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FORMULA FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING

Follow the four-part formula to prepare responses to open-ended questions like:

• Tell us about yourself.
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your strengths?
• Tell us how you are the best candidate for this position.
  
  

1.EDUCATION

    Establish that you are a student.

• State your student status-undergraduate or graduate student and your class standing
• State your major and your specific interests in the field of study

II.EMPHASIZE YOUR INTERESTS AND SKILLS RELATED TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION
    [include concrete examples]

III. DISCUSS YOUR EXPERIENCE RELATED TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION
    [include concrete examples]

IV.DESCRIBE 1-2 PERSONAL QUALITIES

Use scratch paper to draft responses to I,II,III, and IV above

Make sure responses relate to the job for which you are applying. Study the job description carefully and respond to the skills the employer is looking for.

Always follow-up any statement about yourself with a concrete example (see example below)

"I feel like I have very good writing skills. For example, I've had two articles published recently in the Davis newspaper. I've also had magazine articles published in the Field and Stream and Parents magazines."

For personal qualities, choose one or two and give examples. Qualities you might mention include enthusiastic, motivated, creative, honest, dependable, punctual.