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Career Development Services
Related Links
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Interviewing:
The Purpose of an Interview -
The interview is a conversation to determine mutual needs. You have certain needs just as the company does. You want to describe how your skills fit the job, but you also want to make sure that the job is right for you. The interviewer’s decision to hire you is based on your personality, your skills, your career ambitions, your education, your experience and your ability to communicate these things effectively. Your success on your first interview is a critical factor in getting hired.
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Practice! Have a friend ask you common interview questions or, even better, schedule a mock interview with the Career Development Center.
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Research information on the organization and the position well in advance of the interview. Be prepared to talk about your assets and how they relate to the organization and position. A good source for researching companies is Reference USA.
> Instructions for using Reference USA [.pdf]
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Dress appropriately. A positive first impression gets the interview off to a good start. If you do not know what is appropriate dress, contact the Career Development Center. Many employers now have a business casual work environment, however, most prefer professional dress for interviews.
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Utilize nonverbal communication to show your interest. This may include maintaining appropriate eye contact, smiling, nodding your head, and sitting upright in your chair.
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Use examples from volunteer work, internships, independent research, employment, courses, and campus or community involvement to make your points clearer. Interviewers often hear the same answers from several candidates, but the stories you tell are unique to you.
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Some employers believe that the best predictor of future success is past success. So be prepared for “behavioral based” interview questions, where you will be asked to give examples or stories from your past to provide evidence that you have the skills required for the position. In fact, the interviewer will not continue until you have provided a specific example. When answering behavior based questions be certain to answer the question completely. One way to do this is to follow the STAR acronym, which stands for Situation or Task, Action, and Results. Here is an example of a behavioral based question – “Describe a situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.”
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At some point in the interview, usually at the end, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions. You should plan your questions in advance of the interview and perhaps write them down on index cards or a note pad to take with you. Prepare more questions than you will be able to ask, assuming that some of them will be answered during the interview.
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Make sure to bring a list of professional references that you may provide upon request. Be sure to contact anyone you are listing as a reference to alert them they may be receiving a call.
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The hiring process can sometimes take longer than you would like, so maintain an optimistic outlook.
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If possible, obtain the business cards of everyone you meet during the interview.
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As a professional courtesy, a thank you letter (yes, using "snail mail") should be sent after every interview. Think of this as one more chance to sell yourself.
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You may have a series of interviews. After each interview, immediately take notes on what you learned about the company or position, and incorporate that information into your next interview.
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 How to Keep Your Cool In the Interview Hot Seat
Few situations are more stressful than those in which you're being judged. Feeling anxious about an interview is normal.
Read More ( By Kayleen Schaefer From The Wall Street Journal Online)
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