Interview Reality

What to do before the interview:
Research the organization and industry
Company websites, networking, internet
Analyze the position
Job posting, informational interviews, career center assistance, ONet
Review your qualifications
Compare your skills to posting requirements, be honest
Consider applying to a posting where you have at least 70-80% of the needed skills
Think about salary needs
Practice
Mock interviews are highly useful in spotting interview weaknesses and strengths
Contact your college career office to set one up

What to do that day:
Know where you are going and how to get there
Do not drink too much coffee or water
Be early but not too early (15 minutes is useful)
Use the restroom
Bring breath mints
Bring tissue for sweaty hands
You can keep this in a pocket to squeeze just before shaking hands
Hold items in left hand to keep your right hand free for shaking hands
Bring extra copies of your resume, cover letter and references

Best Practices for Success:
Never be late
Introduce yourself with a firm handshake but don’t crush the fingers
Practice this with friends and ask for feedback
Dress relatively conservatively but be yourself
In general, I often suggest that you wear what someone in this organization might wear to an important meeting
No gum or fragrances
Good grooming is crucial
Clean hair, minimize jewelry, play down makeup, clean nails, no chipped polish
Use a briefcase or portfolio, no backpacks
Only bring one item to carry, leave the purse at home
No cell phones ringing please, turn them off for the interview

What employers say they want:
Be comfortable with yourself, we liked your resume so we are interested in you
Know why you want to work here and when you can start
The objective listed on your resume should match the job
Look at our website, please!
Be assertive in telling us what you have to offer
Have depth to your answers and questions, tell stories, we want to get to know you
Be specific about examples, tell me what you can do for my company
Be adaptable to change
Please have questions to ask otherwise I think you don’t really care about where you work

General categories of interview questions:
General
Tell me about yourself
What are your strengths?
Behavioral
Tell me about a specific time…
Give me an example of…
Case
A complex problem involving issues or situations where you need to come up with an answer
Note: You may be provided a scenario and given a certain time to come up with a solution to a concern

Lunch or dinner interview tips:
Still be on your best behavior, this is not a party
Avoid controversial topics or careless talk
No cell phone ringing, this is an interview and all the above rules apply
Order the mid-priced meals
Take small bites so that you can answer questions in a timely manner and without a mouth full of food
Consider eating before you arrive so you are not ravenous during the interview
No alcohol, ever, ever…no alcohol
Understand the table setting, using from the outside in
Remember the b & d tip: make the small letter b with your left hand and the small letter d with your right hand…this will help you remember where your bread (b) and drink (d) are located on a large table
Napkin should be on your lap
Talk with other guests but do not focus your conversation on any one individual, don’t flirt
Say thank you at the end of the event

Tell me about yourself:
Keep your comments focused on information the employer can use to determine your qualifications for and interest in the field, do not stray into the personal arena
Discuss future career goals
Education
Experience
Enthusiasm for the field

Some questions you may want to ask:
What is the biggest challenge facing this group/organization?
What are some typical 1st year assignments?
How would you describe the management style in this organization?
Exactly what kind of background are you looking for?
Do you have any concerns about my background that I can answer now?

Follow-up time:
Write down what went well and what you can improve upon for next time
Mail or email a thank you letter (mail is always my first choice)
Contact employer in a week to express your continued interest
Continue to send out resumes to other potential employers, never wait for one employer to respond before you begin your work on the next opportunity
There is no time to waste in this market
Do salary survey work based upon new insights into the position

Take care of yourself, treat yourself to something small but special for having an interview. This is worth feeling good about.