I have sat through Irma Tryon’s spiel on interviewing countless times and I thought I knew everything about how to interview. I was wrong! Through my participation on the search committee for the new service director at the CWS, I learned a great deal about interviewing as the interviewer, not the interviewee.
So here are five things you should know about what’s going on the opposite side of the table:
- Know what you’re applying for.
Job descriptions can sometimes be vague, and an institution/organization/company can be broad reaching, but before you even step into the interview you should have a good sense of what you’re applying for because your interviewers certainly know. Therefore in response to the most basic question of “Why are you interested in this position?” you should provide a response directed at the position, not the general field or institution. For example, a vague response such as “I’d be excited to work with women who will” or “…because I live right down the road” is ineffective. Meanwhile, a crafted response such as “I’m eager to take on the role of the service director here at Wellesley because I’m passionate about service and believe that the smart, motivated students here at Wellesley can contribute a great deal to the communities around them. For example, in my work at XYZ organization, I have developed a program in which college students work with…(fill in with concrete details). I would love to bring this model of a program to Wellesley.” This type of response both answers the question and promotes a candidate for the position. - Do your research.
You’ve heard this before, but here’s why it’s so important. The interviewers know exactly what the company/institution does. They know its strengths and weaknesses, its past and future. Obviously you can’t learn every single detail about the company, but you should know enough about the industry/field to ask questions. Candidates for the service director position at the CWS could have looked at our website or the websites from similar institutions and quickly understood the field. My main question for the candidates was “What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our program, and what would you do to enhance it?” From their answers it was abundantly clear who had taken the time to look at our website and review our program critically, something the new service director would need to do once hired. - Know what you bring to the position.
While you produced your flawless resume and cover letter, chances are your interviewers didn’t read every single line, nor did they fully understand your experience—so, don’t be reticent to reiterate what you would bring to the position. Use your experience to your advantage; even if it’s not an exact match for the job, explain what elements of your experience would apply. For instance, a great candidate came in and didn’t mention until her second interview that she had worked with one of the organizations with which our service programs already partner with. - Be positive.
There’s probably a reason you are leaving your current job (or for students, not returning to a past position). Whatever the reason, present your interest in the position positively rather than as a negative in comparison to your past experience. For instance, saying “I’m looking for a new challenge” or “This interests me because…” is much better then saying “I am leaving my past position because…” Even from a negative experience, find something positive; perhaps you learned what you’re more interested in or developed skills that you would like to put to better use. - Be ready to be part of a team.
In most jobs you will be working with someone else, and that someone is likely in the interview room. So, be yourself, the person you would in the job—be conscientious, considerate, and generally pleasant to be around. Sometimes our nerves get in the way of this, but just remember they’re looking for reasons to hire you, not reject you. Finally, a piece of advice I received over the summer from Nick, Joe Kennedy’s campaign manager (who ran Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire campaign): to advance in any field, “do what nobody else is willing to do.” In the context of an interview, I interpret this advice as demonstrating that you’re willing to go the extra mile for the job/for the team.
– Becca Freeman-Slade ’14
For more information about interviewing, visit the CWS website, attend our interview-specific events, or schedule an appointment with a counselor.