Interviewing

A job interview allows both the interviewer and the interviewee to meet, with the goal of determining a good fit for the role. The interviewer or hiring team will want to get to know you and learn more about the qualifications and experiences you shared in your resume and cover letter. But remember, the interview isn’t just for them—it’s also a valuable opportunity for you to learn more about the role, the company, and the team. It’s your chance to expand on your experiences, share what you hope to contribute if hired, and most importantly, connect your skills and background directly to the responsibilities and goals of the position. Tailoring your responses to show how your past experiences align with what they’re looking for can help you stand out as a strong and thoughtful candidate. 

Interview Types

Interviews can come in many different forms. Depending on the role, you may be asked to do a combination of interview types within one or multiple interviews. It is likely that you will know which type of interview you will be doing ahead of time. Therefore, it is imperative that you practice getting comfortable with how you will be interviewing. 

If you are asked to do a screening interview, there will be a quick discussion with an employer so they can learn more about your personality and intentions for the role. This is conducted before you have an official interview.  

A virtual interview is when you are asked to join a video call on platforms, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Skype. We have resources that you can take advantage of to practice virtual interviewing, such as Big Interview. Big Interview is an interviewing tool that will provide real-time feedback, and it is free for UC students using your 6+2 login.  

An in-person interview is when you are invited to a specific location (generally the location you will be working in).

A technical or case study interview is when a problem will be presented to you, and you will discuss and/or present how you would handle the situation.  

A phone interview is when the interviewer calls your resume listed phone number to interview you. 

A panel/committee interview occurs when there is a hiring team involved. Rather than one person, there will be multiple people interviewing you. Generally, these are individuals you will be working with or have a certain degree of stake in the position. 

There are instances where you’ll be asked to do a presentation so that the employer or hiring committee can learn more about you, specifically how you make decisions, your work ethic, ideas and more. Unlike traditional interview scenarios, employers choose to have their candidates present on a topic pertaining to the job description or role.

A group interview is when you will be interviewed with other candidates at the same time.

Preparing for Your Interview

  • Research the company

  • Understand their mission statement and key business practices

  • Look for recent news and/or posts on their social media channels

  • If publicly traded, research recent earning reports

  • Develop questions for the company that demonstrate that you have done this research

Analyze the job description and identify the key skills needed. Consider using AI to help you with this part!

  • Reflect on your own experiences and how they relate to this position

  • Develop stories using the STAR framework to highlight the key skills

  • Schedule a mock interview with Career Services

  • Use AI to help

  • Paste job description and use AI to help identify potential interview questions that may be asked

  • Ask AI to help you construct a response (using the STAR framework) to answer a specific question. Paste your experiences from your resume to get more relevant responses.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about resume development, schedule an appointment with your Career Advisor on My Bearcat Network!  

Fall and Spring Semester Hours   

During the academic year, Lindner Career Services is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.   

  

Drop-in Hours   

Drop-in peer career coaching is available Monday through Friday from 1-4 p.m. in Lindner Hall, Suite 1420 during the fall and spring semesters.   

Please contact your assigned Career Advisor for their specific drop-in hours.