|
From the employers' point of view, the screening or campus interview is an opportunity to determine if you have the basic qualities sought by the company as well as deciding if you should be invited to the office for a second round visit.
Keep in mind that, although you will be given an opportunity to ask questions, this interview requires you to "sell" yourself. You will spend the majority of the time answering questions.
Screening or campus interviews can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes long. A typical interview would include: time for you to "tell your story" (the interviewer may sell the company to you as well, but this usually happens more during second round visit), and a few minutes to address your questions. After your interview, the interviewer takes a few minutes to evaluate your performance and review the next candidate. Be prepared.
Interview Styles
You may encounter different screening interview styles.
The Highly Structured Interview
During this session, the interviewer has a set list of questions. The interviewer maintains control of the flow of conversation. These questions can be very specific, or general in nature.
The Unstructured Interview
This session may begin by the interviewer saying, "So, tell me about yourself." There is no way to predict which direction the discussion will take. You can take control if you're prepared.
The Semi-Structured Interview
A mixture of the structured and unstructured style. In this case, the interviewer has a certain agenda in mind and has goals and objectives to meet, but will arrange the interview in such a way as to let you do the majority of the talking while providing you with direction.
Behavioral Interview
In this type of interview you will be asked to come up with some very specific examples of situations or activities you have been involved in fairly recently. The interviewer will want to know in a fair amount of detail what you did or said or thought in any situation you describe.
Whatever the style of interview, you will see the importance of being prepared. While the interview will vary, the purpose remains the same: to sell yourself!
The interviewer is looking for certain traits - benchmarks, so to speak, to compare you with the "typical" person who has been successful in that firm. Some examples may be:
- Personality
- Rapport
- Smile
- Eye Contact
- Handshake
- Verbal Communication
- Proper grammar
- Logical, complete ideas
- Understandable, appropriate answers to questions
- Volume and vocabulary
- Ability to be convincing
- Sincerity
- No Contradictions
- Candid
- Self-confidence/poise
- Control in a "pressure" situation
- No distracting nervous habits
- Assertiveness
- Bearing
- Appropriate amount of animation
- Professional appearance
- Proper business attire
- Grooming
- Motivation
- Self-starter
- Goals and ambitions
- How hard you've worked
- Give more than required
- Leadership ability
- Peer appearance
- Past activities and level of involvement (i.e., organizations)
- Understanding of the company and the practice
- Have you visited their web-site?
- Why the interest in company or industry?
- Aware of something "different" about that company?
- Extent of interest in a career with that company
- Real reasons or do you "just want a job!"?
- Academic preparation
- How well you have performed in light of the program and in relationship to your peers?
This is a lot of information to gather in a brief conversation, but it's not as hard as it seems. As you can see, some of the criteria don't take long to notice. The other traits demonstrate themselves during the course of the interview.
In conclusion, there are a couple of points to emphasize:
- Be prepared
- Be punctual
- Be positive
- But most important be yourself!
Remember, there's no second chance to make a first impression!
There may not be sufficient time to sell all your strengths. Know your most important ones and be prepared with examples of how you have used those strengths.
|
