Interviewing for Industry Positions
In academia, people are fairly reserved in their communication. In industry, however, employers look for you to be straightforward about your relevant skills and qualities, specific about your interest in them, and clearly enthusiastic about joining them. You don’t need to exaggerate; just research them well, and tap into what is exciting about the opportunity when you are interviewing, so it naturally shows.
Prepare | Reherse | Keep the Focus On Them & Their Interests
Here is a resource to help you prepare for an interview with a business:
The 3 Questions Your Interview Must Answer
- Can you do the job?
- Why, specifically, do you want this job, with our organization?
- Will we enjoy working with you as a colleague?
Wait until they've made an offer to discuss salary, but be prepared for the interview
with your salary research
in case they press about your expected salary.
- The Goal
- Make Your Case
- What Excites You
- Strengths & Weaknesses
- Handling Challenges
- Technical Questions
The Goal of the Interview
Find the Perfect Fit
It is just a conversation so prepare well and then enjoy it.
Both you and the interviewer have the same goal: to figure out if there is a good match.
Talk about your experiences, talents, soft skills (like communication or teamwork), education or training, and personal qualities.
Prepare 2-3 interesting questions that demonstrate your knowledge and curiosity to show them that you're invested in the opportunity.
Research salary. It's best to discuss it after they offer you the job. But look up "salary calculators" (include location) before the interview and figure where you should be on the range with your relevant skills, in case they press early.
Make Your Case
"Why you?" in a Nutshell
Summarize where you are right now, how you got there, and what you want to achieve.
Give a short and professional summary of yourself (not a whole life story or a repeat of your resume).
Highlight 3-5 of your top strengths that are most relevant to their needs, drawing from your education, experience, skills, and qualities.
Back up your strengths with brief examples of how you have shown them in action.
Connect your strengths to the work they do and how it can benefit them.
What Excites You
Why their company/organization?
Point to what specifically interests you about them. Show you’ve done your research on their organization.
Highlight how your interests align with their goals. It could be their projects, mission, values, or even their company culture.
Embrace Your Strengths & Overcome Weaknesses
Strengths
Choose something you're really good at, like problem solving, creativity, or being a great team player. Share examples of how you've demonstrated this strength in action.
Weaknesses
Choose a genuine weakness that you have. We all have areas where we can improve and it's important to describe how you've managed it, through learning new skills, seeking help, or developing a plan. Explain the steps you've taken to make sure it doesn't become a problem for you or for them. .
Handling Challenges
P.A.R.T. Formula
Problem
Start by briefly describing the problem or challenge you faced. Keep it to the bare essentials because the interviewer is most interested in your action and result.
Action
Describe the specific actions you took to address the problem.
Result
Share the outcome. What was the positive impact of your efforts? (It doesn't have to be perfect, and you add what you learned; see next step)
Takeaway
Optional
You can choose to include a takeaway where you describe what you gained from the experience. This shows your ability to reflect and grow from challenges.
Technical Questions
Start Brief
Give the short answer first, then elaborate. Starting with main points is expected in industry, and shows that you're organized and confident.
Think Out Loud
In a problem-solving question, they are interested in how your mind works and how you approach things. If you want to rethink a step, explain that. Sometimes they might even give you hints.
If You Don't Know
You don't have to know all the answers, and here are ways to frame it: "I haven't had a chance to work with that yet. The way I might approach it is..." "I'm interested to know more and I learn fast." Employers value your knowledge but also how you handle unfamiliar situations.
Additional Information
Here are a couple of articles from Science.org about how to present yourself and your personality during the interview: