Get Ready for Your Interview

Preparing Stories and Your Interview Setting

Before the Interview

Research as much as you can

• Learn what matters most to them using their website, news, social media or blog

• Learn about the employer's products and services

• Learn about the team you are applying to and explain it in your own words

• Practice explaining the job in your own words - make sure you research any parts of the job description that you don't understand

• Ask a classmate about a recent technical interview experience

• Continue networking with employees -- you can use LinkedIn's alumni insights

• Read the interview pages (pg 18-21) in our Career Handbook

• Create your list of questions for them incorporating what you've learned

 

Anticipate questions

• Create a list of employer/job specific questions you expect from them, and organize your response in bullets

• Practice answering the "tell me about yourself" and "why work here" questions

• Prepare by using the behavioral practice questions in the Career Handbook or Big Interview

• Brush up on CS 187 (data structures) knowledge and practice following the step-by-step approach from the Programming Interviews Exposed book

• Read the Technical Interviewing info sheet and consider getting the Crack The Coding Interview book to begin practicing

• Check out some of the resources on the Tech Interview info sheet including LeetCode

• Practice tech interviewing with a classmate

• Prepare 3-4 of your favorite professional stories to respond to a variety of open-ended questions

• Make a list of keywords that you might want to incorporate into your responses (e.g., small teams)

 

Prepare for your interview

• (In-Person) Print out several copies of your resume for yourself and to share with any interviewers who request it

• Watch or listen to something before the phone interview to get your happy and relaxed

• (In-Person) Print the full job description to reference during the interview

• Prepare your anticipated questions and answers for them

 

Virtual Interviews

Set the scene

• If you will be on camera, test your camera and microphone

• Check lighting is bright: face towards a window with sunlight for best results

• Check sound is clear: find a quiet, disruption-free place

• Check video background: remove any distractions or items you may not want shown to your interviewer

• If on camera, position your camera so it is level with your eyes

 

Preventing technical difficulties

• Make sure your internet connection is stable

• Test your computer's camera and microphone

• Make sure the interviewing website or application has camera and microphone access

• If using an interviewing website, make sure your web browser has camera and microphone access

• Check your interviewing site's minimum browser requirements

 

During the Interview

Round 1

• For phone screens and video calls, be sure you are in a quiet setting where you will not be disrupted or have technical issues

• Use the STAR method to structure your responses to behavioral interview questions

• Ask about next steps at the end so you are clear on when and how you can follow up

 

Round 2

• For final rounds of interview which are typically in-person, give yourself plenty of time to deal with the unexpected

• Just be kind -- if you get nervous remember that being friendly and kind can make up small "mistakes"

• Ask about next steps at the end so you are clear on when and how you can follow up

 

Dress code

• Ask around for advice on what to wear and aim to be slightly more dressed up than the typical employee

• Traditional interview dress includes: ironed (ideally tailored) suit with button down shirt, nice dress shoes

• Also consider: Ties with classic patterns and colors, plain simple jewelry, neutral nail polish

• Feel free to show your own personality and style

 

After the Interview

Say thank you!

• Be sure to send a thank you note afterwards -- try to get the interviewers email or use LinkedIn, and reference your notes from the interview to provide memorable details

• Ask CICS Careers to review your thank you note draft before sending to the employer to get it just right

 

Learn for next time

• Take notes about what you learned and where you can improve for future interviews

 

Unwind

• Reward yourself! Interviews can be mentally and emotionally exhausting so do something you enjoy to celebrate making it to the final round of the selection process