Interview Tips & Techniques

At State Fund, we use structured behavioral interview techniques. The following are frequently asked questions that will help you prepare for this interview style:

Intervew Techniques

What kinds of questions will I be asked?

You will be asked questions that focus on situations you’ve encountered in the past. When you answer, there are three pieces of information (known as the STAR format) the interviewer will collect for each behavioral example:

• The Situation or Task that you faced.
• The Actions that you took
• The Results or changes caused by the action

How is this approach different from traditional interviewing?

Traditional interviewing techniques tend to focus on general concepts. Our interviewing approach is more structured and focuses on examples of how you’ve performed in previous work-related situations.

Also keep these tips in mind:

• During the interview, it is expected that you will need some time to think back to specific experiences. Do not feel pressured to answer the question quickly or feel uncomfortable asking the interviewer to repeat the question.
• If you are unable to think of a specific experience in the past, let the interviewer know that you may need to come back to that question or that you have not had that situation happen to you. However, be sure you’re able to discuss enough experiences so that the interviewer can assess your skills accurately.

There may be questions included in your interview that seek experiences that did not work out the way you intended. This information gives the interviewer a balanced, realistic picture of your background and shows how you have learned from those experiences. It also reveals opportunities for development that can be addressed early in your career at State Fund.

Interivew Tips

If you are like most candidates we talk to, you want to know what we’re looking for and what to expect during your interview.

Here’s what to expect and how to prepare:

We will ask questions to help us get to know you.

The specific questions we ask will depend on the position you’re applying for, but all questions will help us see your capabilities and potential to grow. Generally, we look for a strong desire to learn, high intelligence, willingness to work hard, rock-solid skills, and of course, a desire to be the best!

Come well-rested.

You will typically meet for up to an hour each with three to six people during your interviews, and it is important to be alert and mentally prepared.

Relax and be yourself.

Genuine enthusiasm and a positive attitude can help you make a good impression.

Be honest.

Speak honestly and accurately about your experience and qualifications. Keep in mind, exaggeration or embellishment is a form of dishonesty.

Do your research.

The most successful candidates have more than a surface understanding of our company and businesses, industry trends, the position for which they are interviewing, the product(s) we sell, and the market for those products.

Ask questions.

Thoughtful questions demonstrate your level of understanding, your interests, and your passions, so don’t hold back.

Show your thinking.

Be prepared to verbalize how you came up with the answer or solution. We are interested in more than just your answers—we want to know how your mind works, how you come up with solutions, and whether you can clearly explain your thinking process.

Demonstrate your knowledge of the field.

Be able to show us what you know about your field. Give examples of what you have done. Demonstrate how you solved a particular issue that arose.

Get to know us.

Remember, your interview is an opportunity for you to get to know us, and for us to get to know you. Relax. Ask questions. Listen. Learn. This could be the beginning of a remarkable journey. Good luck!

We wish you the best!