{"id":545,"date":"2023-09-26T20:48:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T20:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/?page_id=545"},"modified":"2023-10-23T20:12:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T20:12:21","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-a-job-interview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/how-to-prepare-for-a-job-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for a Job Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-545\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-545-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-0-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><!--GOLD NAVIGATION-->\n\n<nav class=\"flex-nav gold-theme\">\n    <ul>\n\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/\"><i class=\"fas fa-home\"><\/i>&nbsp;Main Page<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/appointments\/\"><i class=\"fas fa-calendar-alt\"><\/i>&nbsp;Make an Appointment<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.smcm.edu\/directory\/careercenter\"><i class=\"fas fa-users\"><\/i>&nbsp;Meet the Team<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7381_52847939612_o-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>QUICK<\/b> LINKS\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-1-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><h2><a href=\"#what_is\"><b>What is a job interview?<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"#how_to_get\"><b>How do I get a job interview?<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"#prep\"><b>How do I prepare for a job interview?<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"#unexpected\"><b>Tips for navigating unexpected situations<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"#helpful_tips\"><b>Additional helpful tips<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-2-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><section id=\"what_is\"><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>WHAT IS<\/b> A JOB INTERVIEW?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-3-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A job interview is a conversation between you and a potential employer. During the interview, the employer will review your qualifications and determine whether you would be a good fit for the company\/business\/industry. The interview is also a great opportunity for you to learn more about the position and determine if the role is right for you. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-3-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-3-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Bryan-Ruiz-Lopez-24-e1629143374934-cropped.jpg\" width=\"1200\" height=\"928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Bryan-Ruiz-Lopez-24-e1629143374934-cropped.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Bryan-Ruiz-Lopez-24-e1629143374934-cropped-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Bryan-Ruiz-Lopez-24-e1629143374934-cropped-1024x792.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Bryan-Ruiz-Lopez-24-e1629143374934-cropped-768x594.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-4-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><section id=\"how_to_get\"><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-5\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-5-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-5-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"9\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-1024x815.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-768x611.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-1536x1222.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7122_52848916380_o-Edit-copy-2-2048x1629.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-5-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-5-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"10\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>HOW DO I GET<\/b> A JOB INTERVIEW?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-5-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"11\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Making connections in your industry of interest is a great way to get your foot in the door.\u00a0 People hire people, so always remember to put your best foot forward when building new connections. You never know who might be able to connect you with your dream job!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scheduling an informational interview with a professional from your field of interest can help you develop connections with contacts who work in the field, and help you determine your career readiness. Informational interviews are considered job research, so never go into one expecting a job offer. Making connections with professionals in your field of interest could help you later on when applying for jobs in the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another way to increase your chances of getting a job interview is to tailor your resume and cover letter to your specific company\/business of interest. Take time to customize both your resume and cover letter for the position. Creating a resume that responds to the job listing\u2019s requirements allows the hiring team to identify your strengths and determine how well they meet the organization\u2019s needs. A well written cover letter shows employers you are very interested and serious about the position. See our article <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cTips on Professional Documents\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> under the resume review section on our website for more help crafting your resume or cover letter. If you need additional help, you can visit the Center for Career &amp; Professional Development at Glendenning Hall 210, email us at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:careercenter@smcm.edu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">careercenter@smcm.edu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, or call us at (240)-895-4203.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-6\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-6-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-6-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"12\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><section id=\"prep\"><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-7\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-7-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-7-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"13\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHOW DO I <b>PREPARE FOR<\/b> A JOB INTERVIEW?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-7-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"14\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are 8 steps you can take to get ready for your job interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Research the company and role<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Learn as much as you can about the role and the company. A simple Google search is the perfect way to get started.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Talk to people in your network to find current and previous employees.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Read current news releases related to your industry to learn more about the company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Go beyond the company website for information. Reading the company website is important, but it should not be the only place you gather information from. By looking at multiple sources, you\u2019ll get a broader picture of the company and be ready to talk about why you\u2019d like to work there and what you bring to the table.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Read the job description carefully and make sure that you understand all the requirements and responsibilities that go along with it. This will prepare you to tackle the responsibilities if you get the job.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Check the company\u2019s social media accounts for clues about the company culture and industry. This can give you an impression of the tone and personality of the company, as well as what they value. It\u2019s important that you align with the company\u2019s culture and values, so make sure they\u2019re a good fit for you.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-7-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-7-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"15\" ><div class=\"so-rounded panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-545-7-1-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2.jpg\" width=\"1919\" height=\"2195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2.jpg 1919w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2-262x300.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2-895x1024.jpg 895w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2-768x878.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2-1343x1536.jpg 1343w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/04\/52100090527_333905c8d0_o-2-1790x2048.jpg 1790w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1919px) 100vw, 1919px\" alt=\"Photo of four smiling students on the campus of St. Mary&#039;s College of Maryland looking at an internship posting on a mobile phone\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-8\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-8-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-8-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"16\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><h3><b>2. Prepare for common interview questions<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Familiarize yourself with common interview questions, but don\u2019t prepare by writing out your entire answer.\u00a0 Instead, write down a few ideas and practice them aloud. You can work with a friend, a pet, or stand in the mirror to get more practice. This prep work will help you clarify your thoughts and make you\u00a0 more comfortable during the interview.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consider creating an elevator pitch that quickly describes who you are, what you do and what you want.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Specific questions to prepare for<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Talk to people in the industry. Schedule an informational interview with someone in the field to learn more about the job or company. You can use LinkedIn\u2019s alumni tool to reach out to St. Mary\u2019s students who work in your field of interest. Most of them would be happy to talk with you!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*Pro Tip: You can use ChatGPT or other generative AI tools to help you prepare for possible interview questions. Just copy and paste your job description and ask the smart chat bot to analyze the posting for 10 keywords and produce related questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>General questions to prepare for<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tell me about yourself.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How did you hear about this position?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why do you want to work for this company\/business\/industry?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What can you bring to the company?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are your greatest strengths?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What do you consider to be your weaknesses?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is your greatest professional achievement?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How do you deal with the pressure of stressful situations?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do you prefer working independently or on a team?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When you\u2019re balancing multiple projects, how do you keep yourself organized?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are your salary expectations?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tell me about a challenge or conflict you\u2019ve faced at work and how you dealt with it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do you have any questions for us?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>3. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the end of the interview, they will almost certainly ask, &#8220;What questions do you have for us?&#8221; If you have no questions, it may seem like you don&#8217;t care. Take time before the interview to prepare several questions for your interviewer(s) that show you\u2019ve researched the company and are well-versed about the position.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aim to ask 1\u20133 questions at the end of the interview. If you have further questions, you can follow up with the hiring manager via email. Below are examples of questions you can ask.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Job-specific questions<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is the most important thing I should accomplish in the first 90 days?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Could you tell me about the team I\u2019ll be working with?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Questions about the team<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are the biggest challenges that I might face in this position?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Who will I work with most closely? What other departments or units will I interact with?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Questions for your potential boss<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is your favorite part of working here?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are the current goals that the company is focused on, and how does this team work to support hitting those goals?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Questions about the company<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How would you describe the company\u2019s values?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What are the company\u2019s plans for growth and development?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Work culture<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What do new employees typically find surprising after they start?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Is there anything that I should read before starting that would help me have a shared understanding with my colleagues?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Questions for professional development<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What learning and development opportunities will I have in this role?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Are there examples of a career path beginning with this position?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Closing questions<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Is there anything I can clarify for you about my qualifications?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>4. Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Knowing what you\u2019re good at and what areas you need to improve in is important to know before an interview. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses ahead of time can help you prepare for questions that may occur during your interview regarding these things. You can always spin your weaknesses in a positive light by viewing them as a learning opportunity. No person is perfect, so acknowledge your weaknesses and highlight your strengths!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>5. Plan your attire ahead of time<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You want to put your best foot forward during the interview, so be sure that your outfit is cleaned, ironed or steamed, and tailored, if needed. Check for loose hems, and make sure your fingernails look neat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Research the company attire ahead of time so you can match the requirements. Knowing whether to dress in professional attire or business casual can help you stand out during the interview.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>6. Prepare a reference list<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For each reference, include a name, title, organization, division or department, telephone number, and email address, as well as a sentence briefly explaining the relationship.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having hard copies for your interviewers shows that you are well prepared and organized.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep your references on file in case employers ask for a digital copy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>7. Print hard copies of your resume<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Preparing copies to present to multiple interviewers shows that you are well organized. Plan to have at least three copies to provide for multiple interviewers, plus one for yourself to follow along.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>8. Follow up after the interview with a thank you letter<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be sure to follow up with the employer after the interview. This reminds the employer of your conversation, shows them you are genuinely interested in the position, and gives you the opportunity to say any final points you forgot to mention. See Indeed\u2019s step by step guidelines below for help writing a follow up letter.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>How to write a follow up letter<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the first paragraph, mention the specific job title and thank your interviewer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the second paragraph, note the company\u2019s name as well as a conversation point and\/or goal that seemed especially important to the person you spoke with. Connect that point to your experience and interests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the final paragraph, invite them to ask you any additional questions and close by saying you\u2019re looking forward to hearing back.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-9\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-9-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-9-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"17\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><section id=\"unexpected\"><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-10\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-10-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-10-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"18\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/ea9q7373_52848974618_o-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-10-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-10-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"19\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTIPS FOR NAVIGATING <b>UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS<\/b>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-10-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"20\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><b>Inappropriate behavior<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If your contact makes impolite comments, engages in inappropriate behavior, or makes you feel uncomfortable, thank them for their time and end the interview early. Trust your instincts. Your safety is more important than completing the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Unexpected interview questions<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You have a few options for tackling this issue. First, take a deep breath and relax. If you don\u2019t understand the question being asked, ask for clarification. The interviewer may be able to rephrase the question in a way you better understand. Asking for clarification encourages your interviewer to be more specific, which can help guide you in formulating your response. If you\u2019re still having trouble, try recalling past experiences that may relate to the question. Relating the question to a real-life example could also provide the interviewer with a better idea of who you are as a person.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-11\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-11-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-11-0-0\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"21\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><section id=\"helpful_tips\"><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-12\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-12-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-12-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"22\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tADDITIONAL <b>HELPFUL TIPS<\/b>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-12-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"23\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><h1><b>Additional helpful tips<\/b><\/h1>\n<h3><b>Schedule a mock interview with someone you trust<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Practice makes perfect! Ask a friend or family member to help you prepare for your interview. Focus on practicing answers to questions and conveying confident body language.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Save the interview contact information<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have questions before or after the interview, you\u2019ll want to be able to contact your interview coordinator. Be sure to get their information.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sometimes situations out of your control can cause you to be late. If you know you&#8217;ll be a little late, call your interview coordinator and let them know ahead of time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Allot plenty of time to arrive to the interview<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Figure out where you\u2019re going and how you\u2019re going to get there. Plan ahead for unexpected situations and how you will handle them. Be sure to lay out your clothes and pack your bag the night before to save you time.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Focus on your professional skills and experience<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Promote yourself as the qualified person you are! Focus on your strengths and past experiences that have prepared you for this position. Be prepared to give examples.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Prepare stories for behavioral questions<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most interviewers will ask a few questions about how you\u2019ve acted or would act in certain situations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Make sure your story is well structured and the takeaway is clear. Aim to give your interviewer all the context they need to understand what happened while still answering the question clearly and concisely.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Familiarize yourself with the CAR method:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">C<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>ontext:<\/strong> Briefly give background information about the scenario to set the scene for the interviewer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">A<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>ction:<\/strong> Discuss what you did and why.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">R<\/span>esult:<\/strong> Tell your interviewer about the outcome and what you learned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Find out how the interview will be conducted<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Knowing the format of the interview can help you be prepared and calm your nerves. Ask the interviewer whether your meeting will be 1:1, in a group setting, virtual, etcetera.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re doing a remote interview, you\u2019re responsible for your environment. Make sure that you\u2019re in a quiet place without distractions and that everything you need is in front of you before the interview starts. Choose a plain or non-distracting background free of clutter and be sure the area is well lit ahead of time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-12-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-12-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"24\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1.jpg\" width=\"1852\" height=\"2561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1.jpg 1852w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1-741x1024.jpg 741w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1-768x1062.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1-1111x1536.jpg 1111w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/09\/Alyssa-Hawkins-scaled-e1629143338457-1-1481x2048.jpg 1481w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1852px) 100vw, 1852px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-545-13\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-545-13-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-13-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"25\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-1536x936.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/133\/2023\/07\/MG_8149-Edit-2b-2048x1248.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" title=\"Staff and interns of the Center for Career &amp; Professional Development\" alt=\"Staff and interns of the Center for Career &amp; Professional Development\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-545-13-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-545-13-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"26\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-eefec6966851-545 so-widget-fittext-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t data-fit-text-compressor=\"0.85\"\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNEED <b>MORE HELP<\/b>?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-545-13-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text\" data-index=\"27\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p>We want to help you prepare for the future! Whether you are a St. Mary\u2019s College student or alum, you can meet with our team in person, online, or by phone for help with your graduate school preparation and application\u2014or any other career preparation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"panel-545-13-1-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"28\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-d8dd834f56c7-545\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-center\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/appointments\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sowb-button ow-icon-placement-left ow-button-hover\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<i class=\"fas fa-calendar-alt\"><\/i>&nbsp; Make an appointment\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a job interview? How do I get a job interview? How do I prepare for a job interview? Tips for navigating unexpected situations Additional helpful tips<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-545","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=545"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":559,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/545\/revisions\/559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/center-for-career-and-professional-development\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}