Job Interview Preparation Guide

What Employers Look for in a Candidate:

Self-confidence/ability to communicate

Work ethic: teamwork, leadership, initiative, flexibility, ability to handle conflict

Intelligence, critical thinking

General personality: poise, enthusiasm, creativity, high energy level, interpersonal skills

Personal management, self-knowledge

Qualifications-Can you relate your academic program, skills, and/or prior work or internship experience to the needs of an employer?

Key Points to Remember:

Do:
Arrive 10-15 minutes early
Maintain good eye contact with the interviewer
Use a firm, professional handshake
Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions
Be aware of your body language; maintain good posture, appear relaxed and not fidgety
Show enthusiasm, confidence, courtesy, and honesty
Keep a positive attitude about former employers, supervisors, and
co-workers; be tactful and do not criticize former employers even if discussing an unpleasant situation
Maintain a professional image-don’t let the employer’s casual approach fool you
Always present the best of your background and qualifications

At the close of the interview, establish a date for your next communication
Always remember to thank the interviewer for his/her time

Don’t:
Give terse or rambling answers to questions; find a balance
Be too casual with language or use non-words (“thinking words” like
“um…” “uh…”)
Address the interviewer by his/her first name unless invited to do so
Dominate the interview or appear arrogant; do not interrupt the interviewer when he/she is speaking
Criticize yourself or your former employers
Discuss your personal problems

What to Bring:
Directions to the interview site
Name(s) and title(s) of interviewer(s)
Extra copies of your resume
Reference lists
Portfolio of work samples, if applicable
Good quality pen and pencil
Leather folder (black or dark color) or briefcase

What to Wear:
Dress Tips for Women
 
The following are general tips; some organizations may vary somewhat on what is considered appropriate or inappro- priate   interview   attire.   Researching   the   organization beforehand  may  yield  some  insight  into  these  standards . However,  when  in  doubt,  it  is  always  best  to  err  on  the conservative side .

Dress Tips for Men

Single or double-breasted suit in small pinstripe or solid shades of navy or charcoal gray .

Shirts: Light colors, starched cotton . Non-button down collar and long sleeves .

Shoes: Well-polished, black or brown leather lace-up wingtip or slip-on dress shoes .

Ties: Solid, thin striped, or small geometric print. Bottom of tie should meet the belt line .

Accessories: Long, dark socks in solid dark color that complements suit. No jewelry besides wedding band and watch .
Suit or tailored dress in solid shades of navy, gray, or black with skirts hemmed above the knee. May also wear pant suit .

Blouses: White or pastel colors . Silk, cotton, or polyester material with long sleeves and conservative neckline .

Polished, closed toe shoes with low heels .

Accessories: Subtle makeup . Nails should be neat with no polish or a clear neutral color . One ring per hand with exception of wedding set. Avoid carrying a purse if holding a briefcase or portfolio .

Practice Answers to Questions Before the Interview

You  will  generally  be  asked  two  types  of questions  during  an  interview:  traditional and behavioral .

Traditional Questions
Traditional questions are designed to pinpoint aspects of your  basic  personality,  work  ethic,  history,  attitude,  etc . When practicing answers to traditional interview questions, try to develop answers that illustrate how your education and life experience can benefit the employer . If you have done a thorough self-assessment and know why you want to work for this employer and in this field, you will be able to answer traditional questions easily .

What are the two or three things most important to you in your job?

What is your philosophy of life?

Tell me about yourself.

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

How do you plan to achieve them?

What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization? / Why should we hire you?

What do you know about our organization?

What did you learn from co-op, internship, or part-time job experiences?

Why did you choose this career?

Why would you like to work for this company?

Behavioral Questions
Behavioral   questions   are   designed   to examine   how   you   have   responded   to specific situations in the past as an indicator of how you may behave in the future . When
practicing answers to behavioral questions, think about how you have dealt with specific problems in the past .  Consider  how  your  qualifications  and  attributes enabled  you  to  demonstrate  leadership,  initiative,  and problem-solving ability .

How have you demonstrated initiative?

How have you motivated yourself to complete an assignment or task that you did not want to do?

Tell me about the riskiest decision that you have made .

Can you tell me about an occasion where you needed to work with a group to get a job done?

What was the greatest challenge you ever faced, and how did you approach it?

What did you do in your last job to effectively plan and organize?

Tell me about a time on any job when stressful situations or problems tested your coping skills. How did you handle it?

What leadership positions have you held? Describe your leadership style .

Tell me about a time when you failed at something . If you could do it again, what would you do differently?

Describe your involvement in a team situation in which you were not in a leadership role.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Before closing the interview, the interviewer will usually give you an opportunity to ask questions . It is always good to do this because it shows that you are interested in the position . The following are questions you may wish to ask the interviewer:

Please describe a typical day on the job .

What personal qualities, skills, or experience would help someone do well in this position?

What are the company’s plans for future growth?

What are the most challenging aspects of this job?

Describe the position in terms of the overall department structure .

What are typical career paths within this organization?

What types of initial and future training programs do you offer?

Can you explain the performance evaluation and promotion process?

What is the retention rate of people in this position?

What makes your organization different from your competitors?

Follow Up!
Always send a thank you letter to the organization within 24 hours after an interview. Be sure to reiterate your interest in the organization and position. Call the interviewer within two weeks of the interview to inquire about the status of your application as well.