General Interview Guidelines

General Interview Guidelines

Interview Tool

In every interview situation, regardless of interview type or context, it is important to present yourself as a professional. Use these tips to below to demonstrate your professional qualities.

Research, research, research!

·  Doing your homework on the company and position are critical to show that you are invested in the company and interested in the position. The more you show how much you know about the company, the more you stand out from the other job candidates.

·  When possible, research the interviewers, so you can establish an early rapport.

·  Beware of websites that give employee and/or interviewee information and opinions about the company. These sites are often used by people who are either very satisfied or very unsatisfied, so their information may be skewed.

Dress appropriately.

·  Understanding the company's culture is also about understanding their dress code. When in doubt, overdress.

·  Bring supplies that will help you stay clean and presentable – stain sticks for your interview clothes, breath mints, hair spray, etc. You never know when you might need them.

Bring copies of your resume and other relevant professional documents.

·  Always be prepared with multiple copies of your professional portfolio. They may not ask for a copy but it is best to be prepared.

·  These copies can be printed on plain white paper or resume stock. The Print Shop on campus has resume style paper for relatively inexpensive costs.

Arrive early.

·  Arrive about 10-15 minutes early. Arriving early shows you have time management skills and that you are excited about the interview.

·  Don’t arrive too early – anything earlier than 15 minutes might mean that you are waiting in the reception area too long.

Practice

·  Prepare for your interview ahead of time by brainstorming answers to common questions.

·  Use the Liberal Arts in Practice Center for a mock interview. The LAPC staff can interview you beforehand, to help you predict the questions they may ask. The LAPC staff can also record your mock interview, so you can see how you present yourself.

Ask questions

·  Like with any other interview, you need to prepare your own questions. Show your interest and ask a relevant inquiry. This is not the time to ask about pay, benefits, time off, or scheduling. Save those questions for when you have a formal job offer.

Send thank you notes.

·  Be sure to thank each interviewer at the end and send follow up thank you notes to each interviewer, if possible.

·  Thank you notes can be handwritten and mailed or emailed. Email provides more expediency but handwritten notes are more traditional. Consider the hiring timeline and the formality of the company when making your choice.

4/3/13

EAS