Interviews and Offers
Interviews are an important part of the hiring process for internships and jobs, and common in graduate and professional school admissions. An interview is an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you beyond your application materials and is an opportunity for you to get to know the organization, highlight your qualifications, and demonstrate your communication skills. This page explains the different types of interviews you may encounter and shares general and industry-specific advice and resources to help you ace the interview.
Interview Formats
- In-Person: meeting with the interviewer at their workplace or on Grounds at UVA
- Virtual or Phone: meeting with the interviewer over a video meeting tool such as Zoom or on a phone call
- Virtual Asynchronous: recording your answers to questions using interview software such as HireVue
Interview Styles
- One-on-One: one candidate speaking with one interviewer
- Panel: one candidate speaking with multiple interviewers
- Group: multiple candidates speaking with one or more interviewers
Interview Question Types
- Behavioral: employers ask situational questions to learn how you have approached topics in the past. They look for concrete examples and clear storytelling in your answers.
- Case or Technical: these interviews present you with a problem, or case, to solve. Employers want to see your analysis of the problem and how you communicate your analysis and approach. Case interviews are commonly used with consulting firms. Technical interviews are often used for engineering and software development roles.
- Presentation: you are given a specific topic to present to an audience, or asked to pitch an idea.
Interview Preparation Checklist
Learn everything you can about the position, the organization, and the people who will be interviewing you. Use the organization website and general news sources, and check out networking platforms like LinkedIn and Virginia Alumni Mentoring to learn about people in the organization.
Review the job description and take note of any specific skills, characteristics, or experiences mentioned. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of your experiences that match those qualifications.
Identify several key strengths and examples from your past experience to help the employer visualize you as a strong candidate. Practice introducing yourself and telling stories from your prior experiences, and asking questions to the interviewer.
Scroll to the resources section below for example questions you might be asked, how to use the S.T.A.R. method to answer questions, and questions you can ask the employer.
You should always have questions for the employer.
Your research on an organization or position may not provide all of the information that you need before you take a job. Asking the right questions is important because you can confirm if you are the right candidate for the position and if this is an organization that you want to work for.
We recommend your first question or two display your level of familiarity/research with the company/position. These questions are tailored specifically to them and help them recognize that you have come prepared. We recommend writing your questions beforehand, so you do not need to keep them memorized and in the back of your head during your interview. Prepare five to seven questions, however, you might only get to three to five. This allows you to cross off some that may have been answered already throughout the interview.
Standards of dress may vary between industries and companies. Always research prior to the interview to adhere to company culture. Dress to match the dress code at the organization you are interviewing with, or one level above. If you are not sure what the dress code is, it is always better to dress up.
Don’t have professional clothing for your interview? The Cavalier Career Closet offers free outfits to UVA students who need assistance acquiring professional clothing.
For in-person interviews:
- Arrange your transportation so that you arrive early.
- Bring essentials like water, pen and paper, and printed copies of your resume in your bag.
For virtual interviews:
- Find a quiet, private, place with reliable internet or phone service.
- Remove distractions from the background if you are on video. Blurring your background or adding a professional background makes this easy.
- Practice talking on camera.
- Log on early.
- Glance at the camera while you speak to emulate eye contact with your interviewers.
During your interview, make note of each interviewer’s name and ask for business cards if you are in person. You may also find their email address online or a profile on LinkedIn. After your interview, contact each individual via email to thank them for their time. Include a specific detail from the interview or that person’s introduction to demonstrate your interest.
See the resources at the end of this page for an example thank-you note.
