Interview Tips, Interview Study Guide, Interview Questions & Answers
I may be the odd woman out, but I LOVE interviewing! The nerves, the excitement, the preparation, the opportunity to meet potential new coworkers, and best of all, the interview outfit! There is nothing I love more than striking a power pose in front of the mirror in my kick-ass suit moments before I head out the door for a life-changing moment.
For the other majority of women, interviews are a daunting experience. There is nothing more intimidating than sitting before a panel of your peers trying to sell yourself. The fear of not knowing what questions they are about to fire at you is enough to bring out that red-skinned turtle neck…y’all know what I’m talking about?!? You can just feel it creep up from your chest to your ears and you are probably sweating enough to fill a small kiddie pool. You aren’t alone…been there, felt that!
Since I graduated college, I have been on my fair share of interviews…. Some I knocked it out of the park and some I crashed and burned! It happens to the best of us!
So, what’s the tea on how I rock an interview? I prepare for interviews like nobody’s business! Let me say it again…. I study my little batoot off for every interview I go on!
To properly study for an interview, one must do a little up-front work…think long game strong here. First things first…I create a study guide tailored to the specific job I am interviewing for. This sounds like an overwhelming task but I promise it’s not that bad. Below I have broken down the 5-step process to create your interview study guide. You can even download this free printable I have included at the bottom as a guide! You’re welcome 😉
Let’s not waste any more time and let’s get to building your interview study guide!
Step #1: List out past interview questions for future reference.
For all of you new grads out there, this part might be a little challenging if you do not have any experience in the field, however, I have a solution for you! Ask past professors or your intern coordinators what their interview experiences were like and take notes!
For the rest of you ladies out there that are looking for that next career advancement, reflect on past interviews you have had and jot down any interview questions you have been asked in the past. I like to do this step in my car right after an interview because the experience is still fresh in my mind. There have been times where I feel like I have just blacked out and I have no idea what the hell just happened in the interview and have found that taking some time to decompress helps. Questions tend to come back to me after a certain time.
Step #2: Research the agency/employer you are interviewing with
Employers (especially law enforcement) are notorious for asking “So what can you tell us about our agency?” or “What do you know about our company? “It is not a good look if you sit there with a deer in the headlights look and say “I don’t know.” I can’t tell you the number of times current/past bosses have told me how much I impressed them with my knowledge of the agency during an interview. There are many benefits to doing your research beforehand. 1) you can avoid being caught off guard. 2) you can determine whether or not the agency/employer will be a good fit for your needs and 3) it shows the interview panel that you are prepared and that you want to work there.
Step #3: Write down your list of questions and compose your answers
This is the time-consuming part so get on your comfy pants on and grab a coffee! Take the time to think about thoughtful, well-structured answers. As your experiences change, update your answers with different content/examples. When drafting up answers, I find it helpful to use the STAR method. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Let’s break it down:
Situation: Define the context for the answer. For example, where did it take place? or give a brief backstory.
Task: Describe what your role was in the situation. For example, what was your task or responsibility?
Action: Explain what you specifically did in the situation? For example, what steps you specifically followed to resolve the issue.
Result: Conclude with what happened. For example, how was it resolved? What did you take away from the experience?
When you are composing your answers, I find it helpful to jot them down in bullet form. It’s easier to reference and remember when you are studying. Something else to consider when drafting up your answers is included in Step #4…
Lastly, make sure to prepare questions to ask the interview panel after your interview.
Step #4: B.Y.O. B…. Brainstorm Your Own Buzzwords
Future employers love to hear those buzzwords that represent their agency/company. Make sure you are authentically using them to ensure you are properly answering the question while standing out from other candidates.
So, what do I mean by buzzwords? A few examples include respect, accountability, accuracy, responsibility, trustworthiness, communication, teamwork, etc. The buzzwords are endless! Often these words are included in the employer’s motto or mission statement. How do you represent their mission statement? Think about it!
And lastly, Step #5: Study, Practice, Power Pose
Now that you have completed steps 1 through 4, you are ready for this last step. The more you study and practice, the more confidence (and less sweaty) you will feel when it comes down to the actual interview. The days of “winging it” are over! Trying to land a job right now is like the hunger games! You gotta give it everything you’ve got to seal the deal on this interview. When I am practicing for interviews, I often find that my answers sound amazing in my head but the actual words coming out of my mouth are a train wreck. Try practicing your answers out loud in front of a mirror or with your friends so you know what you sound like. This will only make you sound like a pro in front of that scary interview panel!
I hope this easy 5 step formula works for your next round of interviews. Download your free interview study guide below!
How do you properly seal the deal on interviews?
