Career
Planning and Student Employment
Interviewing Tips
The purpose of an interview is two-fold:
1. You have the opportunity to present yourself as a potential employee.
2. You have the opportunity to make sure the potential employer
is a good match for you. Undoubtedly interviews can be nerve-racking
and leave butterflies in your stomach, but if you follow the
guidelines of this packet, you will be better prepared and feel
more confident.
Take as many opportunities as you can to polish your interviewing
skills. Begin by signing up for a mock interview at the Career
Planning & Student
Employment office. Career counselors are more than happy to help
you refine your answers to frequent interview questions and help
you prepare mentally for your interview.
Before the Interview
Do YOUR Homework
Spend time researching the company with which you are interviewing.
Know the organization's mission statement, history, and current goals.
Learn about the company's major products and services, size (in sales
and/or employees), additional locations, subsidiary companies, and
major competitors. Search the news for the latest reports or recent
news articles. Try to obtain a copy of the organization's annual
report. If the company is public, go to your library's Business Department.
If the company is privately held, contact the Better Business Bureau
and the Chamber of Commerce in the city where it is located.
Organize Your Thoughts
Have a strategic plan and know what points you want to make. Write
down at least five things you want the interviewer to know about
you and review your goals, skills, and accomplishments before
the interview. Be prepared to discuss intelligently your short-
and
long-term career goals, how your experience has prepared you
for this specific job, and current trends or issues affecting
the industry.
Continually look for concrete examples to illustrate how your
skills and interests match the company's needs.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Click here to review frequently asked interview questions. If you
are unable to schedule a mock interview with a career counselor,
consider practicing your responses with a roommate. Still stumped?
Click here for hints on answering tough interview questions.
Dress for Success
First impressions are extremely important. Click here for advice
on what to wear for your interview.
Preparing for an Interview
Record the date, time, and location of your interview as well as
the name and title of the interviewer in your organizer or appointment
book.
Familiarize yourself with the location of the interview. Investigate
the building as well as the nearest parking facilities.
Measure the commute time so that on the day of the interview you
will know how much time to allow for travel.
Gather the following items the night before your interview:
Several copies of your resume
A list of your professional references on a separate sheet of paper
A pad of paper and a pen or pencil
A portfolio of your work samples and/or publications, if applicable
An organizer or appointment book
A briefcase, attaché, or leather backpack in which to
place all of your loose belongings
A completed application (if required)
A list of questions (at least 5) to ask the interviewer
During the Interview
The first thing to remember is to RELAX. Feel confident that you
are prepared and that you will handle yourself in an impressive and
competent manner. Throughout the interview, remain committed to presenting
an attitude of professionalism.
Always show interest and enthusiasm about the company and the position
for which you are applying. Refer to the company information that
you learned through your initial research.
Always be truthful in what you say, but focus on your positive attributes.
Remain positive in all that you say even if asked to discuss a negative
experience. Focus on what you learned from the situation rather
than the negative details.
Display positive body language by keeping good eye contact, by sitting
forward in your seat, and by maintaining a proper distance of personal
space between the interviewer and yourself.
Smile!
Sample Interview Questions
You should do all that you can to prepare ahead of time for your
interview, and that includes practicing your responses to sample
interview questions. Click here for a list to get you started.
Types of Interviews
Interviews vary depending on their purpose and where they are held.
Click here for the different types so you can prepare accordingly.
Stages of the Interview
Master the interviewing process by familiarizing yourself with the
various stages of an interview. First impressions are crucial,
but the majority of time will be spent discussing your qualifications
as they relate to the company's organizational goals. Click here
for a helpful chart explaining a typical interview structure.
Helpful Hints for Answering Tough Interview Questions:
Tell me something about yourself?
Prepare a response ahead of time. Try to avoid a twenty minute monologue
on your life history from birth to the present; instead, describe
a situation in which you displayed your dedication, hard work,
or motivation. A potential employer wants to know that you can
recognize and briefly communicate your accomplishments.
How do you like my tie? or What’s your favorite book
and why?
The interviewer is most likely interested in discovering your personality
and the kinds of things that interest you. He or she is also looking
to see how creative you are and how well you can think on your
feet. The key to handling such questions is simple: maintain your
composure and answer truthfully.
What are your weaknesses?
Answer honestly with a short and direct response. Focus on an area
that you are planning to improve and try to turn the negative into
a positive. For instance, you might say, "I lack corporate
experience in this field, but I am very excited about the training
that you offer your new employees."
Is there anything in your background that would give us reservations
about hiring you? Recruiters want to know that you can learn from
a negative experience. Remember to make sure that everything you
say is positive!
Why do you want to leave your present job? or Why did you leave
your last job?
Focus on the positive aspects of change and take advantage of the
opportunity to tell the interviewer what attracts you to his or her
company. Respond with something similar to: "I have learned
a great deal in my job, but I am ready to move on to a larger organization
where I can use my experience in new and different areas. I am looking
for more responsibility, and this change will be a positive one in
my profession."
When thinking ahead to possible interview questions, use common
sense. What type of position are you applying? What skills were listed
in the job description and how do your experiences match those? Pretend
that you are an interviewer. Make up questions that you would ask
yourself or that you feel are relevant to the job. You may also talk
to your family members or friends and ask their advice about potential
questions.
Questions to Ask During an Interview
Remember you are also trying to gather information about your potential
employer during the interview. Prepare a minimum of 5 questions
ahead of time to ask during the interview. Click here for a sample
list of acceptable questions.
After the Interview
Follow-up
Always send a follow-up letter within 24 to 48 hours of your interview.
You should mail the letter to your interviewer and anyone else who
assisted you during that time. The simple gesture of sending a follow-up
letter can greatly strengthen your position as a candidate.
A follow-up letter also serves a dual purpose as a "thank you" letter.
It is important to express your gratitude to the interviewer for
taking the time to meet with you.
Like a resume and cover letter, your follow-up letter should be
error free. The format and style of your letter should be simple,
positive, and direct. You may send a handwritten note, formal typed
letter, or email message to express your gratitude. Just be sure
that the tone of your letter is conversational.
Include the following information:
What you liked most about the company.
Your interest in the position.
The strengths, experience, and values you would bring to such a position
(and how quickly you want to learn what you do not already know).
An elaboration on any points you may have felt were incomplete.
Your availability and enthusiasm.
Your hope of meeting other decision-makers as soon as possible.
A confident and pleasant request for the position.
Sample Follow-up Letter
