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Interview
DOs
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Dress
appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being
conservative to show you take the interview seriously. Your
personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable.
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Know
the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it
takes to get there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc.
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Arrive
early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time.
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Treat
other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their
opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.
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Offer
a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression
when you are greeted by your interviewer.
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Listen
to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct
pronunciation.
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Even
when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address
your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name, until
invited to do otherwise.
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Maintain
good eye contact during the interview.
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Sit
still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.
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Respond
to questions and back up your statements about yourself with
specific examples whenever possible.
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Ask
for clarification if you don't understand a question.
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Be
thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.
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Be
honest and be yourself. Dishonesty gets discovered and is
grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good
match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by
acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer
will both be unhappy.
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Treat
the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in
the employer and the opportunity presented.
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Exhibit
a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a
potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work
with.
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Have
intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done
your research about the employer in advance, ask questions which
you did not find answered in your research.
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Evaluate
the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview
is a two-way street. Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully,
while thinking critically about the way you are treated and the
values and priorities of the organization.
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Do
expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were
treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate
or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services
advisor or the director.
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Make
sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring
process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next.
Know what action you are expected to take next, if any.
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When
the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake
and make eye contact. Depart gracefully.
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After
the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical
details.
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Write
a thank-you letter to your interviewer promptly.
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Interview
DON'Ts
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Don't
make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your
actions.
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Don't
make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or
others).
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Don't
falsify application materials or answers to interview questions.
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Don't
treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around
or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the
interviewer and to the organization.
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Don't
give the impression that you are only interested in an
organization because of its geographic location.
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Don't
give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask
about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up
by your interviewer.
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Don't
act as though you would take any job or are desperate for
employment.
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Don't
make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested
in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to
you.
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Don't
be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be
asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks
foolish.
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A
job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't
exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview.
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Don't
go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit
rigidly on the edge of your chair.
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Don't
assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or
"Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told
otherwise. Her marital status is irrelevant to the purpose of the
interview.
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Don't
chew gum or smell like smoke.
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Don't
allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does,
apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call.
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Don't
take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in
this circumstance), spouse, fiancé, friends or enemies to an
interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to
attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and
independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your
new city
, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.)
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