Undergraduate Blog / Career Development

Interview Preparation Tips & Strategies

All of your hard work has paid off and you’ve landed an interview, congratulations! However, now the important work begins. What is the best way to prepare for an interview? The answer is that there are many different ways, and the process of preparation itself will guide you in the right direction. Let’s take a look at some of the interview preparation methods and resources that will push you to nail the interview!

 

The CCD Website

If you haven’t already, the interview section of the CCD website has a plethora of information to help you along the process. Some of the resources included are sample interview questions, online workshops, information regarding the different types of interviews, and more!

 

Career Beam

Visit Career Beam, CCD’s brand new on-line resource helping students sharpen job search skills 24/7.  Career Beam can be accessed through the My Career Center portlet on your Babson Portal.  Here you will find a variety of interview preparation resources, including the option to video record a mock interview on-line!

Schedule a Mock Interview

There’s no better practice than a face-to-face mock interview.  This in-person practice will prepare you for the questions that could catch you off guard during the real interview. Call  781.239.4215 to make an appointment with a career counselor or employer in residence today!

General Tips

When an employer extends you an invitation to interview, make sure that you respond in a timely manner. Always arrive early for an interview, and allot extra time to arrive at the interview location if you are traveling. Also, always dress and behave professionally. Poor behavior,unprofessional dress, no shows, and late arrivals reflect poorly on Babson College as a whole and hurt the opportunities of your fellow peers.

 

Case Interview Preparation

When preparing for a case interview, it’s important to know what skills employers are assessing you on.

Employers use case interviews to observe the following:

  • your ability to deal creatively with complex or ambiguous problems
  • how you structure your thinking
  • how well you can reach a sensible conclusion in a short time period
  • how you analyze problems to reach a solution

Although each case differs, there are key strategies you can practice to handle any case with a strong, well thought out approach.

Here are some important tips and strategies to strengthen your approach:

  • Make the case into a conversation with the interviewer. Summarize the question out loud and verify the objectives.
  • Ask clarifying questions to get as much information as possible and to create a dialogue between yourself and the interviewer.
  • Think out loud to demonstrate your thinking process and to reveal the logic behind your ideas.
  • Don’t be afraid to make assumptions about information that is general knowledge, estimates, or unknown when appropriate.
  • There is no “right” answer. Focus on completing the objectives; the interviewer is analyzing the thought process through which you reached your answer.
  • Listen to the interviewer’s feedback- take hints when given & follow cues or leads from the interviewer.
  • Structure your answer into an organized recommendation. Be enthusiastic and show your passion for challenge. Your final recommendation should be carefully and confidently delivered.

Useful Resources available in CCD:

  • Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation by Marc Cosentino,
  • Ace Your Case Consulting Interviews distributed by Wetfeet Insider Guide
  • The University of Michigan Business School Consulting Club: Consulting Interview Preparation Book
  • Kellogg Consulting Club Practice Cases

 

Online Websites for helpful for Case Interview Preparation:

  •    Career Insider- Vault Case Guide- link through CCD or Horn Library web site
  • www.casequestions.com
  • Victor Cheng- daily email & website
  •    McKinsey, Bain, BCG & other consulting firms Career Pages have cases

 

With these resources in hand, success is definitely on your side. You earned the opportunity to interview; now it’s your opportunity to showcase your personality, mind, skills, and experiences!