Resources

Interviewing Basics

Before you interview, it is MANDATORY that you research the company and know yourself. If you do not complete these first two steps, you will have a much more difficult time obtaining that offer! If the job is not important enough to you to prepare for it in the first place, you should not be wasting your time or the employer’s time...do not "interview just for practice".

Employers appreciate a well-groomed, well-prepared applicant. Below are some qualities they dislike. If you did not get the job, here are some common reasons why:

• Poor personal appearance


• Inability to express yourself


• Lack of preparation


• No clear goals


• Lack of tact or maturity


• No eye contact with interviewer


• Limp handshake


• Poor scholastic record


• Wants job for only short time


• LATE TO INTERVIEW

• Overbearing/overaggressive


• Lack of interest and enthusiasm


• Negative attitude; condemnation of past employers or jobs


• Inability to take criticism


• Not genuinely interested; merely shopping around


• Unwilling to start at bottom


• Overemphasis on money/benefits


• LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT JOB, COMPANY, OR FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION

Top 10 Mistakes Applicants Make During Interviews

Questions

Sample Interviewing Questions to prepare for: (Career Planning & Development has many more!!)

• Why do you want to work for this company? What do you know about our organization?
• How did you decide on your major? Why do you want to work in this field?
• What sets you apart from other people who want this job?
• What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?
• What would your supervisor say about you?
• What was the biggest challenge you ever faced and how did you handle it?
• What are your goals for the next five years?
• What qualities do you think this position requires?
• Tell me about yourself.
• What do you see as the needs of this company and how will you help meet them?
• What questions do you have for me?

Questions to Ask the Interviewer:

(Choose only those that are important to you and that apply to the position. Usually 2-4 is a good number, but be sure to have different questions if you interview with different people at the same company!) Some examples are:

• Is it possible to move through the training program faster than average?
• Can you tell me what a typical day would be like?
• What are the commonly experienced satisfactions and frustrations of this job?
• What types of training programs do you incorporate?
• Some of my strong characteristics that I believe are applicable to this position are _______________. What specific characteristics are you looking for?

DO NOT ASK ABOUT SALARY OR BENEFITS DURING THE INTERVIEW... however, feel free to ask questions if the interviewer presents them to you...

Although these are basic questions that you can ask, the best way to ask them is in a way that also includes additional positive information about yourself. For instance, "I am a very quick learner and was wondering if it is possible to move through the training program faster than average." This way, you can ask questions that also demonstrate that you are a good candidate.

After the Interview:

After the interview, be sure to keep a record of the name and title of the person you interviewed with, along with names and titles of anyone else you may have met. Ideally, you'll have collected their business cards. This will not only help you remember whom you interviewed with but will also assist you when you write your Thank You notes!

Top 10 Mistakes Applicants Make During Interviews

1. Unprofessional Appearance...no suit, multiple earrings, lots of accessories, etc.
2. Hasn't Researched Company/No Idea what Company Does
3. Poor Answers...one-word answers, doesn't answer questions, no examples
4. Poor Communication Skills...no eye contact, rambling answers
5. Seems Uninterested/Doesn't Ask Questions
6. Late for Interview
7. Cursing
8. No Enthusiasm
9. Negativity...negative towards previous employers, bad-mouthing
10. Poor Handshake