Introducing Yourself:

The Ideal Cover Letter

What is a cover letter?

The cover letter is addressed to a potential employer (or internship sponsor) and serves as an
introduction to you and your resume. In brief, it conveys the position for which you are applying,
your interest in and qualifications for this position, and what next steps you hope to accomplish in the
employment process (obtaining an interview, etc.). If you write this letter well, you will kindle the
employer’s interest you.

Why is a cover letter important?

Many employers say that the cover letter can be the to securing an interview. Why? It provides you
an opportunity to emphasize your qualification for a specific employer and position. Whereas your
resume includes the range of your previous experiences, your cover letter can highlight and detail
specific relevant experiences. Through a cover letter, you can also explain why the employer should
want you – your enthusiasm for the position, your knowledge of the organization, your plans to
pursue a relevant course or work experience prior to working for them, your understanding of the
skills/experiences they seek, your strong communication skills, etc.

What to do before you start writing?

9 Obtain a description of the position. Visit the organization’s web page to learn more about
the position and organization. Read and material you have about the organization. Contact
the organization for a job description.

9 Do more research on the position and the organization. Call/write the organization for
additional literature: brochures, annual reports, other company literature, and recent press
releases. Talk with anyone you already know at the organization about it. Set up an
informational interview with someone at the organization or at a similar organization to learn
more about it. Sewanee alumni can help!

9 Identify and address your cover letter to the correct person. If a name is not on the
material you have, call the organization and ask to whom you should send your letter. (Being
very polite to receptionists can really pay off!) If no specific person can be identifies, it is best
to find the name of the person who would be managing your position, rather than a name in
the Human Resources office. The manager can forward your letter to the Human Resources
office, if appropriate, and that way Human Resources will not screen our your application
before it reaches the manager. Many experts suggest that it doesn’t hurt to write to someone
higher up I the company. An upper level manager will send your letter on to the appropriate
person, and your letter may receive more attention if it is forwarded from a superior.
Whatever the contact name, be sure to ask for the spelling of the person’s name, even if is
sounds obvious. “Joe Smith” might really be “Mr. Joe Smyth” or “Ms. Jo Smith.” Confirm
the address, and get a phone number for this person. If you don’t have a phone number for
the organization, look it up in the yellow pages or on the internet, or call directory assistance.
*** Note: in some cases, it really will be impossible to find the name of the person. ***
 2

9 Identify what aspects of the position/organization really interest you. What makes you
enthusiastic about this opportunity?

9 Identify what you have to offer this organization. Think back over your own experiences.
Look at your resume. Look at the information about the company position. What are
experiences or skills that you have that would be a good match for this organization or
position? If you do not have any directly relevant experiences/skills, do you have
experiences/skills that would be transferable? Don’t forget to consider extracurricular,
volunteer, or any classroom experiences. For example, if you have not had any experience
managing people in the workplace, did you act as the leader in a class project? If you have
never taught children in a classroom, did you ever lead a scout troop or tutor your classmates?

9 Make plans to call the person to whom you are writing after you have sent the letter. It
can’t hurt to be brave! Waiting for the phone to ring or a letter to arrive is time consuming,
frustrating, and can keep you from pursuing other opportunities. Calling also shows that
employer that you are truly interested! If you are sending our a lot of cover letters, you may
want to write that you will call only for the ones that you interest you the most. However, if
you later do find the time, you can still call all 50, regardless of whether you told them you
would or not.

Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices

 3

A Sample Format For a Cover Letter

(1” or more from the top of the page)
Your Name
Your Street Address
City, State, and Zip Code
Date of Letter
(leave 3 lines blank)
Mr./Ms./Dr. First and Last Name
Position Title
Name of Business or Organization
Street Address
City, State, and Zip Code
(leave 1 line blank)
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name
(leave 1 line blank)
Why are you writing? Introduce yourself and why you are writing in a way that captures the
employer’s attention. Name the position or type of work (teaching what subjects, working in which
department) for which you are applying and mention how you heard of the opening or organization.
If you don’t know the position or type of work, it’s time to do some research! If someone connected
to the organization has referred you to this position/organization, be sure to mention that: “Your
colleague, Don Jameson, suggested that I contact you about (the position).” Keep this paragraph
short, hard-hitting, and enthusiastic.

Why are you right for this position? Sell the organization on what you can contribute. Pick one or
two most relevant highlights from your resume to demonstrate our strongest skills, experiences, and
personal qualities. Concentrate on what you know the organization seeks. Do not reiterate your
entire resume. Focus on the organization’s need, not yours.

Why this company? Describe why you are interested in working in this industry and for this
organization. Indicate how your experiences have helped formulate your career goals and how your
skills and interests might grow and develop with the organization. Be as specific as possible, subtly
emphasizing your knowledge about this organization (here is where research helps!) and the industry.
*** Caution: your focus should not be on what the employer can do for you. For example, do not
say that the job will prepare you well for business school. ***

Action oriented conclusion: Request and interview. Note when you’ll be available for an interview,
as well as employment. Unless the job posting requests “no calls,” tell the reader that you will call on
a certain date to discuss your application or to request an interview at a mutually convenient time.
Invite the reader to contact you beforehand and include your phone number. Thank the person to
whom you are writing for considering your application.
(leave 1 line blank)
Sincerely,
(leave 3 lines blank)
(Sign here in ink)

Your Name

Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices

 4

Enclosure (This indicates that you are enclosing a resume, application, or other document)

Important Hints for Best Results

• Never “mass produce” a cover letter. Instead, you should individually tailor the letter to a
specific employer. Once you get one cover letter completed, though, you will probably be
able to use it as a template for your other cover letters and tweak specific segments of the
letter for specific employers.

• Your opening sentence is key to gaining the attention of the reader.

• Address your letter to the correct person using correct spelling. If you do not have a name,
do some sleuthing to find out – it will pay off! A “To whom it may concern” letter may get
lost and is impersonal. Similarly, a letter with the person’s name misspelled is a turn-off. (See
page 1 for some hints on finding this right person)

• Write you letter in a confident, enthusiastic, persuasive manner.

• Use good grammar, spelling, and style. Be personal, but not informal (no contractions, no
slang). This is an employer’s first impression of you. The reader will view your letter as an
example of you writing skills.

• Avoid excessive use if “I,” “me,” and “my,” especially at the beginning of sentences.

• Be positive about your own skills. Don’t say, “Although I haven’t have much experience in
…” Instead, highlight the experience that you have had, or describe other ways in which you
have used/showcased/gained your skills. Cut phrases such as “I feel” or “I believe”
completely and replace them with “I am confident” or “I am convinced.”

• Use active, strong verbs. Rather that saying, “I was given the responsibility of supervising
fifteen campers,” say “I supervised fifteen campers.” (See page ? for a list of power words)

• Don’t list only general personal qualifications, such as “I am organized and team player.” If
these are important to the employer, back them up with evidence. For example: “Having
juggled the demands of a double major as well as several extracurricular activities, I have
developed strong time management skills.” or “My previous employer especially
complimented my strong organizational and teamwork skills.”

• Keep this letter short and tightly writer. Cut extraneous words, change “in order to” and “for
the purpose of” to “to.” While you want to convey as much key information as possible, few
recruiters will read a cover letter longer than one page.

• Proofread carefully. Ask someone else to proofread it as well. Don’t rely solely on computer
spell-checks. They won’t catch homonyms or some other words that you didn’t intend to use
(e.g. “their” vs. “there,” “to” vs. “top”).

Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices

 5

• Read your letter aloud. Does it read easily? Listen for any awkward or overly complex
sentences as well those that don’t really say much.

• Read your letter from the employer’s point of view. How would you react? If time permits,
put the letter away and look at it again the next day.

• Print your letter on a high-quality printer, using paper that matches your resume. Resume
paper is bond paper that is of a heavier weight than copy paper. If often has a watermark and
is 100% cotton. You can purchase it at the bookstore, Print Services, or other office supply
stores.

• Send your resume and cover letter in a neat, professional looking envelope. (You can buy
envelopes that match your cover letter and resume) Many people like to use 9” x 12”
envelopes to avoid folding the paper. Don’t forget that these require extra postage! Type the
person’s name, position title, and address, and be sure to include a return address.

• After you send the letter, follow up with the employer, ESPECIALLY if you wrote that you
would. Even if they love you on paper, they may no have time to call. They could also be
missing a piece of your application that you don’t know about, and have no time to call you.
By calling, you show your enthusiasm and improve your chances of getting the position.

• RELAX! This is only a single page letter. The tips listed here are not meant to be
intimidating; they are intended to help you write a great letter!

Other Business Correspondence

Informational interview request:

While similar to a cover letter, your purpose is to ask for the opportunity to meet with a person rather
than interview for a job. Informational interviews are helpful to develop contacts in an industry, as
well as gain information about an industry or organization. For samples of these letter, as well as tips
on the informational interview process, please see the Office of Career Services packet, Getting a Foot
in the Door: Informational Interviews and Networking.

Thank-you letter:

After you have had an interview (or in some cases, a pone conversation) with an employer, you will
want to write a thank-you letter. For samples of these letters, please see the Office of Career Services
packet, Thriving in the Spotlight: The Interview.

Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices

 6

POWER WORDS

VERBS
• Accept • Ask • Clarify • Correspond
• Acclaim • Aspire • Classify • Counsel
• Accommodate • Assemble • Close • Cover
• Accomplish • Assign • Code • Create
• Accredit • Assimilate • Coincide • Credit
• Accumulate • Assist • Collect • Critique
• Achieve • Associate • Combine • Cultivate
• Acknowledge • Assume • Commiserate • Customize
• Acquire • Assure • Commission • Decentralize
• Act • Astonish • Commit • Decide
• Activate • Attach • Communicate • Declare
• Adapt • Attend • Compensate • Decline
• Address • Attract • Compete • Defend
• Adopt • Audit • Compile • Define
• Advance • Augment • Complete • Delegate
• Advertise • Author • Comply • Delete
• Advise • Authorize • Compose • Deliver
• Affirm • Automate • Compound • Demand
• Align • Award • Comprehend • Demonstrate
• Amount • Balance • Comprise • Deny
• Analyze • Beat • Conceive • Deposit
• Announce • Believe • Conceptualize • Depreciate
• Anticipate • Blend • Conclude • Derail
• Appeal • Blitz • Concur • Derive
• Appear • Bonus • Conduct • Descend
• Applaud • Book • Conjoin • Describe
• Apply • Brand • Connect • Design
• Appoint • Broaden • Consider • Designate
• Appraise • Budget • Consolidate • Desist
• Appreciate • Build • Construct • Detail
• Approach • Buy • Consult • Detect
• Appropriate • Calculate • Contact • Deter
• Approve • Cancel • Contain • Determine
• Approximate • Capsulate • Contribute • Develop
• Arise • Centralize • Convene • Devise
• Archive • Cause • Control • Diagnose
• Arrange • Champion • Convert • Dictate
• Array • Change • Convey • Differentiate
Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices
 7

• Articulate • Characterize • Cooperate • Diffuse

• Ascend • Charter • Coordinate • Diminish

• Disclose • Estimate • Frame • Initialize

• Discover • Evacuate • Franchise • Initiate
• Discuss • Examine • Frequent • Inject
• Dispose • Exceed • Fuel • Inspire
• Dispute • Excel • Fulfill • Install
• Dissolve • Exclude • Furnish • Instigate
• Distinguish • Execute • Gain • Institute
• Distribute • Exemplify • Garner • Integrate
• Divert • Exhaust • Garnish • Intend
• Divide • Exhibit • Gather • Intensify
• Document • Expand • Generalize • Interact
• Draft • Expect • Generate • Intercede
• Drive • Expedite • Give • Interface
• Duplicate • Expense • Globalize • Interfere
• Earn • Experiment • Glorify • Interpret
• Edit • Explain • Graduate • Intertwine
• Effect • Explode • Grasp • Intervene
• Elevate • Explore • Group • Interview
• Eliminate • Expound • Grow • Introduce
• Embellish • Express • Guide • Invent
• Embrace • Extend • Handle • Inventory
• Emerge • Extract • Harbor • Invert
• Empathize • Exude • Heal • Invest
• Emphasize • Fabricate • Heighten • Investigate
• Employ • Facilitate • Help • Invoice
• Empower • Fashion • Highlight • Involve
• Enclose • Feature • Hire • Isolate
• Encompass • Feel • Hold • Itemize
• Encounter • Field • Honor • Join
• Encourage • Fight • Identify • Judge
• Endorse • Finalize • Illustrate • Justify
• Enforce • Finance • Imagine • Know
• Engage • Finish • Imitate • Label
• Engender • Finesse • Implement • Launch
• Enhance • Focus • Imply • Lead
• Enlarge • Follow • Import • Lease
• Enlighten • Force • Improve • Liaise
• Ensue • Forecast • Incept • List
• Ensure • Forfeit • Incite • Loan
• Enter • Forge • Include • Look
• Entertain • Form • Increase • Magnify
• Entrust • Format • Indicate • Maintain
• Envision • Formulate • Infer • Manage
Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices
 8

• Equip • Foster • Influence • Mandate

• Escalate • Found • Inform • Market
• Establish • Fragment • Infuse • Master

• Measure • Purchase • Select • Track

• Monitor • Rate • Serve • Train
• Motivate • Recommend • Set • Transcribe
• Negotiate • Reconcile • Simplify • Translate
• Observe • Record • Sold • Travel
• Obtain • Recruit • Solicit • Tutor
• Operate • Reduce • Solidify • Trim
• Order • Refer • Solve • Tweak
• Organize • Regulate • Specify • Update
• Originate • Rehabilitate • Stimulate • Upgrade
• Oversee • Remodel • Streamline • Uphold
• Participate • Reorganize • Strengthen • Upkeep
• Performed • Repair • Structure • Urge
• Persuade • Report • Study • Use
• Plan • Represent • Summarize • Utilize
• Prepare • Reproduce • Surpass • Validate
• Present • Research • Supervise • Vend
• Prioritize • Restore • Survey • Verity
• Process • Restructure • Synergize • View
• Produce • Retrieve • Synthesize • Visualize
• Program • Review • Systemize • Voice
• Project • Revitalize • Tabulate • Volunteer
• Promote • Save • Taught • Vote
• Provide • Schedule • Target • Withstand
• Publicize • School • Test • Worked
• Publish • Screen • Trace • Write

Career Services ♦ The University of the South ♦ (931)598-1121 ♦ www.sewanee.edu/careerservices

Describing Yourself in an Interview
This answer should always be related to the job. Remember, although the employer is
asking personal questions, they are still all related to "what can you bring to the
company?" So, I usually give adjectives like reliable, loyal, etc., but make sure you back
these with supporting examples. The most important thing is to make sure you boil it all
down to presenting the answer in a way that it matches the things the employer is looking
for.
Here is more advice:

1. Think about what kind of person you would like working for you and convey that
to the employer. The best advice I can give to a job seeker is first aim high, well
as high as you are capable of and realize the more you are willing to learn through
experience or school is valuable. See yourself as a commodity. Be honest about
your capabilities, if you don't know how to do something, say you don't know but
let the employer know you are capable of learning and even give an example of
something else you learned to do, maybe at another job or even a hobby. Most
jobs will have to train you to their way and processes so don't undermine your
capability and be proud of your accomplishments in life because they will only
bring you up.

2. Just list off a few characteristics that you see yourself as having. Make all of the
characteristics sound as positive as possible. This question is usually asked in
order to gauge how a person perceives him- or herself. Just be honest. Are you
outgoing? Shy? Diligent? Stubborn? Clever? Passionate? Level-headed? Easy-
going? etc., etc. Don't stress too much. If you can't think of anything, think of a
few people who know you and imagine how they would describe you. Pretend
that your mom, a sibling, a good friend, a co-worker, and your spouse or
significant other are all sitting down in a room making a list of your
characteristics and then use the things you think they would say.

3. A job interview is NO TIME to be shy. Brag about yourself. It's expected. Brag
about all of your good points and don't mention anything negative or anything you
"can't do." Be positive and upbeat.

4. With complete honesty, don't try to make yourself better than you are, but don't
yourself down, either.

5. Employers love to ask you questions that get to your perception of yourself. These
may come in several forms - "How do you describe yourself"; "What are the
qualities you possess that make you the best candidate for this job"; "What do you
bring to this company that will make this company stronger" or a variation on
these are commonly asked.

6. Your resume should already have a personal statement that discusses your
qualities - in the most positive terms possible. Make sure you are familiar with
 your resume. VERY familiar. This is especially important if you didn't write it
yourself, or if you have multiple resumes tailored to different positions.

7. Because this is such a common question, it may be a good idea to sit down ahead
of time and list 4-5 qualities and examples in your previous experience where
these qualities allowed you to overcome a problem or succeed at a task.

8. Remember, the interview is not a "game" where you are trying to outsmart the
interviewer to get the job. Your best strategy is to honestly sell yourself and your
abilities to an employer to get a job that is a good fit for you, in a company that is
a good fit for you. Outsmarting an interviewer to get a job in a company or
position that ultimately leads to unhappiness on either or both sides is really
outsmarting yourself.

9. Give a fair answer, tell them about your strong and weak points, but try to
emphasize some of your qualities. For example, you could say that you are a hard-
working, responsible, serious person, you are able to handle with people, able to
work under stress, you are an easy learner. Don't be shy to talk about your
creative "side". But be honest, admit that you also had some "bad moments" in
your past jobs.

10. Your answer should be relevant to the job for which you are being interviews. Do
not start going into your personal life. Keep your self-introduction professional!

11. A person is defined in three ways: (1) who he is right now, (2) what he has done
in the past, and (3) what he will become in the future.

So, here is how you answer: (1) I am a [the job title for which you are applying or
something very close.] (2) I have [how many years of experience] in [what field, what
subject]. (3) I want to be [a job title that is a couple or a few levels above the current
position for which you are applying in 5 to 10 years.] Close your answer with an
affirmative question: "Is there anything else you want to know?"

1. You should be very straightforward and honest in replying to this question. The
interviewer wants to check if what you have mentioned in your resume is correct
or not.
2. I would answer the question based on who is interviewing me? If it's a sales
manager/Technical Manager/Human resources manager? Depending on the
person's field I'll have to mend the answer to please him... I feel that everyone's
goals are different... so analyze that and then answer.
3. Answer this question with your 30-second "elevator speech" about yourself. The
standard format for this speech is... "I am a (BLANK), who does (WHAT)." In
my case... I am a PROJECT MANAGER, who PROVIDES QUALITY
MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, Blah, Blah, Blah. (you get the idea).
4. Let me share what my recruiting office tells its candidates as they head out for
that crucial face-to-face interview. When asked to "tell me about yourself," say, "I
will gladly answer that question, but may I first ask you a question? (They
 ALWAYS say yes) So that I may better focus my answer, what are the issues you
want me to address should you hire me? Once they share with you what they need
to have you do, then proceed to address how your training, education, skills, and
experience can best resolve these issues. By answering in this fashion, you have
proven that you know how to focus ... and that you have what's needed to fix the
issues they need to have fixed. It's always a winner ... and beats the heck out of,
"Well, let's see, I was born on a small farm in Idaho ..."
5. I suggest you go into the interview with a few "talking points" about yourself, in
other words things you want the interviewer to know about you. Then you try to
hit those points in response to any questions you are asked, such as "tell us about
yourself." Also be sure to have copies of your resume with you and offer them. In
general, interviews go better when you spend them listening and don't talk. If the
interviewer is just telling you about the job, you might have a good shot at it.

6. This is the chance for you to run down a 30-60 second sales pitch for yourself.
The employer doesn't want to know that you like gardening or have four dogs.
Here's where you start usually with your education and highlight selling points
about your skills, experience and goals.

More Suggestions:

It's one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview: Tell me about yourself.
Your response to this request will set the tone for the rest of the interview. For some, this
is the most challenging question to answer, as they wonder what the interviewer really
wants to know and what information they should include. The secret to successfully
responding to this free-form request is to focus, script and practice. You cannot afford to
wing this answer, as it will affect the rest of the interview. Begin to think about what you
want the interviewer to know about you. List five strengths you have that are pertinent to
this job (experiences, traits, skills, etc.). What do you want the interviewer to know about
you when you leave? Prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey.
Begin by talking about past experiences and proven success: Next, mention your
strengths and abilities: "My real strength is my attention to detail. I pride myself on my
reputation for following through and meeting deadlines. When I commit to doing
something, I make sure it gets done, and on time." Conclude with a statement about your
current situation: "What I am looking for now is a company that values customer
relations, where I can join a strong team and have a positive impact on customer retention
and sales." Practice with your script until you feel confident about what you want to
emphasize in your statement. Your script should help you stay on track, but you shouldn't
memorize it -- you don't want to sound stiff and rehearsed. It should sound natural and
conversational. Even if you are not asked this type of question to begin the interview, this
preparation will help you focus on what you have to offer. You will also find that you can
use the information in this exercise to assist you in answering other questions. The more
you can talk about your product - you - the better chance you will have at selling it.
Here are examples given by WikiAnswers contributors:

7. Hard worker, quick and eager learner, pays attention to detail.

8. Example: Because of past experience and MBA degree, I am versatile and can
perform well in many kinds of positions. Now I am looking for a challenging
internship position in an established company. Basically, I am an experienced and
flexible person can be successful at any kind of finance works.

9. "Hardworking", "Task-oriented", "Solution-oriented", "Dependable",

"Motivated", "Independent", "Team player" are all examples of good terms you
can use. There are many more.

10. I am a self-starter dedicated, hard-working person who works well with other,
punctual, detail oriented a team player, great organizational and interpersonal
skills.

11. Describe yourself as outgoing, hardworking, dependable, eager to learn and grow
professionally, etc.

12. Fast paced, quick learner and very challenging. That's all they want to hear.

13. This question is usually asked in order to gauge how a person perceives himself.

14. Just be honest. List off a few characteristics that you see yourself as having.
Actually, a question of this kind is an ideal way to plug in everything we want to
say about ourselves that we had leave out of the CV.

15. If you have attended a premier institution, say that the institution taught you much
more than the degree it awarded you. Mention people who influenced you, talk
about the books you like reading, your hobbies and your other interests.

16. Talk about your strengths. Mention an instance when you used your conflict
resolution skills or selling skills or whatever. But make certain that it does not
sound like blowing your trumpet. Mention these instances as a good learning
experience.

17. Talk about your weaknesses, but make sure that they are positive weaknesses. For
instance you could say that that you are a person that pays more attention to
details than is warranted. You can openly confess a tendency to be impatient with
team members who cannot carry their own weight, or who cannot contribute
sufficiently.

18. Maintain the right tone in doing so. You do not want to give the interviewer the
wrong impression or make him feel that you get impatient at times.
19. No one can do that for you as only you know yourself.

20. If asked to then you should do so. Prepare yourself for personal questions.

21. Just list off a few characteristics that you see yourself as having. If it's for a job
interview, make all of the characteristics sound as positive as possible. This
question is usually asked in order to gauge how a person perceives him or herself.
Just be honest. Are you outgoing? shy? diligent? stubborn? clever? passionate?
level-headed?

22. Don't stress too much. If you can't think of anything. Then think of a few people
who know you and imagine how they would describe you. Pretend that your
mom, a sibling, a good friend, a co-worker, and your spouse or significant other
are all sitting down in a room making a list of your characteristics and then use
the things you think they would say.

23. Do not mention a bad quality if you are not working on it, e.g., what is your
weakest quality? I am not very competent using computers but I am currently
taking a evening course to rectify that i am going to...

24. Most importantly back up what you say, why are you reliable?
Interviewing Skills

Brianna Blaser, PhD

Science Careers/AAAS
 Interviewing Skills

AAAS

 International nonprofit organization dedicated to

advancing science, engineering, and innovation
throughout the world
 Membership-based organization
 Publisher of Science
 Source for a broad range of career development
resources through Science Careers

2
 Interviewing Skills

“There are two terrible places to be during an interview

– sitting in front of the desk wondering what one
earth is going to happen next, and sitting behind the
desk asking the questions. The average interviewer
dreads the meeting almost as much as the
interviewee…”
- Martin Yate, Knock ‘Em Dead

3
 Interviewing Skills

“The goal of an interview is to get you a job offer or at

least another interview. If you handle the interview
well you will show the employer that, in addition to
your outstanding technical qualifications and
background, you are a good communicator, an
organized, prepared, and logical thinker, and
someone who would add value to the organization.”
- Peter Fiske, Put Your Science to Work

4
 Interviewing Skills

Interviewing Skills

 Why interviews?
 Finding out and scheduling interviews
 Preparing for your interview
 The day of the interview
 During the interview
 Following up

5
 Interviewing Skills

Introduction

 What’s the point of an interview?

 Their goals
 Your goals

6
 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
7
 Interviewing Skills

Finding Out and Scheduling Your Interview

 Success!
 Make sure you have time to prepare
 What type of interview
 Phone interviews

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 Interviewing Skills

Preparing For Your Interview

 Logistics and general skills

 Interview content
 Common questions
 Your questions for them
 Job talk
 Research

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 Interviewing Skills

Logistics

 Driving directions
 Practice your handshake
 Get comfortable speaking
 Get comfortable speaking about yourself

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 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
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 Interviewing Skills

Common Interview Questions

 Tell me about yourself.

 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
 Why this organization? Why this job?
 What can you do for us?
 Why are you leaving research? (If applicable.)

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 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
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 Interviewing Skills

Develop Your Own Questions

 What does the job entail?

 What are the opportunities for advancement?
 What about your professional development?
 What are the future goals for the organization?
 What are the roles of different team members?
 What is the culture like in the organization?

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 Interviewing Skills

Prepare Your Job Talk

 What are they asking for?

 Who will the audience be?
 Tailor it for the company
 Practice!

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 Interviewing Skills

Research! Research! Research!

 Find out:
 The vital facts of the organization
 The corporate culture
 Work atmosphere
 Mission of the organization
 Other research:
 Competitors
 Salary

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 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
17
 Interviewing Skills

The Day of Your Interview

 Show up with energy

 Dress appropriately
 (Even if you don’t want to)
 Bring materials
 Allow extra time

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 Interviewing Skills

During the Interview

 Promote yourself and your strengths

 Answer questions as best you can
 Find out more
 Be mindful of nonverbal communication
 Prepare for following-up

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 Interviewing Skills

Promote Yourself and Your Strengths

 Don’t assume that the interviewer has read your

application materials
 Mind your manners
 Be enthusiastic
 Never talk negatively about prior jobs or employers
 Be prepared to talk about weaknesses

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 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
21
 Interviewing Skills

Answer questions as best you can

 If needed, pause for thought

 Ask for clarification
 Stay in the moment
 Be mindful of how long your answers to questions
are
 Never lie. About anything. Really.
 Don’t name a number first
 Illegal questions
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 Interviewing Skills

Find Out More

 Have a conversation
 Ask your prepared questions
 Check-in with yourself

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 Interviewing Skills

Be Mindful of Nonverbal Communication

 Handshakes
 Eye contact
 Stay focused
 Posture
 Fidgeting
 Speak clearly

24
 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
25
 Interviewing Skills

Prepare to Follow-Up

 How will the process proceed?

 Get business cards

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 Interviewing Skills

Following Up

 Write notes
 Send thank yous
 Follow up, if needed

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 Interviewing Skills

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham

www.phdcomics.com
28
 Interviewing Skills

“Be yourself. People tend to do a poor imitation of

anything else”
- Peter Fiske, Put Your Science to Work

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 Interviewing Skills

Conclusion

 Be confident
 Be courteous
 Be positive
 You learn from each interview

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 Interviewing Skills

Resources
 Career Forum and 4,000+ articles on
ScienceCareers.org

 These slides available at ScienceCareers.org/outreach

 Careers Away from the Bench webinar available at

ScienceCareers.org/webinar

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