Preparing for an Interview
Congratulations on your upcoming interview(s)! We’ve gathered helpful resources to prepare you for this important opportunity. Prepare and Practice: Mock interview sessions are also available through the Career Development Office (CDO), so please email us to schedule an appointment!
Preparing in advance can help you succeed in your interview and secure a job offer. Here are some key tips to help you:
- Arrive Early: Get to the interview location 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Research the Company: Know who they are, what they do, and why you want to work there. Visit their website and explore LinkedIn for more insights and employee profiles.
- Anticipate Questions: Practice answering common interview questions, especially “Tell me about yourself,” and think through how your education, skills, and experience make you a strong candidate.
- Dress for Success: Wear professional business attire, and bring printed copies of your resume in a nice folder.
- Make a Good First Impression: Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, smile, and make eye contact throughout the interview.
- Listen Carefully: If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification before responding.
- Emphasize Your Strengths: Focus on your skills and experiences, and stay positive.
- Pay Attention to Nonverbal Communication: Maintain good posture, eye contact, and body language.
- Say “Thank You”: Express gratitude at the end of the interview and follow up with a thank-you note within 24 hours.
Behavioral or situational interview questions help employers understand how your past actions reflect the skills needed for the job. These questions may cover areas like decision-making, organization, commitment, planning, creativity, communication, assertiveness, teamwork, or leadership.
How to Answer Behavioral Questions
Use examples from your past experiences to show how you handled similar situations. Think of a few stories in advance so you’re prepared to share real-life examples, and practice telling them.
A useful way to structure your answers is with the PAR method (Problem, Action, Result):
- Problem: Briefly describe the situation or challenge you faced.
- Action: Explain what steps you took to address it.
- Result: Share the outcome or impact of your actions.
Example:
Q: Tell me about a time you set a goal and achieved it.
A (PAR Example):
- Problem: My professor announced a national student contest sponsored by ALA, and our school was eligible to participate.
- Action: I took the lead in our six-person group, organized meetings, and facilitated discussions to set our strategy. I assigned tasks and established deadlines to keep us on track.
- Result: Our project advanced to the regional competition, where we won. A judge praised our team’s organization.
Sample Behavioral Questions
- Describe a time when you faced stress at work or in class. How did you cope?
- Share an instance when you couldn’t complete a task due to lack of information. What did you do?
- Give an example of a time you had to make a quick decision.
- Describe a situation where you used verbal communication to convey an important message.
- Tell me about a time when you had to voice your opinions at work or in class.
- Share a time when you motivated your coworkers or peers.
- Give an example of when you used research skills to solve a problem and made a decision based on the information.
- Describe a significant document, report, or presentation you completed.
- Provide an example of when you went above and beyond to complete a task.
- Tell me about a creative project you worked on.
- Describe how you handled a situation involving an upset customer, coworker, or classmate.
- Give an example of how you’ve demonstrated teamwork in a work or school setting.
Prepare your answers using the PAR framework to effectively showcase your skills and experiences.
Articulating the Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
A liberal arts degree provides you with a broad set of skills that are highly adaptable across industries. It cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership abilities that are essential in any professional environment. Moreover, it fosters a global perspective, empathy, and ethical awareness that are increasingly important in our interconnected world.
Through a rigorous four-year education at Soka University of America, you will leave with a well-rounded foundation of knowledge, critical skills, and core values that are highly marketable in today’s complex and diverse job market. Your liberal arts degree equips you with the versatility and holistic perspective that many employers value, preparing you not only for your first job but for a meaningful and contributive life.
When preparing for an interview, effectively conveying the value of your liberal arts degree can set you apart as a candidate. Highlight how the skills you developed at Soka University—competencies like critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and leadership—translate directly to the demands of the role you’re pursuing. Emphasize your ability to adapt, work across disciplines, and approach challenges from multiple perspectives, qualities that are cultivated through a broad liberal arts education.
Share specific examples of how your experiences at Soka have prepared you for professional environments. Whether it’s a project that required innovative problem-solving, a leadership role that developed your teamwork abilities, or coursework that expanded your global awareness, these experiences demonstrate your readiness to contribute meaningfully in any job.
Employers value candidates who bring not only technical skills but also a global perspective, ethical reasoning, and empathy. Use your interview to show how these qualities, deeply ingrained through your Soka education, make you a well-rounded and versatile professional ready to navigate today’s complex world.
Preparing to articulate these strengths in advance will help you confidently present yourself as a candidate who not only fits the role but brings a unique, liberal arts-driven perspective that adds lasting value to the organization.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Our curriculum encourages students to think critically, question assumptions, and solve complex problems. This provides our graduates with the ability to confront challenges with an open and analytical mind.
- Communication Skills: Liberal arts students develop excellent written and verbal communication skills. They learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, persuasively, and succinctly, in various contexts.
- Global Citizenship: Aligned with our mission to foster global citizens, our students not only understand the interdependence of societies and cultures, they have spent four years living, working and developing relationships with people from all over the world. This equips them to operate effectively in diverse, multicultural environments.
- Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: Through exploring a wide range of human experiences and perspectives, our students develop empathy and emotional intelligence, key to navigating interpersonal relationships in any professional setting.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: The broad and varied liberal arts curriculum fosters adaptability and flexibility, enabling our graduates to thrive in various roles and industries.
- Creative Thinking: Our free and open dialogue encourages innovative and creative thinking, producing graduates who can bring fresh ideas and unique perspectives to their professions.
- Ethical Leadership: Guided by Buddhist principles, our students learn the importance of ethical decision-making, human rights, and peace. This creates compassionate leaders who contribute positively to their workplaces and communities.
While job interviews may vary greatly based on the position or industry, here are some common questions you might face and ways you can frame your answers to highlight the competencies, skills and values you’ve gained through your liberal arts education at Soka University.
A: “At Soka University, I developed a deep understanding of the interdependence of individuals and societies, which has nurtured my ability to work effectively in diverse teams. I believe in the importance of empathy and open dialogue in a team setting, and I’m committed to bringing these values to my role.”
Answer: “My education at Soka University has been comprehensive and varied, providing me with a wide range of skills [mention specific skills related to the job here]. Furthermore, the university’s commitment to wisdom, courage, and compassion has shaped me as an individual ready to serve others and contribute to the greater good.”
Answer: “Studying liberal arts has prepared me to be flexible and adaptable. For instance, [provide a specific example, describing the situation, your action, and result/resolution]. This experience has taught me the importance of being open-minded and quick to adjust to new situations.”
Answer: “My liberal arts education has given me robust critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I am trained to consider multiple perspectives and possible solutions before making decisions. I believe this approach would be beneficial in addressing complex problems in any professional context.”
Answer: “While I respect the depth of knowledge that specialized degrees offer, my liberal arts education has given me a broad base of skills that are transferable across industries, including business. This versatility enables me to quickly grasp new concepts and adapt to different professional environments. Additionally, I am a lifelong learner and am committed to continually expanding my knowledge and skills.”