University of California Berkeley Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 39
Interviewing
General Questions
• Which class did you find most challenging/
enjoyable?
• Do you feel your GPA adequately represents your
abilities?
• How would you describe yourself in one word?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• What is the last thing you taught yourself?
• How will you add value to our organization?
• Why are you interested in this field/our
organization?
• What do you know about our organization that
isn’t on our website?
• Who are our key competitors?
• What do you think it takes to be a good leader?
• What didn’t you get a chance to include on your
resume?
• How long are you willing to fail at this job before
you succeed?
Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions are designed to help the
interviewer get a clear understanding of how you
handle different situations. Unlike traditional questions
that can focus on hypothetical situations, behavioral
questions rely solely on your past experiences. The
premise is that past behavior can be used to predict
future behavior.
“Tell me about a time when you...”
• Dealt with a difficult team member or customer
• Failed to meet a deadline
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Received negative feedback
• Overcame an obstacle
• Had to have an uncomfortable conversation with a
co-worker
• Went above and beyond what was expected of
you
• Persuaded someone to change their mind
• Your opinion differed from the group
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Responding to Challenging Questions
Tell Me About Yourself
This is often the first question you will be asked and
can often be the most difficult to answer. It is not an
invitation to share your life story (e.g. age, birthplace,
family information, etc.) but should focus on where
you’ve been and where you’re going regarding your
education and career goals.
Example: “I will be graduating this May with a degree
in Anthropology. For the last two summers, I have
served as an intern with a local non-profit organization teaching reading skills to children in communities
across the East Bay in California. I have also been very
active in my sorority, serving as both the marketing
chair and vice-president. My goal now is to join a
non-profit organization such as XYZ that will allow
me to continue to develop my leadership skills while
providing support to underprivileged children.”
What Are Your Salary Expectations?
You should do your homework and know what a
typical starting salary is for the job to which you are
applying. Cal has salary information for internships
and entry-level jobs on our website.
Rather than a fixed number, give a salary range and
justify it by mentioning the research you have done.
Example: “Based on the research I have done and the
nature of the position, I am targeting a starting salary
in the $60,000-$70,000 range.”
career.berkeley.edu
