• Course Introduction

        • Time: 4 hours
        • Free Certificate
        This course will help you showcase your knowledge, skills, abilities, strengths, and interests to potential employers during a professional job interview. Be sure to review our other professional development courses for more on other skills that will help you get ahead, such as preparing a resume, interpersonal communication, professional etiquette, leadership, teamwork, and understanding organizational culture.

        • Course Syllabus

          First, read the course syllabus. Then, enroll in the course by clicking "Enroll me". Click Unit 1 to read its introduction and learning outcomes. You will then see the learning materials and instructions on how to use them.

        • Unit 1: Before the Interview

          In this unit we help you prepare for a professional job interview. While most people think about job interviews in terms of how well you can convince a potential employer that you are the best person to fill their job opening, remember that the interview is also your opportunity to learn more about the company where you might work, and ask questions about your future job responsibilities. After you have had several successful job interviews, we hope you have the opportunity to choose among several job offers.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.

        • Unit 2: During the Interview

          This unit offers resources to help you optimize the time you spend with interviewers to learn more about their expectations and convince them that you are the best person to fill a job opening. Remember not to focus exclusively on how to impress a potential employer. Think about what you want. An interview is an opportunity to meet your potential employer to decide whether you want to work for them and if the position they are offering will help you achieve your career goals.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

        • Unit 3: Negotiating Compensation

          Discussing salary requirements during the interview can be tricky. Potential employers may ask you for your salary requirements during the initial telephone screening or during later interviews. Prepare for this question by researching what comparable employers pay workers with similar responsibilities and qualifications in your area. Be prepared with a response even if your plan is to avoid giving an exact figure.

          Some suggest giving a salary range so you have room to negotiate after you have received a job offer. Others recommend giving one salary amount you would be happy to receive since the employer will likely offer you the lowest figure you give in your range anyway. Still others say you should never be the first to give a figure. Press the employer to give you an offer first, since their number could be higher than what you had anticipated. Then, you can still negotiate for a better compensation package. In this unit we look at salary negotiation in more detail.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

        • Course Feedback Survey

          Please take a few minutes to give us feedback about this course. We appreciate your feedback, whether you completed the whole course or even just a few resources. Your feedback will help us make our courses better, and we use your feedback each time we make updates to our courses.

          If you come across any urgent problems, email contact@saylor.org.

        • Certificate Final Exam

          Take this exam if you want to earn a free Course Completion Certificate.

          To receive a free Course Completion Certificate, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on this final exam. Your grade for the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam on your first try, you can take it again as many times as you want, with a 7-day waiting period between each attempt.

          Once you pass this final exam, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.