Interviewing at Ivie? Congratulations you’ve made it past the resume screening and Ivie wants to get to know you better. Now comes the most critical part of the process – the interview.
I know interviews can be nerve-wracking. You want to impress the hiring manager and show why you’re the perfect candidate for the role. That’s why I’ve written this guide covering the most common Ivie interview questions, along with tips to help you give winning answers.
I’ve interviewed countless candidates over my career in HR and I want to share the insider knowledge to give you an advantage. Read on and you’ll be equipped with strategies to absolutely crush your Ivie interview!
Research the Company Thoroughly
Before we dive into the nitty gritty of specific questions, my first tip is to deeply research Ivie. Learn all about the company’s history, mission, values, culture, products, services, competitors, and recent news. This will help you understand what qualities and capabilities they are looking for in a candidate.
It also allows you to work relevant facts about Ivie into your answers. Speaking knowledgably about the company impresses the interviewer and shows you took the time to learn about them rather than just winging it.
Spend time exploring the Ivie website and social media accounts. Search online for news articles about product launches, financial results, and company initiatives. Check out review sites like Glassdoor to gain insight from current and past employees on the work environment and culture.
Thorough prep will give you an edge over other candidates who didn’t put in the same effort.
Expect Basic Questions About Yourself and Your Experience
Ivie wants to determine if you’re a cultural fit for the organization Expect to get questions about your background, education, skills, past work experience and how those align with the requirements of the role.
Common personal background questions include
- Tell me about yourself.
- What interests or motivates you?
- Why did you choose this career path?
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What do you consider your biggest weakness?
For experience-related questions, they may ask:
- Walk me through your work history and background.
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What were your responsibilities in your previous roles?
- What are some key achievements from past jobs that make you qualified for this one?
Make sure you can concisely walk through the highlights of your background and experience. Quantify achievements with numbers whenever possible.
Focus on how your skills directly translate into you being able to excel in the open position. Use the job description as a guide for which capabilities to emphasize.
Show Why You’re Passionate About the Role and Company
Hiring managers want people genuinely excited to work there, not just applicants looking for any old job. Be ready to express your passion.
Enthusiasm-related questions include:
- Why are you interested in this role?
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Have compelling, specific reasons ready that show why you’re jazzed about the company and position. Mention how you align with their mission, culture and values.
Speak aspirationally about where you’d like to see yourself grow in the role long-term. However, stress that you’re committed to delivering short-term results as well. They want hungry but patient employees.
Show You Understand the Role’s Responsibilities and Requirements
To determine if you’re truly a fit, Ivie will ask questions probing your understanding of what the job entails day-to-day. Make sure you have clarity on the role’s core functions. Use the job description, company website, and conversations with the recruiter to learn as much as possible.
Common questions about the role include:
- What do you understand this position’s key responsibilities to be?
- What interests you or appeals to you about this role?
- What do you think it takes to be successful in this job?
- How does this position compare to others you’ve held?
Don’t just vaguely say “It seems like an exciting opportunity.” Show you’ve done your homework by speaking directly to the position’s daily functions, skills required, and goals you’d work towards.
Demonstrate why your competencies align perfectly with what they need to accomplish the objectives of the job.
Expect Scenario-Based Questions
Many Ivie interview questions will present hypothetical scenarios you might encounter in the role and ask how you would handle them. This tests your critical thinking and lets them gauge your thought process.
Some common scenario questions include:
- If you noticed your team was struggling to meet a deadline, how would you approach this situation?
- A client expresses dissatisfaction about a product or service we’ve provided. What steps would you take?
- You and a team member had different ideas on how to complete a project. How would you resolve
How do I request an alumni interview?
The short answer is you don’t. It seems like every school that does interviews says, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you,” when it comes to setting up a meeting. Unfortunately, not everyone gets an interview. If you aren’t offered an interview, however, don’t panic. It won’t be used against you. Schools try to talk to as many students as they can, but because the interviewers are all volunteers, it can be tough to reach all of them. Some Ivy League schools promise interviews to all applicants, but Penn probably does the best job, giving interviews to about 90% of applicants. Don’t try to get in touch with the admissions office about an interview if they don’t contact you first. If they haven’t given you an interview, it means they are out of interviews.
First, let’s get on the same page about alumni interviews.
An alumni interview is an optional conversation that takes place after you apply but before you get in. They usually take about 30-45 minutes. The person who did the interview will write up a report on how it went and send it to the admissions office. This report is then added to your admissions file. These are usually not-make-or-break. Aka a great interview cannot save a bad application. The admissions office learns more about you, your personality, and how you would fit in at the school through this process. Interviews, at the Ivies, are optional, but if you get the opportunity to do one, you absolutely should.
Full interview with Nathan Ivie from 3 Questions with Bob Evans
FAQ
How do I prepare for an Ivy League interview?
