Interview Styles
Behavioral, Case, Resume and Technical
Have you ever wondered what attributes employers look for in candidates and how they can evaluate if a candidate is right for the job? After polling over 60 on campus recruiters in a variety of industries we learned that the five most sought after competencies include: communication skills, leadership skills, problem solving skills, team player and fit. So how do they know who has these skills and who doesn’t? They know by conducting an interview.
Generally speaking there are four main styles of interviewing. The secret to successfully mastering any or all of the styles listed below is ample preparation. Before entering any interviewing scenario, be sure that you have researched the company; can confidently articulate your strengths, weaknesses, goals and achievements; conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times; and ask thoughtful, intelligent questions that demonstrate your knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for the company and position.
Note: It is not unusual for an interviewer to use one or more of these approaches during an interview.
Behavioral Interviews
The most common of all types of interviews, the basic premise is that “past behavior predicts future success”. Typically, you will be asked a series of standardized questions. With each answer, you will be expected to convey specific examples of behaviors that the interviewer will use to assess your proficiency in one or more job related competencies. These competencies can include the ones listed above in addition to anything from customer/client service to flexibility to project management. Here is an example of a question that is focused on evaluating your leadership skills: “Give me an example of a time in which your positive example influenced others to be more committed to a project or task”.
Case Interviews
If you are pursuing opportunities in the consulting or banking industry, you should be prepared for a case interview. The case interview involves you being presented with a business problem or scenario that mimics what you may encounter in a real-life work situation. You will then be “assessed” on how well you analyze, conclude, and present your findings or recommendations. For example, “your client is having a serious cash flow problem and needs to reduce its costs, how might you proceed from here?” Sometimes, the business problem you are faced with will involve a labyrinth of information including flow charts, diagrams and graphs to be used as aids in your reaching a final conclusion or recommendation.
Another popular type of case interview is the “guess the number” scenario. For example, “How many beds are there in the United States?” or even, “how much does a 747 weigh?”
Resume Interviews
It is common for a resume interview to be combined with a behavioral interview and, in some circumstances, a case interview. For example, the interviewer may ask you a question based on something they saw on your resume, “tell me a little about your experience at Bentley University.” Or, “What was it like studying abroad?” For a case interview, it may sound something like, “I see you worked at Pizzeria Uno. How many pizzas do you suppose the restaurant sells on a Saturday night?” When answering resume based questions, it is important to articulate what you specifically did in the job, activity or class they are referring to and to explain the skills you developed as a result of your experience.
Technical Interviews
Technical interviews involve testing the applicant on the systems or processes necessary to be successful in the position. For example, if one of your primary job responsibilities includes creating presentations, you may be asked to devise a slide show in PowerPoint. Or, if your job requires that you speak Spanish fluently, it is conceivable that the interviewer will conduct the interview in Spanish. Technical questions are common in information technology positions where one must be proficient in computer languages. An example is, “I see you know C++, how have you used this language and what can you tell me about it?” or “Can you demonstrate how you would create a document with this program?”
Practice interviewing before you go in for the real thing. Schedule a mock interview with a career counselor. We can tell you what you are doing well and what you need to improve upon.
For sample questions, see our interviewing handouts. On our website and in our office you will find a detailed, one page handout on each of the interview styles.
