Skills for Interviewing

Interview Attire

• The key here is to dress conservatively. Men are typically encouraged to wear a suit and a tie, while women are encouraged to wear a skirt or dress pants with a dress shirt and a coordinating jacket/blazer/sweater. It is wise to consult someone in the industry or a member of the Career Center for specific information.
• Jewelry would also be worn conservatively (small earrings/necklace etc.), and belts should match the shoes that are worn for the interview. It is important for shoes to be properly maintained.
• All apparel is clean and pressed. Attending to these details tells the employer whether or not you are serious about the job.
• Refrain from wearing fragrances, as many people experience adverse reactions to them. (chemical sensitivities)

Presentation

• Always begin an introduction with a handshake, a smile, and a greeting.
• Answer questions with clarity, and be specific with your examples. Answers that are not supported by fact are likely to be dismissed.
• It is appropriate and acceptable to ask for time to think about your response. Silence is not awkward when it is expected and agreed upon by both parties.
• Express enthusiasm and professionalism throughout the interview. It's easy to focus so intently on the content of your response that you unknowingly communicate with little emotion.
• Pay close attention to your nonverbal behavior. Make eye contact throughout the interview, and maintain good posture (leaning slightly forward in your seat). If your nonverbal behavior is inconsistent with your verbal message, it is very likely that the interviewer will believe the nonverbal cues.
• When using examples to illustrate your skills, the primary focus should be on how you responded to the situation and the actual outcome. Many people who are interviewing for a job "get stuck" on storytelling and spend too much time providing irrelevant information about the situation that took place. Mock interviewing can greatly reduce this tendency and assist you in communicating clearly and concisely.
• When an interviewer asks if there is anything else that you would like to say before the interview concludes, always take the opportunity to make a statement about what your most valuable contribution(s) would be to the organization.
• If much of your actual work experience is different from the position for which you are interviewing, communicate relevant skills from seemingly unrelated work experiences
  (example: meeting deadlines/goals, effectively adapting to change with little notice etc.)
• If you have received positive feedback about "anything" from former supervisors, professors, coworkers etc., whether it be formal (during a performance review) or informal, try incorporating this information into your responses. This can add credibility to the statements that are made about your qualifications.
• Avoid minimizing your experiences by using phrases such as "I was only a volunteer at the time," or "I was just an intern." If you do not see the value in your experiences, the employer will not recognize it either. Communicate your knowledge and exposure to different areas, recognizing your ability to become proficient in applying these new skills.

Post-Interview Follow-up