Job & Internship Toolkit ➜ Interview

Interview Preparation

On-Campus Interviews: How Can I Participate?

Full-time undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program in Viterbi and have completed the OCI Contract are eligible to participate. Alumni are not eligible. An exception is made for December graduates who are able to participate during the Spring semester following their graduation.

Submit an OCR Contract.

Meet with a career counselor or internship advisor for help with your resume or cover letter during drop-in hours.

Make sure that your profile is up-to-date and accurate. Falsifying information will result in account suspension.

Upload your resume into Gateway under the “Documents” tab. You can also upload other employment-related documents, such as cover letters and unofficial transcripts. The system allows up to 50 documents. Be sure to select an appropriate “Default” resume.

Go to “Jobs and Internships” –> “Advanced Search” –> “Show Me” and select one of the following:

Interviews I Qualify For: This search will only display qualified interview schedules.
All Interviews: This search will display all OCR opportunities, both qualifying and non-qualifying.
Screening Criteria: Provides information on the desired applicant type, major(s), graduation dates, and work authorization for the position. Applicant type refers to the status of your OCR Contract.

Check this section often as new schedules will become available throughout the semester.

NOTE: Organizations that have selected both, “Yes, now or in the future may require visa sponsorship” and “No, does not need visa sponsorship” accept applications from those that now or in the future may require visa sponsorship.

Review the “How to Apply” section for additional application instructions, such as applying through a company website or instructions on submitting documents.
Submit an application by clicking “Apply.” You will then be directed to submit the required files from your “Documents.”
Applicants that do not qualify for a position, but have the desired skills/experience listed in the job description, are encouraged to email the contact listed in the schedule a brief introduction along with a resume and cover letter. If the recruiter is interested in adding the applicant to the schedule they will contact the Career Connections Office.
To update a previously submitted document go to “Jobs and Internships” –> “My OCR Applications” –> select the three dots on the right next to the position and select “Withdraw.”

NOTE: Applications can only be withdrawn during the resume submission period.

Applicants will be notified of one of the following statuses under the “Interviews” tab:

Preselect: Selected for an interview and must sign up during the preselection sign-up period and before the alternate sign-up date to guarantee an interview time slot.

Alternate: Selected as a backup and is not guaranteed an interview time slot. Alternates can only sign up during the alternate sign-up period.

Not Invited: Unfortunately, you have not been selected for an interview.

Schedule an Interview: Go to “Schedule Interview” and select an available time slot that fits your schedule.
Decline an Interview: Go to “Decline Interview” to notify the employer that you are no longer interested in interviewing for this position. This will allow another student to sign up for the available time slot.
Cancel an Interview: Go to “Unschedule Interview.” Cancellations received after the cancellation deadline will be marked as a no-show and access to OCR/Gatewat will be removed.

NOTE: For more information review the Cancellation and No-Show Policies.

Preparing For Your Interview

Familiarize yourself with the On-Campus Recruiting Agreement/Guidelines for students and employers.
Attend a Trojan Talk (AKA information session) to learn more about a company and meet some of their key employees.
Learn the difference between behavioral and technical interviews.
Utilize the mock interview platform, Big Interview, or practice answering sample interview questions.
Prepare your 30-second elevator pitch.
Learn how interviews are scored.
Take another look at the job description to refresh your memory of the exact nature of the job.
Review the company website, read current news articles about the company or industry, or review LinkedIn or Glassdoor.
Conduct informational interviews to find out more about the company before your interview. Have a virtual meeting between you and someone who can provide you with more information on your field, career, or industry of interest. Learn how to conduct an informational interview
Review your job application materials (e.g. resume, cover letter...)

Prepare Questions to Ask the Interviewer

1. Does your organization have any affinity groups or committees to support diverse populations? If so, how do these groups contribute to the culture of the organization?

2. What social causes does your organization support?

3. What are you looking for in your ideal candidate?

4. How would you describe the company's culture?

5. What are the biggest challenges the company is facing right now?

6. What do you like most about working at this company?

7. What kinds of professional development opportunities are offered?

Questions to AVOID asking:

1. What does the company do?

2. How much will I make in this job?

Note

Review behavioral questions commonly asked during interviews. Apply the STAR method to responses.

S - situation: describe the context

T - task: explain your responsibilities

A - action: demonstrate how you responded or took charge

R - result: explain the results

More guidance on questions to ask, provided here.

Dress to Impress: Professional clothing shows you are serious about the position as well as puts you in the right mindset for the interview.

Bring copies of your resume, a notebook, and pen: Bring at least five copies of your resume. Write down information so you can refer to these details later in your follow-up communication.

Plan ahead so that you arrive 15-20 minutes early: Map out your route ahead of time. If taking public transportation, come up with an alternative plan should something so wrong.

Practice good manners and body language: Treat everyone you encounter with respect, including all office staff. You never know, the hiring manager may ask for their opinion. Practice confident body language including smiling and looking people in the eye.

Tie your answers back to your skills and accomplishments: With any question you answer, it is important that you tie your background to the job by providing examples of solutions and results you’ve achieved. Use every opportunity to address the requirements listed in the job description.

Keep your answers concise and focused: Preparing for your interview ahead of time will allow you to think about your response and ensure you keep it short and simple.

Win them over with your authenticity and positivity: Being genuine during interview conversations can help employers easily relate to you. Showing positivity with a smile and upbeat body language can help keep the interview light and constructive.

For more tips, check out these resources: Interview Types, 21 Job Interview Tips, How to Succeed in a Virtual Interview, 9 Tips for Mastering your Next Virtual Interview

Congratulations you’ve got a job offer! Now what?

Ask about next steps

This will likely be a follow-up email with results from your interview, additional requirements like an assignment or reference list or another interview.

Acknowledge the interviewer's time

Send a personalized thank you note to your interviewer.

Evaluating job offers

It may be a good idea to start thinking about evaluating the job opportunity in case you are extended an offer. Below are a few tips to get you started.

Evaluate the company's financial standing
Look up the corporate culture
Research your position
Where is the position located- research the area
It's normal to negotiate- negotiations are a conversation, not a confrontation.

Evaluating & Negotiating Job Offers Resources

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Published on December 23rd, 2019

Last updated on March 4th, 2022