UI Collab, in partnership with Gardner Innovation Search Partners and Higher Talent, works with leading organizations across academia, industry, and government offering executive search services and recruitment for roles that support research, innovation, and university–industry collaboration.
When job searching, there is a 99.99% chance that an interview will be part of the search process. And for most people, interviewing is something you will only do once every few years, so it is always good to have a refresher. And while the questions the interviewer asks may change, here are some interview basics to make sure you are presenting your best self to the interview committee:
1. First impressions matter. From the moment you walk into the building (or log on to the Zoom meeting), your interview has begun. You need to treat everyone you meet with respect, smile, dress appropriately, and be ready with extra copies of your resume and other supplemental documents. And remember – you are showcasing your best self, so you can never be overdressed for an interview.
2. Tell me about yourself…but please do it succinctly. Nothing is worse than a candidate who spends 15 minutes answering “So tell me a little bit about yourself.” The goal of this question is two-fold; do you understand the job and are you able to tell in a few sentences why you are interested in this role? Your answer should reflect that understanding; anything else is just fluff. There will be follow up questions to better gauge your fit for the role – you don’t need to fill in all the blanks with this very first question. The interviewer does not need your entire work or life history. This question should take 2-3 minutes to answer, tops. And if you feel like you have a few extra seconds, you can fill it in with your interests at the end. And always stick to neutral subjects in the interview.
3. Stay focused on the question they ask. How you answer a question is just as telling as what you say. Even if it was not your intention to go off track, they may think you are trying to avoid answering the question. If you forget part of the question, it is completely acceptable to confirm by asking, “Was there another part to the question?” or “Did I answer your question completely?” But, going off on a long-winded tangent about something else will just leave the interview bored and wondering if you actually paid attention to the question at hand.
4. Have questions for them. Have at least 3-5 questions prepared, but pay attention to time. You also want to make sure they are thoughtful and relevant to the role – do not ask about salary at this point. This is another opportunity to show that you have thought about the position and how you fit in with the team.
5. Always write a thank you and use it reiterate your interest. You need to make sure you take every opportunity to further showcase your interest, skills, and enthusiasm for the position. A thank you email allows you to thank the interviewer, but also highlight any important information you learned and any details you want to make sure they know about you and your candidacy for the role. In addition, a hand-written thank you goes the extra mile. Write an email, so the interviewers get it right away, but also handwrite a note and mail it as soon as possible.
Interviewing is a balancing act, and it takes practice. It never hurts to go over common interview questions and prepare your answers ahead of time. If you have the skills necessary for the job and you have prepared, you will feel more confident and the interview will flow like a conversation. After all, the goal of the interview is not to scare you away from the job – it is to find the right fit to join the team. By preparing, you are setting yourself up for a better interview experience, for both yourself and the interviewers!
UI-Collab works with leading organizations across academia, industry, and government to recruit high-level talent for roles that support research, innovation, and university–industry collaboration.
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This information has been provided in partnership with Gardner Innovation Search Partners. For more, explore our UI Pulse archives and follow us on social media.