Alumni Interview Dos and Don’ts
Tell me about your teamwork skills in relation to a alumni coordinator position?
alumni coordinator’s have to play important roles in a team or group. Your ability in setting relationships with other team members should be appeared in your interview answers and you should mention your contribution into the success of the team.
What experience do you have when it comes to discussing our recently posted alumni coordinator position?
Answer tips:
Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you know you do not have much experience in the job you are applying for, plan for this question ahead of time and ensure you can provide some relatable examples based on what you have done.
Almost all interviewers will appreciate confidence and pride in the work experience you have earned and your passion in transfering these valuable skills to your future role or position.
Answer sample
Identify your purpose – ask “why do I want this job?” You must be able to clearly articulate this to the employer, knowing yourself and how your skills and experiences match the position requirements. Research – know as much as possible about the position, organization, and industry associated with the opportunity to demonstrate how interested you really are. Research the company’s website, social media sites, and any connections within the organization. Practice interviewing – practice verbally instead of just writing down questions and rehearsing in your head. Mock interviews are the most valuable resource to hone your interviewing skills and improve your future performance, as they enable you to practice in an environment similar to an actual interview.
As a complimentary service to all alumni, you can meet face-to-face with Loyola’s Career Advisors to facilitate mock interviews and provide the support you need to improve your interviewing skills. Visit the Career Advisors web page to determine the applicable advisor based on your degree and to set up an appointment. Remember to forward the job description and your resume to the advisor in advance. Loyola’s Alumni Career Services has compiled a list of sample interview questions from employers alongside suggestions for tackling the most challenging questions.
The savvy job seeker knows that the secret to nailing the interview and not being afraid of preparation and practice. Not only is the pay off immense but when done well the interview should set you up for ongoing success once within a role. In this webinar expert career coach Adam Schmidt breaks your preparation into three key stages.
Following up with individual thank you notes to each of the interviewers in a panel is best practice. In addition, doing so via email (versus snail mail) ensures the notes get to decision-makers in a timely manner. Finally, make sure to reference one key exchange in the conversation to set your candidacy apart.
Understanding yourself, that is your interests, skills, and motivators, not only helps you answer the “what is your greatest strength or weakness?” question but provides a much deeper, intangible condence to the interview that is not to be overlooked. Then taking the time to understand the organization and the specic opportunity is key. Whether it’s public nancial reports, the company website, or library tools such as Vault, gleaning organizational insight provides the interviewee with a helpful understanding of the key challenges and trends an employer faces that provide insight into the demands of a role and the specic ways your work might help.
Adam Schmidt is an International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and the founder of Smart Summit Coaching, where he focuses on one-on-one Professional Coaching engagements designed to facilitate personal development through a series of thought-provoking, creative, and purposeful conversations. In addition to his certification in 360 and strengths-based assessments, his coaching style is shaped by powerful questioning, authentic listening, accountability, and being fully present for his clients. Adam’s principal coaching focus is in Leadership and Career Coaching.More from the Career Blog
Adam shares key advice for during the interview including tips on what not to do. Namely, don’t tell the employer what his/her problems are. Don’t over or underdress. And nally, don’t speak too quickly. Slowing down, especially when your brain is nervous and in overdrive can be tough, but indicates thoughtfulness and deliberation to questions. All signals of competence and condence. Finally, don’t forget to come prepared with questions. These might be big picture challenges the organization faces, how you might be successful in the role in 6 and 12 months, or ‘nested’ questions that reveal your industry insight.
FAQ
What should I ask in as an alumni interviewer?
- Why Did You Choose This School? …
- What Did You Think of the College After Four+ Years? …
- What Were Your Favorite Classes? …
- What Did You Think of the Campus and Extracurricular Activities? …
- How Did The School Prepare You For Your Career?
How do you smash a PR interview?
- Consider what you’re going to wear.
- Do a warm up (even if it’s in the loo)
- Remember that lack of experience can be a good thing.
- Ask yourself if the job is the right fit for you.
- Don’t try to fake confidence, instead sit with your nerves.
- Be present.
- Be as authentic as possible.
