Interview Tips

Employers conduct interviews to:

            Learn more about your qualifications for the job.

            Determine how well you will fit with in the organization.

    Interviews are your chance to sell your skills and experience. They also give you a chance to find out if the job and company are right for you.

Preparation tips

Match your skills to the job

To help ensure a successful interview, you should know in advance how well you qualify for the job. One way to get this information is to request a written job description.  For each requirement listed in the description, write down your qualifications—this may show that you lack a particular skill.   Plan how you will address this in the interview.  You want to be able to convince the employer that you can learn the skill. For example, you lack skill in programming in C++ language. Knowing when and where you can enroll in a C++ course in your community may convince the employer that you’re the right person to hire.

Plan what you are going to say

One of the most important things that you can do to prepare is to plan what you going to say. Try to have some stories about your work experience that illustrate your skills, experience, and education. These stories should relate to the skills that the employer is seeking, while emphasizing your:

1. Strengths
2. Leadership skills
3. Ability to learn new things
4. Contributions to the organizations in which you have worked or volunteered
5. Creativity in solving problems and working with people

Another tip for preparing is to make a list of questions that you would like to ask during the interview. Pick questions that will demonstrate your interest in the job and the company and that illustrate your knowledge of the job. For more help on planning what you are going to say and ask in an interview, go to key questions.

Create a checklist

Don’t forget the basics. Plan a “things to do” list:

            Go to bed early and get plenty of sleep.

            Plan to dress in a manner appropriate to the job for which you are interviewing.

            Plan your schedule and route so that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment.

            Bring extra copies of your resumes.

            Gather together your letter(s) of recommendation, reference list, copies of licenses, driving record, transcripts, etc.

            Make sure that your portfolio of work samples is up to date.

Tips for the interview

Because interviews are such a critical part of your job search, you want to get the most out of each one. The following Do's and Don'ts are presented to help ensure that your interview is a success.

The "Do's" - Your behavior and how you communicate

            Display confidence through your posture, dress, walk, energy, and eye contact.

            Shake hands firmly but only if a hand is offered to you first.

            Let the interviewer start the dialogue.

            Listen carefully.

            Welcome all questions, even the difficult ones, with a smile.

            Develop answers in your head before you respond. If you don't understand a question, ask for it to be repeated or clarified. You don't have to rush, but you don't want to appear indecisive.

 The "Don'ts" - Why people don’t get hired

There are many reasons why people fail to get hired:

1. Poor personal appearance
2. Application form or resume is incomplete or sloppy
3. Overly aggressive behavior
4. Lack of tact and courtesy
5. Lack of maturity
6. Lack of interest and enthusiasm
7. Nervousness or lack of confidence and poise
8. Failure to ask questions about the job
9. Responding vaguely to questions
10. No eye contact with the interviewer
11. No genuine interest in the company or job
12. Lack of planning for career; no purpose and no goals
13. Over-emphasis on money
14. Unwillingness to start at the bottom
15. Negative attitude about past employers
16. No sense of humor
17. Arriving late for the interview
18. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer's time