Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to sub menu navigation College of Liberal Arts Logo and The University of Texas Logo The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts
leftNavImage

Image Career Services

Upcoming Events

Interviewing Information

The following information will help you prepare for your big interview day. For individual help, visit with a career advisor to review your interviewing skills and to schedule a mock interview.

Etiquette: Surviving the Lunch or Dinner Interview

Preparing for the Interview

What should I do to prepare in advance for an interview?

  • You cannot over-prepare. Preparation speaks volumes about your interest level.
  • Preparation will make you more confident.
  • Consider doing a mock interview at Liberal Arts Career Services.
  • Research: web site; materials; think up questions; why are you going to this interview?
  • Know yourself: interests, hobbies, talents, abilities, current goals, past experiences.
  • Practice: Over and over. Develop upbeat responses. Handle negatives.
  • Wear appropriate clothes: play it safe, conservative. Wear what you think your boss would wear.

How should I prepare on the interview day?

  • You should begin preparing for your interview well before the interview date by making sure your suit or professional attire is neat, clean and ironed. You should also prepare copies of your resume for the interviewer(s).
  • Make sure you know where you're going. Consider a practice run to the site so you'll know how long it takes to get there. If the interview is in our office, visit us before the interview to check out our interview rooms.
  • On the morning of your interview, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to relax and eat a good breakfast. You can also use the morning for time to review the company website and job posting.
  • Arrive at the interview at least 15 minutes early to give you time to relax and review your resume and any company literature which the recruiter may make available. You should also review the key points you want to convey about yourself. Turn off your cell phone, PDA alarms, watch alarms, etc. And remember to smile.

top^

Interview Tips


Making a First Impression

  • Use a firm handshake and a pleasant smile.
  • Look the interviewer in the eye.
  • If you're a smoker or coffee drinker, use a breath mint a few minutes before your interview.

What They're Looking For

  • Communication skills.
  • Problem-solving: a logical path to an answer, key variables, reasonable assumptions, conclusions.
  • Quantitative ability: try to quantify your responses at every opportunity.
  • Business sense: knowledge of basic vocabulary- revenue profit, gross margin vs. net.
  • Common sense.
  • Good work ethic.
  • Ability to fit in.

During the Interview

  • Sell yourself.
  • Speak clearly and have a strong handshake.
  • What do you want them to know about you when you leave? What do you want them to remember?
  • Have 3 or 4 points you want to get across.
  • Link yourself and your background to the job.
  • Develop several short stories that emphasize your skills.
  • Pick up cues from your interviewer.
  • Be positive- enthusiasm counts. End "negative" stories on an upbeat.
  • Be your "best" self: don't be something you're not, but be the best of what you are.
  • Don't be negative about previous work experiences or bosses or boring tasks you were assigned.
  • Be sure you communicate well. It's not the interviewer's job to drag information out of you.
  • Develop 2-3 questions to ask the interviewer.
  • Ask about current issues, current events, etc., as they apply to the industry or position.
  • Ask questions that you want to know the answer to.
  • Ask who succeeds in this position.
  • Ask about potential career paths.

top^

What questions might I be asked?

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • How would your friends describe you?
  • Why are you pursuing this position?
  • Describe an accomplishment of which you are most proud.
  • Why do you want to work for ____?
  • What makes you different from other candidates?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What strengths/weakness do you bring to this position?
  • Why did you choose the University of Texas? (Watch how you answer this one: the interviewer might be an A&M graduate! Don't put down other schools or imply that Texas is the only good school in the state!)
  • How did you select your major?
  • Describe the course which has had the greatest impact on your thinking.
  • How did you become involved in your extracurricular activities?
  • If you could make a major policy change at the University of Texas, what would it be?
  • What would you like to be doing 5 or 10 years from now?
  • With what kind of people do you like to work?
  • What would you like me to know that's not on your resume?
  • What is your favorite book/movie/song and who is your favorite author/actor/singer?
  • What books, magazines or newspapers do you read regularly?
  • What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
  • Have you ever failed at anything?

top^

What type of questions should I ask?

  • How is the organization structured in terms of divisions, departments, etc.?
  • What is your corporate culture like? How would you compare it with the culture of your competitors?
  • Where are the majority of job openings located?
  • Will/could there be relocation immediately or after a few years?
  • Is this job the result of increased expansion or new growth?
  • Would budget cuts affect this position?
  • What are the duties and responsibilities of this position?
  • What are your expectations for new hires?
  • What kind of training program does the organization have? How long is the training program? Can an individual go through it in a shorter length of time? At his/her own pace? When does it begin?
  • What is the organization’s policy on advancement? What is the realistic time frame for advancement?
  • Could you describe some typical career paths employees have taken in your organization? What about those employees who began in the same position for which I am interviewing? How recent are these examples and have opportunities changed enough so that someone in this position today may not follow the same path?
  • Would you describe your own advancement in the organization?
  • How much travel is involved in the job? How often? In what cities?
  • What type of new products is the organization developing?
  • Do you have any plans for new products or acquisitions?
  • What are the organization’s plans for future growth?
  • How has the organization changed in the past ten years?
  • What direction will the organization be taking in the next five years?
  • How are employees evaluated? How often?
  • How would you describe the organization’s management philosophy?
  • Is there a possibility that this organization might be sold or acquired by another organization in the near future? If so, how would it affect the present employees?
  • Has the organization experienced any lay-offs in recent years?
  • What are your policies regarding continuing education for employees? Is there a tuition reimbursement policy?
  • Would there be an increase in salary after completion of a higher degree? Would it make advancement easier?
  • What makes your organization different from its competitors?
  • Do you hire solely from within for your executive/management positions?
  • How much contact would I have with management?
  • How has the organization grown in recent years?
  • Is your organization involved in charitable or community service activities?
  • Will I be encouraged to attend professional conferences?
  • What kind of person (what types of qualities) are you looking for?
  • Who are the other people I would be working with? Will I have a chance to meet them?
  • Would I be assigned to a specific department or rotate throughout the organization?
  • What specific skills or experiences would help someone do well in this position?
  • Can you tell me about the last two employees that held this position? What are they doing now? (This either will reaffirm the recruiter’s assertion about the organization’s preference for promoting from within or it will offer a glimpse into a possible problem area.)
  • What is your time frame for this position? If I were offered a position, when would I start?
  • When do you expect to make a decision regarding the next step in the interview process?

top^

Are there different interview formats?

Each interview is different, depending on the job, the company and the recruiter. You will be greeted by a recruiter and walked to the appointed interview room. Don't forget to shake the recruiter's hand and greet him/her. The recruiter may or may not engage in small talk during your walk to the room. In the interview room, be prepared to greet additional interviewers (if group interview) and to remember the names and titles of the interviewers. Most interviews will be one-on-one, but some companies conduct interviews in teams of two.

Most interviews are in the behavioral format, others are case-based, while others may be less formal.

  • Behavioral Based Interviewing: Behavioral based interviews focus on your experiences and how you acted in these experiences. They look for problem solving, decision making, leadership, communication, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, planning and organization, and the ability to motivate.
  • Case Interviewing: Case interviewing is often used for consulting and investment banking positions. In a case interview, the focus is placed on your analytical and critical thinking abilities as you are given a business situation to process and develop. For more information about case interviews, visit the Bain & Company Ace the Case information site.

Tips for Telephone Interviewing

  • Find a nice quiet place: Sit at a desk or table – not in a common area if you have roommates!
  • Remove distractions: Turn off your cell phone, pager, and the television (muting the television is not enough!); Disable call-waiting; Tell family/friends not to call or come by; Do not smoke, chew gum or pop open a soda can during the interview.  (They can hear everything!)
  • Use a land line: Do not use a cell or speaker phone.  You are completely depending on your ability to hear and be heard.  Do not risk a cell phone that may cut out on you or a speaker phone that may not have the best transmission.
  • Answer the phone!: Do not let a roommate answer – you should be the one to answer.
  • Have your materials within reach: Resume, Job Description, Printed Company Research.
  • Demonstrate that you listened carefully. Listen carefully and speak clearly and slowly. If you didn’t understand or hear, ask for clarification. When you respond, remember your voice is doing ALL the work so pay attention to sounding enthusiastic.  Put a smile in your voice!
  • Don’t ramble: the recruiter is most likely writing down notes, so there may be a moment or two of silence after you have completed your response.  Don’t just fill up the silence!  If you have answered the question completely, simply sit quietly and wait for the next question.  If you are not sure you have answered the question completely, ASK!  “Have I answered your question?”
  • Acknowledge that you are listening: When you are listening to a detailed response from the interviewer (example an overview of the company or the interviewing process), do provide some kind of acknowledgement that you are listening!  “Yes”, “Mmm Hmm”, “I understand” etc.  This lets them know you are still on the line and that you are listening to what they are saying!
  • Consider dressing for the interview: Consider dressing in business casual attire.  It puts you in a more professional frame of mind to conduct the interview.  At the very least – be showered and dressed for the day
  • Miscellaneous: Have a glass of water available.  You will likely be nervous and you may end up needing a small drink of water.  Be sure to move the speaker portion of the phone away from your mouth/throat when you drink.  Otherwise, they will hear you swallow.  Also, consider having some tissues available.  If you have a cold or you sneeze for some reason, you’ll want to have the tissue close by!

Follow-up after the interview

  • Be clear about what happens next.
  • Take notes quickly after you leave the interview: what you learned about the company, impressions of the interviewer.
  • Write a thank-you note promptly.
  • Express your appreciation for the interview.
  • Reconfirm your interest in the job.
  • Underline how much you think your background and skills complement the position.

top^

LACS Interview Advising & Mock Interviews

Our career advisors are on hand to help you through the interview process. We offer one-on-one advising to discuss jobs, companies and industries and to help strategize how to get the interview and how to have a successful interview. As part of our interview preparation services, we offer mock interviews.

Mock Interviews: A mock interview is “trial run” into the interview process.  One of the Liberal Arts Career Services Coaches will simulate an actual interview, much like you would experience in the formal interview process.  After the interview is completed, the coach will provide constructive feedback and suggestions to enhance your interviewing skills. A mock interview will last approximately 20 minutes.  The Career Coach will ask you a series of sample interview questions.  They will provide feedback on your performance and answer any questions you may have about the interviewing process.

For career advising details, including interview advising times or how to schedule a mock interview, please visit our Advising page.

top^

LACS On-Campus Interviewing

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, Liberal Arts Career Services hosts a variety of employers on campus in order to connect with you at career fairs, company information sessions and on-campus interviews.

Off-Campus Interviews: Many employers will invite you to interview in their company/organization offices; much of the information on this page relates to off-campus interviews as well.

How does on-campus interviewing work?

On-campus interviews are hosted in our office, Liberal Arts Career Services, in FAC 18. We have five interview rooms. Each room is private and will allow you to meet with the interviewer in a safe and comfortable environment. If you would like to get an advance look at our interview rooms before interviewing, please drop by our office; we are more than happy to give you a tour!

How do I sign up?

To participate in on-campus interviewing, you should begin by opening an account with LiberalArts@Work, our online system. LiberalArts@Work provides access to upload your resume and cover letter and to search for upcoming job and schedule application deadlines. In the system, Jobs are jobs or internship for which you can apply online, but the employer will not conduct interviews in our office. Schedules, on the other hand, are jobs or internships for which employers will conduct interviews in our office.

To sign up for a schedule (interview opportunity), you must first have your resume uploaded, as well as a cover letter if the position requires one. You can then follow the detailed instructions to apply for an interview slot. If you are accepted, you will receive an email describing how to select a time slot.

Access your LiberalArts@Work account or create a new account to begin your on-campus recruiting experience.

Etiquette: Surviving the Lunch or Dinner Interview

The lunch or dinner interview is fraught with potential disaster. Suddenly all those manners your mother tried to teach you years ago take on new importance. This is a chance for your potential employer to see you in a non office setting, where you're more likely to be caught off guard. Stay alert. Even if the group seems to be casual and discussion more oriented toward non-work topics, don't forget you're being interviewed all the while. You want to fit in and not be too uptight, but don't get so casual that you say or do something you later regret. The following tips and guidelines may help you get through.

Some General Guidelines

Table manners reveal a lot about you so pay attention to your eating habits.

  • Follow the lead of the interviewer. Eat when s/he eats; stop when s/he stops.
  • Don't order alcohol during interview-related activities; stress can increase the effects of alcohol.
  • Order foods that are easy to eat and not messy. Watch out for salads and over-stuffed sandwiches.
  • Don't order too much food or over-fill your plate at a buffet.
  • Keep the conversation lively and pleasant.
  • Do not talk about diets, foods that you are allergic to or foods you don't like.
  • If six people or less are at the table, wait until all are served before starting to eat.
  • At a buffet where 8 or 10 people are at a table, wait until half the table has returned before starting to eat.

Alcohol

If alcohol is served, or everyone else is having a drink:

  • Try to stick with something non-alcoholic such as club soda or iced tea
  • If pressed, order a glass of wine or a beer
  • If you know you drink fast when you're nervous, order a drink you hate.
  • If you do have a drink, HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE.
  • If the waiter tries to pour more from the bottle of wine at table, put your hand over the glass. That's the polite way to say “no.”

Smoking

Don't do it unless you're interviewing with a tobacco company.

Utensils

  • Keep cups and glasses at top of your place setting and well away from you, as most glasses are knocked over at a cluttered table when someone gestures or reaches for condiments.
  • When faced with an array of forks and spoons, it is safe to start at the outside and work your way in.
  • Keeps your elbows at your side (not on the table) and don't slouch.
  • When you're done, put your knife and fork at 5 o'clock

Eating

  • Never speak with your mouth full.
  • Try to order the same– or a similar–dish that the employer does (If you have to order first, compliment the restaurant choice, and ask what the recruiter recommends).
  • Do not change your order once it's made: never send food back.
  • Be polite to the waiters.
  • Don't order expensive food. You're there to talk, not eat.
  • Eat what you know. Stay away from messy, awkward, or exotic foods. Don't get finger foods like lobster or spare ribs. Avoid spaghetti.
  • Don't eat with your hands unless it's a sandwich.

top^