Job & Internship Toolkit ➜ Interview Types

This is generally the first round of the interview process, held by the recruiter. The questions asked are mainly about your past and current experiences.

Get back promptly

When a recruiter reaches out asking you for a phone call, make sure you respond within a few hours with a time to talk. Double check the time you select before confirming!

Do your homework

Working knowledge of the company and its current projects is likely to get you invited to the upcoming rounds.

Read the job description

Jot down the keywords to use from the job description when you talk to the interviewer. Keep it open for reference, along with your resume during the conversation.

Talk slowly and clearly

We tend to talk fast when speaking in a stressful situation, especially when you can't track a person's visual cues. Remind yourself to slow down.

Salary questions

Chances are, you might be asked about your salary expectations. Having a range in mind is always good but if you don't know yet, you don't have to respond with a specific number. You can first ask the interviewer what salary is generally offered for that role and respond accordingly. See Salary Resources Here

Prep questions for the interviewer

Ask them questions about the next steps if they haven't told you yet. Since it's a pre-screen interview, keep the questions more general and simple.

Dress to impress

Dress like you would for an in-person interview. Professional clothing shows you are serious about the position. It also puts you in the right mindset for the interview!

Keep your eyes on the prize

If you need to refer to some information for the interview, write it down on post-it-notes, and stick it by the camera lens of your screen so you continue to keep eye contact with your interviewer.

Test run your interview

Do a test run on the application you'll be using before the interview so you don't run into any installation or update issues.

Do a name-check

Ensure that your display name in the video application is professional.

Set your stage

Find a room with optimal lighting, preferably near a window, or a blank wall to guarantee you’re the focal point and have minimal distractions.

Silence is key

Let those you live with know that you need silence during this time. It is important not to distract yourself or your interviewer.

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

Plan your interview attire the night before: Professional clothing shows you are serious about the position as well as puts you in the right mindset for the interview. Ask the recruiter about the dress code. If you don't hear back, it is always better to dress-up than to dress down. Go with business professional attire.
Plan ahead so that you arrive 20-30 minutes early: Map out your route ahead of time. If taking public transportation, come up with an alternative plan should something so wrong.
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 your day in advance: Arrive at least 20 - 30 minutes before your interview in professional attire. Interviews are conducted at various locations. Review the “Interview Location” section of the schedule for details before the interview day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thank your interviewers & others you meet at the Company: Interviewers have taken the time out of their schedule to meet with you. Acknowledge that with a thank-you email after each interview. It also doesn't hurt to thank others you meet on site. Remember, they are also evaluating whether you are someone they want to work with.

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

This type of interview consists of questions to determine if a candidate has demonstrated a particular skill or behavior.

The premise behind behavioral interviewing is that the most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation. When asked a behavioral question, it is important to provide specific examples rather than general ones. Prepare to answer questions related to the skills and characteristics the company is seeking.

For example, if leadership skills are relevant to the role, you can describe a situation when you acted as a leader.

Examples of behavioral questions:

Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me about your progress in reaching that goal.
Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do?

Behavioral questions can be difficult if you are not prepared. Always try to be conscious about what the recruiter is trying to find out about you by asking you a particular question. Remember to use the STAR Method.

A helpful strategy to use when answering Behavioral Interview Questions is the STAR Method.

Using the STAR Method will ensure that you provide a concise answer. In response to the interviewer’s behavioral question, first give an example of a relevant Situation you were involved in that resulted in a positive outcome.

Second, describe the Tasks involved in dealing with that situation. Emphasize the various Actions taken to solve the problem or achieve the accomplishment. Close by describing the Result or outcome of the actions taken.

Example of a STAR Answer: Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me about your progress in reaching that goal.

S: Upon entering USC graduate school, I set a goal to graduate in two years with a high GPA, while also becoming involved on campus and gaining work experience in my field.

T: In order to accomplish my goal, I knew that I needed to network in the field of EE, look for an internship, and set up a disciplined study schedule to manage school, work and campus activities.

A: I immediately looked into campus organizations and joined IEEE, found an internship working at Company A for the summer. In addition, I set up a study group for the weekends.

R: As a result, I learned valuable time management skills, while completing work and classroom deadlines on time. I achieved my original goal and can now focus on future goals in my career.

This type of interview consists of technical questions in your field.

Prepare for brainteasers or riddles designed to measure your analytical and problem-solving skills. Review specific concepts you have learned that are relevant to the position. It consists of technical questions in your field (programming, lab experiences, etc.).

You can also do informational interviews with employers and ask them how to prepare for technical interviews/their experience/sample questions.

Examples of Technical Questions

The following script or programming code will not compile. Please explain why.
You're asked to design a stealth attack aircraft for the US Navy. What might it look like and why?
How would you improve this pen?
Why are manhole covers round?

Resources

LeetCode
HackerRank
Crack the Code

Case Interviews

In some interviews, you may be asked to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. The interviewer will outline a situation or provide you with a case study and ask you to formulate a plan that deals with the problem.
You do not have to come up with the ultimate solution. The interviewers are looking for how you apply your knowledge and skills to a real-life situation. Speak and reason aloud so interviewers have a full understanding of your thought process.
Before answering a case interview question, be prepared to ask the employer numerous questions for clarity and informational purposes. Most employers will provide responses that could result in additional inquiries.

Analyzing and dissecting the case study will likely impress your interviewer.
This is the only interview for which it is acceptable, even encouraged, to bring a pad of paper and pencil. Most interviewers will allow you to take notes and jot down thoughts as you work through the case.
You can find a detailed guide to effective case interviewing techniques through the Vault Guides in the connectSC “Resources” section.

You can visit the Career Center for more information on interview preparation.

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Published on June 3rd, 2021

Last updated on October 6th, 2022