Interviewing Strategies and Tactics for Success

When preparing for an interview remember potential employers like to know three things about applicants–what are their professional goals; how will this position contribute to them meeting those goals; and what will they do to contribute at the various levels of the institution, agency, organization or company.   What can applicants do to have a successful interview?  It comes down to preparation and planning.  When should applicants start preparing for a potential job interview? How should they start preparing?  To prepare, what materials should applicants investigate?  Do these types of questions sound familiar?  They are questions job candidates ask or should be asking of themselves when applying for positions.  The goal of our presentation is to provide guidance on how job applicants can prepare for a successful interview whether they are pursuing a full-time academic or non-academic position.  Recommendations are based on our experiences, information gleaned from colleagues who have worked in academic and non-academic positions, and from research on professional development needs of individuals seeking professional positions and what employers want.  We will discuss interviewing tactics and strategies associated with six themes ranging from the need to understand the interview structure to how to be prepared for “inappropriate” questions.