Skills for Interviewing

Your resume has done its job and landed you an interview. That's great. Now what? Interviewing can be broken down into three steps: preparation, the interview itself and post-interview follow-up. Follow the links below to master the critical elements that can put you in prime position for a job.

Some Predictors of Success

  • Ambition and motivation
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Related work experience
  • Creativity and intelligence
  • Self-confidence
  • Teamwork capabilities and work habits
  • Strong communication skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Adaptability
  • Leadership ability

15 Knockout Factors

  1. Lack of proper career planning; inability to define career goals and objectives
  2. Lack of knowledge of field of specialization; not well-qualified
  3. Inability to express self clearly
  4. Insufficient evidence of achievement or capacity to excite action in others
  5. Not prepared for interview; no research on company
  6. No real interest in the organization or the industry; merely shopping around
  7. Narrow location interest; unwilling to relocate later
  8. Little interest and enthusiasm; indifferent
  9. Overbearing, overaggressive and/or conceited
  10. Interested only in best dollar offer
  11. Asks no or poor questions about the job
  12. Unwilling to start at the bottom; expects too much too soon
  13. Makes excuses; evasive; hedges on unfavorable factors in record
  14. No confidence and poise; fails to look interviewer in the eye
  15. Poor personal appearance and grooming

Site Manager: Kim Teske
Last Updated: December 13 2007 3:29:15 pm
Published by North Dakota State University
306 Ceres Hall, Fargo, ND 58105
Phone: (701)231-7111, Fax: (701)231-8756
Email: ndsu.career.center@ndsu.edu