Interview Tips

Research

Spend a minimum of two hours researching the industry, the company, and the position.

• What are the goals, mission, and vision of the organization?
• What are they known for?
• What makes them unique?
• Their reputation?
• Who works there?
• What do they do?
• Who do they service?
• What is their geographic location?

Prepare and Practice

• Utilize InterviewStream to help you prepare for your interview.
• Schedule a mock interview with a Career Center professional.
• Review the job description to help prepare for obvious questions.
• Know your strengths, weaknesses, interests, values, skills, abilities, experience, education, personality, and goals.
• Prepare your 60 second introduction (elevator pitch).
• Memorize your résumé.

Before the Interview

• Get correct directions and plan accordingly for traffic and parking.
• Know who will conduct the interview and the type of interview format that will be used (individual, panel, lunch, etc.).
• Make sure your interview clothes fit well and are clean and pressed.
• Select an attire that is conservative.

Day of the Interview

• Dress to impress.
• Arrive 15 minutes early.
• Be nice and courteous to everyone.
• Bring extra copies of your résumé and a list of references in a portfolio with notepad and pen.

During the Interview

• Have a firm handshake.
• Remember to smile and show enthusiasm.
• Consistently make good eye contact with all interviewers.
• Be prepared with your 60-second introduction (elevator pitch).
• Limit your responses to no more than 2–3 minutes per question.
• Identify specific skills as they relate to the job.
• Answer questions about work style.
• Provide examples that illustrate or demonstrate a specific skill or function.
• Be ready to handle situational/behavioral questions utilizing the STAR (situation, task, action, result) approach.
• Ask informative questions at the end of the interview.
• Ask about the next steps in the interview process.
• Remember to thank your interviewers and shake everyone's hand.

After the Interview

• Send a thank you letter to all interviewers (within 24 hours)
• Follow-up with the employer (1 week later)

Evaluate

• Is this job for you?
• A good fit = a successful career
• Critique yourself: Were you prepared? What would you do differently next time?

Dress Accordingly

Dressing accordingly may seem basic, but it is easier said than done. There is no impression like the first impression. Before you start your rounds of interviews, be sure to have a comfortable, clean, and fairly conservative outfit. If you are not looking your best, the interviewer may wonder how much worse it can get. Your attire showcases your level of professionalism. A good rule of thumb is to know what the typical dress norms are for the organization and dress one step above that.

Men Should Consider

• Clean-cut hairstyle
• Clean shaven face
• No excessive cologne
• Deodorant
• Dark colored suit
• Collared dress shirt
• Subdued tie
• No excess jewelry
• Small portfolio
• Dress slacks
• Dress shoes and socks
• Belt, shoes, and socks
  should all match

Women Should Consider

• Clean-cut hairstyle
• No excess jewelry
• Neatly styled hair
• No excess makeup
• No excessive perfume
• Dress shirt
• Skirt or pant suit
• Neat trimmed nails
• Small portfolio
• Skin-toned nylons
• Close-toed shoes
• No spike heels
• Small handbag

Making a Good Impression

The qualities many interviewers value in a candidate include the following.

• Being prepared for the interview
• Showing enthusiasm and expressing a willingness to work and learn on the job
• Honest, genuine answers to questions during the interview, rather than overconfident or arrogant attitudes
• Knowledge of the firm/organization and of the industry
• High energy level
• The ability to deal with other workers
• The ability to accept criticism and grow and learn from errors

Additional Tips

• Turn off cell phones and other electronic devices.
• Throw away any gum or candy.
• Address your interviewer with respect using, "Mr. or Ms." until otherwise told.
• Do not ask about salary.
• Do not fidget with your clothes, hair, or jewelry during the interview.
• Do not place your belongings on the employer's desk/table.
• Do not speak badly or negatively about colleagues or past employers.
• Do not mention health or financial problems.
• Do not dominate the conversation.
• Keep a good posture.
• Remember to smile.

Interview Checklist

These questions will help you evaluate the success of your interview.

• Did you arrive on time?
• Were you dressed appropriately?
• Did you smile and greet the interviewer(s) by name?
• Were you able to mention your skills and strong points?
• Did you show interest in working for the company?
• Did you answer most questions thoughtfully and completely instead of with "yes" or "no" responses?
• Did you stay on track and not ramble on about unrelated issues?
• Did you ask the interviewer all you needed to know about the job?
• Did you come prepared with reasons why you want to work for the company, reasons why the employer should hire you, and questions that indicated a genuine interest in learning more about the organization?
• Do you know what the next step is?