Interviewing Tips

1
Interviewing Tips

• Competing against the equally-qualified to get
  the job

2
Points to Ponder

• What to do before
• What to wear
• What not to do
• What to do

3
Preparation--1

• Obtain a copy of the job description.
• Use employer information to gather information
  (annual reports, employee handbooks, policy
  statements, and employee newsletters) on the
  organization.
• Locate the employer's home page on the Internet.
• Conduct informational interviews with persons in
  similar positions to learn about the career field
  and how your skills may apply.

4
Preparation (2)

• Use Dacus Library to research current articles
  about the organization (check the Wall Street
  Journal, Barrons, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune,
  and trade publications).
• Develop a list of appropriate questions that
  reflect your research.
• Be sure to know the culture of the country where
  you are interviewing. U.S. employers are
  expecting you to articulate your future career
  goals and past accomplishments. They are
  assessing you according to American values such
  as self-confidence, initiative, directness, and
  individualism.

5
Preparation--3

• Mock interviews
• Practice
• Develop sound bites
• Dress rehearsal

6
What to Wear

• Professional, not social wear
• Professional, not TV Professional wear
• Scents
• Shoes
• Jewelry
• Hair
• Tattoos
• Personal electronics

7
What to Take With You

• Leave pager and cell phone in the car
• Carry some kind of business case or padfoliono
  briefcase. Small purse.
• Extra copies of resume
• Something to write on and write with
• Kleenex
• Ladies extra hose?

8
Questions Youll Face

• Straight questions (yes/no, short answer,
  fact-based) check out a list of common interview
  questions or another list with answers
• Behavioral interviewing (heres a list of
  possible questions)
• Case interviewing (actual cases used by the Bain
  corporation)

9
When do you show up?

• At the parking lotfifteen to twenty minutes
  early
• At the receptionists deskfive minutes early
• Never, never, never late

10
How do you start?

• Good handshake (and of course clean nails and
  good breath)
• Make eye contact
• Good posture
• Project enthusiasm and positivity
• Listen carefully

11
If these go well.

• Team interviews
• Site visits
• Airport interviews
• Meals

12
Questions You Should Ask

• Informational questions (See the College Grad
  page)
• Strategic questions
• Career track questions

13
Questions Not To Ask

• Salary questions
• Benefit questions (See Venturi Staffing's 25
  Worst Interview Mistakes)

14
After the Interview

• Get contact information before you leave
• Send the thank-you note the same day!
  (Handwritten, blue or blue-black ink on
  professional informals)
• Follow up
• Find out what you could do better if you didnt
  get the job