Interview Types and Questions

Preparation is the key to a successful interview. To be well-prepared, it is important to know the kinds of questions interviewers ask, anticipate possible questions, and craft thoughtful responses. Then, practice speaking the responses aloud to lower anxiety and build confidence ensuring a positive interviewing experience.

What They're Looking For

Keep in mind what most employers are looking for and craft your responses to demonstrate:

Communication skills.
Problem solving skills. A logical path to an answer, key variables, reasonable assumptions, conclusions.
Quantitative ability. Try to quantify our responses at every opportunity.
Business/industry knowledge. Knowledge of basic vocabulary needed for the job and industry.
Common sense.
Good work ethic.
Ability to fit in and work productively with colleagues.

Traditional Interview

With traditional interviews, you need to answer broad-based questions in a very specific, personalized way. The interviewer’s goal is to identify your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the job. The interviewer closely follows your résumé structure. He or she will probe you about the experience, education, and achievements listed.

Examples: “Tell me about yourself," ”What prepared you for this position?” or “Why would you like to work here?”
Response: These questions are straightforward and relatively easy to answer. However, keep the position requirements in mind when responding. For example, if you are seeking a teaching position, the response to “Tell me about yourself.” should focus on those experiences that led to your decision to pursue teaching as a career.

Behavioral Based Interviews

Behavioral based interviews focus on your experiences and how you acted in these experiences. Behavioral interview questions prompt candidates to describe a past experience or situation, demonstrating how he/she handled the situation. Past experiences are generally a good indicator for how he/she would handle it again.

Examples: “Give me an example of your greatest student teaching challenge.” or “Tell me about a time when your work was criticized.”
Response: Answers should include an example that demonstrates ability. The following STAR framework is an effective way to structure a response in a logical and specific manner.

S    Situation    What was the situation? or
T    Task            What was the task?
A    Action         What action did you take?
R    Result         What was the result of the action?

Using this method, the candidate tells a story giving explicit, concrete examples of the particular situation or task, describing their actions and then the results of those actions. The best way to prepare for this type of question is to recall situations that demonstrate favorable performance concerning projects, work experience, teamwork or past problems that have been overcome.

Case Based Interviews

Case based interviews focus on your analytical and critical thinking abilities. You are introduced to a dilemma. You are asked to analyze the situation, identify key issues, and discuss how you would address the problems involved.

Example: “A parent is angry at the grade you gave his or her child, what would you do?”
Response: Effective responses include a careful analysis of the situation and generating a solution. To prepare, consider the prospective position responsibilities and predict situations or problems that might occur, and then effective ways to address them.

Sample Questions

You can prepare for an interview by reviewing these sample interview questions. Also, be prepared to ask intelligent questions that will show your interest and knowledge about the company or organization. Asking well thought out and researched questions may help to set you apart from the other candidates.

Not sure how to respond to these interview questions? Visit Career Services in SZB 216 or BEL 1005 or e-mail careerservices@austin.utexas.edu for assistance.

Last updated on May 2, 2013