Boston University - Office of Career Services - Interviewing

When does the interview start? If you answered “When you first meet the interviewer” you are almost right. Actually, you should think of the interview as beginning as soon as you are on, or within a block of, the company’s property.

You never know who will be passing in or out of the main doors, or driving in or out of the parking lot. You don’t want to cut off the boss. You will also likely encounter security guards and/or receptionists. These people can easily pass the word on a negative first impression or encounter. Receptionists and secretaries, in particular, will often be asked their impression of a candidate. Treat everyone with respect and courtesy, during the interview process as well as after you have the job.

Arrive at the interview site 10-15 minutes early. If you can, check your appearance in the rest-room mirror, and make any last-minute adjustments – straighten your tie, comb your hair, etc.

When you do first meet the interviewer, his or her impression of you will begin immediately.

Stand, shake hands, and make eye contact when greeting the interviewer. Generally the interviewer will escort you to a separate room where the interview will take place. The interviewer will try to put you at ease; his or her aim is not to make you uncomfortable. There might be some small-talk to open the conversation. At this point, be sure to give an extra copy of your resume to the interviewer(s). Point out if there are any changes you have made to it since you sent it in to them. (Don’t make cosmetic changes, make substantive changes only; for example, perhaps you have now completed a course you were previously in the middle of.)

When the interviewer does begin, be sure to answer questions directly. It’s OK to pause for a moment before answering, to gather your thoughts. One common mistake interviewees make is to talk too much. Another is to give abrupt answers that don’t help the conversation continue. Keep your answers conversational, and to the point.

These are just a few of the many questions you might encounter in an interview. If you want to prepare further by looking at more sample questions, go to the books and on-line resources that are available on this web-site, in our Career Library, or through bookstores or other libraries.

“Tell me about yourself.” This means “tell me about yourself as a professional.” Give a brief synopsis of your background, ending with a statement about your interest in the current position.
“Where do you see yourself in five years?” Even if you have no idea, think about it ahead of time so you can give an answer. Interviewers expect that people will have plans to move up in a profession, go back to school, etc. But they want to know that you have thought about it.
“What are your strengths, and what are your weaknesses?” These can be tough questions for someone who is caught off-guard, so think about some answers ahead of time. Find some strengths that you know would make you a great employee – you are organized, creative, whatever. Now you need to find some weaknesses – everybody has them. The best thing to do is find something that you can demonstrate that you are working to improve, such as “sometimes I can be a perfectionist, and it can slow me down a bit. But I recognize the problem and I’m working on it. I always pay attention to deadlines.”
“Describe your self as a leader.”
“Tell me about something you’ve accomplished that you’re proud of.”
“Tell me about a time when something you tried to do didn’t work out, and what you did about it.”
“How would your friends describe you.”

Potential employers cannot ask you about things that could potentially lead to discrimination in employment, such as:

whether or not you are married
your religion
your race
your age
your nationality (although they can ask you if you are authorized to work in the United States.)
a disability (although they can ask you if you would be able to perform certain specific job-related duties, such as “can you lift 50 lbs.”)

Interviewers will almost never knowingly ask an illegal question; if you get an illegal question, it might be due to interviewer inexperience. The best way to handle your answer is to pause, and without getting defensive, say something like “is that job-related?” Generally the interviewer will realize his or her error, and ask a different question.

Your turn to ask questions generally comes at the end of the interview. Have some ready. Questions show that you are interested in the job, that you have done your homework, that you have been paying attention, and that you bring with you a measure of curiosity. Think ahead of time about things you really want to know. The best questions are not artificial ones, but real ones; make sure, however, that the information has not already been covered in the course of the interview. It’s OK to write your questions down ahead of time, and refer to them at this point. Things you might ask about:

What are some of the projects I might be working on?
What is the work environment like? (If they have not already given you a tour.)
How many people would be in my immediate work group?
Is there a chance for professional development? Taking classes, etc?
What is a typical career path in the company?
How often are performance reviews given?
What is your time-frame for filling this job? What are the next steps?

Questions not to ask the interviewer (unless this is your final HR interview, or you have received an offer):

What is the salary?
How much vacation/sick time would I get?
I have vacation plans for two weeks in October – can I take those off? (to be asked only after you receive an offer).

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