University of California Berkeley Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 36
Interviewing
On-Site Interviews
• These interviews tend to be much more
in-depth than the phone or campus
interview, lasting anywhere from one
hour to a full day or longer. However, the
preparation process for an on-site interview
remains the same: know the employer, know
yourself, and anticipate and practice possible
questions.
Phone and Virtual Interviews
Many employers will conduct their first round interviews via telephone or virtually. These interviews are
used as a precursor to an in-person interview.
• Make sure you are in a quiet, comfortable environment where you will not be disturbed.
• Smile! Regardless of whether the employer can see
you, it can help you come across as personable.
• Give yourself plenty of time to travel to the
site, taking into consideration possible traffic
delays. If possible, you may want to take a
test drive over to the site a few days before
the interview.
Phone Interviews
• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before
you start the interview.
• Have your resume or CV, job description, and notes
in front of you to glance at but minimize the sound
of shuffling papers.
• Be prepared for pauses and silence. If there is an
extended silence between questions, you can ask
confirming questions such as “Was my answer
clear?”
• Be friendly and courteous to everyone you
encounter. You never know who has input in
the hiring decision.
• Employers will typically (but not always)
reimburse travel expenses if your interview
is in another city or state. It is important that
you clarify these details with the employer
when arranging the interview.
Virtual Interviews
• Check your internet connectivity, sound, and any
applications before the interview to make sure
they are working properly.
• Dress as if you are at an in-person interview. Look
straight into the camera when talking to maintain
eye contact.
On-Campus Interviews (First-Round)
Each year, hundreds of employers come to
Berkeley Career Engagement at 2440 Bancroft to
interview students for jobs and internships.
Panel/Group Interviews
Though most interviews tend to be one-on-one, some
employers will ask that you interview with several
members of their organization in a group setting. Be
sure that your responses address everyone on the
panel. This is a great way to bring all of the panel into
the interview by making eye contact with each person.
All students participating in on-campus
interviewing are responsible for knowing
the OCR policies, which can be found on
career.berkeley.edu.
Employers who wish to interview students on
campus post their open positions in Handshake.
Career Tip:
BCE has quiet, private interview rooms available for
your virtual interviews. You can reserve room blocks
on Handshake.
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