Interviewing Insights

 General Background Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Walk me through your resume.

3. What are your greatest strengths?

4. What is your biggest weakness?

5. Why do you want to work here?

6. Why are you interested in this position?

7. What do you know about our company?

8. What motivates you?

9. How do you define success?

10. How do you handle stress or pressure?

Work Experience & Skills

11. Describe your previous job responsibilities.

12. What did you like most/least about your last job?

13. Why did you leave your last job?

14. Tell me about a time you had to learn something new quickly.

15. What specific skills make you qualified for this role?

16. How do you stay organized and prioritize your work?

17. Have you managed a team before?

18. Describe a project you led from start to finish.

19. How do you handle tight deadlines?

20. What tools or software are you proficient in?

Behavioral Questions (STAR method recommended)

21. Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?

22. Describe a conflict you had at work and how you resolved it.

23. Give an example of a time you went above and beyond.

24. Tell me about a time you had to persuade someone.

25. Share a time when you received constructive criticism.

26. Describe a time you worked successfully on a team.

27. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with ambiguity.

28. How do you handle failure?

29. Give an example of how you handled multiple priorities.

30. Tell me about a time you set and achieved a goal.

Situational/Problem-Solving Questions

31. What would you do if you disagreed with your manager?

32. How would you handle a customer who was angry?

33. If you were assigned a task you didn't know how to do, what would you do?

34. What would you do if your team missed a deadline?

35. How would you handle working with a difficult coworker?

36. What would be your approach if you were assigned to a project with vague instructions?

37. How would you deal with an ethical dilemma at work?

38. If you had multiple urgent tasks, how would you prioritize them?

39. How would you respond if a client asked for something unrealistic?

40. How would you lead a team through a major change?

Career Goals & Fit

41. Where do you see yourself in five years?

42. What are your long-term career goals?

43. What kind of work environment do you prefer?

44. What do you look for in a manager?

45. What are your salary expectations?

46. Are you willing to relocate?

47. Are you open to travel?

48. Why should we hire you over other candidates?

49. What makes you a good fit for our culture?

50. How soon can you start?

Questions for Students or Entry-Level Roles

51. What did you enjoy most about your college experience?

52. Tell me about a group project you worked on.

53. How did you handle balancing academics and other responsibilities?

54. What coursework or activities have prepared you for this role?

55. Tell me about your internship experience.

56. What clubs, organizations, or volunteer work have you participated in?

57. How do you handle feedback from professors or supervisors?

58. Describe a time you had to take initiative in school or work.

59. What is one accomplishment from college you’re proud of?

60. What challenges did you face in your academic career?

At the end of interviews, you want to have at least three good questions prepared for your interviewer. Here are some ideas of what you might ask:

• What does a typical day look like in this role?
• What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing?
• How do you evaluate success in this position?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
• What opportunities are there for growth or advancement?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What are the next steps in the interview process?
• What is the onboarding process like?
• How do you support employee development and training?
• Can you describe the leadership style of the team or department?

Be Prepared: Research Resources for Interview Prep

KNOW THE INDUSTRY

KNOW THE COMPANY

WHAT IS A CAREER CONVERSATION?

A career conversation, also known as an informational interview, is a meeting or discussion where a person seeks insights, advice, and information about a particular career field, industry, or organization from someone already established in that area.

The primary purpose is to gather first-hand knowledge and perspective rather than to secure a job. These conversations allow the inquirer to:

1. Learn about day-to-day responsibilities in a specific role
2. Get a realistic view of the work environment and culture
3. Understand industry trends and challenges
4. Gain advice on career paths and skill development
5. Expand their professional network

These interviews are typically informal and can occur in person, over the phone, or via video call. They're valuable for career exploration, decision-making, and building professional relationships.

To schedule a career conversation:

1. Find relevant people in the company or organization through:
   • Existing in-person network
   • LinkedIn network and searching
   • Other social media
2. Make a list of professionals with the experience and connections you are interested in
3. Contact: prioritize phone calls if possible, then email, then DMs
   • Introduce yourself and include your connection to the person
   • Ask for a 15-minute meeting
   • Share why you are interested in learning from them
   • If they don’t respond, following up once is okay. Then move on.
4. Prepare questions ahead of time
5. Dress professionally and be on time
6. Follow up with a thank you note and add them to your contacts and LinkedIn network

Preparation Mistakes

• Not researching the company or role
• Failing to review the job description closely
• Not preparing for common interview questions
• Lacking knowledge of the company's values, mission, or products
• Being unfamiliar with your own resume or experience
• Not practicing behavioral questions using the STAR method
• Forgetting to prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewer

Professionalism & Etiquette Mistakes

• Arriving late (or too early) to the interview
• Wearing inappropriate or overly casual attire
• Poor body language (slouching, lack of eye contact, fidgeting)
• Interrupting the interviewer
• Using overly casual language or slang
• Speaking negatively about a past employer, professor, or experience
• Using your phone or getting distracted during the interview

Communication Mistakes

• Rambling or not getting to the point
• Giving vague or generic answers
• Overusing buzzwords without substance
• Failing to answer the actual question being asked
• Talking too much or too little
• Not showing enthusiasm or interest in the role
• Not being able to articulate why you're a good fit

Content Mistakes

• Lying or exaggerating on your resume or in your answers
• Not having examples to back up your skills or experience
• Giving inconsistent or conflicting responses
• Failing to explain career gaps or changes in direction
• Not tailoring your answers to the job or company

Virtual Interview Mistakes

• Technical issues due to lack of testing beforehand
• Poor lighting, background, or camera positioning
• Background noise or distractions
• Looking at the screen instead of the camera
• Not treating the virtual interview as professionally as an in-person one

Follow-up Mistakes

• Failing to send a thank-you note
• Sending a generic or sloppy thank-you message
• Not following up after several weeks (if instructed to)
• Being too persistent or demanding in follow-ups

Mindset Mistakes

• Letting nerves take over without techniques to manage them
• Assuming the interview is only about your qualifications—not your fit
• Trying to be someone you’re not (lack of authenticity)
• Acting entitled or overconfident
• Failing to treat the interview as a two-way conversation 

The STAR and CAR methods are powerful frameworks for answering behavioral interview questions—those that start with phrases like “Tell me about a time when...” or “Give an example of...” These methods help you stay organized, focused, and impactful in your responses.

STAR Method:

Situation → Task → Action → Result

Purpose: STAR helps you structure a complete and compelling story that shows how you handled a real situation.

How to Apply STAR:

1. Situation:
   Set the context by briefly describing where you were and what was happening.
   “During my internship at XYZ Corp, we were preparing for a product launch...”

2. Task:
   Explain your specific responsibility or what needed to be done.
   “I was tasked with creating a marketing plan for the launch with a very limited budget.”

3. Action:
   Describe what you did, step-by-step. Focus on your contributions, even if you were part of a team.
   “I conducted market research, analyzed competitors, and developed a digital strategy using social media and email campaigns...”

4. Result:
   Share the outcome. Use numbers or evidence if possible.
   “The campaign helped exceed our engagement goals by 40% and came in 15% under budget.”

CAR Method:

Challenge → Action → Result

Purpose: CAR is a slightly simpler version of STAR and works well for emphasizing problem-solving and achievements.

How to Apply CAR:

1. Challenge:
   What problem or difficult situation did you face?
   “Customer complaints were rising due to shipping delays.”

2. Action:
   What did you do to solve it?
   “I worked with the logistics team to revise our fulfillment process and update customer communication templates.”

3. Result:
   What happened as a result of your actions?
   “Customer satisfaction scores improved by 25% within a month.”

When to Use STAR vs. CAR:

• Use STAR when the interviewer is asking for a more detailed and structured answer.

• Use CAR when you need to be brief but impactful or are asked for multiple examples in rapid succession.

• Both frameworks help keep your answers clear, relevant, and memorable.

Pro Tips for Both:

• Always focus on your individual contribution (use “I” not “we”).

• Practice common behavioral questions using STAR or CAR ahead of time.

• Try to match your examples to the skills listed in the job description.

• Use numbers and outcomes whenever possible to demonstrate impact.

A thank you note is a must after going to an interview. Do not skip this step! We encourage you to provide a handwritten thank you note if possible. Be sure to grab a business card at the end of your interview so you have the information of the note recipient. 

Here's a sample thank you note. Yours should be personal to you and your experience with the interviewer. Remember, this is a chance to help build real human connection while showing off your professional polish!

Dear Ms. Jones,

Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me about the internship opportunity at Cactus Feeders. I truly appreciated the chance to learn more about your operations, your values-driven approach to agriculture, and the role this internship plays in supporting your mission.

As a student at West Texas A&M University with a strong interest in sustainable livestock production and ag-business, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to a company that is not only committed to innovation and efficiency, but also to people and community. Our conversation reinforced my enthusiasm for the position, and I’m eager for the possibility to learn from and work alongside the Cactus Feeders team.

Please let me know if there’s any additional information I can provide. Thank you again for your time and consideration—I hope to have the opportunity to be a part of your impactful work.

Sincerely,
Bucky Buffalo
(806) 651-2345
bbuffalo1@wtamu.edu
West Texas A&M University | Class of 2028

1. Don’t Rush – Ask for Time

• Always thank the employer and express enthusiasm.

• Politely ask for a few days to consider (or longer if needed):
  “Thank you so much for the offer. I’m very excited and would love a few days to review the details before making a final decision.”

2. Review the Offer Thoroughly

• Salary – Is it fair for your role, location, and experience?

• Benefits – Look for health insurance, retirement plans, vacation/sick time, tuition reimbursement, wellness, etc.

• Job Responsibilities – Do they match what you discussed in the interview?

• Work Environment – Remote, hybrid, in-person? What’s the culture like?

• Growth Potential – Are there clear development opportunities?

• Start Date & Location – Are they realistic for your situation?

3. Compare Offers Objectively

Use a decision matrix or scoring system to weigh the factors most important to you (e.g., compensation, work-life balance, mission alignment, location, etc.).

4. Do Your Research

• Check salary ranges on websites like:

  • Glassdoor

  • Payscale

  • Salary.com

• Talk to mentors or career advisors for insights into typical offers in your field.

5. Be Ready to Negotiate (Respectfully)

• Focus on value, not demands. Highlight your skills, market rates, or competing offers.

• You can negotiate more than salary: try benefits, title, start date, relocation, or professional development support.

• Example script:
  “Based on my research and the scope of the role, I was hoping we could explore a base salary closer to $55,000. Is that something we can consider?”

6. Get the Final Offer in Writing

• Ensure everything—salary, bonuses, title, responsibilities, start date—is clearly documented in the official offer letter or contract before accepting.

7. Trust Your Gut

• Pay attention to red flags (rushed processes, unclear duties, vague responses, poor communication).

• If it doesn't feel right—even with good pay—it might not be the right fit.

8. Graciously Decline (If Needed)

• Thank the employer for the offer and their time.

• Keep it positive—you never know when your paths might cross again.

• Sample message:
  “Thank you again for the opportunity to join your team. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to pursue another opportunity that aligns more closely with my goals at this time. I truly appreciate the offer and your interest in me.”

Helpful Tools & Templates