Interviewing

Interviewing is a skill. The more you practice the better you become. The interview is your chance to show how your education, experiences and personality will be a good fit for the position and the organization.

A few tips to assist in your preparation:

Practice – Think, organize, write and practice. Develop specific, concrete examples of your skills and strengths. Practice your responses out loud with friends and family. Take advantage of Interview Stream and Mock interviews available through Career Services to help you prepare for the interview.

Research the Organization – Employers consistently report that students come unprepared for interviews. Do your homework so you can talk more intelligently about why you want to work for the organization and how your skills and experiences will fit the position.

Tell Your Story – Stress achievements which make you uniquely qualified for the job. Prepare a summary of your qualifications for the job. Back these statements with specific concrete examples. Draw on your academic, volunteer, extracurricular and work experiences to show your skills and abilities. Be sincere and honest in each response.

Professionalism – Standard attire for an interview is business professional (pant or dress suits), and it is always better to stay conservative than to take a risk. Stick with solid, neutral colors; keep your hair neat; avoid any distracting items.

Follow-up – Send a thank-you letter(s) within 24 hours of the interview to each person involved in the interview process. You may follow-up with a phone call based on the time frame the provided during the interview. Calling to follow-up once per week is acceptable as long as you are professional and polite in each interaction.