Washington State University Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 37
Career & Resume Guide
for Cougs, 2024 Edition
Have Proper Materials
Bring a quality pen, folio with several copies of your resume,
cover letter, job description, and reference sheets.
DURING YOUR INTERVIEW
It's totally normal to feel nervous during an interview, so don’t stress about it. The interviewer is mainly focused on
finding someone with the right skills and genuine interest in the job. It’s your job to help them get to know you better.
There are several types of interview formats, however, the most common interview types/formats are listed
below. If possible, when scheduling your interview, inquire about the interview type/format you will be
participating in.
SCREENING
INTERVIEW
ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEW
PANEL
INTERVIEW
PEER GROUP
INTERVIEW
MEAL
INTERVIEW
SECOND/FINAL
INTERVIEW
To determine if
you meet the
minimum
qualifications for
the position.
Most common
interview
format.
Typically
conducted inperson by a
group of 3 or
more people.
Typically
conducted by a
group of
potential coworkers to
assess your "fit"
with other
members with
whom you may
interact
regularly within
the organization.
Typically, a
dining
experience with
potential nonsupervisory coworkers to
assess how well
you can handle
yourself in a
social and semiprofessional
work situation.
Like the first
interview, except
usually longer and
involving more
people to conduct
final assessment of
your overall
compatibility with
the position and
organization.
Tip: Focus on
being agreeable,
approachable,
and a team
player.
Tip: Review
professional
dining etiquette.
(Look for dining
etiquette events
hosted by the
ASCC to help
you practice
these skills.)
Can be
conducted via
phone, video or
in person.
Tip: Emphasize
your knowledge,
skills, abilities
and experiences
and how they fit
with the
position.
Typically
conducted inperson by the
hiring
professional.
Tip: Highlight
your
qualifications
and key
strengths for the
position.
Each interviewer
will ask
questions
specific to their
area of expertise
within the
organization.
Tip: Respond
directly to the
person asking
the question,
but maintain eye
contact with
other panel
members
intermittently.
A lot of interviewers start with some casual conversation to help you feel more comfortable. Even though
it might seem unrelated to the job, it’s still part of the interview. Use this time to show a positive attitude
and connect with the interviewer. Mention something interesting you learned about the company during
your research or ask a few questions about their work or products. This can help you build a good
connection and keep the conversation flowing.
37 | Career & Resume Guide for Cougs, 2024 Edition
