Interviews and Offers

Ace the Interview

Interviews are critical to the hiring process. The impression you make in the first few minutes can determine if you will get an opportunity for a second interview or even an offer. Although there are no guarantees with interviewing, there are things you can do to increase your chances of success.

Preparing for the Interview

Preparation and practice are critical before each interview. You need to know yourself, your skills, accomplishments and career objectives. You also need to have a strong understanding of the company you are meeting and the position for which you are applying.

Research the company and position

• Use Vault to research the company
• Researching companies and organizations - referenced from The Career Center

Practice Questions

• Get your "Interview Survival Kit" from ACES Career Services
• Sample questions from Jobweb.com
• Schedule a mock interview with ACES Career Services or at The Career Center

The "STAR" Format - Answering Behavioral-based Questions

When asked a behavioral-based question, you should answer it in the “STAR” format. In the
“STAR” format, “ST” stands for Situation or Task, “A” stands for Action, and “R” stands for Results. It is often tough to answer such questions on the spot in what can be a stressful interview situation. Therefore, it is highly important that you have thought about these types of questions prior to an interview.

Examples of Behavioral-based Questions

• Can you think of a project or idea that was sold, implemented or carried out successfully primarily because of your efforts? Tell me about it, what did you do?
• We’ve all had occasions when things have “slipped through the cracks.” Can you give an example of a time when this happened to you, and how did you handle it?
• How do you determine what have constitutes top priorities in scheduling your time? Can you give an example?
• Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision, but didn’t have all the information you needed.
• Tell me about a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a challenge your team was facing. What was the challenge? What role did you play? What role did others play?

Dressing for the Interview

In most interviews, conservatism and conformity are in order. While many companies have adopted the ‘office casual’ dress code, don’t try to set new standards in the interview. When in doubt, it is better to be too conservative than to be too flashy. For men and women, a suit is the best bet.

Tips for men

• Wear a well-tailored, two-piece suit with light-colored shirt
• Solid colors and tighter-woven fabrics are safer than bold prints or patterns
• Bright ties bring focus to the face, but a simple pattern is best for an interview
• Wear polished shoes with socks that match your pants, high enough so no skin is visible when you sit down and cross your legs

Interview Dress for Men Video
Interview Dress for Men Cheat Sheet

Tips for women

• A suit with a knee-length skirt or slacks and a tailored shirt is most appropriate
• Neutral hosiery should also be worn - no bare legs or feet
• Basic, comfortable pumps
• Modest jewelry and makeup, and minimal fragrance

Interview Dress for Women Video
Interview Dress for Women Cheat Sheet

Both men and women should carry a briefcase or a nice padfolio.

Of course, your appearance is only as good as your grooming. You want your experience and qualifications to shine. Your appearance should enhance your presentation, not detract from it. Create a final checklist to review before you go on an interview:

• Neatly trimmed, well-managed hair
• Clean teeth and fresh breath
• No runs in stockings
• No gum
• No missing buttons, crooked ties, lint, or cat/dog hair

The Interview

Presentation of yourself and your comments are important. Be sure your responses are concise and organized without being too brief. Listen attentively and be aware of your body language. All interviews fit a general pattern. The typical first interview will last 30-45 minutes, although some may be longer. A typical structure is as follows:

• Five minutes— handshake, introduction and small talk
• Fifteen minutes—a mutual discussion of your background and credentials as they relate to the needs of the employer
• Five minutes—you ask questions
• Five minutes—conclusion of interview

The interview isn’t over until you walk out the door. During the last few minutes of the interview, it is important to remain enthusiastic and courteous. Shake the recruiter’s hand, thank him or her for considering you, and get a business card. You should also ask about the hiring process and for an approximate timeline for making a selection. Be sure to ask how you should follow-up with the employer.

The Interview Video
The Interview Cheat Sheet

Telephone Interviews

Telephone interviews may be part of the screening process before a face-to-face interview. In a face-to-face interview setting, you may be able to gauge your performance by noticing facial expressions and the body language of the interviewer. Those observations are non-existent in the telephone interview, expect for perhaps the interviewer’s tone of voice. Therefore, phone interviews can be challenging.

Here are some tips to “ace” your phone interview:

• Stand up and smile while you talk. Speak as if the person could see you.
• Provide detailed answers and specific examples.
• Ask appropriate questions about the job, the employer, and the interview process - just as you would in a face-to-face interview.

After the Interview

The end of the first interview does not indicate the end of your evaluation. The next steps you need to take can be the difference in getting the job or not. You should always write a thank-you note to the person who conducted the interview. If you were interviewed by more than one person, write your note
to the main contact. You may choose to send your thank-you via email.

Typically, employers will give you an approximate date when you should expect to hear from them regarding their hiring decision. If that date has come and gone, you should contact the employer to get an updated timeline. You should contact whoever interviewed you. This is a great way to once again express your enthusiasm or the job and your desire to obtain the position.

Follow Up With the Employer Video
Follow Up With the Employer Cheat Sheet

Saying "Thank You" Video
Saying "Thank You" Cheat Sheet

Office Visits and On-Site Interviews

After the initial interview, an invitation to a second interview will likely come directly from the company. The second interview is often an on-site visit. These interviews allow the employer to make a more in-depth assessment of your qualifications and personal characteristics and to ensure a good match between your goals and the opportunity available. This also allows you to meet additional people, learn more about the position, career opportunities, and the local community. It should help you decide whether you would like to work there if a job offer is extended.

Employers vary greatly in how they arrange these visits. Be sure you know the itinerary for your visit so that you know what to expect, what to pack if an overnight stay is involved, and how to prepare. Possible formats might include:

Many companies arrange for lunch or dinner during on-site interviews. Meals allow you to meet company representatives in a more casual setting and can also expose you to the culture of the company and the city. You are still being interviewed during the meal, so remember to be professional. 

At the conclusion of your office visit, you should ask when you could expect to hear from the company regarding their hiring decision. It is possible to receive a job offer on the spot, the next day, or within 2-6 weeks. If you are offered a job on the spot, it is advised that you thank them for the offer and ask when they need to know your decision. Remember to send a thank you letter (or email) to everyone who interviewed you OR one letter to the main contact person. A thank you letter tells the employer you are enthusiastic about joining the organization and that you pay attention to detail and follow-through.

Handling Travel Expenses

The way in which site visits are funded varies from company to company. Companies may assist candidates by pre-paying all expenses and some will arrange to reimburse you. So keep all of your receipts. In most cases, the employer’s letter inviting you for a follow-up interview will advise you if and what expenses will be covered. If no reference is made to travel expenses, you should inquire about the policy on travel expenses.  Be prudent in the expenses you submit for reimbursement. Do not put yourself in the position of being rejected as an applicant because your expenses were unreasonable

Job Offers

A company may offer you the position in writing, over the phone or in person. If you are interested in the position, you may accept immediately. However, you may want to take some time to consider the offer. Most companies will give you time to consider an offer and you may negotiate a decision deadline if you feel an extension is needed.

You may accept an offer in person or by telephone, but you should also write and mail a formal acceptance letter. Respond graciously to all job offers, whether you accept or refuse the position. Once you have accepted an offer, you should withdraw from further interviews with other employers.

Additionally, if you receive a job offer from one organization, you should contact all other organizations that are still considering your application. Alert them to your situation and let them know when you will have to make a decision.

Evaluation an Offer

It is important to consider several aspects of a job offer -not just the salary and benefits package. An offer of employment is much more than an opportunity to earn a paycheck. Take time to ask questions and weigh your options, so that you make a good decision.

Items to consider:

• Nature of the work
• Organizational culture
• Salary, benefits, complete compensation package
• Geographic location
• Required travel
• Work/life balance
• Stability of organization
• Support for continuing education/advanced degree
• Stability of industry
• Potential for advancement
• Training and development opportunities

Comparing Compensation and Benefits Packages

When evaluating a job offer, compensation is an important component to consider when choosing the right position for you. Compensation represents both the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards one receives for performing their job. Intrinsic compensation reflects the satisfaction one has from doing meaningful work. This can include having autonomy on the job, constructive feedback, an impact on the lives of others, and opportunities to perform different tasks. Extrinsic compensation includes both monetary and non-monetary rewards.

How do you know if the base pay in your offer is competitive? First you must inform yourself. Gather salary information from various sources. The ACES Career Services Offices keeps salary data from previous grads. Salary.com is also a good resource. Be aware of the value of your education and experience.

The Salary Question Video
The Salary Question Cheat Sheet

Benefits

There are legally required benefits that provide protection programs to employees and their dependents from catastrophic events such as disability and unemployment. Most organizations also offer discretionary benefits, such as: vacation and holiday time, health insurance, retirement plan, flexible spending accounts for child care and health care expenses, child care assistance and/or on-site service, onsite fitness center, education reimbursement, and others. Discretionary benefits can be of considerable monetary value and impact your work/life balance.

Holidays, Vacation, and Other Paid Leaves

Adjusting to a work schedule is challenging. Your day is much different than when you were on campus. Sure, you were busy and maintained a schedule, but you had the ability to set your own schedule. One of the biggest adjustments for new graduates is reduced vacation and holiday time. Most entry-level, professional positions only come with 5-10 days of vacation and 6-8 paid holidays annually. Sometimes you may even have to work for 3-6 months before you earn any vacation time. There is no more spring break, long holiday breaks, or summer hiatus.

Holidays typically offered by employers are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Some organizations also give employees the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas. If working for the government, you will also likely be off on the federal holidays - Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, and Veteran’s Day. Some employers are starting to offer flexible holiday scheduling for those that celebrate religious holidays that are not accommodated by the standard holiday schedule. Regardless of your new position, you may well be working at least part of a day on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve if they fall on a weekday. You may request to use vacation time, but remember your vacation time may be very limited. Are you planning a wedding? A honeymoon? Have you been asked to participate in friends’ weddings? One week, and even two weeks, of vacation can go very quickly. Maternity leave, parental leave, military leave, bereavement leave, etc. may also be important at certain times in your life. Understanding how these life events are managed within the organization is important. This speaks to the company culture.

Health Benefits

Health insurance plans are complex and determining the value of coverage is sometimes daunting. You should consider the type of coverage you need – health, vision, dental, prescription, etc, - and the amount you have to pay for that coverage, including the premium, co-pay, and deductibles. You may be able to choose the type of health plan that best meets your needs – HMO, POS, or PPO. Some organizations also offer a flexible spending account that enables you to pay for out-of-pocket heath expenses with pre-tax dollars.

Retirement Plans

The two common types of retirement plans are defined-contributions plans and defined-benefit plans. Each type of plan is funded differently and has present-day and future tax implications. Common defined-contribution plans are 401k, 403b, and 457 plans. These plans are individually funded with pre-tax dollars. Investment risk (and reward) is assumed by the employee and the amount of funds available at retirement is dependent upon the market. Taxation on the invested funds and their earnings occurs at the time of disbursement. Defined-benefit plans are traditional pension plans which are less prevalent than in the past. These plans pay retirees a fixed amount monthly for the remainder of his/her life. The amount of retirement compensation is calculated using a formula that includes variables such as salary at time of retirement, years of service, and age.