An interview gives the employer an opportunity to get to know you and determine if your skills and experiences match the organization's needs. Your goal is to show the employer that you can not only do the job, but will be a good addition to their team. The interview also gives you the opportunity to learn more about the organization and see if it is a good match for you. Keep in mind that employers base hiring decisions on personality, as well as objective skills. Before you have the chance to accept a job offer, you have to conduct a successful interview
 

For the candidate:

• To "sell" yourself to the employer, emphasizing your skills, abilities, strengths, and knowledge in relation to the position.
• To tell an employer what you have to offer them.
• To obtain more information about the job you are applying for and the company you are interviewing with and determine if this is a good fit.
• To land the job!

For the employer:

• To assess your skills, abilities, strengths, and knowledge in relation to the position.
• To discuss your background, education, and experience in more detail.
• To determine whether you will be a good fit with both the team and the overall company/organization.

• Practice your interviewing skills.  Set up a Mock Interview with a Career Counselor.  You can also take advantage of Mock Interview opportunities with Professional Recruiters from area companies at certain times during the year.  Check with the Career Services Center for more information.
• RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!  Research the organization.  Lack of knowledge about the organization and the position is a prime reason for not hiring someone. 
• Analyze your qualifications as they relate to this position.  Be prepared to show that you have the skills and abilities for the job and give examples of how you developed them. Also, know your interests, values, strengths, and weaknesses relating to this position.
• Anticipate what questions you'll be asked during an interview, and prepare responses to those questions and other common interview questions.
• Prepare questions for the interviewer based on your knowledge of the position, the company, and the industry.
• There are different types of interviews, such as a phone interview, traditional one-on-one interview, behavioral interview, group interview, panel interview, lunch/dinner interview, etc.  Be prepared for all types of interviews.  Visit the links found at Additional Resources for more information on types of interviews.
• Prepare your interview attire in advance and dress appropriately for the position and the industry.  If in doubt, dress conservatively.
• Check the interview date, time, and location.  Drive to the business beforehand to confirm directions and time required if you are unsure.  If you're unsure about parking availability, check with the company/organization.
• Organize and prepare any necessary materials, such as copies of your resume, your reference sheet, and your portfolio.

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early. 
• Treat everyone in a professional manner from the moment you arrive.
• Carry a portfolio or professional folder, which includes extra resumes, your reference sheet (in case it's requested), and a list of questions to ask the interviewer.
• Greet the interviewer with a smile, a firm handshake, and address them by formal name (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.).
• Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills.  Exhibit confidence without arrogance!
• Listen carefully!  Answer the questions asked directly and concisely, keeping in mind the interviewer is looking for answers that show how you fit into their organization.
• Anything on your resume is fair game.  Be able to elaborate on anything listed on your resume.
• Do not sound too rehearsed.  You want to sound as if you've prepared, but you don't want to sound like you memorized your responses.
• Be positive about past employers, co-workers, school, professors, etc.  Negative statements may reflect poorly on you.
• Pay attention to your non-verbal behavior.  Maintain good eye contact, sit up straight, and control nervous habits (such as crossing your arms, tapping your foot, cracking your knuckles, playing with jewelry, etc.).
• When responding to questions, do not ramble, but do not give one word answers either.  Avoid answering with just a "Yes" or "No"
• Use proper grammar and avoid slang.  Remember, no matter how comfortable you may feel during the interview, this is a professional experience.  Be relaxed, but not too relaxed.  Also, remember that you are being evaluated on how well you communicate.
• At the end of the interview, ask about the next step in the process.  Find out when they expect to make a decision and if they need any additional information from you.
• If possible obtain a business card(s) from your interviewer(s).
• Thank the interviewer for his/her time and end with a handshake.  Let him/her know you look forward to the next step.  If you want the job, say so(in a professional manner).
• If during the course of the interview you decide you are not truly interested in the position, you may want to tell the employer at this time.  However, be professional and still thank them for taking the time to meet with you.

Openers

• Tell me a little about yourself.
• Why are you interested in this position/company?
• What do you know about our organization?

Assessing Educational Background

• What related courses have you taken?
• What was your GPA?  Does it accurately reflect your capabilities?  Why/Why not?
• What courses did you like the most/least?
• What extracurricular activities were you involved in?

Assessing Experience

• What are your greatest strengths related to this position?
• What are weaknesses or areas for improvement?  How are you addressing them?
• What are your greatest accomplishments?
• Why did you leave your previous job?
• What types of people are difficult for you to work with?  Why?
• What were the major duties of your previous jobs?
• Describe a situation where you failed.  How did you remedy it?

Assessing Motivation and Maturity

• What are your long/short-term career goals, and how are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you choose your major/college?
• How do you handle stress?  What do you do for relaxation?
• What kind of activities do you really enjoy, and why?

Closers

• What questions do you have for me?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• What pay range are you expecting for this position?
  (Always research the salary range for the position/industry/region prior to the interview so you have a range to offer.  If the salary/salary range is listed in the job announcement, you should know what it is.)
• Why should I hire you?

Visit the links found at Additional Resources for more Common Questions Asked By The Interviewer.

At the end of your interview, most likely you will be asked, "Do you have any questions?"  Always come prepared to ask an interviewer a few questions, keeping in mind other questions may arise during the course of the interview.  Not asking questions can be viewed as a lack of interest in the position.

• Is this a new position?
• Describe a typical day on the job for someone in this position.
• How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?
• Are there advancement opportunities available with your company?
• Does your company encourage professional development and continuing education?
• Who would be my supervisor?  To whom would I report?
• What is the supervisory style of the person I would be reporting to?
• What type of training or orientation is offered to new employees?
• What goals or expectations do you have for the individual in this position?
• What do you see as the most challenging/rewarding aspects of this position?
• Does your company participate in any type of community service?
• Describe the work environment and/or company culture.
• What type of role does this position play in the "big picture" of the company/organization/department?
• What do you enjoy the most about working for this company?  The least?
• Are performance evaluations conducted?  If so, how often and how are they conducted?
• What are the company's goals for the future?
• Is there anything else you need to know about me that I haven't already addressed?

Questions Not To Ask An Employer:

• What is the salary for this position?  What are the benefits?
• How much vacation time do I get?
• What will I be doing in this position?
  (You should already have a general idea of what you will be doing, but you can ask for more details or specific information.)
• Can you tell me about your company and what you do?

• After leaving the interview, take notes on what was discussed during the interview and assess your interview performance - what did you do well; what do you need to work on for future interviews; what questions do you still have for the employer; etc.
• Send a typed or hand-written thank you note within one day of the interview - the sooner, the better.  Be sure to spell everything properly in the thank you note and on the envelope!  Restate your interest in the position and highlight important aspects of the interview.
• Follow-up by phone if you have not heard from the company in the designated time period.
• Even if you aren't offered a position, maintain a positive relationship with the organization.  You never know when a new position may become available!

• Don't apply and interview for a job just because!  Know why you're interested in working for this specific company.
• Do not chew gum during the interview or smoke before or during the interview.  Smoke tends to linger and your interviewer might be allergic to it. Also avoid colognes or perfumes.
• Practice good hygiene - shower, wear deodorant, brush teeth, clean and manicure nails.
• If you're wearing a watch, make sure it will not beep during the interview.  If necessary, don't wear it.
• Remove keys, loose change, etc. from pockets - anything that will make noise or bulge from your pockets.
• Bring a cell phone, if you have one, in case you get lost, get caught in traffic, etc., but do not bring it into the interview with you.
• Bring breath freshener (mints, breath strips, gum, etc.) for before, not during, the interview.
• Bring money for parking, just in case you need it.
• Bring contact information for the person you're interviewing with (name, company name, address, phone number).
• If applicable, bring your portfolio which displays some of your best work, especially if you're in a creative field.

• A mock interview can help you practice your interview skills. A career counselor will serve as the interviewer and provide tips to help you perfect your skills.
• If you like, your mock interview can be videotaped. If you want your interview videotaped, please inform CSC when you schedule your appointment.
• Call 334-5454 to schedule a mock interview.
• At least 24 hours before your appointment, provide the career counselor with your resume and a description of the job and company or school you would like to use as your interview model.
• Prepare as you would for an actual interview. Practice typical interview questions.
• Research the organization/school with which you will be “interviewing” and bring along a list of questions you would ask the interviewer.
• If possible, dress as if you were actually interviewing.
• Don't forget to arrive a little early as you would for a real interview.

• Visit the Career Services Center Resource Library, located in #1 EUC, and the Jackson Library to find print resources on the topic of interviewing.>
• Here are a just a few of the online resources that provide some helpful interviewing information:

CareerBuilder.com
CareerJounral.com
Job-Interview.net
JobWeb
Monster Interview Center
Quintessential Careers
Resumagic.com
SYMS
WetFeet
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