Advice from Alumni: Interviewing
Navigating the interview process can be daunting, but you are not alone! We asked alumni on St. Thomas Connect: “What advice do you have for Tommies preparing to interview for a job or internship position?” Dozens of St. alumni shared advice to help you interview with confidence and secure job offers. Check out these top 6 interview tips below!
Want to practice for your next interview? Schedule a practice interview with the Career Development Center on Handshake!
Interested in getting more alumni advice? Search for alumni on St. Thomas Connect who have volunteered to support your career journey.
1. Do Your Homework
- “First research the company, what do they make, what is their mission. If you can’t find a mission statement, ask the interviewer! Then be able to talk about why this company would be an exciting place for you to work. Be clear regarding your mission and how if fits with the company’s mission.” – David Rumpf
- “Be prepared. Know the company, the key attributes of the role and always have questions to ask. Even if you use them in an earlier interview, it’s ok. You will get different perspectives to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.” – Brie Arnold
- “Make sure you review the job description and objectives for the role and use those examples as your talking points in the interview. Be able to demonstrate excitement through robust examples and expressions.” – Jody (Quinnell) Scrivner
- “Find out as much as you can about the company you are applying to before the interview. It will help you tailor your answers to the needs of the company, and will impress the interviewer that you did your homework (yeah, schoolwork never quite ends…)” – Timothy Moran
- “Do your homework. Show that you know something about the organization before you talk to anyone.” – John Alpers, PhD
2. Practice Makes Perfect
- “Know your resume: Everything is generally fair game. Be prepared to speak authentically and comprehensively about any experience or bullet you’ve written down. Knowing the various elements of your story and synthesizing them into a narrative or “pitch” is also a great way to stand out as a candidate and leave a strong impression.” – Eshan Varma
- “Search for sample interview questions online and practice your answers OUT LOUD to yourself (not in your head!). This will help you hear where you are stumbling or struggling to retrieve answers. Search for Behavioral Based interview questions.” – Colee Bean
- “Prepare and practice the general HR responses. your job is to communicate that you’ll be a good person to work with, and that you have the skills to help them solve a problem.” – Christopher Flynn
3. Plan Ahead and Dress for Success
- “If in-person and you’re not familiar with the location and can make the trip once in advance at the same time as your interview, do it so you’re comfortable with the public transport or driving and parking to the site. Arrive 20 minutes early. The interviewer most likely will be informed of your early arrival. You will also have time to settle yourself and your heart rate. It gives you a few minutes to look and listen to your surroundings. If it’s a remote interview by phone or zoom dress as you would for an in-person interview and be settled where you’re doing it at 15 minutes prior. If by zoom log into the waiting room early. Your interviewer will see that.” – Daniel Schlichting
- “Be well prepared; be well dressed; always emphasize your strengths and not your weaknesses; be well rested going in; be as positive as possible.” – Thomas Egan
- “No matter what the work environment is, dress professionally as you only have one chance to make a first impression.” – Linda Ladley
- “Be yourself. Dress accordingly. Sit Attentively. Be prepared and most importantly be prompt.” – Bill Kilduff
- “Old School but make eye contact, listen more than talk and dress for the job you want.” – Jody (Quinnell) Scrivner
4. Ask Informed Questions
- “Always come with questions of your own so you can gain insight about the position and the company. Some examples might be: “What does success look like for this position?” “Can you talk a little bit about the culture of the company?” And if your future boss is interviewing you, ask them what their management style is so you know what to expect from them.” – Jennifer Harrison
- “Have questions prepared based on your research of the company or the job. Most interviewers ask if you have questions at the end of the interview, so always make sure you have a non-traditional one that it’s unlikely they will have answered during the interview, like “I read on your website that your company has a DEI initiative, what does this look like in your department?” – Jennifer Greenquist
- “Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the interview process vs. waiting until the end. Most interviewers I’ve spoken to (and my personal experience interviewing candidates) would agree that a conversational interview is much more enjoyable and memorable.” – Michael Pohl
- “Be genuinely interested in the company you are applying for and ask questions about their latest innovations or news releases. And make it clear why you’re applying and what value add you bring to the table.” – Suja Sushama
- “Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Prepare and ask questions that show you know something about whomsoever you are talking to.” – John Alpers, PhD
5. Know Your Worth and Be Yourself
- “Don’t undervalue yourself or your accomplishments. Enter an interview knowing you’ve earned your seat at the table. It isn’t luck when you’ve worked hard!” – Elizabeth Smithley
- “Be yourself. You don’t want to pretend to be something you aren’t. If you have to alter who you are to work at an organization, find one that aligns with your values and beliefs and where you fit the best with the team. Ask others on the team what they like about the organization and their role as well as what they dislike. Ask about career path and what’s next when you prove ready for promotion.” – Jerry Sazama
- “An interview is always a ‘two-way street’ You are ‘interviewing’ them to learn if you will be comfortable working with them. Do your personalities sync? Is the work in line with your career passions? Do they value work/life balance?” – Dale Grothe
- “Be confident but humble. Be confident in yourself, your education, and your experience, but be humble and recognize your own opportunities to continue to learn and grow.” – Beverlee Shellum
6. Follow-Up with a Thank You
- “Send a note after the interview thanking the people for their time. It amazes me how few interviewees do this. It is an easy thing to do and as a hiring manager I can assure you that it goes a long way.” – Bret Snyder
Other Words of Wisdom
- “Always remember that you are telling the interviewer how you can help that company, rather than just boasting about your accomplishments. Instead of your ambition to climb the ladder and be CEO, for instance, they may be more interested in how well you work together with co-workers to get the job done. Let them know that you understand the job you are applying for, and how well you would fit into the work environment. Stay positive and friendly!” – Timothy Moran
- “Be open to things you might not think are an option yet. If any interview is online, look at the camera not the screen. Protect yourself, your time, and your boundaries (just because you’re an intern or new to the job, does not mean you need to be available 24/7)!” – Amber Neid
- “Try journaling if you feel anxious and remind yourself that you’re fully prepared!” – Sara Ford
- “Trust, but verify, using ChatGPT!” – Morgan Catlin