Career Cube Blog

So far, so good. You’ve been “selling” yourself on paper for weeks. You wrote the perfect cover letter–right tone, right information. You enclosed the perfect resume–concise, clear, and confident. Together, the two made a terrific impression, and now it’s time for the real test in the job search–the interview. Time to sell yourself to a potential employer, but this time, it’s face-to-face. This is the important part, too. While your cover letter made claims about what you can do and your resume gave the specifics that backed up those claims, the interview is your chance to take all that information and put it into an attractive package–you!

Practice Makes Perfect

You’ve probably had enough track practices, piano lessons, or classes to know that doing something well almost always involves lots of practice and preparation. This is true in the working world also. In order to perform well in an interview, you need to practice and prepare.

First, practice answering questions. Make sure you have good answers to standard questions such as: Why should we hire you? What qualifications do you have for this position? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? and so on. Keep in mind that sometimes employers will ask you some off-the-wall, unexpected questions too. These are designed to see how well you can think on your feet, how well you function under stress, and even how creative you are.

Practice your answers with a friend or family member. This will help you spot mistakes or problems, and you may get some valuable feedback on how to do an even better job. You want to clearly show what attributes and talents you bring to this interview, including the ability to be a team player, to communicate well, and to perform whatever duties the job requires. Have those written down on note cards so that you remember to mention them–even if you aren’t asked about each one specifically.

Be Prepared

Preparation for an interview is essential. Besides preparing yourself for the questions, put some thought into your appearance, too. Make sure you are wearing clothing that makes the right impression on a potential boss. Sloppy clothes, lots of jewelry, or too much cologne can ruin your chances before you even speak.

Dana Curtis from the University Office of Career Service says, “It is difficult to overemphasize the importance of being well-prepared for a job interview. Your degree of preparation speaks volumes about your interest level and conscientiousness. In addition to increasing your confidence,” continues Curtis, “solid preparation will help you to give articulate answers and ask pertinent questions.”

Learning about the company before your interview is important too. Having a working knowledge of what the company produces or sells will help you to appear well-informed. Gary Will, author of Selling Yourself in an Employment Interview, states, “In traditional employer interviewing, the employer is in control. For the most part, they ask the questions and you answer. If you don’t know much about the employer or the kinds of problems they face, this puts you in the difficult position of trying to present yourself as the solution to problems you know little about.”

You should be ready to ask questions too, such as: What are my responsibilities? Is there a training program available? When would I start? or Who would I report to? Don’t ask questions about how much vacation time you get, when you will get the first raise, and how many daily breaks you get–they imply that you are dwelling on the wrong aspects of the job!

Learning the Do’s and Don’ts

Believe it or not, employers are often nervous before interviews too. They have a lot riding on making the right choice among the job applicants. Will says, “The biggest [obstacle] is the employer’s fear that they would be making the wrong decision if they choose you over someone else. Selling yourself means tapping into the employer’s aspirations and reducing his or her anxieties. It’s communicating as vividly and credibly as possible how the employer will be better off by having you as part of their team.”

Here is a list of basic do’s and don’ts to remember when you walk through that door:

Do’s

• Dress appropriately.
• Arrive on time.
• Know how to pronounce the name of the person you are speaking with.
• Smile.
• Have a firm handshake.
• Make eye contact with the interviewer.
• Listen carefully to what the prospective employer says to you.
• Ask appropriate questions.
• Send a thank-you note after the interview.

DON’TS

• Play with your hair or jewelry.
• Keep checking your watch.
• Answer questions too quickly (think before you speak).
• Talk negatively about previous bosses or jobs.
• Slouch or slump in the chair.
• Appear bored or impatient.
• Rely on your resume to answer any questions.

Will adds, “You don’t get hired by describing your past. You get hired by painting a picture of the employer’s future and making them believe that you can help them achieve it.”

Remember–no one knows you better than you do. Practice and prepare and then, when you finally go in for the interview, shine! Let the employer see why you are the perfect choice for the job.

Interview Bloopers

Here are some real mistakes made by real people in job interviews. They may make you chuckle, but they also teach important lessons on what not to do. How would you answer each question?

Q. What five or six adjectives best describe you?

A. Really, really, really, really, really cool.

Q. Tell me about yourself as a team player.

A. Teamwork is OK, as long as other people don’t get in the way.

Q. Can you supervise people?

A. Sure. Tell people what to do, then kick their butts if they don’t do it.

Q. Describe your management style.

A. Don’t do anything you can make someone else do for you.

Q. Are you a good communicator?

A. Huh?

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