Successful Interviewing

Successful Interviewing Iona College The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development

Why are Interviews Conducted? • Meet the candidate first-hand to see if he/she is a good fit for the job or organization.

Preparing for the Interview:Conduct Thorough Research • Research both the position and organization. • Visit the company website to learn more about their mission, culture, job openings, and media news. • Know who you are interviewing with –(individual(s) or a panel) and the approximate length of the interview. • Know geographic directions and take a dry run if necessary.

Know Yourself and How to Market Yourself • Assess your strengths including skills, knowledge, and personal traits. • Determine how your strengths match the employer’s needs and how they will benefit the organization. • Review your resume and be able to discuss in-depth. Be aware of red flags in your resume i.e. lack of G.P.A., limited work history or activities.

Practice Makes Perfect • Practice with Career Development Staff and schedule a mock interview. • Recognize your strengths in interviewing and what you need to improve upon. • Work on challenging areas through practice with a friend or in front of a mirror. • Obtain sample questions and prepare your responses.

How to Dress? • Dress appropriately: a suit is always appropriate. • Don’t make the mistake of dressing too casual even if the company dress code is business casual. • Accessories, makeup, and perfume/cologne should not be overstated. • Cover any visible tattoos. • Hair should be neat and clothes pressed. • What you wear won’t get you hired but the wrong attire/presentation will often screen you out.

Typical Interview Structure Everyone’s interview style is different, but a common format includes the following: • Introduction • Interviewer asks detailed questions • Candidate asks questions • Closing & summary Typical duration of an interview is at least 30 minutes.

First Impressions Count • Employers form first impressions early on. • Greet the interviewer with enthusiasm, a smile, and a firm handshake. • Be personable and prepared to “make small talk”. • Be polite to support staff (their input matters). • First impressions can affect the rest of the interview.

Non-Verbal Factors Matter • Be aware of your non-verbal habits and expressions. • Maintain good eye contact, posture, and positive expressions i.e. smiling or hand gestures where appropriate. • Avoid fidgeting and nervous expressions.

Verbal Factors • Use proper grammar and communicate in a professional manner. • Reflect confidence in your voice tone. • Try avoiding “ums”, “you knows” and “likes”. • Stay focused on answering the questions in a specific and succinct way. • Ask for clarification if you are not sure what the interviewer wants. • Choose responses and verbal statements that promote you. • Be prepared to give specific examples from previous positions/experiences to back up your answers.

Answering Interviewer Questions • Organize your answers to commonly asked questions. • Listen carefully: try to look at the question behind the question - what is the interviewer looking for? • Prepare by practicing responses that reflect your strengths. • Be prepared to talk about your skills, personal traits, accomplishments, experiences, goals and work values. • Practice giving specific examples from classroom work, extracurricular, volunteering or life experiences. • Be prepared for probing questions that ask for more details than you have already given. • Don’t be afraid to “sell yourself”.

Examples of Common Questions • Tell me about yourself. • Why do you want to work for our organization? • Why should we hire you? • What are your strengths (and weaknesses)? • How did you choose your college and major? • What are your short-term and long-term career goals? • What makes you a unique candidate for this position?

Illegal Interview Questions • Employers are not allowed to ask questions that relate to the following: • Age • Religious/Spiritual Identity • Marital/Family Status • Ethnicity Do not volunteer any personal information. If you are asked any of these questions, feel free to say: “Can you tell me how knowing this information relates to the position?”, or “I do not feel comfortable sharing this information, however I’d be happy to answer any other questions related to my qualifications for this position”

Behavioral Interviewing Techniques • Many employers use Behavioral Interviewing questions. • Behavioral interviewing focuses questions on past performance. • The basic premise is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. • Employers will probe to solicit specific examples and to get details on how you conducted yourself in a particular situation.

Examples of Behavioral Interviewing Questions • Tell me about a time where you demonstrated strong teamwork during college. • How did you go about exercising leadership in a part-time job or internship? • Give me a specific example of when you offered extraordinary service to a customer. • When have you felt a great deal of pressure and how did you deal with it? • Describe a situation where you demonstrated the ability to multi-task.

The Telephone Interview • Treat the phone interview like any interview. • Arrange to avoid interruptions and allow plenty of time. • If possible try to use a land line phone or make sure you are in a place with good cell phone reception. • Remember that clear articulation and strong communication skills are especially important in phone interviews. • Keep your resume and notes at your fingertips.

Group Interviews • Some interviews are conducted by several key personnel in an organization. • Attempt to learn who will be interviewing you and their position. • Address each individual’s question taking into account what is important to them based on their position. • Make eye contact with everyone you are being interviewed by when answering questions. • Strive for consistency in your responses if your interviews are conducted separately by a number of people.

Always Prepare Questions • Prepare at least 3 questions for the end of the interview. • Questions should be well thought out and indicate that you did your research. • Generate a list of questions in advance about the position, the organization and the hiring manager’s expectations. • Develop questions that demonstrate your level of interest and intelligence. • Questions should show interest in the company, but also help you decide if the position is right for you.

Examples of Questions to Ask • What would you say are the most important qualities needed in order to be successful in this position? • Describe a typical work day. • How will I interact with other employees and managers throughout the company? • What are some of the challenges facing the company and the organization? • How would you describe the culture of your company? • What type of training will I receive?

Examples of Questions that Reflect Research • “I read on your website that you will be acquiring businesses to increase your customer presence. How will this impact your organization?” • “A Wall Street Journal article of 2 weeks ago stressed your company’s commitment to innovative marketing strategies - Can you elaborate on those strategies?”

Questions to Avoid Initially • Avoid questions in the initial interview about the following: -Salary -Vacation -Medical/Dental Benefits -Health and Retirement Benefits/ 401K -Tuition Remission -Promotions • They may reflect misplaced priorities. • Wait until the second interview or at the job offer.

Closing • Time for either side to ask final questions & summarize. • Find out the next steps. When will you hear from them? • Express interest (if appropriate). “I have enjoyed this interview and am excited about this opportunity with your company. I hope you will invite me to the next step.” • Ask for a business card (necessary for follow-up and thank you notes).

After the Interview • Always write a thank you note: - Reiterate your strengths and your enthusiasm for the company/position. - Include any important omissions - Email or send a typed note through mail as soon as possible after the interview. • Keep a log: - Any follow-up items - All the important facts - Any advice you were given - Your key impressions

Following-Up • Take any steps suggested by the interviewer: - Providing references - Contacting an employee or manager - Completing application forms or exams • Stay in pursuit: - Follow-up with them if necessary - Let them know of your interest

Learn from Your Interviews • Learn from every interview and make improvements. • Use the interview to assess your career interests and goals.

Additional Interviewing Resources • The Next Step Career Guide - Interviewing Section (available online or in print) • Online resources for interviews • Mock Interview Practice with a Career Advisor

Successful Interviewing