INTERVIEW GUIDE

For Graduate Students

Office of Career Services 7 Sumner Road, Cambridge

CAREER@[Link]
[Link]/CAREER-SERVICES
 “All Harvard candidates are capable of doing the job. What distinguishes
the candidates is the level of interest.”

Congratulations! You have been asked to advance in the job application process.
Accepting an interview request can be both exciting and intimidating. After you review this
interview guide, we hope you will feel confident and prepared for what to expect in your
next interview opportunity.
Preparation is essential to having a successful interview. Although there are many things
that are outside of your control in your job search, there are things that you can control in
terms of your preparation. Keep in mind that the Office of Career Services is available to
provide additional guidance and advice unique to your situation as you prepare for your
interviews.
Schedule a resume review, mock interview, or counseling appointment on CREATE.
ACING THE INTERVIEW
During an interview, potential employers will ask you questions in order to assess the
following:
• Your qualifications for the position.
• If you are a good fit for the employer or organization.
• How well you have considered your reasons for applying/what your reasons are for
applying.
• How clearly you can express your potential contributions to the organization.
• Your “transferrable skills,” such as communication, professionalism, leadership, and
collaboration skills.
• Your knowledge of the organization and level of interest in the position/field.
Why should the employer hire you?
Employers are seeking applicants who are:
• Focused and prepared.
• Goal-oriented.
• Mature.
• Cooperative.
• Organized.
• Hard-working.
• Understand the work/mission of the company.
• Understand the requirements of the position.
• Effective communicators (how can your skills be used to meet the job expectations.
PREPARATION BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
Research the company, field, and position:
• Review the employer’s website and any available online materials (firm’s portfolio)
or print materials handed out at career fairs or hiring events.
• Check out the employer’s social media pages to learn more about the culture and
people.
• Stay updated on current industry trends and news from professional organizations
in your field.
• Utilize the Career Services Video Library to watch past employer presentations.
• Attend networking and information sessions the employer is hosting or connect
with someone who works at the company to increase your visibility, establish your
network, or ask additional information.
• Use the Harvard Alumni Association alumni database and GSD LinkedIn group to
identify alumni to reach out to/add to your network.
• Conduct a Google Search on the organization the day of the interview to make sure
you have not missed any new developments.
Know your resume:
• Be prepared to discuss anything on your resume or CV.
• Remember your resume/cover letter may be the only information the employer has
about you.
• Expect questions about your extracurricular activities, professional experiences,
program concentration, thesis, and what you are passionate about.
• Employers are interested to know how you choose to spend your time and why.
• Help the interviewer get to know you by differentiating yourself from other
candidates: What makes you unique? Expand on your personal experiences.
• Don’t be too brief when answering “what and why questions.” Balance being
descriptive and concise.
• Respond to questions by relating your answers to the position you are interviewing
for.
Practice answering interview questions:
• Practice means assessing and determining how you will answer questions (do not
try to memorize your answers to questions you think the interviewer will ask).
• Practice making eye-contact, showing your personality, and demonstrating your
interest/excitement for the opportunity with body language.
• Make sure that your responses and explanations are clear and straightforward (ask
for feedback when practicing with others).
• Understand the reasoning behind certain questions, then make connections to your
experiences.
 • Practice mock interviews with a career counselor, mentor, family member, or friend.
• Practice articulating your thoughts and highlighting your strengths. Reflect on your
prior accomplishments and think of stories from your professional past that are
relevant to the opportunity.
• Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method to structure your
potential responses. *See the template at the end of this guide.
o S – the situation, including the context of where you were and what you
were doing.
o T – the task or challenge you had to overcome.
o A – the action you took to resolve the problem.
o R – the result or outcome of your work.
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer:
• Generate questions that will both help you obtain the details necessary to make an
informed decision as well as demonstrate your interest in the
opportunity/company.
• Make sure you ask what the next steps are in the process before the end of the
interview (When might I expect to hear from you?).
Dress in appropriate attire:

• It is critical to present yourself as a well-groomed professional and make a positive

first impression.
• Decide what to wear the day before your interview.
• Plan to wear a formal outfit in a dark color while avoiding distracting accessories,
strong perfumes, and bold colors/patterns.
• Example of Corporate Attire for interviews: dark suit with a light shirt or tailored
dress, conservative tie or simple jewelry, and dark/polished closed-toe shoes.
• Example of Business Casual Attire for employer events: khakis, dress pants, or skirt
(length at least to the knee), button-down long-sleeve shirt, sweater set, or blouse,
and a blazer or suit jacket.
Map out the location or test your technology:
• Confirm the day, time, and method of interviewing (in-person or virtual).
• For virtual interviews, make sure you have a stable internet connection, updated
software, and full computer battery. This will help you eliminate the possibility of
technical issues. Arrive 1-2 minutes early for a virtual interview.
• For in-person interviews, make sure to plan your trip before the interview date.
Coordinate your travel so you arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your scheduled
interview time (do not arrive too early).
Have a positive attitude:
• Project enthusiasm, confidence, and composure. Make sure to smile!
• Convey that you are the best candidate for this position by reiterating your interests
and skills as they pertain to the opportunity. Sell yourself!
• Show you have been looking forward to discussing this opportunity by
incorporating the knowledge you learned about the company during your
preparation research in your responses.
What to bring to an interview:
• Extra copies of your resume.
• Pen and paper.
• Writing samples/work samples.
Don’t forget to:

• Confirm the location of the interview (physical address or virtual link).

• Arrive to an in-person interview at least 10 minutes early.
• Bring extra copies of your resume and portfolio.
• Smile, make eye contact, use engaging body language.
• Send a thank-you email after the interview within 24-48 hours.
• Turn off your cell phone before the interview begins!
• For virtual interviews, close all tabs and silence your email/message alerts on your
computer.
ASKING FOR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
Many people may feel hesitant to disclose a disability or ask for accommodations for an
interview due to fear of potentially losing the job. Remember, job seekers are legally
protected from discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The time and
extent to which you share your disability with a potential employer depends on your
personal comfort.
Make sure to frame your request in a positive way so that accommodations will be
perceived as beneficial both to you and the employer. If you need to ask for a disability
accommodation to increase your chances of success, do so in advance of the interview so
the employer has time to make the appropriate arrangements. These requests may include
asking if your interview location is wheelchair-accessible or asking for sensory or cognitive
accommodations.
If you are expecting a child during your interview process, remember that pregnant women
are protected by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in all aspects of employment, including
hiring. There is no definitive right time to disclose your pregnancy; you should determine
when you feel comfortable sharing this information.
If it is obvious that you are pregnant at an in-person interview, you may want to briefly
acknowledge this fact up front so you can focus the conversation on your qualifications,
skills, passions, and potential contributions to the role/company.
Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed to share this type of information with a potential
employer. This is a great opportunity for you to consider and determine whether the
interviewer/company is a good fit for you, as you will likely want to work for an employer
that is accommodating and inclusive.
BEHAVIORAL/FIT INTERVIEWS
Many employers believe that past behavior predicts future behavior.
Employers may conduct a “behavioral interview’ to assess whether a candidate is a good fit
for their company. They will often have a predetermined list of characteristics or
competencies they are looking for/that are required to succeed in the position, then ask
open-ended questions that will require you to refer back to a specific situation/conflict and
explain how you responded. (What actions did you take and what was the result of your
actions?)
This type of interview is a perfect way to create a narrative behind your resume. Your
resume is a list of your achievements that you should elaborate on during your interview.
Tie your experiences together and emphasize the work you are particularly proud of. Make
sure to give examples of how you were able to succeed in your past and what you have
learned.
Keep these tips in mind:

• Follow a basic framework to answer behavioral questions – 1) Situation, 2) Action,

3) Result.
• Show, don’t tell – use specific examples and include only relevant details.
• Stay on topic.
• Have a conclusion – make sure to include the outcome/result and what you learned.
• Make it resonate – mention why your actions/behavior would be valuable to the
employer/position.
Review the list of desirable qualities below and continue developing these throughout your
career. In your interview preparation, identify and practice telling stories that highlight
these eight competencies.
Employers want to know:
• “Can you make the most out of a bad situation?”
• “Can you get along with your colleagues for long periods of time under less-than-
ideal circumstances?”
• “Are you able to handle and overcome conflict or setbacks?”
Desirable Qualities:
1. Critical Thinking
a. Able to deal with complexity and handle ambiguity.
b. Sees and approaches challenges from multiple perspectives/angles.
c. Uncovers flaws in arguments.
d. Asks informed questions.
2. Leadership
a. Demonstrates initiative.
b. Justifies decisions.
c. Advocates.
d. Motivates/empowers.
e. Demonstrates conviction.
f. Maintains good judgement and integrity.
g. Resolves differences/conflicts.
3. Teamwork
a. Consensus builder.
b. Listens to others.
c. Collaborative.
d. Ability to work in diverse teams.
e. Aware of diverse/global perspectives/experiences.
f. Able to build professional relationships and network.
4. Concrete/Technical Skills
a. Research skills.
b. Able to analyze large data sets.
c. Technology/social media competence.
d. Qualitative/quantitative analysis skills.
e. Coding languages (Java, C++, Python, etc.).
5. Learning Orientation
a. Intellectual curiosity.
b. Quick learner.
c. Flexible and adaptable.
d. Open to new ideas.
e. Innovative.
f. Reflects on mistakes, able to make improvements.
6. Problem-Solving
a. Able to see multiple possible solutions.
b. Evaluates options.
c. Synthesizes/integrates information.
d. Uses a multidisciplinary approach.
e. Entrepreneurial.
f. Able to think on your feet.
g. Resourceful.
 7. Communication
a. Strong writing skills.
b. Public speaking and presentation skills.
c. Able to effectively influence and persuade.
d. Global communicator – culturally sensitive/aware.
8. Professionalism
a. Demonstrates a strong work ethic.
b. Time management skills/punctuality.
c. Takes accountability for work.
d. Learns from feedback and mistakes.
e. Ethical and responsible.
ANSWERING NEGATIVELY FRAMED QUESTIONS
Interviewers will likely ask a negatively framed question as part of a behavioral/fit
interview, for example:
• “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”
• “What is your greatest weakness?”
Your answers to these questions will help the interviewer discern how well you are able to
handle challenging situations, how much insight you have into yourself, and what areas you
need to improve. Be honest, thoughtful, and strategic with your answers and take
responsibility for your mistakes. Make sure to focus on behaviors, not personality traits,
and discuss ways in which you are working to improve and turn your weaknesses into
strengths.
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
Phone Interviews:
Employers will typically begin the interview process with a phone interview (possibly with
Human Resources) to screen a candidate’s communication skills, interest in the position,
desired salary, and qualifications. This round of interviews is used to determine whether
the applicant is a strong candidate and worth further consideration.
Be prepared for the absence of non-verbal cues when doing phone interviews. The energy
and visible feedback shared between the interviewer and the candidate during in-person
interviews can be reassuring. Stay confident and compensate for this by being prepared,
focused, and clear in your responses.
Remember these tips:
• Enunciate clearly with adequate volume.
• Convey your enthusiasm and passion in your voice.
 • Plan to be in a quiet, uncrowded place to take your phone interview. Make sure to
check your signal and phone battery beforehand. Avoid places with background
noise.
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview to help you focus on the importance
and purpose of the conversation.
• Have notes in front of you with reminders of what to ask, background information
about the employer, or strategies for answering questions (STAR).
• Be aware of the amount of time you are taking to answer each question. Provide
details but don’t ramble.
• Do not get nervous if the interviewer is silent after you finish answering a question.
The interviewer is most likely taking notes!
Video Interviews:
Video Interviews are a common choice for employers, especially amidst the presence of
COVID and remote working conditions. Employers are increasingly using technology to
conduct interviews in order to easily reach candidates without needing to bring them into
the office. This is a more efficient and cost-effective way to screen potential hires. Be
prepared to use Zoom, WebEx, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or other video conferencing
platforms during your interview process.
Prepare for a video interview as you would for an in-person interview. Additionally, keep
in mind:

• Make sure you are familiar with the technology and ask what platform they will be
using for the interview. Practice with your friends, family, or classmates, to help you
feel more comfortable.
• Select a plain, neutral background for your interview. Be aware that the interviewer
will be able to see what is behind you, and this may reflect on you as a candidate.
Consider using a virtual background or blur your background.
• Make sure you have ample lighting (natural lighting will enhance your video
quality).
• Maintain eye contact. Do not be tempted to monitor yourself on camera (try hiding
your self-view).
• Dress appropriately and professionally, as you would for any interview.
• Adjust your camera angle so you are level with the camera and not looking
up/down.
• Prepare a few notes if that would make you feel more comfortable, but do not forget
to maintain eye contact.
• The interviewer may ask you to screen share. Remember to clean up your desktop
background, turn off any automatic notifications, and close all tabs in your browser.
Make sure you have the location of your work examples ready to be pulled up if
requested.
 • Minimize any distractions (silence your phone, move pets to another room, shut
your door).
On-Demand/Recorded Video Interviews:
In this type of interview, employers use cloud-based software to relay written or pre-
recorded questions. Candidates use the same software and their webcam to record and
submit their responses. These questions usually have a time limit so make sure you are
prepared to complete your responses within the allotted time.
This is a method employers use to be able to share a candidate’s responses across a wider
audience.
Tips for preparing for recorded interviews:
• Practice recording yourself answering interview prompts.
• Schedule plenty of time to record your responses. You will typically need to
complete the interview in one sitting. Pick a time when you will be most comfortable
and at your best.
• You may be given multiple attempts at responding to questions. Make sure you
complete your responses within the time limit, but do not rush.
• Make sure you do the interview in a quiet, private space with a neutral background.
• Dress in interview attire.
• Make eye contact with the camera.
Case Interviews:
The case question, common in consulting interviews, helps employers determine whether a
candidate has an adequate aptitude for handling complex business problems and the ability
to think like a consultant.
Case interviews step-by-step:
• Repeat the question.
• Ask clarification questions.
• Organize your thoughts.
• Share your thoughts on how you would approach the problem.
• Suggest solutions.
*See our Consulting Guide for more information on case interviews.
COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM EFFECTIVELY
Tell me about yourself.
Aim for your response to be about 2 minutes long. Strong answers begin with basic
information about who you are, a short story about why/how you because interested in
your field of work, and what you are passionate about. Don’t list out everything on your
resume.
Focus on answering these questions:
• What inspired you to pursue this career path?
• What kind of impact do you want to have with your skills and experience?
• Why are you motivated to make an impact?
Make sure your narrative allows you to easily transition into why the particular job you are
interviewing for is a great fit for you and how your past experiences have led you to apply
to said opportunity.
Why are you interested in our organization/this position?
Your answer to this type of question should demonstrate that you have researched the
organization’s mission, work, and history. Illustrate that your knowledge and
understanding of the organization inspired your interest in working there. Consider
mentioning specific projects that resonated with you.
Make sure to mention if you have:
• Reached out to alumni employed at the organization or done an information
interview with someone at the organization.
• Met a recruiter from the organization at a career fair.
• Engaged with the organization in the past.
What are your strengths? What makes you qualified for this role?
Focus on sharing your skills and strengths that are most relevant to the job and aligned
with the qualifications the employer is looking for. Review the official job posting to
prepare yourself to explain at least 3 to 4 distinct strengths. Make sure that you are able to
give examples of your strengths (how your strengths led to specific successes) and are able
to prioritize them. Think of examples from both your academic and professional work. Use
the STAR framework to guide the structure of your response.
What is your greatest weakness?
Avoid providing a strength that is manifested as a weakness, such as perfectionism or
“caring too much,” which can be perceived as disingenuous. Also avoid providing an
example of a weakness that is completely irrelevant to the job.
Approach this question by reframing it to “what do you want to be better at?” then
explaining the steps you have taken to improve in this area. Make sure you use concrete
examples to support your statement. The goal is to convey that you are in the process of
overcoming said weakness.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Instead of responding with a specific job title and organization you would like to be
working at in the future, reframe the question to answer the following questions:
• What do you want to be better at in X years?
• What new areas of work do you want to be exposed to/involved in?
• What skills/experiences do you hope to acquire.
• What kind of impact do you hope to have in X years?
This question is designed to allow the candidate to express their commitment to
professional development and dedication to the field.
General Interview Questions:

• When did you know you wanted to be a…?

• Describe yourself in 3 adjectives.
• What motivates you?
• Why did you decide to go to the GSD?
• What has been your most difficult challenge?
• What do you expect to gain from this position?
• If you were an interviewer, what do you think the 3 most important criteria would
be for hiring someone for this position?
• Do you like working the people? How well do you work in a team?
• How do you manage stress?
• What is your proudest accomplishment?
• What do you think are the biggest challenges facing our industry?
• How do you define a good work environment?
Behavioral Interview Questions:
• What is the most complicated project you have worked on?
• Did you have any trouble working as a team on this project? What were the issues
and how did you solve them?
• How important is diversity to a team’s work? Can you support your answer with a
real-life example?
• Tell me about a time when you had to be a leader/made a significant impact.
• Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a conflict.
• Tell me about the most valuable feedback/criticism you have received.
• Tell me about a time when you initiated change at an organization.
• Tell me about a time when you successfully persuaded a senior person to adopt
your perspective or strategy for an issue.
• How do you present information you collected to a client or group of people who are
uninformed about the topic?
QUESTIONS THE INTERVIEWER SHOULD NOT ASK
You are legally not required to answer these questions so feel free to politely decline to
answer by saying “I would prefer not to answer this” or “I’d like to keep the focus to my
qualifications for this role.”
• What is your age?
• What is your date of birth?
• Were you born in the U.S.? Are you a citizen?
• What is your race, religion, national origin, gender identity, or sexual identity?
• Do you have disabilities of any kind?
• Have you ever been treated by a psychologist or a psychiatrist?
• Are you taking any prescription medications?
• Have you ever been treated for drug addiction or alcoholism?
• Are you married, single, or divorced?
• When do you plan to start a family?
• Do you observe the Sabbath or any days that would interfere with this job schedule?
QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER
At the end of the interview, the interviewer will likely ask if you have any questions. Make
sure that you have prepared a handful of questions to demonstrate you are interested in
learning more about the organization and the role. When you ask a question, remember to
preface it with information you already know to show you have done prior research.
Questions About the Role:

• What does a typical day/week look like for someone in this role?
• What does the onboarding process look like?
• How will the person in this role be supervised?
• How does this position interact with other departments/teams at the organization?
• How often does a person in this role collaborate with other members of the team?
• What accomplishments do you expect the person in this role to achieve within the
first three months of being in this position?
• What qualities and attributes would make for a successful hire in this position?
• What new responsibilities would you like this person to take on?
Questions About the Organization:
This is a great way to build rapport, but do not get carried away asking multiple questions
about their career paths. You want to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable of the
industry and would be a great colleague.
• Can you tell me more about the future direction or priorities of the organization?
• Can you tell me more about the organizational culture here?
• What kind of people do well in this organization?
 • What opportunities exist to support professional development?
• How do you envision growth for this organization in the next few years?
• Ask a few questions about the personal experiences your interviewers have had at
the organization, such as how they ended up in their current positions at the
organization and how they have grown professionally in their roles.
• Don’t forget to ask what the timeline of the search process is and when you should
expect to hear from the employer.
CAN I ASK ABOUT SALARY?
Hopefully salary ranges are shared in advance. If not, be tactful in asking during the
interview. Often times, it is better to wait for an offer.
FOLLOW-UPS AND THANK YOU NOTES
After your interview, it is crucial for you to send out a thank you to express your
appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration. This should be sent within the
first 24-48 hours from when the interview took place. You want to stay fresh in the mind of
the interviewer and make a good impression even after the interview has ended.
Craft a brief email to the person you interviewed with and mention that you enjoyed
learning more about the position and look forward to hearing back from them. Remember
to reiterate your interest in the opportunity/enthusiasm for the organization.
BEST PRACTICES FOR PREPARING YOUR REFERENCES
Some employers will request to contact your references before proceeding to extend an
offer. Make sure you have selected references who can speak to your skills, experiences,
and qualifications. You will want to let your references know beforehand that they may be
contacted as a reference. Describe the job description and send your application documents
and reasoning for applying/being a great fit for this position to your references. Don’t
forget to thank you references for their time and support!
INTERVIEW RESOURCES
Before the Interview Checklist:
Confirm all logistics of the interview, including the names of who will be
interviewing you.
Map out the location of your interview and decide how you will travel there/what
time you need to leave to arrive early.
Review your application materials, including your resume and cover letter.
Reread the job posting, make not of all keywords, practice turning main
qualifications/responsibilities into questions.
Research all available online resources about the organization, including the
website and any social media platforms.
 Leverage your professional network and reach out to your contacts for
informational interviews/advice.
Prepare relevant stories you want to tell, structure using the STAR framework.
Brainstorm and practice your answers to common interview questions.
Prepare a list of questions you would like to ask the interviewers.
Schedule a mock interview with Career Services.
Lay out your outfit for your interview the day before.
Day of the Interview Checklist:

Lightly review your notes. Focus on doing an activity that helps you get mentally
prepared.
Dress in professional attire.
Arrive 10-15 minutes early to the interview.
Silence your notifications before stepping into the interview.
During the Interview Checklist:
Greet your interviewers by asking how they are doing and thanking them for
meeting with you.
Listen attentively to the questions before answering. Feel free to take notes if you
are asked a multipart question.
Ask for clarity if you don’t understand a question.
Project positive body language by smiling, sitting up straight, leaning slightly
forward in your seat, and maintaining strong eye contact.
Keep your answers concise, around 2 minutes long, if possible.
Be sure to say “yes” when they ask you if you have any questions. Show your
interviewers that you have done your research.
Take notes when they share important information with you.
Ask about the timeline of the search process as your last question.
Be mindful of the time and pay attention to cues from your interviewers.
Thank your interviewers again for their time and consideration.
After the Interview:
Send a thank you email to all who interviewed you within 24-48 hours of the and
provide any necessary follow-up information discussed in your interview.
Be patient as you wait to hear back from your interviewers. If you have not heard
back by the timeline they provided, feel free to follow-up.
STAR Interviewing Examples:
SITUATION – the situation, including the Example:
context of where you were and what you • Taught “Introduction to Sustainable
were doing. Design” which had over 200
undergrads enrolled.
• Inherited a course that typically had
low student reviews.
• Previous students stated they did not
understand the material and were
not motivated to learn in course
surveys.
TASK – The task or challenge you have to Example:
overcome. • Helping students become/stay
engaged in course material as subject
matter progresses to more complex
and difficult material.
ACTION – The action you took to resolve the Example:
problem. • Held several check-ins with students
and open office hours throughout the
semester.
• Implemented the use of clickers in
class and online discussion forums to
gauge which topics the students were
most struggling with.
RESULT – The result or outcome of your Example:
work. • Increased number of students
attending office hours.
• Decreased number of students who
dropped the course.
• Most positive course ratings received
across the department in the last ten
years.
Use this STAR worksheet to fill out your stories for behavioral interviews.
SITUATION

TASK

ACTION

RESULT