Practice makes perfect when you need to make the best possible impression! Take advantage of the digital practice interview technology available in the career center and schedule a practice interview with your career counselor now. Call the career center at 859-257-2746 to schedule an appointment now.

There are two expectations for the practice interview. 1. You will need to dress as if you were going to a real interview for the practice interview. Be sure to wear your best suit. 2. You will need to email a copy of your resume to your career counselor prior to the interview. This allows your career counselor to tailor interview questions for you.

At the end of the interview, the employer will often ask if you have any questions for them. Be sure to show your interest in the position by asking questions. As with answer questions, it helps to have in mind a number of questions which demonstrate your interest in the industry and knowledge of the employer.

Examples of questions you might ask include:

• What do you do in a typical week?
• What is the career progression for employees with my skill set?
• What do you like most about working here?
• What do you like least about working here?
• What do you consider to be the key issues on which this position will focus?
• What are the primary results you would like to see me produce?
• What is the performance appraisal process?
• When do you expect to make a hiring decision?
• What are the next steps in the hiring process?
• May I contact you if I have additional questions? (Be sure to ask for a business card)

Immediately after your interview write down impressions, answers to questions, and when you were told that you can expect to hear from the organization regarding next steps. Note the names of people you met, such as members of a department or secretaries. Try to analyze how well you did. Did you cover points you intended to cover? What areas could you improve on?

Write a follow-up thank you letter. It is necessary to write a follow-up letter after each campus interview. If you had multiple interviewers, then send each a thank you letter and be sure to include unique information in each letter. Some recruiters say that they wait to see which students will send a follow-up letter before determining who will receive an invitation for second interviews.

View a sample follow up letter (DOC).

There are many types of interviews. When you schedule an interview, try to get as much information about whom you will be meeting and the style of interview. It is rare to only have one interview prior to a job offer. Most employers will interview a candidate a number of times so you may experience one or more of the interview types described here.

On-campus interview

Representatives from major organizations come to UK's campus to interview students for positions throughout the year. This is a great chance to land an interview! Sign up for these interviews through Wildcat CareerLink.

Traditional face to face interview

This is a one-on-one conversation. Your focus should be on the person asking the questions. Maintain eye contact, listen and respond once a question has been asked. This is your chance to establish rapport with the interviewer and convince them that your qualifications have prepared you for the position.

Behavioral

This type of interview is based on the premise that the best way to predict future behavior is to determine past behavior in a similar situation. These interviews focus on questions that ask for examples of past situations which demonstrate your skills. Remember, the interviewer is looking for results and listening for names, dates, places, the outcome, and your role in achieving that outcome. This style of interview is gaining wide acceptance among recruiters. Many employers use this style of interviewing to assure that every candidate has a fair interviewing experience and the same questions are asked of every candidate. See sample questions above for examples.

Panel/Committee Interview

There is more than one interviewer in this situation. This is your chance to highlight your group management and group presentation skills. Try to 'read' the various personality types of the interviewer and find a way to connect with each interviewer. Maintain eye contact with the panel member who asked the question but also seek eye contact with other members of the panel as you answer.

Case

This style of interviewing is used most frequently by consulting firms. They have long been used to see a candidate's thought processes in motion. In these interviews, you are given a problem to solve. Cases may assess you ability to analyze complex open-ended business problems.

Interview at the organization's site

This interview takes place at the organization. It is an interview to decide which applicants should continue in the process and to confirm the initial impression made by the recruiter who recommended the candidate. A company tour may be part of this interview.

Telephone screening

Employers may choose to conduct a telephone interview to screen applicants and make the first cut to determine if they want to arrange a face-to-face meeting. It is important to treat this interview as you would a face-to-face one. Arrange for a quiet space and time for the interview. It is important to use a land line rather than a cell phone so that you do not risk being disconnected in the middle of the interview. Contact your career counselor to reserve a room with a land line in the career center. Be sure to listen to the questions carefully before you answer. Since your voice is key, speak clearly and convey energy with the inflection in your voice.

Group Interview

This is more than one candidate in this situation. The front-runner candidates are gathered together in a discussion type interview. The goal of the group interview is to see how you interact with others and how you use your knowledge and reasoning to influence others.

Lunch/Dinner Interview

This interview takes place over a meal. The same rules apply at a meal as those in the office so even if the setting is more casual, remember it is a business meal and you are being watched carefully. Follow the interviewers lead in both selection of food and etiquette. Do not drink alcohol at any point in the interview process.