|
|
|
Preparing for an Interview
The interview is your one true opportunity to convince a potential
employer that YOU are the right person for a desired position. You
will want to do everything possible to make a good impression in this
meeting. Aside from professional appearance, there are two major areas
on which you will want to concentrate:
- Know Yourself-to discuss your career goals, skills, strengths,
accomplishments, interests, etc.
- Know the Employer-to discuss its products, services, organizational
structure, success record, etc.
You will want to continually look for concrete examples that illustrate
how your background, skills, and interests match the company's needs.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW:
- Research the company. Review the organization's website,
but don't stop there. Look for recent news and articles; check the
Career Resource Center among other things. Conducting thorough research
on a company will always be to your benefit in an interview. Doing
your homework not only impresses the recruiter (because it shows
interest and enthusiasm), it also helps you choose the company that
is most suitable for you. Basic information you should know about
the company includes age, size, services or products, competitors,
reputation, divisions and subdivisions, number of employees, sales,
assets, earnings, new products or projects, number of locations,
foreign operations, etc.
- Practice your interview skills. Anticipate likely interview
questions. Write out your responses to each question the way
you would respond to them in the interview; or better yet, role-play
an interview with an OCS counselor or friend, who can give you constructive
feedback. Create a list of your specific skills and qualities that
you wish to communicate during the interview. We strongly
recommend that you sign up for a mock interview in the OCS.
DURING THE INTERVIEW:
- Sell to their need.
- Listen to the interviewer. Adapt to the interviewer's style
and try to ascertain why particular questions are being asked before
responding. If needed, ask for clarification.
- Be aware of your body language. Offer a firm handshake
in greeting and at the close of the interview. Maintain good eye
contact. Avoid nervous mannerisms, such as touching your hair or
face, fidgeting, or moving your hands and feet constantly. Avoid
folding/crossing your arms and holding things in front of your body.
Use a strong, confident tone of voice. Smile when appropriate. Do
not slouch in your chair.
- Be positive. Speak positively regarding your past work
and educational experiences as well as past employers. Emphasize
what you have learned from past experience and how you solved problems
in response to challenges. Watch out for negative words that may
creep into your explanations or even words that distract from a
positive statement, such as "pretty good," "maybe,"
"I think," "sort of," etc. Avoid the use of
slang and sentence fillers, such as "you know," "um,"
"like."
- Express interest. Point out to the interviewer the particular
reasons why you are interested in the organization.
- Convey your qualifications. Know at least three good reasons
why you are an outstanding candidate, and weave them into the interview.
- Tell brief stories. Use examples. Do not just say, "I'm
a good manager." Give an example of how you handled a situation
that illustrates good management skills.
- Have questions ready when the interviewer asks, "Now,
do you have any questions?" Ask questions that would elicit
information to help you decide if this company and this position
offer what you are seeking in a career.
AFTER THE INTERVIEW:
- Get feedback. Interviewing can improve with practice. By analyzing
your interview with a Career Services professional or knowledgeable
colleague, you can improve upon your poise, confidence, and effectiveness
in the interview. After three on-campus interviews, check your interview
feedback sheets in the Career Services office. The better you are
able to communicate what you have to offer as a candidate, the closer
you'll come to a job offer, and that's what interviewing is all
about!
- Send a Thank You Letter as soon as possible. E-mail is
an acceptable way to do this.
General/Open Ended Questions
Behavioral Questions
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Telephone Interviews
Case Interviews
Most Common Interview Mistakes
|