Developing strong skills in interviewing and job offer negotiation takes time and practice, but mastering these areas can lead to highly rewarding outcomes. By learning and applying proven strategies and best practices, you can navigate the interview, offer, and negotiation steps of the job search process with confidence. This resource offers valuable guidance to help you succeed in interviews and negotiate offers effectively. Be sure to schedule a mock (practice) interview with the SPH-B career coaching team for personalized coaching, feedback and support.
Navigate interviews with confidence
Interview
Interviewing is more than just responding to questions. It is your opportunity to tell your story and determine if the role aligns with your goals and values. Being invited to an interview means the employer sees potential in you and wants to explore how your background fits their needs. To make the most of this opportunity, it’s important to prepare thoughtfully. We recommend breaking your preparation into three key stages: before, during, and after the interview. Each stage involves specific steps to help you market yourself effectively during the interview process.
Learn as much as possible about the organization
Reach out to anyone you know who works at the organization/company. Check LinkedIn and connect with any alumni who are working or have worked for the company. Leverage connections with current or past employees to:
As you prepare for an interview, take time to carefully research and evaluate the position and how it fits with your interests, skills, and career goals.
- What is the mission, goal, or purpose of the organization?
- What content and branding do you see on its official website?
- Has the company been in the news recently?
- What projects or initiatives are they currently working on?
- How much do you know about the culture of the organization? How big is the organization? How many employees does it have?
- In what ways do the company’s mission, goals, and needs align with your values?
Reach out to anyone you know who works at the organization/company. Check LinkedIn and connect with any alumni who are working or have worked for the company. Leverage connections with current or past employees to:
- Learn more about the organization.
- Align their needs with your values.
- Prepare for your interview.
- Develop solid closing questions.
As you prepare for an interview, take time to carefully research and evaluate the position and how it fits with your interests, skills, and career goals.
- What skills, attributes, and experiences are outlined in the job description?
- How do your skills and experience relate to this position?
- How will you effectively communicate these connections in the interview?
- In what ways will this opportunity provide professional development for you?
- What questions can you ask the interview team to help you determine if the opportunity fits your interests and career goals?
The BEHAVIOR-BASED INTERVIEW and the STAR Format
Many questions in an interview will be focused on what you have done in the past as a predictor of what you can do in the future. This is known as the Behavior-Based Interview (BBI) technique. BBI questions are open-ended and designed to let you do most of the talking through telling stories of your past experiences. Use the STAR method below to help you formulate your answers.
SITUATION: Explain the setting of your example. Give the interviewer some context and background.
TASK: Detail the goal that needed to be achieved or the problem that needed to be solved.
ACTION: Outline the action steps used to achieve the goal or solve the problem. Be specific. Talk about the skills you used and the steps you took. Avoid talking about “we” or “us”. The employer is interviewing you, not a group.
RESULT: Summarize the outcome or achieved goal. Describe how you solved the problem or perhaps identified a way to prevent a problem from occurring in the future. Include your reflection or analysis of the results.
How can I anticipate the questions they might ask?
Many candidates dislike interviews because they do not know what BBI questions the interview team will ask. Solution? Start by identifying all the skills and qualities outlined in the job description. Then, build BBI questions based on those skills. For example: If the job description outlines data management skills, the team will likely ask a question to measure your data management skills. To prepare, think of your best example of a time when you managed data and practice describing it in the STAR format.
Use this outline as a starting point to describe your experience in the STAR format. Then, schedule a mock (practice) interview with a career coach.
General Informational Questions
- Tell me about yourself and your interest in this position.
- Why are you interested in this career field?
- Why should we hire you above all the other candidates?
- What is a perceived area of weakness for you?
- What are your top three assets or strengths?
- What do you think are the top three issues in our industry currently?
Behavior-Based Interview Questions
- Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult person. What was the situation and how did you handle it?
- Describe a time you were on a team and communication broke down. What happened and what role did you play?
- Tell me about your biggest accomplishment. What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?
- Share a time you went above and beyond what was expected of you.
- Discuss a time you failed to meet a deadline. What happened, and what would you do differently next time?
Interview the Interviewer
At the end of the interview, you will have the opportunity to ask the employer questions. Try to ask questions that genuinely interest you and display your knowledge of and fit with the organization. This could include questions like:
- With recent changes in leadership, how would you describe the current workplace culture?
- As the organization moves through the strategic planning process, how do you see new staff contributing to the initiative/project?
- As this is a newly created position, what are the key goals or priorities you envision for the first year?
- PRO TIP: Bring a hard copy of your closing questions with you in your portfolio. This allows you to focus on effectively answering questions during the interview without having the pressure of memorizing your closing questions.
Dress Professionally
Whether you are pursuing a job, an internship, or graduate school, first impressions matter. Your attire and punctuality are among the first things others notice, and they speak volumes about you as a professional. While professional dress alone will not secure the opportunity, it can distinguish you positively from other candidates. The following guidance reflects current business standards to help you convey competence and confidence.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Clothes should be:
- Tailored
- In good condition
- Wrinkle and lint-free
- Neat and clean shoes: Closed-toe dress shoes, no flip-flops or bedroom slippers
Hair: Well-groomed hairstyle and out of one’s face, and professionally groomed facial hair
Nails & Makeup: Natural in style
Jewelry & Fragrance: Wear moderate jewelry with mild or no fragrance
Piercings & Tattoos: Align to company culture or standards
BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW ATTIRE
Suit Jacket & Pants/Skirts of matching colors
- Wear solid, dark, or neutral colors.
- Light colors can be worn underneath.
- Avoid distracting stripes or bright prints, colors, or patterns.
- Closed-toe heels or dress shoes are recommended.
Personal Items & Cell Phones
- Keep cellphones turned off and out of sight with personal items.
- Carry a portfolio, professional bag, or simple purse.
- Bring essentials only.
Follow Up
Only about 15% of candidates send a thank you note after the interview. You want to be in that 15%! During the interview, record the names of everyone involved in the interview and write a thank you note to everyone within 24 hours. It may be in hand-written or email format depending on the situation and timeframe. Sending a thank you note allows you to:
- Show gratitude for the interview team’s time.
- Highlight key insights you gained during the interview.
- Restate how your skills and experience align with the position.
Schedule a Mock Interview
Meeting with a career coach is a great way to prepare for an upcoming interview. Once you've developed your Behavior-Based Interview (BBI) questions and practiced using the STAR format to showcase your experiences, schedule a mock interview with a career coach to receive personalized feedback, strengthen your responses, and build confidence in a supportive, one-on-one setting.
Utilize Standout
Standout is a web-based virtual interview platform. Choose from curated industry-specific practice interviews or mix and match questions to create your own custom practice interview. Record and review your responses to improve your delivery and refine your answers.
Reserve an Interview Room
If you landed an interview and need a quiet and professional-looking space, reserve a private interview room. Space is reservable based on availability and will be confirmed upon receipt of your request.
Analyze
As you analyze a job offer, it is important to research several factors. Take time to research salary ranges by job title, organization, and location. Distinguish between salary and the total compensation package. Many times, salary is not the only benefit that can be negotiated. Other negotiable benefits may include relocation expenses, start date, professional development training, technology, or signing bonuses to name a few.
When first considering an offer, an important consideration is the salary and the cost of living. Also, look at the cost of living for the area you are considering. Housing costs can vary greatly in different areas of the US and abroad.
Salary and Cost of Living Resources
Salary Resources
- Federal and state taxes (to calculate monthly take home pay)
- Salary.com
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Glassdoor
Cost of Living Resources
- Identify your professional development and career goals.
- Consider ranking your priorities in order of importance and career alignment.
- Build a budget.
- Use budget development tools like Money Smart to create a budget and determine your monthly expenses and income needs.
- Know your non-negotiables. Before negotiating a job offer, reflect on your priorities and identify what items you are not willing to negotiate.
Ask for the initial offer in writing. Receiving the initial offer in writing allows you to review all benefits. This includes benefits the employer only referenced verbally.
Negotiate
Negotiating a job offer can lead to significant benefits that may include a higher salary, better benefits, or more favorable work conditions such as flexible hours or remote work options. It also demonstrates confidence and professionalism, showing employers that you understand and can leverage your value proposition.
During the negotiation process, you can expect a series of discussions with the hiring manager or HR representative, where you will clarify the terms of the offer, present creative alternatives, and work toward a mutually beneficial agreement. Research, preparation, integrity, and a clear understanding of your goals are key to a successful negotiation process.
- Know your value proposition (this is your negotiating power).
- Always negotiate with honesty and integrity.
- Know when to STOP negotiating.
- Prepare creative alternatives based on their response. For example, they may accept two of your terms, but not the remaining three that you proposed. Know what your next proposal will be to continue moving forward in the negotiation process.
Once you have reached a mutually acceptable offer, we recommend the following:
- Confirm, in writing, the details of the offer, outlining any points that you negotiated. Depending on the employer’s hiring process, the employer may send you an updated offer letter, or you can email them a letter of acceptance.
- Express your excitement and gratitude at accepting the position.
- Do not continue to apply for or accept any other positions.
- Once you have formally accepted an offer, you should notify all other active searches that you are no longer available.
- If you choose to decline an offer, do so formally with a phone call and/or email.
- All correspondence should be professional and gracious. The quality of your communication may impact your network and future opportunities.
Negotiating a job offer can be a nuanced process. Connecting with a neutral career coach could be a valuable next step to help navigate this thoughtfully and confidently.