Preparing for the Interview

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Preparing for the Interview

• Making a Personal Impression

By John Day Student Employment Advisor Student
Graduate Employment Services, Mohawk College
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About the Interview

• The interview is your best chance to make a
  favourable personal impression with an employer.
  
• You have already made an encouraging written
  impression with your resume and now you are
  selected to come in for an interview.

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Useful Interview Tips

• Punctuality and Timing
• Arrive at your interview no sooner than 15
  minutes prior to the scheduled time.
• Investigate how long it takes to get to the
  interview location.
• For larger companies, know which entrance you are
  to use and where you should report once you have
  arrived.
• Under NO circumstances should you ever be late
  for an interview.

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• Presentation and Appearance
• Dress professionally for every interview.
• Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed.
• Dont wear anything that will distract or divert
  the recruiters attention.
• The daily dress code will be explained, once you
  get the job.

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• What to Carry
• Prepare a portfolio that includes
• Your resume, perhaps updated since you submitted
  it for the interview.
• Your personal reference page.
• Letters of reference from previous employers.
• Work samples, if you have something that would
  prove to the recruiter that you can do the job.
• A copy of the job ad to review prior to the
  interview.
• Your transcript of marks. (recent graduates
  only!)

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• First Impression
• Many interviews are won or lost in the first few
  minutes after you meet the recruiter.
• Make a great first impression.
• Offer a firm handshake with a smile.
• Let the recruiter break the ice and set the tone
  for the interview.

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• Question Period
• Listen to each question carefully and respond the
  best you can.
• When answering questions, keep your responses
  brief and to the point, unless they ask you to
  elaborate on a certain topic.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer(s)
  while listening and responding to questions.

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• Rehearsal
• Prior to the interview, rehearse with a friend,
  across a table or in front of a mirror, your
  posture, attentiveness, and your response to the
  questions you expect to be asked.
• Before the interview, think of previous work
  examples that describe your skills so that when
  an employer asks, you will be prepared with an
  immediate answer.

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• Do Your Homework
• The interview is your chance to show the
  recruiter your enthusiasm towards working for the
  company in the available position.
• Use the company year-end report, newsletter,
  newspapers, and the company website for useful
  information.
• Find out how long the company has been in
  business and learn about some of their history.
• Mention recent developments that have affected
  the company in a positive way.
• Be prepared for the Why do you want to work
  here? question, give reasons and examples.

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• Office Tour
• Sometimes the recruiter will take you around the
  office to see or meet people you might be working
  with.
• To allow for this, you should never schedule
  interviews less than two hours apart.

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• Closing
• Make sure that you know when the recruiter will
  contact you following the interview.
• Leave the interviewer with a strong, confident
  handshake and a smile.
• Thank them for the opportunity to meet with you.

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What NOT to Say in an Interview

• Knowing what to say in an interview is often a
  matter of knowing what NOT to say to recruiters.
  
• Telling the truth is always the first rule for
  job seekers, dont lie about your skills,
  abilities or education, it could cost you your
  job later.

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Things to Avoid in the Interview

• Personality Conflicts
• The interviewer asks, So why are you leaving ABC
  Co.? You are not prepared for this question and
  sit there is silence. You might respond by
  saying Im leaving because of a personality
  conflict with a fellow employee. In one brief
  statement you have gone from a potential
  candidate to unsuccessful applicant. The
  interview is over.
• The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is
  that you may not get along with co-workers.

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• School Plans
• Do not discuss future full-time school plans with
  a potential employer unless they bring up the
  subject.
• Most employers like to hear that you have made
  plans to continue your education and training
  through part-time studies.

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• Family Problems
• Never say that something may be wrong in your
  personal life because recruiters may be afraid
  that it will affect your performance on the job.
• Employers are not allowed to ask about your age,
  religion, marital status, number or age of
  children, physical appearance or sexual
  preference.

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• Dont Mention Your Faults
• A question that interviewers frequently ask is
  What are you weaknesses?
• Think of a weakness you might have but mention
  what you are doing to correct it.
• Turn a weakness into a positive statement!

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• Salary
• If the salary isnt mentioned during the
  interview, a good rule of thumb is to wait until
  the company makes you a job offer.
• If you are asked how much you expect to earn,
  indicate a salary range and never one exact
  number.
• Before the interview, you should have an idea of
  the minimum pay you need each month to cover your
  bills and expenses.

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• When Could You Start
• Recruiters usually want to hire as soon as
  possible and they like to hear that you can start
  right away.
• If you are not working you may want to start
  right away, but if you are working, arrangements
  have to be made with your current employer.
• Once you get the job offer you can negotiate the
  details of your starting date with your current
  employer.

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Additional Suggestions

• To ace an interview today you have to be alert
  and able to quickly adapt your presentation to
  the style and skill level of the person or
  persons interviewing you.
• You never know what to expect when you are called
  into an interview, how many people will interview
  you, or what the questions will be. Be confident
  on what you know and what you are capable of.
• Dont use words in your resume or cover letter
  that are not in your vocabulary as this will show
  up during the interview.

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• When you are given the opportunity, talk about
  your recent accomplishments, the skills that
  youve demonstrated and the knowledge you possess
  and how it has been applied.
• Put modesty aside, be strong and confident. Sell
  yourself! Remember the competition is strong,
  there will be many others applying for the same
  job.
• Have an established plan in place to improve on
  your weaknesses. In your mind, define a weakness
  you have and establish a plan on how you will
  manage to improve on it.

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• Be prepared to elaborate on things you enjoy
  doing for relaxation or your hobbies.
• Employers like to know that you are concerned
  about your health. Dont hesitate on talking
  about your routine, physical activity or whatever
  you do to keep healthy and fit.
• Behavioral interview questions allows the
  interviewer to get a better idea of how potential
  employees would handle specific situations.
• These questions are less predictable and requires
  the candidate to think about how they would
  handle the given situations and explain their
  reasons for doing it that way.

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• The day before the interview, make sure you know
  exactly where you have to go, how you will get
  there and where you will park.
• The day before the interview, decide on what you
  will wear.
• If questions are truly offensive, you have little
  choice but to leave. You wouldnt want to work
  with this person or company anyway.

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Preparing for the Interview

• Making a Personal Impression

By John Day Student Employment Advisor Student
Graduate Employment Services, Mohawk College