Interview Prep

Today's candidates need to be prepared to succeed in multiple interview settings.

The CCD is Here to Help!

Our team can coach you through various interview scenarios as well as connect you with industrial professionals for additional guidance. You can schedule a mock interview via Handshake or email careers@mail.wvu.edu for assistance.

Communicating Throughout The Interview Process: View our resources on developing a strong follow-up plan so that you can leave a lasting impression on recruiters and hiring managers throughout the interview process.

Types of Interviews

Behavioral Interviews: Behavior-based interviewing is a technique used in which the job candidate has the opportunity to demonstrate their potential for succeeding in the new job by providing specific examples of how they handled similar situations based on their past experience. Scroll down to learn how to answer questions using the C.A.R. Method.

Pre-Recorded Interviews: Pre-recorded interviews allow recruiters to more quickly and efficiently find the right candidate for the job. Employers will send you a few questions that all candidates will have to answer in a video of themselves. Learn about HireVue's pre-recorded interviewing platform.

Technical Interviews: Technical interviews test candidates on their technical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. These help an employer to see how a candidate may approach and solve a specific problem relevant to the job.

Case Interviews: Case interviews are used by employers to gauge how you would handle the business situation that you might face in the job you’re interviewing for. These interviews can help you to demonstrate your soft skills and what you’ve learned in your experiences that have prepared you for the job. View Deloitte's Case Interview Prep resource.

C.A.R. Method for Crafting Answers

You might also hear the common acronym S.T.A.R. (situation, task, action, result) for crafting interview answers. C.A.R is an effective, yet more simplified, acronym.

C – Context: Provide a clear image of the scenario or background.

"In my previous brand management role, I worked on creating social media content for the company utilizing Facebook and Instagram.

A – Action: Describe what you specifically did. Be detailed and use “I” language to show your contributions.

"In order to increase followers on the company platforms, I began by posting regularly and made sure the post was engaging for the audience."

R – Results/Reflection: These results can be positive, showcasing how you were successful, or your results can provide details about the things that you learned from this experience and how you improved going forward.

"My increased posting an engagement with our followers helped increase our follower count by 45%."

Example 1: Tell me about a project you managed.

C: What was the background or situation?
A: What actions did you take?
R: What outcome did this achieve? What did you learn?

"In my last role as a Compensation & Benefits HR Intern, I was tasked with analyzing existing pay levels for the electric division of the company. I completed market research on salary and hourly wages at competing companies and discovered the company was slightly underpaying for certain roles that were also experiencing high turnover. I prepared a report in Excel and designed an accompanying slide deck to present to senior leadership. They agreed with my recommendation to increase pay in line with market rates and implemented it for the next cohort."

Example 2: Tell me about a time when you had to work in a group and there was a conflict. How did you handle it?

C: As part of my internet marketing class, my group and I had to create a digital business and a website. During the project, we worked together to understand each of our strengths and divided up the tasks accordingly. As the deadline approached, one of our group members was not completing their assigned portion.

A: To ensure we finished on time, I first reached out to that team member to check in and see if they could complete their part. When they let me know they wouldn’t be able to, I coordinated with the rest of the group to redistribute the remaining work so nothing would be missed.

R: We successfully completed the entire project on time and earned a high grade. The professor even noted that our business concept was strong enough to be competitive in the real market.

Craft Compelling Answers

Want to tell a potential employer that you’re creative? A problem solver? Flexible? Well-worn phrases won’t help you get the job, but concrete examples will!

Don’t say	The story you need to tell
Highly qualified	Highlight your accomplishments in previous jobs. Emphasize your specific skills and note any certifications you have earned.
Hard worker	Explain exactly how you've gone the extra mile for your job. For instance, did you regularly meet tough deadlines, handle a high volume of projects, or tackle tasks outside your job description?
Team player	Provide examples of how you worked with colleagues or individuals in other departments to meet an objective or complete a project.
Problem solver	Highlight a difficult situation you encountered and how you handled it.
Flexible	Describe how you responded to a major change at work (or in your schoolwork) or dealt with the unpredictable aspects of your job.
People person	Can you offer examples of your strong communication skills? Can you describe how you’ve worked with co-workers and customers?
Self-starter	What can you contribute immediately to the company or to the department you work in? Describe how you took action when you saw an issue that needed to be fixed.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.