Have you ever felt like the process of finding a new job is too intimidating and overwhelming? Many job hunters share your feelings — but it doesn’t have to be that way! Our recruitment team is always looking to help candidates find the right role for them at UPMC, and lucky for us, they shared some insider secrets to help make the process as smooth as possible!
Check out these top tips from our recruiters on acing an in-person interview and jump-start your career today!
Tip #1: Prepare.
Prior to your interview, do some research about the position and about UPMC. It’s helpful to know about our organization and how this position fits in and makes an impact. Knowing this kind of information can help you articulate how your skills apply to the job requirements and the needs of the team, thereby helping you stand out as a candidate.
This blog is a great place to get to know more about careers at UPMC, but we’d also recommend UPMC’s website and our UPMC Careers website.
Tip #2: Ace the details.
Being on time and wearing appropriate clothing for your interview is an important way to make a good impression and show your reliability and readiness to a recruiter. Planning for travel time and traffic is a skill needed each day on the job, so proving your punctuality during the interview process is one way to affirm that you’re ready to join the UPMC team.
Tip #3: Ask questions.
Interview us, too! It’s a good idea to come prepared with any questions you have about the position, workplace, culture, and more. Asking questions not only provides clarity, but also shows you are seriously interested in the position and being a part of our larger team. Questions could include:
- What are some the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- What characteristics are needed to thrive in this role?
- What are the challenges of this role or team?
- What does the career path for this this role look like?
Tip #4: Stand out with the STAR method.
Recruiters will often ask behavior-based interview questions that require you to use real-world examples and stories from other jobs, projects, or experiences. These questions often begin with phrases like “Tell me about a time when…” “Give me an example of…” or “Describe a…” To prepare for this portion of the interview, we’d recommend structuring your answers and stories using “The STAR method.”
Situation: Give the details and context of your example.
Task: Explain what your responsibilities were.
Action: Share what you did.
Result: Summarize what outcomes your actions achieved.
Using the STAR method can take a little bit of practice, so it can be helpful to do a mock interview or practice saying your answers in the mirror. A little bit of practice will help you think of applicable stories to share and help you answer a recruiter’s questions with ease during your actual interview.
Tip #5: Have an attitude of gratitude.
You’ve probably heard this tip, but you’d be surprised how few folks follow through with it —sending a “thank you” email to your interviewers is a great way to reaffirm your interest!. And if you hear back from the recruiter that they’ve chosen a different candidate? Two things: 1. Thank them again, and 2. Don’t lose hope. There might be a different position within UPMC that’s right for you, so we encourage you to keep exploring and applying.
