Interviewing | Cal State LA

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Succeed in Professional Interviews

An invitation to interview means you meet the qualifications; now, show how you can contribute. Use examples from your experience to demonstrate your impact. Research the role and organization, and prepare thoughtful questions to understand their goals. Learn how to answer different question types to build confidence and communicate clearly.

Practice and Get Feedback

Use our Interview Practice System to learn how to answer questions, record your practice responses, and get instant feedback. Share your practice interviews with a career coach or faculty mentor for additional input. When you’re ready, schedule a live mock interview to refine your skills in real time.

Interview Practice System

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General Response Template

Use the M.S.R. method to answer general interview questions, like “Tell me about yourself” and “Why should we hire you?” Start with a main idea, supporting details, and a closing statement. Focus on brief and clear examples and connect them to the needs of the job.

Answering General Questions (document)

Behavioral Question Template

Use the S.T.A.R. method to answer behavioral interview questions, like “Tell me about a time when…”. Describe the Situation, explain the Task, walk through the Action you took, and highlight the Result. Focus on clear, specific examples that show your skills and impact.

Answering Behavioral Questions (document)

Situational Interview Questions

Use the A.R.C. method to answer situational interview questions, like “What would you do if…”. Outline the Action you would take, your Reasoning, and the expected Conclusion. Show your decision-making process and how you approach challenges.

Answering Situational Questions (document)

Tell Me About Yourself

Most interviews, and even networking situations, start with this opening request: Tell me about yourself.

To answer this successfully and confidently, use this three-part model:

Who You Are: Start strong and grab their attention with a big-picture statement covering who you are professionally and how this sets you apart.
Why You’re Qualified: Next, move on to cover the additional highlights of your qualifications with 2-3 bullet points that emphasize your key accomplishments and selling points. Be careful not to ramble.
Why You’re Here: Finally, express enthusiasm for this particular program and why you are excited about it. Your goal is to convey your excitement and fit while also wrapping up your answer in a concise and confident way.

For example:

“I am currently a [student or recent grad] focused on [area]. Recently, I have been building experience through [coursework, internship, project, or job], where I developed [key skills]. What excites me about this opportunity is [reason], because I am looking to continue growing in [skill or field].”