Recruiters Share Insights with Isenberg Students

“For many of our students, risk-free feedback from recruiters can be a valuable learning experience and confidence builder,” observes Melissa Salva, Director of Recruiting and Operations at Isenberg’s Chase Career Center. “That is why we bring students and recruiters together twice each year for practice and advising through our Employer Resume Review & Practice Interview Day.”

During the event’s most recent edition, on February 3rd, recruiters from eight prominent companies* met one-on-one with 48 students in practice interviews; they advised another 30 students on their resumes.  The students came exceedingly well-prepared with carefully constructed resumes in hand and their own well-rehearsed responses to interview questions previously supplied by Salva.

“By design, most of the pre-interview questions are open-ended and behavioral,” she notes. Examples include, Tell me about a difficult decision you had to make . . . How did you analyze the problem and determine an appropriate solution? Tell me about a situation where you exhibited leadership. What did you do and what was the result?  

A goal, she says, is for students to think reflectively and strategically about their own thought processes and skills in light of an employer’s own priorities. “I let the recruiters give the feedback,” adds Salva. “They are deeply trusted, long-term friends of Isenberg, whom I can count on to impart positive learning experiences to each of our students.”**

For Isenberg students, those recruiters impart a wealth of good advice.  “Ask questions that start a conversation with the interviewer—this is your chance to be in the driver’s seat in an interview . . . to steer the interview in your direction,” emphasizes Vincent Bond of Macy’s. “Expect questions about competencies and skills and have examples ready,” adds Katherine Piedra ’04 MBA of State Street. “Time yourself in practice interviews.”

“In hiring for sales positions, I am looking for students with strong interpersonal skills—students who can sell themselves through clear, compelling narratives,” notes Oracle’s Liz Reid. “You can be the smartest person in the room but unconvincing in an interview. Practice is the only way to get better.”

What should Isenberg students target for improvement? “Start looking through your resume and pull out all of the stories from your internships, activities, and other leadership examples,” advises Bond. “The better versed you are in those things, the faster you’ll be able to answer questions and the better you will know the different types of answers that you can bring to the interview.”
 

*Target, ALKU, Oracle, Macy’s, State Street, Enterprise, TJX, and MassMutual.

**The recruiters also advocate that Isenberg students practice interview skills with Optimal Interview, an online tool available via the Chase Career Center’s website. The tool allows students to record their responses to interview questions customized by major. They can then save and forward their interviews to others for helpful feedback.