INTERVIEW QUESTION AND ANSWERS

What are your salary expectations? If you are asked this question during an interview, assume that the employer is deciding whether or not they can afford you, or wondering if you will undersell yourself. Research location-appropriate industry salaries. See “Offers & Negotiations,” p. 37, so you can quote your findings and say, “I’m comfortable with a salary that’s in this range.” If the interviewer persists, make sure that they name a figure first. You can do this by saying, “I’m sure you have a range in mind. What are you willing to offer?”

Tell me about yourself - 1st question in an interview This commonly asked question seems so broad. Keep in mind your audience and purpose. Keep your comments focused on information that will help the employer determine your qualifications and/or interest in the position. This can include what you have gained from your education and/or experiences, your future career aspirations, and your enthusiasm for beginning a job in your field of interest.

Case and technical questions are especially common in business fields such as finance, consulting, and accounting, as well as in engineering, physical science, and computer science fields. Technical questions ask about discipline-specific knowledge; they may be related to concepts that you learned from your coursework, industry knowledge (e.g., familiarity with financial markets), or specific skills (e.g., programming languages). Because both technical and case questions can vary so widely from one setting to the next, the best approach to effectively prepare for them is not to "learn" a particular set of interview questions and then hope that your interviewers ask you them. Instead, aim to get really good at answering strategy-based questions you've never seen before. This can be attained through lots of PRACTICE. Explore our “Case Interview Resources” on the Career Center website for further tips and tools. A general principle that applies to case questions, howev

Initiative • Provide an example of when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty to get a job done. • Tell me about a project you initiated. Creativity/Innovation  • Describe a time when you provided a creative solution to a problem. • What is the most creative thing you have done? Flexibility • Describe a situation in which you overcame a “personality conflict” in order to get results. • Describe a time where you were faced with issues that tested your coping skills. • Describe a time when you received constructive criticism.

The following are the most popular Decision-making related interview questions • Provide an example of when you had to make a difficult decision. How did you approach it? What kinds of criteria did you use? • Describe a time when you had to defend your decision. • Summarize a situation where you had to locate relevant information, define key issues, and determine the steps to get a desired result.

The following are the most popular Communication Skills related interview questions • Tell me about a time when you had to present complex information. How did you get your point across? • Describe a time when you used persuasion to convince someone to see things your way. • Tell me about a time when you used written communication skills to convey an important point.

The following are the most popular Planning & Organization related interview questions • Tell me about an important goal of yours. How did you reach it? • Describe a situation when you had many assignments or projects due at the same time. What steps did you take to finish them? • Provide an example of what you’ve done when your time schedule or plan was upset by unforeseen circumstances.

The following are the most popular Leadership related interview questions • Tell me about a time when you influenced the outcome of a project by taking a leadership role. • Describe your leadership style and provide an example of a situation where you successfully led a group. • Provide an example that demonstrates your ability to motivate others.

The following are the most popular interpersonal skills related interview questions • When working on a team project, have you ever dealt with a strong disagreement among team members or a team member who didn’t do their part? What did you do? • Tell me about the most difficult or frustrating individual that you’ve ever had to work with and how you approached the situation. • Tell me about a time when you had to be assertive.

 Straightforward questions about your experience, background, and personal qualities • Tell me about yourself. • Why are you interested in this position/industry/organization? (What do you know about us?) • Why should we hire you? (What can you offer us?) • Describe your ideal job. • What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? • Tell me about an accomplishment that you are proud of. • What have you learned from your failures? • What motivates you to do good work? • How do you prefer to be supervised? • How would a former supervisor describe you? How about your friends? • Why did you decide to attend UC Berkeley? • Why did you choose your major? • Which classes did you enjoy most/least and why? • What do you see yourself doing in five years? • Do you plan to return to school for further education? • What other positions are you interviewing for?

The sample Thank you letter after attending an interview is given below Dear Mr. Fayaz Kamauluddin Thank you for the opportunity to spend last Thursday at your manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale. The discussion we had was very informative, and I really enjoyed the tour of your plant and the informal conversation with your engineering staff. I was impressed with the effective manner in which Consolidated Engineering has adapted the management-by-objective system to their technical operations. This philosophy aligns well with my interests and training. The entire experience has confirmed my interest in joining the team at Consolidated Engineering, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Mr. Shekar Shetty

After the Interview: • Within two days of the interview, send a thank-you note/email to the person in charge of the interview process with copies to the others involved. Mention what you appreciated from the day’s activities and reiterate your interest in the position and the organization. • A week after sending the thank-you, you may contact the employer to show your continued interest and ask if there is any additional information you can provide. • If the employer does not respond within the expected time frame, you may phone or email the person who interviewed you to ask about your status.

What to Wear to Interviews? How you should dress will vary somewhat depending on the industry and specific company culture, but it's better to dress up than to be too casual. • Unless otherwise directed, dress conservatively. Men should wear a dark suit and conservative tie. Women should wear a dark suit. Avoid miniskirts, trendy outfits, or loud colors. • Make sure your clothes are cleaned and pressed. • Wear dark polished conservative shoes with closed toe and heel. Men should wear long, dark socks and women should wear dark or nude colored nylons or trouser socks. • Minimize jewelry, makeup and fragrance. Women should wear no more than one pair of small earrings. Men and women should wear no additional body piercings. • Style your hair neatly and keep it off your face. • Search the Career Center website for “Interview Attire” to see samples of appropriate attire. 

At the time of Interview: • Turn off your cell phone, and do not chew gum. • Be respectful to everyone. Job offers have been denied based on how applicants have treated administrative staff. • Build rapport in the first 5 seconds. When your interviewer comes into the waiting room and calls your name, walk toward that person with confidence, make eye contact, extend your hand for a handshake, and say, “Hello, I’m (insert your name here).” This should help set the tone for a successful interview. • Do not put your belongings on the interview desk. • If a panel interview is part of the second-round interview, be sure to maintain eye contact with everyone on the panel as you answer questions. • Be prepared to answer the same question several times since you will probably meet with several people over the course of the day. Stay enthusiastic and consistent in your responses.

Before the Interview: • Confirm the date, time, location, and name of the person you should ask for when you arrive. • Allow plenty of time to get to the interview site and arrive at least 10 minutes early. • Make any necessary travel arrangements. If traveling out of the area, ask whether the company will make reservations for you. • Keep any receipts. Some medium and large sized companies may help with expenses. • Try to find out in advance what the agenda will be and with whom you will be interviewing. • Have ready extra copies of your resume, transcripts, references, and all employer forms that you have been asked to complete. • Come up with at least five questions to ask the employer; see p. 36 for sample questions. • Alert references that they may be contacted.

Preparing for a Second Round Interview Getting a second round interview means you are being considered seriously for a position. The employer will have a chance to gain a more complete picture of what you offer. They will also see how well you fit in with the company culture and with other team members. Begin preparing by reviewing how you did in your first interview. Which aspects did you handle well, and which did you struggle with? Use this information to plan what you will continue to do and what you will try to improve in the second one. Also, gather new information you can bring into the second interview by continuing to research the company and industry. If you haven’t done so yet, consider setting up informational interviews (see p. 2) with staff members who aren’t on the hiring committee. You may have the best luck if you can find alumni working at the company.

Preparing for a Phone or Video Interview In a screening interview, an employer is generally looking for clear interest, a positive attitude, solid communication skills, and evidence that your qualifications and experience make you a good fit for the position. General Tips: • Schedule the interview for when you can give 100 percent of your attention and take the call in a quiet place with good reception/wifi. • Be prepared with lists of points you want to make, your skills and accomplishments with specific examples, and questions to ask. • Keep a copy of your resume and the position description nearby. • Have your calendar available in case you need to set up another interview. • Listen actively and avoid interrupting the interviewer; ask for clarification if you need it, and think out your responses before answering. • Speak clearly and slowly enough so that the interviewer can understand you without difficulty. • Project enthusiasm in your voice to show you are excited abo