focusing on your interest in the organization more than the particular position.
-
What have you been criticized for?
You may also be asked about weaknesses.
Name one or two specific things that you have overcome.
-
What are your strengths?
Name three related directly to the position.
-
What do you think is most important to or challenging about this type of work?
You will need to have thought about this and personalized it.
-
What key trends do you see in this field?
Present two or three. Consider asking about the inquirer's perspective on this as well.
-
What do you know about our organization/clients/parishioners/etc.?
Be prepared to discuss this.
-
Do you have more copies of your résumé/CV?
Yes. (Make sure your copies are of the same version you sent.)
-
Why are you leaving your current job?
Focus on the job you are seeking and what it offers. Feel free to discuss limitations of your present position, but if you critique your current organization, be brief, discussing points of view or approaches rather than particular people or personalities.
-
What salary do you require?
(See the salary negotiation tip sheet of the HDS Career Guide.)
-
Are you a successful person?
Be able to state your own understanding of success and discuss how you have met it.
Be confident without seeming arrogant.
-
What are your long-range goals?
Relate these to the organization if possible.
-
What is your understanding of the responsibilities of the position?
Discuss your understanding. Then ask the inquirer to help inform you more fully.
-
What is your feeling about (an ethical issue)?
Anticipate relevant ones. Keep your responses related to the position, and do not turn
them into political or religious responses unless the organization is political or religious in nature, and it is
appropriate to do so.
The
Day of the Interview
- If you will have a phone interview, do not skip over this
list. Prepare largely as you would
for a regular interview. Also, as
you interview, look into a mirror and smile. This will help keep you sharp and friendly.
Also make sure to speak clearly, as it may be more difficult
for the interviewer to follow you.
- Take care of physical needs. Have a good meal that is not
too heavy. Consider taking a snack
and a bottle of water for times between meetings. If you have a practice—maybe exercise or meditation—that you use to
settle or focus your mind, consider incorporating it into your morning.
- Dress for your interview as though you were a well-dressed
employee there.
- Prepare for bad weather.
For example, consider taking a change of shoes.
- Take at least the following things: phone numbers in case there is a
problem and you need to call; copies of your résumé/CV and reference
information; a pen and small pad of paper; some cash; your personal calendar;
and the itinerary as applicable.
- Leave with plenty of time.
Arrive about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time.
- Be nice to everybody at the organization.
- Realize your nonverbal messages speak loudly. Shake hands
in a firm yet friendly manner, maintain eye contact and keep your posture
attentive and open. Control quirky
habits, such as rubbing your face as you speak, as these can be distracting.
- Listen carefully and answer the question that is asked, not
the one you anticipate.
- Don't be afraid to take a moment to consider your
answers, organizing your thoughts before you start speaking rather than talking
your way into an answer. If you are
at a loss for words, fall back on the statements you memorized about your best
qualities and strengths. Draw these
out to meet the question asked.
- Keep all answers brief, but thorough. Offer the inquirer a chance to follow up.
- Ask questions about the position, typical assignments, and
performance expectations. Also ask
informed questions about the organization. Do not ask about salary and benefits until a job offer is on the table.
- Ask about the timeline for a decision, which will be
helpful as you weigh options.
Follow-up
Send thank-you letters immediately. Use a professional format and friendly tone.
If possible, send a personalized letter to everyone with whom you
interviewed; if not, send one to the chair or point person. Include a few reminders of points that came up in the meeting, or if you
have something would like to add now. You
might also mention something you appreciated learning. Finally, remind the reader why you believe in the quality of the match
between you and the organization.
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