Interviews
The best interviews happen when you prepare well. Be ready to articulate your skills and qualifications that make you a great candidate for the position. For more information, refer to our Interviewing Handout.
Where to Research
Know the position description in detail and be prepared to speak to your experiences that relate to the job responsibilities. You can also go to the company website and look into what current and past employees have to say. Conducting an informational interview is a great way to get insider information and learn what the company values in its employees.
Find out the mission, values, and culture of the organization. Know their products, services, clients, and competitors. Look into your interviewer's professional interests and involvements. Then come prepared with tailored questions about the company.
- Glassdoor for company info, salary, and past interview questions
- LinkedIn for company info and links to employee profiles
- UMN Libraries Business Research
Salary Negotiations
Negotiate and reap the full rewards of a job offer.
So you’ve gotten a job offer—congratulations! Managers make job offers expecting candidates will negotiate. Negotiation is a normal and expected part of the process of accepting a job offer. Those who negotiate may end up with a 5-15% gain on the original offer!
As tempting as it may be to zip past the topic of negotiation by simply accepting whatever is offered, this is your opportunity to demonstrate assertive communication, collaboration skills, and self-advocacy, and reap the rewards of a more attractive offer. Managers routinely report that they make an initial offer based on the expectation that candidates will negotiate. Even if you are content with the offer, you may be underestimating your value. In our experience coaching thousands of diverse clients, no one regretted negotiating a higher salary! Nor have any candidates had an offer rescinded due to negotiation attempts. It is part of the culture of the US labor market.