On Interviewing

In the last two months I have landed a minimum of ten interviews. As a result, my perspective on and skill in the interview process has grown exponentially. While most interviews have some fundamental similarities, I have noticed a few unique techniques interviewers employ in their approach to dealing with me as a candidate and human being.

Therefore, in an effort to help others better understand how to prepare for the interview process, I have decided to compile a list of actual questions asked of me, as well as some helpful tips I use to remain open-minded, eloquent under pressure, and grounded.

Let’s begin by taking a look at a list of questions I have been asked, some of which are predicable and some that are a bit more obscure.

1. How was your experience at The Art Institute?
   This question is common, and in my opinion it is a method for testing your ability to put your educational experience into perspective (for yourself and others); judging your sense of loyalty, diplomacy and introspective skills. Understand it is important to be honest, but if you are too critical or conversely too laudatory, your response may be interpreted as negative or disingenuous. The best advice I can give is to take some time to honestly and fairly evaluate the quality of the education you’ve received. This evaluation can be based on any number of factors from the institution’s standards and practices, amount of personal attention you received, opportunities for growth provided, etc.
2. What have you been doing since graduation?
   A very important question that helps potential employers learn whether and how you have actively sought to expand upon and improve the skills you’ve acquired. This question is a test to determine how self-motivated you are and whether you’re passionate enough about the craft to continue to educate yourself well after your diploma is secured. Candidates who take it upon themselves to remain active and informed in the industry are more likely to continue the same behavior after they get hired; which can be a huge benefit to employers.
3. What made you decide to look for a career in [fill in the blank]?
   Whatever career you choose to pursue, there MUST be a reason…sometimes many reasons. It’s important to be able to explain why. I have often been surprised how similar my own reasons are to those of prospective employers. Sharing this information really helps both parties inform one another of their deeper philosophies and principles.
4. What is your methodology or technique for developing wire frames, competitive analysis, facilitator guides, test scenarios, etc.?
   Answering this question thoroughly helps employers identify whether your techniques A) match their “real-world” system, and B) are informed and founded on good standards and practices. It’s also an opportunity for you to discuss specific examples relating to your portfolio work and previous client experience
5. How comfortable do you feel dealing with clients?
   BE HONEST! If you’re the type of person who just isn’t comfortable interacting with clients – say so! You don’t have to be negative about it. Not everyone has the natural inclination for client side or account service relationships. That’s fine. In our industry the adage, “It takes all kinds,” is steeped in validity. Unless you’re specifically interviewing for a job that requires client interaction, it’s o.k to admit that you have little or no experience. However, try to present an open-minded view on the subject. You never know when or if you’ll be asked to interact with a client, and there’s never any harm in leaving yourself open to the experience
6. What is the square root of 99?
   This question is more rhetorical than literal. It is a test to see A) how well you operate under pressure, B) your approach to solving a question or dilemma for which you do not have the answer, and C) whether or not you are a proactive, reactive, counteractive or inactive person.
7. How do you deal with deadlines?
   Interviewers have often admitted to me that they need creative talent, but that creative people don’t often have a strong appreciation for meeting deadlines. If you’re one of these types of creative people, I’d suggest paying closer attention to the implications of missed deadlines. Not only does it put additional strain on project team members, budgets and time lines, but in our industry reputation is everything. You’re only as good as your word. If you make promises to the client – you’d better be prepared to do whatever it takes to fulfill them!
8. Are you experienced in dealing with budget constraints?
   Again, answer honestly. For those of you with freelance or contract experience you are familiar with cost negotiations and time management. This is a great opportunity to discuss methods for streamlining you work process. If you’re like me, you are always searching for ways to work smarter, not harder.
9. How would you describe the ideal work environment?
   Are you the type of person who likes to work in a highly collaborative environment? Do you like to be given the freedom to work independently? Do you like a more informal work environment or culture? Sometimes, the best way to find out the answers to these questions is to first discover what you type of environment would NOT appeal to you.
10. Why are manhole covers round?
    Again, a quirky question designed to test how adept you are at problem solving and reasoning. There is no specific method for preparing for these types of questions. Body language as well as written and verbal responses inform everything, so take some time for reflection and introspection before interviewing to determine for yourself how you might have dealt with similar tests in the past.
11. What are some constructive techniques for dealing with stress?
    I find exercise, fresh air, meditation and consultation are all great outlets when I am most stressed. If you know of any other positive techniques, share them. What employers don’t want to hear is that you resort to negative conflict or passive aggressive behavior as a means of dealing with stressful situations. If you haven’t developed constructive technique for coping with stress – it’s never too late to start!

Other useful tips:

• Be observant. Take a look around at the offices, desks, conference rooms, people and artifacts in the environment. What do they communicate about the culture of the company and people? How do your observations match your expectations, likes and dislikes? Why? One thing I notice right away is whether design considerations have been made with regard to the office furniture, decorations, individual work stations, employee attire and the neighborhood in which the office is located. Because I value high design, casual office attire, and safe neighborhoods are important to me, I pay close attention to these characteristics whenever I get an interview.
• Do your research. If you go to an interview and it’s obvious you know nothing about the company history, philosophy, client roster, commitment to excellence or culture, it will reflect negatively on you as an applicant. Don’t waste your time and the employer’s time by waiting to find out about the company and it reputation until the interview. Check out their website and ask around. The more information you can glean prior to the interview date, the better.
• Ask questions. Remember, you are interviewing the employer during this process, too. If you have questions or concerns, be sure to write them down and bring them to the interview. Not only will it help you get a deeper understanding of specific characteristics about the company, but it looks impressive to the interviewer(s)! Questions I have asked include: How would you describe the company culture? How important is sustainability to the company? Do you ever allow internal transfers to other cities? Describe your typical day/project development process/client? Does the company support employees who want to pursue higher education? What benefits do you provide? Do you have any concerns, based on my portfolio and our discussion today, that indicates I may not be qualified to fulfill the present job role? Are there any work examples or information you would have liked to see today, but did not?
• Listen, don’t just wait to speak. Sometimes, I find it hard to quiet my mind and really absorb what the interviewer is saying or asking. The result is a terrible tendency to interrupt the speaker. It’s a bad habit I’m pro-actively working to break, so my advise: Don’t be like me. Be better than me!
• Be open-minded. The worst type of candidate is one that assumes she knows everything. So much of the culture of interactive media is rooted in exploration, discovery, and information exchange. If your aren’t open to change and adaptation, chances are you will feel isolated from the cultural ties that bind and as a consequence fail to feel a sense of fulfillment in your career. That said, it is equally important to…
• Know thyself! O.k., I know in the post Matrix world this statement is somewhat of a cliche. Nonetheless, it’s invaluable. If your gut is telling you something about the company, employer, employees, environment or location isn’t right – LISTEN! No matter what anyone tells you, the decision to accept or decline a job is yours. You were present in the interview. The experience is yours to absorb. No one is going to show up to work for you everyday and reconcile those issues you previously identified as disconcerting, but which have now become unberable.

More than anything else, it’s important to have fun during your interview. Try to enjoy experience and remember that every interview is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, make new connections, and build some valuable soft skills.

I hope my experiences have given you some fresh insight into the interview process. If anyone else has any other experiences or helpful tips, I encourage you to share them, here. And for those of you about to graduate or are currently looking for a job…Good luck!