Posted by Anne Lapour, Career Counselor

Do you have an interview coming up?  If so, good for you!  But are you ready?  Chances are, you’re planning to prepare some answers to the typical questions.  You know, “Why are you interested in this position?” and “What’s your greatest strength?”  But did you know there are other types of interviews as well?  The traditional interview is just one type, and it’s important to know what type of interview you’re walking into.  And once you do…practice, practice, practice!

This article walks you through 5 different types of interviews, with great info on how you should handle each one.

Posted by Anne, Career Counselor

Let’s say you have a really important interview coming up.  (This is no doubt because you attended our fall Career Fair and you scored an on-campus interview opportunity!)  Anyway, you’ve done your prep work.  You’ve prepared a list of strengths and weaknesses, generated your top 5 “success stories” from college, and practiced in front of the mirror til you’re tired of looking at yourself.  You waltz into that interview room, and nail those questions.  And then the interviewer asks…

“So, where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Yikes.  The one question you didn’t prepare for.  You were so focused on what you’ve done that you forgot to explore where you’re going.  You’re so focused on this job, that you forgot to plan ahead.  This is common, and this particular question can be a tough one.  The best answer will differ depending on your industry, but here are some great pointers and some responses you want to avoid when elaborating on your future goals.

Now back to the mirror…more practice!

Did you know….

Research shows that 55% of overall perception is based on looks.

It may seem unfair, but when you walk into a job interview, but looking ‘the part’ for a job interview is just as important as what you have to say about yourself and articulating your job qualifications.

It’s important to know your audience when interviewing.  You may not want to wear a three-piece-suit to an interview with MTV, but you also want to err on the side of conservative and professional.

Check out this funny, but helpful, video about how to dress for success in a job interview. Following some of these helpful tips will guarantee that from the start, you’re a cut above your competition!

Have you ever played the question game with friends or family where you ask off-the-wall silly questions like, if you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be and why? Well, if you haven’t played that game, you might want to start!

According to Dana Knight, as published in USA Today, interview questions for jobs are getting trickier, and more random! While questions like, which movie star would make the best employee or what color best describes you, seem crazy, the reality is potential employers are assessing your creativity, looking to find out how you best think on your feet, and trying to shake up the interview process.

Career Choice Guide offered helpful tips on how to deal with crazy interview questions.  They suggest: 1) give an answer that reveals something positive about yourself, 2) take time to think about the question and be intentional about your answer, and 3) avoid cliché answers.

There’s no perfect way to prepare for extreme interview questions, but it can be fun to learn what other job seekers have experienced in their interview process. Below is a compilation of some of the most random interview questions asked. Take a moment and think how you might respond to these questions!

• If you could each lunch with one of the founding fathers, who would it be and why?
• If you had to be a tree, what would you be and why?
• Which animal do you most resemble and why?
• Are you more like a placid pool of water or running horse?
• What beverage at Starbucks would you compare yourself to and why?
• If I take a look inside of your refrigerator what would I find?
• Do you like Tom or Jerry?
• How would you react if you were transformed into a fish?