Preparing for a Job Interview

Getting a job is hard, especially in today’s tough economy. However, there are steps that you can take to give yourself a better chance to get a job. One important step is to prepare yourself well for job interviews. To learn more about how you can be ready for interviews, Proyecto Visión spoke with Owen Hershey, Berkeley Workforce Services Manager at Rubicon Programs in Berkeley, California, an agency that provides career counseling and workforce training for job-seekers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As both a counselor for job-seekers and a manager who has to interview potential employees, Mr. Hershey has extensive experience with this process from both sides. He stresses that employers don’t have a lot of information about the people they are interviewing, just their resumes, short cover letters, and references. This means that during the interview they hope to get a glimpse of the person they could be hiring, especially that person’s honesty, morals, and professionalism, things that are not easily conveyed on paper.

People trying to get a job need to realize that those values are common threads throughout the interview, no matter what the question. That said, people also need to understand that employers have specific questions they use in order to gain additional insights about the abilities of the person they are interviewing.

That is why Mr. Hershey told us about five questions commonly asked during interviews and gave advice about how you can be ready to answer them:

1. Why should we hire you?

This question, sometimes phrased in other terms like “Why are you a good fit for our company?” or “Tell me about yourself,” really is your chance to provide specific examples of how your skills match the needs of the employer. In order to answer this question well, you need to research the company or organization you are interviewing with and learn the responsibilities of the position you are applying for. That way, you can give specific examples of why you would be a good choice for them. It is important to be specific, because that is what makes you stand out as a candidate.

2. Give me an example of when you used some specific skill at a prior job.

In this case, the question may be general, as it is here, or the interviewer may state a skill, such as creativity, multi-tasking, or something else. The key here is for you to give a concrete example of something you did at a previous job that shows you have a specific skill. You need to think in advance about things you have done so that you can make sure that your example is relevant or related to the job you are applying for.

3. Tell me about one of your weaknesses.

This is a tricky question. You need to answer this question honestly, but not talk about a weakness that will make you look bad. A good strategy is to show how you are dealing with this weakness. To simply deny having weaknesses or to say something that really isn’t a weakness, such as being “too much of a perfectionist,” will make you look dishonest. So, before your interview you should think carefully about a minor weakness that you have worked to improve.

4. What are the characteristics you are looking for in your next employer?

In this case, the company or organization wants you to talk about what you value in an employer. For example, you could discuss the field or industry you want to work in, the type of office atmosphere you desire, or even your approach to teamwork. Your answer should reflect your interests and values, while also showing that you would fit in well with this employer.

5. If you took this position, how would it fit in with your career path?

The employer wants a picture of your long-term ambitions and whether you want to continue working in this field. You should shape your answers to make employers believe that you have long-term potential and interest in staying at this company. While most people are not going to work at one company for their entire careers, employers want to hire people who will be interested in their work and will work hard.

You can read about more questions and ways to answer them at the career center Mr. Hershey works at, EastBay Works. In addition to preparing for these types of questions, Mr. Hershey also gave some general tips to keep in mind as you prepare for your interview:

• Research the employer extensively. This means reading their website so that you know what they do. It also means talking to people you know who work at the company or who work in the same field, so that you understand exactly the skills and needs that companies like this have. By being informed, you will stand out.

• Practice interviewing with a friend or career counselor.

• Take care of the little things. Have your travel to the place of the interview planned out, so that you can be a little bit early. Dress professionally, turn off your cell phone, don’t chew gum, don’t smoke just before the interview, bring a copy of your resume and references, etc. These little details are not things that by themselves will get you a job, but they are things that if you don’t do them could prevent you from getting a job.

• Follow up appropriately by sending a thank-you email or note after the interview.

The key is to always have a positive attitude, both during your preparation and during the interview, even when you are asked questions that seem negative. Click here for more information about how to prepare for your job interview.

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