University of Minnesota Athletics

Interviewing

Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to practice your interview skills (mock interview). Depending on your comfort and skill-level, you can expect the counselor to go over general tips, teach strategies for answering questions, practice common interview questions, and provide feedback for improvement.

Download the Interview Prep Guide

Check out this Interview Prep Guide to learn how to answer common interview questions, how to prepare your own questions, how to follow-up after the interview, and access a variety of practice questions.
 

General Interview Tips  

  • In-person interviews - know where you need to go, park, check-in, etc. Plan for enough travel time to allow you to be checked-in about 10 minutes before the interview. Sit down, relax, and keep your phone out of sight and silent. Be present and take in your surroundings. The interview has already started!
  • Video interviews - test your video and audio. Set yourself up in a quiet space with reliable Wi-Fi and good lighting. Make sure your background is neutral and tidy.
  • Dress professionally - you can usually figure out the company dress code from their website or by asking around. If you do not know what the company dress code is, you can call HR and ask.
  • Be yourself, smile, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. People that can brush off fumbling over their words or forgetting a question, show that they are good under pressure and that they’re human. Recovering from a mistake makes you more memorable and likeable...so don’t let it throw you off if it happens!
  • If you are asked to describe an experience that you don’t have, be honest about not having the exact experience but share a similar experience that shows transferable skills. “I’ve never worked with that particular content management system before, however, I quickly picked up on using WordPress in my last internship to update their website…”
  • It’s a good idea to continue your job search while you wait to hear back on an interview. This ensures that if you do not receive an offer, you will have other options to pursue.