The document provides extensive advice and guidance for interview preparation and performance. It emphasizes that interviewers often decide within 15 minutes, personality and communication skills are critical, and confidence is valued. It recommends researching the company, dressing professionally, preparing examples and stories to highlight strengths and experience, asking relevant questions, sending a thank you note, and following up if not hearing back in the expected timeframe. The document stresses practicing common interview questions and structure, controlling nervous habits, showing enthusiasm, and maintaining professionalism throughout the entire process.

1. Sandi Ohman
Assistant Director
&
Ryan Mazon
Program Manager
Ace the Interview
careers@erau.edu • 386-226-6054 • careerservices.erau.edu • Student Center, Suite 250

2. Interviewing Considerations
• Most interviewers have made a decision as to whether or
not to ask you back within the first 15 minutes
• The interviewer’s perception of your personality is critical
• Confidence and your ability to communicate are valued

3. Alumni Advice: Joey Cook, Pilot
ExpressJet
Interviewing Tips:
1. Look for Character & Professionalism:
- Carry self appropriately, recruiters
are on campus often
- Mix, mingle and network
2. Prepare for the interview:
- Be on time
- Dress appropriately
- Have all documents together and
ready to share
- Resume should look good, and
have been reviewed prior to
approaching company and the
interview

4. • Positive attitude
• Ability to communicate
• Maturity
• Right fit within the team
• Enthusiasm
• Someone who sets
goals and follows
through
• Self-discipline
• Personable, outgoing,
and confident
• Competent
• Creative and Innovative
• Effective, persuasive
communication skills
• Team-player
• Strong work ethic
Desired Skills

5. Preparation is Everything
Preparation should include:
• Understand the job, the company,
and where you fit in
• Identify your main strengths and
experience as they relate to the
position
• Provide supportive evidence (give
examples) when answering
questions
• Research and set your salary range
• Try on your suit
• Know where you are interviewing
Interview Process can include:
• General aptitude test
• Demonstration
• Presentation
• Flight simulator
• Computer programming
• Solving problems
NOTE: you can ask the recruiter ahead of
time if there is anything you should know
or prepare for the interview. When in
doubt … ASK

6. Alumni Advice: Jason Alvarez,
The Boeing Company
Interviewing Tips:
1. Proper Research of:
- Industry
- Company
2. Know the following about the company
you are interviewing with:
- Competitive advantages the
company has to offer
- Competitors
- Quick trends in industry and with
the company

7. Dressing Professionally
Professional attire for an interview includes:
• Suits
• Gentlemen: button down shirts and ties
• Ladies: conservative or appropriate blouses
• Colors for shirts should be muted like white, off-white or light blue
• Shoes should be polished and professional

8. Practice
Answer Structure
• Clear and concise answers
• Concise refers to the length of the answer
• Use examples to tell your stories, but not a novel
Presence
• Mock interviewing increases confidence during the actual
interview
• Practice in front of a mirror
• Practice appropriate body language

9. Day of the Interview
Prepare by:
• Get plenty of rest and have
breakfast
• Dress Professionally
• Bring a second shirt
• Know the location and time
• Leave early to avoid traffic &
mishaps
Avoid
• Arriving too early
• Don’t enter the building earlier
than 15 minutes prior to the
interview
• No gum, smoking, or heavy
fragrance
• Turn off all electronics
Bring to the Interview
• Notebook and pen
• Resume – several copies
• Transcripts
• Copies of certifications
• Pilots: Medical, driving record,
driver’s license, log book
• Letters of recommendation
and/or professional references
• Portfolio

10. Making an Impression
Meet the Interviewer(s)
• Treat everyone you come
into contact with respectfully
• Don’t make assumptions
• Make good eye contact
• Give a firm handshake
• Remain standing until asked
to sit
• Sit comfortably, yet
professionally
• Be aware of and control
nervous habits
• Use proper grammar
• Be enthusiastic and positive
• Smile
During the Interview
• Listen to the questions
completely before forming your
answer
• Try not to avoid answering a
question
Exception for illegal
questions
• Use your own experiences and
stories
• Ask for clarification if you don’t
understand
• Share your attention with
multiple interviewers
• Know when to stop talking

11. Interview Question: Types
Leading - To get a specific response
Example: Have you ever been a member of a successful team? If so, describe the role that you
played on the team and in its success.
Hypothetical - Problem solving to evaluate experience
Example: If this were your first annual review with our company, what would I be telling you
right now?
Open-Ended - Expecting more than a yes or no
Example: Give me a general view of your current (or most recent) responsibilities.
Close-ended - Requires a brief and solid answer
Example: Is this correct?
Behavioral - Uses examples of past behavior to predict the future
Example: Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker/team member. What was
the situation, how did you respond, and what was the outcome?
Technical - Asks specific questions within your field
Example: What programming languages are you familiar with and how have you used them?

12. Interview Questions
Basic “Get to know you” Questions:
• Tell me about yourself.
• What is your greatest strength/weakness?
• What are your career goals?
• Why did you choose ___ degree? What do you want to do with the
degree?
Behavioral Questions:
• Tell me about a time when ……
• Tell me about a challenging situation/problem….
• Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a supervisor, classmate, or
co-worker.
Closing:
• Why should we hire you?

13. Behavioral Interview
Answers
Situation – Introduce the scenario
Behavior – Explain how you handled
the situation
Outcome – Share the outcome
Situation + Task + Action + Result (STAR)
Tips:
• Practice telling your story, with each section having enough detail for the
interviewer to follow the story and clearly see demonstrated behavior
• Don’t be so detailed that the interviewer cannot follow along …. this takes practice!
S. B. O.

14. Leadership
• Leader Roles
• Conflict
• Initiative
• Team Work
• Overcome
Failure
Interpersonal
• Strength &
Weakness
• Communication
• Time
Management
• Goal Setting
• Diversity
Skills &
Accomplishments
• Technical
• Skills used in
Projects
• Computer
• Certificates
• Languages
• Awards,
Scholarships
• Volunteer
• Academic
• Leisure
• Experience
Question Topics
Involvement

15. Easy Questions That Seem
Hard
Tell me about yourself:
• This statement perplexes some candidates, however it offers a great
opportunity to explain why you are the best fit for the job
• Focus your response on how you can benefit the company
• Sharing personal information is a personal preference but keep it brief
• Summarize your background, then conclude with a strong statement
outlining your strengths and accomplishments
Greatest Strength:
• Share a strength as it relates to the position
• Provide Examples
Greatest Weakness:
• Discuss a weakness that is being improved on or is recognized and
managed
• Avoid deal breakers i.e. confidentiality, or punctuality

16. Why Should We Hire You?
• Many job seekers become tongue-tied and make a poor
impression when answering this question
• This question underlies all questions an interviewer asks you
• Similar to the “Tell me about yourself” with the opportunity to
demonstrate what makes you the best candidate for the
position
• Always have a summary statement ready
• Should be personal and specific – match yourself with the company
• Be enthusiastic and upbeat
• This would also be an opportunity to reference letters of
recommendation if you have them

17. Questions to Ask or Avoid
Questions to ask:
• Opportunities to grow
• Typical career paths
• Initial and future training
programs
• Interviewer’s own experience
with company
• Departmental structure
• Future company growth plans
• Industry trends and their
potential effect on the company
• What is the next step?
Questions to avoid asking:
• How much can I expect to
make?
• What are your benefits like?
• How did I do?
• Are we allowed to take breaks
on the job?
• How many vacation/sick days do
I get?
• If I am hired, when can I begin
applying for other roles within
the company?
• Do you do background checks?
• Do you conduct random drug
testing?
??

18. Phone Interviews
Overview:
• Typically a pre-screening process –
usually comes before an in-person
interview
• Be prepared and behave as if it
were an in-person interview
• Pro: You can use a cheat sheet
• Con: You cannot read the
interviewer’s non-verbal cues and
will receive little feedback on how
you performed. If you feel they
didn’t understand or get what you
were sharing don’t hesitate to ask
During the Interview:
• Go to a room free of distractions or
interruptions; has good internet
reception if using a cell phone
• Dress up as you would during an in-
person interview
• Speak directly into the phone
• No smoking, eating, or chewing gum
• Take notes
• Do not bring up salary or benefits
End the Interview:
• Ask questions
• Ask for contact information, if needed
• Ask what is the next step
• Thank the interviewer

19. Interviews: Video/Internet
Video Interviews can be…
• Web-based
o Skype, FaceTime, Go to Meeting
• Videos
o Create a video of yourself talking or demonstrating concept
Tips for Success:
• Make sure equipment is working correctly
• Ensure the camera picks you up clearly; microphone works; speakers work; program
downloaded
• Consider your surroundings – well-lit, quiet, clean and neat area that is free of
pets, other electronic equipment silenced
• Dress for Success – pay attention to the camera view; consider a full suit to set
the tone of the interview
• Prepare for the interview as if it was face to face
• Practice
• Prepare documents such as: the position description, notepad (jot down the names of the
interviewers), resume, accomplishments/skill reminders

20. After the Interview
Thank you Letter
• Write a thank-you letter to each person you met with, when
possible
• Send it within 24 hours of interviewing, or email same day
• Focus on how much you enjoyed the time spent with the recruiter
learning more about the company and the position
• Summarize the conversation and re-emphasize the skills you would
bring to the position
Follow up
• This is VERY important!
• If you don’t hear from them within the timeframe they indicated, contact
them to touch base
• It doesn’t hurt to make sure your candidacy didn’t fall through the
cracks. It shows you really want the job and are eager to start.

21. Patience is a Virtue
• It’s not unusual for interviewers to take weeks to narrow down the
competition.
• Federal opportunities can take a few months
• A delay on the companies side doesn’t mean you are out of consideration
• Budget freezes, personnel changes, project delays
• Follow up professionally and respectfully
• If you’re not selected you can ask for feedback, and to keep you in mind
for other opportunities

22. The Job Offer
• Never accept an offer on the spot – take time to consider it
thoroughly, no matter how desperate you are or how badly you
think you want the job
• Most employers will give anywhere from 24 hours to 10 business
days (some even more) to give them a response, but you need
to ask
• Be enthusiastic when accepting – they can always rescind the
offer if they feel you don’t really want it
• Get everything in writing

23. Making a Decision
Accept
• Stop interviewing
• Send a letter to thank your
hiring manager for the job
opportunity
• Start making necessary
arrangements
• Relocation
• Living arrangements
• Resignation with current
company
Decline
• Maintain professionalism
and common courtesy
• Let the employer know
immediately – don’t string
them along
• Do this by phone, not e-mail
or a letter
• Be honest and candid, yet
tactful
• Thank them for investing
time and effort in your
candidacy
• Never burn bridges

24. Alumni Advice: Chris Hemerly
Rolls-Royce
Final Interviewing Tips:
1. Come prepared with lots of examples:
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Highlight relevant skills
- List of school projects, activities, life
experiences on your padfolio to
glance at if you get stuck
2. Do company research and have
pertinent questions ready
- News releases
- Company culture/environment
3. Display passion for career and area of
interests

25. Questions?
Thank you for your time and good luck!
Remember that the Career Services Office
is available to help!
Careers@erau.edu

26. Career Fair+
Overview 26

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