Congratulations!

You have been invited to a job interview. Based on your resume and cover letter, your qualifications match what the employer is seeking in a candidate. The next step is the interview where you will have the opportunity to convey to an employer your interest in the position. The resume tells an employer what you have done; an interview enables you to express what you have learned from what you have done.

The following questions are just a sample of those that surface in people's minds when they've secured an interview.

• How will I present myself?
• How will I dress?
• What are they going to ask me?
• How will I respond?
• What do I have to offer?

This information can help you to answer these and other questions and assist you in preparation for the interview.

Remember that an interview is a two-way street. You and the employer get to know each other. You may assess if this position and firm is a good fit or match while the employer determines if you have the qualifications needed to be an effective member of the organization.

• What skills you have to offer.
• How you manage your time and what you do with it.
• Who you are: your personality, values, and attitudes.
• Where you would like to go with this job.
• What the current trends are in your field.

Know what you are marketing. The focus of the interview is on you, so be ready to articulate your interests, skills, and abilities. Be able to expand on any item on your resume. Prepare a one to two minute story describing each of the important aspects covered on your resume.

What do you bring to an interview?

• A copy of your resume.
• Paper, pencil or pen. You may want to write down some information for referral. Ask the interviewer if he/she minds if you take periodic notes.
• Portfolio: samples of completed projects, and/or written articles, if you have them. Be prepared to leave them with the employer.
• Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references.
• Your enthusiasm

What should you know about the company?

• The products, services, size, clients
• How large the organization is.
• The functions involved in the position for which you are applying.
• The structure of the organization
• Average salary range for your position.
  

This information is available in employer brochures, annul reports, directories, etc. If it is available, review the job description and create your own list of skills that are important to the position.

Most colleges have a network of alumni who have volunteered to provide information on their career path. Alumni wisdom is a great resource to tap for guidance.

There is no excuse for being unprepared. Employers may interpret lack of preparation as lack of interest and motivation. It is your responsibility to thoroughly explore and evaluate the employer. You must have enough information on the employer to judge why you are interested in working for them. You may also want to construct some well-prepared questions for the employer.

What Counts? First Impression

• Be on time. Arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee promptness.
• Dress appropriately - Look like a winner!
• Give a firm handshake.
• Have a genuine smile.
• Be enthusiastic and interested.
• Use light perfume.
• Do not chew gum or smoke. Avoid eating onions before the interview.

Remember: the first five minutes are the most important. First impressions rarely change in the course of the interview. "You never get a second chance at a first impression." First impressions count!

Dressing for Success

The interview is the most significant factor in the hiring process! Research indicates that within the first 5 to 10 minutes of an interview, the potential employer decides whether or not to seriously consider you for the position. Because of this fact, your appearance plays an important part in the decision-making process.

Creating the right appearance is a great way to prepare for an interview.

What Works? Best Bets for Professional Dress

The Business Look for Women:

Suit: Well fitted skirted or full suit. Wool or linen, grey or medium range blue.
Blouse: Solid color, cotton blend or silk, simply cut with no frills or lace.
Dress: Worn with or without matching jacket. Solid colors, plain, or stripe.
Hose: Skin tones only.
Hair: Clean and attractively styled, medium length, never too short or too long. Must be neatly in place without constant attention. Must not be excessively curly or wavy.
Shoes: Leather, dark color, with closed toe and heal. Plain pumps should coordinate with outfit.

The Business Look for Men:

Suit: Well fitted, blue or grey, wool blend or cotton.
Shirt: White or light blue, solid or thin stripe.
Tie: Silk, wool, cotton, solid, stripe, or thin stripe.
Socks: Knee high, neat - black or navy blue.
Shoes: Dark leather, well shined, slip-on or lace ups. Should coordinate with suit.
Hair: Clean, cut, not too long.
Beard and/or Mustache: Clean-shaven or neatly trimmed.

For Both: Minimal makeup, light perfume or cologne, clean manicured fingernails. For women, no excessively long fingernails, polish in neutral tones with no chips. For men, if you wear an earring, or several, remove it (or them). No gum, food, or cigarettes. Make sure shoes are neatly polished!

What Next? Follow-up

• Always write a thank you letter addressed to the interviewer.
• Express your interest once again in the position and highlight your appropriate skills and accomplishments.
• Provide any additional information you may have overlooked during the interview.
• Call and again express your interest if the employer has not contacted you in two weeks or by an agreed upon date.

What should you know?

Questions Interviewers Commonly Ask

1. What are your long range and short range goals and objectives? When and why did you establish these goals, and how are you preparing yourself to acheive them?

2. What specific goals other than those related to your occupation have you established for yourself?

3. What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

4. What do you really want to do in life?

5. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?

6. What do you expect to be earning in five years?

7. Which is more important to you, the money or the job?

8. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

9. How would you describe yourself?

10. Why should I hire you?

11. How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?

12. How has your education prepared you for a career?

13. What qualifications do you have that make you think you can be successful?

14. How do you determine or evaluate success?

15. What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?

16. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?

17. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and subordinates?

18. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction and why?

19. If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?

20. What led you to choose your field of major study?

21. Do you enjoy doing independant research?

22. What changes would you make in your college or university?

23. Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

24. What have you learned from participating in extra curricular activities?

25. Do you have plans for continued study?

26. How do you work under pressure?

27. In what part time or summer jobs have you been most interested?

28. What two or three things are most important to you in your job?

29. Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?

30. Are you willing to travel?

What should you know? Handling Illegal Questions

For examples of illegal questions and their legal counterparts for to NACE web site: www.jobweb.com

What should you know? Questions that you may ask employers

1. How much travel is normally expected?

2. Can I progress at my own pace or is it structured?

3. How frequently do you relocate professional emplyees?

4. What is the average age of your first level supervisors?

5. Is a car provided for travelling personnel?

6. Are promotions generally filled from within?

7. What do you see as the future for this company?

8. Will I be supervised by one person or will there be two or more?

9. What is the promotional track for this position?

10. Are there any serious problems the company is experiencing now?

11. What is considered the average work week for the position?

12. What are the long range goals of the company?

13. What is the rate of employee turnover in this company?

14. Do you promote health fitness in your company?

15. When do you expect to make a decision about filling this position?

16. What skills did the last person in this position have that were most valuable?

17. Where has the last person in this job gone?

18. What do you like best about working for this company?

Typical Interview Format

Introduction - Rapport Building:

You: Size up the interviewer. Look for clues on how to respond.

Interviewer: Assesses your appearance and how you present yourself (energy, body language, facial expressions)

Questions and Answers:

You: Stress your accomplishments. Represent yourself as the best candidate. Answer questions tactfully. Avoid rambling or talking too much. Be prepared to ask well formulated questions of the interviewer.

Interviewer: Sums up whether you are interested in the position, and explores what you know about the organization. Observes your communication skills through your responses to questions.

Matching Candidate to Position:

You: Determine whether your personality will help in accomplishing your short term goals. Is your reaction to the described position favorable?

Interviewer: Determines whether your personality will fit with the organizational family. Assesses whether your goals are consistent, positive, and compatible with those of the organization.

The Close:

You: Express your interest in the position. Emphasize what you understand to be significant about the position. Exit, certain of how and when you should follow - up. Ask questions if you are unclear about something. Thank the interviewer.

Interviewer: Gives clear instructions to you on the next step in follow-up.

Suggestions for a Successful Interview

Avoid constant use of fillers such as "you know" "right" "um" etc.

Avoid negative comments that may downgrade your abilities, negative information can be weighted more heavily than positive.

Maintain good eye contact. Don't stare, but don't look out the window or at the ceiling.

Concentrate on an "at ease" position.

Know what the employer does.

Project ambition, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Be responsive and listen effectively. Be able to paraphrase to clarify and confirm the interviewer's statements.

Don't mumble. Try to give a clear response.

Be honest. A routine reference check is a near given.

Avoid initiating salary questions.

Be prepared to state the salary you want, if asked.

Do not discuss your personal/domestic/or financial problems unless you are specifically asked.

Develop self-confidence through preparation!

Be yourself.

Comparing Successful and Unsuccessful Job Interviews
Identifying with Employer

Successful

-Stated well-defined goals in terms of a Career (long-term) not just immediate.

-Conveyed commitment to the employer.

-Referred directly to employer.

-Clearly had spoken to other employees and/or read about the employer.

-Reinforced interviewer's ideas.

-Conveyed qualities sought by employer.

-Recognized qualities interviewer considered important.

Unsuccessful

-Lacked definite goals.

-Appeared to be "shopping around".

-Referred derogatorily to employer.

-Responded to interviewer's questions with OK.

-Admitted to not having important qualities.

-Missed cues to describe sought after qualities.

Organization of the Interview Process

Successful

- Talked 55% of the time: initiated 50% of comments.

-From beginning, expressed confidence and enthusiasm.

-Gave brief summary statement.

-Inquired about timetable for decision.

Unsuccessful

-Talked 37% of the time: initiated 36% of the comments.

-In beginning, had uninteresting replies that did not relate to employer needs.

-Accepted the interviewer's ending.

-Left without knowing next steps.

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Successful

-Used direct, active words. Appeared decisive, assertive.

-Used positive, interesting language.

-Injected humor appropriately.

-Used jargon naturally to convey specific knowledge.

-Spoke in short, simple sentences.

-Spoke forcefully, varied rate and pitch, including short pauses.

-Appeared comfortable, leaned forward, gestured meaningfully.

-Smiled often, maintained eye contact.

Unsuccessful

-Used passive, ambiguous words. Began sentences with "I guess".

-Used dull, negative language.

-Remained flat, ill at ease.

-Did not use technical terms.

-Spoke in run-on and jumbled sentences.

-Spoke softly, in a monotone voice. Paused for long silences.

-Appeared to have stiff posture, nervous mannerisms (coughing, scratching).

-Seemed disinterested, tired, distant from interviewer.

General Format for a Follow-up Letter

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Current Date

Name

Title

Company Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Dear__________:

Remind the interviewer of the position for which you were interviewed, as well as the date and place of the interview. It is always courteous to express you appreciation.

Confirm your interest in the opening and the organization. Highlight your qualifications and slat them toward the various points that the interviewer considered important for the job. If you have done anything since the interview which demonstrates your interest in the position, such as talks with alumni, dealers, faculty, research with people of in the library, etc., be sure to mention it.

Include any information not previously presented to supplement your resume, application letter, and the interview. You may have completed a term paper or a research project, or perhaps you have received some kind of recognition. If travel, location, or a similar subject was stressed during the interview, be sure to confirm your willingness to comply with these conditions.

If appropriate, close with a suggestion for further action, such as a desire to have additional interviews at a mutually agreeable place and time. For a prompt response, if often helps to end the letter with a question.

Closing

(Signature)

Full name, typed

Guidelines for the Informational Interview

The informational interview is still the all-time champion for allowing you to obtain the date you need in job-searching.

Purpose:

1. To learn the process(es) of taking control in job-

searching.

2. To obtain information that you need to find your target jobs.

3. To develop your network of contacts.

Self/Employer Exploration:

1. What kinds of jobs exist which might match my interests, skills, and values.

2. How do I prepare myself for these jobs?

3. Where are the job vacancies available?

Preparation:

1. Always have a working statement consisting of your

interests, values, skills, and where you'd like to use them.

Approaches:

1. Personal referral is always the best (rating = 100)

2. Walk-in can be reasonably effective (rating= 71)

3. Phone calls can be effective (rating= 60)

4. A letter will seldom get you an informational interview (rating= 2).

Process:

1. Make each step of the interviewing sequence easy for you.

2. Lead up to your ultimate targets by small progressive steps.

Typical Open Ended Questions:

How did you prepare yourself for entering into this kind of work?

How well-suited is your background for this work?

What skills are crucial to effectiveness in this job?

How would you estimate or describe the future prospects in this field?

What other employers would you say are good bets for you?

What do you look for especially when you hire a new employee?

Follow-up: Always send a thank you note to whoever has helped you.

Information to Know About People in a Career Field

Personal Background:

1. Before you entered this career, what did you think you were going to be?
2. What do you know now that you did not know then?

Preparation:

1. What credentials, education degrees, license, etc. are required for entry into this kind of work?
2. What kinds of prior experience are helpful or necessary?
3. How did you prepare yourself for this work?
4. What do you find most rewarding about the work itself, in addition to such factors as pay, travel or fringe benefits?

Present Job:

1. Describe how you spend your time during a typical work day/week?
2. What skills or talents are most essential for success in this field?
3. What are the toughest problems you have to deal with?
4. What do you find most rewarding about the work itself, in addition to such factors as pay, travel, or fringe benefits?

Prior Experience:

1. Which of your past work experiences effect what you do now?
2. Have any of your job changes been for reasons of life style? Explain.
3. How did you decide to enter this particular job or career?

Career Future:

1. If things develop as you'd like, what sort of career do you see for yourself?
2. If the work you do was suddenly eliminated, what different kinds or work do you think you could do?
3. How rapidly is your present career field growing? How do you see the future?

Life Style:

1. What obligation does your work place upon you, outside of the ordinary workweek? Do you enjoy these obligations?
2. How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours of work, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?

Advice to Me:

1. How well suited is my background for this type of work>
2. What educational preparation do you feel would be best?
3. What kinds of experiences would you most strongly recommend?
4. If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?

Questions Commonly Asked by Interviewers for Teachers

• What is your philosophy of education?
• What kind of student do you most (least) like to work with?
• Describe your style of teaching.
• Would you like to be involved in activities in the school (community)?
• What do you want to teach?
• What do you plan to be doing in five years? What are your career goals?
• Describe your student teaching experience(s).
• What was your biggest problem in student teaching? How did you resolve it?
• What three words would your students use to describe you as a teacher?
• How do you individualize your teaching?
• How do you feel that the "rapid" learner should be provided for in your area of teaching?
• What is the greatest attribute you can bring to a class of students?
• What are the qualities of an excellent teacher? Which of these qualities do you possess?
• Some of your students always finish their assignments early. How would you deal with the free time they have?
• How would you work with students below grade level especially low socio-economic students?
• What grade level do you prefer? Why?
• How would you use asides and parent volunteers?
• Are parent/teacher conferences of importance? Why/ Why not?
• Why do you want to work for our school district?
• What do you know about our school district?
• Why should our school district hire you?
• Describe the ideal classroom.
• How do you feel you relate with minorities in the classroom?
• A student is consistently late to your class. How do you handle the situation?
• What would you do or how would you treat a student who refused to do the work you assigned?
• How would you handle a student who continually "acted up" in class?
• How and when do you discipline a student?
• How should a student's educational achievement and progress be measured?
• You know a staff member has been taking behind your back about what they see as your ineffective teaching methods. How do you handle this?
• What do you expect from your supervisor?