Your resume has gotten you to the interview. Now it is time to express to the interviewer the knowledge you have gained about yourself and the organization to which you are applying. A successful interview will depend upon your ability to demonstrate a "match" between your qualifications and the needs of the employer.

Interview Checklist
Mock Interviews
Interview Structure
Interview Format
Sample General Interview Questions
Behavioral Interview Questions
Common & Difficult Interview Questions
Puzzle Interview Questions
Case Interviewing 101
On-Site Interviews
Interviewing Tips from Cornell Students

Interview Checklist 

The checklist below is a helpful tool as you practice for your job interviews. It can also be used after an actual interview to assess your performance and make note of changes for next time. 

Mock Interviews

If you have an upcoming interview or want to practice your interviewing skills, you can sign up for a mock interview with a Career Advisor.  

Please fill out the Mock Interview Preparation Form and return it to the office prior to your interview (or the day of), along with a copy of your resume.  You may also wish to email the completed form and a copy of your resume  ahead of time to the Career Advisor who will be conducting your mock interview. 

To schedule a mock interview, call 607-255-5006, or stop by the office. 

Interview Structure

The job requirements, organization’s philosophy, work environment, and interviewer’s personality all determine what type of interview you will encounter:

Question and answer
This is the most widely used interview technique. An employer asks similar questions of each candidate to compare and distinguish them from each other.

Behavior-based
Currently popular with many employers, this approach is based on the premise that knowledge of recent past behavior will likely allow one to predict future behavior. Each question probes a bit deeper to reveal more detail on your approach to past situations and the results of your efforts. A typical line of questioning might be: "Tell me about a time when others resisted an idea or procedure you introduced. What challenges did you face? How did you gain support? What happened next? What were the final results of your actions?" Respond with a "story" technique to demonstrate your behavior. First, describe a problem you faced; second, explain the actions you took; and third, detail the beneficial outcomes of your initiatives.

Case approach
In this method, an employer poses a problem relevant to the business and asks the candidate to propose logical steps to resolve it. Employers like management consulting firms might use this approach to introduce you to the kinds of questions consultants encounter on a daily basis while assessing your organizational, analytical, and problem-solving approach to unfamiliar situations.

Stress approach
This interview process evaluates your composure, confidence level, and response to adverse situations by posing questions and comments in a challenging or aggressive fashion. Interruptions, quick changes of subject, tests, and carefully worded questions are common in this interview technique. This approach is not widely used.

Interview Format

Interviews may be conducted using these various formats or combinations:

One-on-one interview
One representative employer interviews you.

Panel or group interviews
Two or more employer representatives interview you alone or in a group with other applicants.

Observation interview
You are evaluated while conducting a presentation or performing a task. This format may be used when human relations and group influence skills are important job factors.

Video interview
This format is cost-efficient for an employer located in a distant city and may occur on- or off-campus using videoconferencing equipment or a camera-mounted PC linked to the internet. Wear solid dark clothing, focus on the interviewer’s image, speak clearly, and avoid quick movements. You may keep a résumé in front of you for reference.

Telephone interview
Prepare as you would for any other interview but pay special attention to your verbal presentation. Try to schedule the call in a quiet room, free of interruptions. Take notes and have your résumé on hand to answer specific questions about your experience. Be aware that a seemingly casual phone conversation with any employer can actually be a screening interview.

Sample General Interview Questions

Practicing answers to typical interview questions will increase your confidence and potential for a successful interview. In addition, employers seek candidates who ask well informed questions based on research of the organization and career field.

Interview questions                            

Personal and career objectives

• How would you describe yourself?
• Why did you choose to study at Cornell? Why did you major in (your major)?
• What is the greatest personal challenge you have faced in college? How did you handle it?
• What are your goals for the next three (or five, or ten) years?
• What do you like to do in your leisure time?
• Who are your role models?
• What is your definition of success? Of failure?

Abilities and achievements

• What organizational techniques do you use to accomplish your academic and social goals?
• What were your past leadership roles and what did you learn from them?
• Have you had to sell your idea to others who had differing points of view? What was the outcome?
• Describe a time when you successfully balanced several competing priorities.
• Describe a frustrating experience or conflict and how you handled it. What happened then? What was the final result? (behavior-based sequence)
• What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

Work experiences

• Did you work while going to school? What positions did you hold?
• What is the best job you ever had? Why?
• What did you enjoy most or like least about your last employment?
• Have you ever quit a job? Why?   
• What has been your experience with working in a team?
• In what extracurricular activities are you involved? Why did you choose those activities?

Knowledge of the organization

• Why do you want to work for our organization?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like ours?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
• Do you prefer a large or small organization? Why?
• What qualities do you seek in a supervisor?
• How do you feel about working in a structured/unstructured environment?
• How do you feel about overtime/traveling/relocating?
• What are your salary requirements? How did you determine that?

Sample questions to ask employers

During the initial interview

• What are the major tasks and responsibilities?
• What are the priorities over the next year?
• Where does this position (or department) fit into the organization and its objectives?
• Could you show me an organizational chart?
• What does it take to succeed here? Can you give me some examples?
• How is success measured in this position and in this organization?
• What kind of orientation or training is provided?
• How much travel is required? How often is overtime required?
• Does this position function mainly alone or in a team setting?
• What is the greatest challenge currently facing this department or organization?
• What are the major strengths/weaknesses of this work group?
• How is this organization different from its competitors?
• How would you describe the organizational culture?
• What is this organization's management philosophy?
• Tell me about your own experience with this organization. What do you enjoy most/least about working here?

During subsequent interviews

• What is the history of this position, and what changes do you anticipate?
• How are geographical location assignments and transfers determined?
• How much decision-making autonomy would I have? What is the growth potential for this position a few years from now?
• What percentage of employees take advantage of the educational tuition assistance program? (Ask only if you know such a program exists.)
• What kind of staff will be available to me or to this department?
• Assuming that you received resumes from many qualified applicants, what qualifications from my resume did you find of interest, resulting in this opportunity to interview for the position? (Ask at the end of an on-site visit.)

At any point during the interview process

• What is the next step in the interview process? What is your time frame?
• What can I do to further demonstrate my interest in this position?
• Can you describe some aspects of living in this community?

Behavioral Interview Questions

Behavioral questions ask you to discuss a situation that you encountered in the past to help employers predict how you may conduct yourself in the future. Your answer to these questions should have 3 parts:
1. Describe the situation
2. Describe what you did
3. Tell the outcome
You may also want to add what you learned or what you would do differently. Examples can be drawn from work, personal, volunteer, student organizations, or classroom experiences.

Below is just a sample of behavioral questions that you may be asked. To prepare for these types of questions, review your entire resume and consider instances that you are proud of, that were difficult, or that you have learned from. 

Common & Difficult Interview Questions 

The interview questions below were compiled by Cornell Engineering Co-op students. 

Puzzle Interview Questions

During interviews, you may be asked technical and/or puzzle questions. For information visit techInterview.org and visit our office to view a copy of How Would You Move Mount Fuji?

Case Interviewing 101

On-Site Interviews

Purpose of an on-site interview
The on-site visit may be your first interview contact with the employer or may be the final step in the employment process. In either case, on-site interviews offer both parties a better chance to make informed choices. The employer has an opportunity to make a more in-depth assessment of the candidate, and the candidate has a chance to experience the work environment, interact with staff, gain hands-on information about the organization’s products or services, and tour the local area.

The invitation
An invitation to visit an employer must be acknowledged or declined in a timely manner. Accept the invitation only if you are seriously interested and have not accepted any other job offer.

The invitation may arrive by letter, telegram, or telephone. Make sure your answering machine/voice mail greetings are in good taste and that anyone taking messages for you gets complete and accurate information. Avoid conflicts with exams or project deadlines if one or more visitation dates are suggested.

The caller or writer will often become your contact for the site visit. That person may coordinate travel dates and arrangements and serve as your referral for any questions or concerns before, during, and after your visit. Ask for an interview schedule, including names of interviewers, when you agree to a site visit.

The travel plan
Understand who is responsible for expenses and travel arrangements before accepting an invitation for an on-site interview. Many employers will reimburse for legitimate expenses associated with the interview. Educational and nonprofit organizations, some government agencies, and many small employers may not pay any expenses.

Reimbursable expenses
These include round-trip and local transportation (taxi, bus, limousine, rental car, and parking fees), tips, lodging, and meals. Always collect receipts to submit for reimbursable expenses. Extravagant expenses will be viewed as a lack of responsibility and professionalism on your part.

Non-reimbursable expenses
These include personal entertainment (in-room movies, side trips, tickets for athletic/cultural events), personal telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, magazines/ newspapers, and expenses for persons other than the interviewee (except in some cases when a spouse is invited).

Travel arrangements

• Who will make reservations/arrangements?   
• What is the employer’s preferred mode of transportation and destination?
• What are the local transportation options?
• How long will you stay?
• What are the interview start/end times and commute time from/to the destination airport or    station?
• Obtain directions in advance. Telephone the employer if you need clarification.

Interviewing during meals
Meal hosts will likely provide feedback to hiring managers, and seemingly relaxed, informal meals may be part of the interview process. Your manners, poise, conversation skills, and judgment may be evaluated, especially if the position requires client contact. Follow these guidelines when interviewing during meals:

• Choose a light meal—you will be talking more than eating!
• Avoid foods that are difficult to eat or have strong flavors.
• Order menu items that are mid-range in price.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages during interviews, although one glass of wine may be permissible.

Day of the interview
The interview day can be extremely busy and long, lasting from one to eight hours. Your visit may include multiple interviews, information sessions, tours, meals, and other activities. Most on-site visits incorporate some combination of one-on-one, behavior-based, and group interview formats. Some employers may invite many candidates to visit at one time so they can observe interactions in a group or team setting.

Be prepared to answer the same questions repeatedly throughout the day. Although this can seem monotonous, you must provide thorough and enthusiastic answers every time. Employers often formally train their interviewers, and some may even assign specific areas for each interviewer to probe during their line of questioning.

Before leaving, find out how long you can expect to wait before hearing about an employment decision. If you receive a verbal job offer at the end of your interview day, you may accept it or request a defined time frame in which to make a decision.

Interviewing Tips from Cornell Students