March Madness: Interviewing

The smell of March Madness is in the air! I wish you all the best of luck on your brackets. I also want to wish you the best of luck on your upcoming interviews! As you watch your teams win (or lose), it’s als

o time to start preparing for interviewing! Below are tips, need to knows, and to do’s for your future interviews:

Make a Slam Dunk!

There are five different types of interviews to prepare for. These interviews may be a phone interview, video-chat interview, face-to-face interview, group interview, or a behavioral interview. Be sure you know what type of interview you are scheduled for and prepare from there.

Practice Makes Perfect

While you are preparing for your interview, take sometime to think about what you want to say. Reflect on your experiences and how they fit into the position. Feel free to make an appointment to participate in Career and Professional Development’s Mock Interview Program. After your mock interview, an advisor will sit with you to discuss your performance with you.

Finding the Right Jersey

Deciding what to wear can be difficult. If you are unsure of the dress code for the interview, make sure you ask beforehand. Typically in-person interviews will be business professional or business casual. You want a clean and conservative look. Once you know what will be appropriate for the event you will need to dress accordingly.

Foul Out

There are a couple of things that you need to make sure you do not do before and during your interview. Do not falsify your application or any answers to questions. Be sure that you don’t make negative comments about previous employers. If you choose to wear cologne or perfume, do so frugally.

Get that Lay-Up

Be sure to arrive 10 minutes prior to your interview. Be conscious with your answer, but also complete. Make sure that you address the interviewer by his/her title. Additionally, offer a firm handshake at the beginning and end of the interview. If your interview is over the phone or video-chat, but sure to find a quiet place where no one will interrupt you during the scheduled interview.

Make that Swish

Before your interview takes place, make sure you do your research. Your research should include information about the organization, about the position, about the people, and about the location. Remember that interviews are a two-way street! Your interviewer will come prepared with a variety of questions, but you should come with questions prepared as well.

Questions you may want to think about to prepare:

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

·      Why are you interested in this position, our organization, or this graduate program?

·      What led you to choose your major or field of study?

Questions you may want to ask:

·      What would an average day in the company look like?

·      Can you describe an ideal employee?

·      What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in this job?

Grab the Win

Be sure to say thank you and send a follow up thank you note after the interview. This note can be handwritten, an email, or both. You want to express your gratitude towards the interviewer in taking the time to talk and get to know you.

Visit Career and Professional Development sooner rather than later! We are excited for you to go through the interviewing process and would love to help you along the way. Visit our website for more tips, as well as to check out those awesome resources. Additionally, feel free to stop by the Smith Career Center for walk-in advising in regards to preparing and practicing for your interview. We have walk-in advising available Monday – Friday from 12-3pm. Enjoy the interviewing process, because you never know where it is going to lead you. Good luck!