In the Interview
Review Your General Presentation
Are you suited up?
Have you removed excess jewelry?
Is your hair well groomed and conservatively styled?
Do you have a firm, but not crushing, handshake?
Are you smiling? Smile!
Prepare to introduce yourself using your rehearsed 20 second summary, and present your résumé.
Make good eye contact with the interviewer throughout the interview.
Interview Skills
Take a practice drive to the interview site, prior to the day of the interview, if possible at the same time as you will be driving to the interview. Time the trip, and on the day of the interview, leave home ten minutes earlier than the maximum travel time.
If you arrive more than ten minutes early, drive around the block until time to park. If you are extremely nervous, complete relaxation exercises in the car. Shake your hands vigourously to deplete nervous energy. Breathe deeply to relax.
Present yourself in the office of the interviewer ten minutes prior to the interview. Be patient if you must wait. Arriving later than the scheduled interview time may ruin your candidacy.
To avoid juggling objects, creating spills, or caking your teeth with crumbs, politely decline offers of beverages or food. If you are invited to an interview that includes a meal, consult with a Career Services professional about dining etiquette.
In the interview, the theme behind all your answers should be: why I am the best person for the job. All interview questions ask basically the same question: why should I hire you?
There are some standard questions you can expect to be asked. In addition, you may be asked general questions designed to reveal your past behavioral patterns. This is called behavioral interviewing. You can effectively answer behavioral interviewing questions by following a model referred to as P A R: Problem, Action, Results. In the P A R model, you first describe the problem or situation; then relate the action you took; and, finally, the results.
Give specific and detailed answers using your real experiences and accomplishments.
If you are asked to describe weaknesses or failures, provide a response that frames these incidents as challenges and describe how you overcame them.
It is acceptable for you to jot brief notes on a legal pad carried in a portfolio. Brief notes are usually made when something the interviewer says sparks a question you want to ask later. Be sure the notes are brief.
Hold the portfolio in your lap instead of placing it on the table or desk between you and the interviewer.
If you have legitimate questions about the work environment that have not been answered in your preparatory research or in the interview, take time to ask them at the end of the interview. However, it is not appropriate to ask questions to which you should have already found out the answer, such as: "Tell me about your organization." Review sample questions to ask an employer.
It is also not appropriate to introduce salary and compensation issues in this interview. These items are discussed in a later negotiation. If asked what your expectations are, you can reply that you expect a salary in the range appropriate for the position, and based on your skills and experience; or you can respond that you prefer to leave salary considerations until you both agree that this position is right for you.
Collect a business card.
Always thank your interviewer and shake hands upon goodbye.
Always send a thank you letter to your interviewer(s).
Offers, Contracts, and Due Dates
It is unusual to be offered a job on the spot. Initial interviews and job fair interviews are generally only the first in a series. Still, some candidates may be offered jobs in a first interview.
Whenever you are offered a job, negotiate a timeline by which you will respond to the offer. For example, if the interview is on a Monday, offer to reply by the middle or end of the week. If an offer is made on a Friday, commit to replying by Tuesday. Your negotiated timeline must allow you time to consider the offer, gather information about comparable salaries and benefits, and develop a response.
Your response will either be outright acceptance, a proposal for changes in the offer, or a polite and diplomatic rejection of the offer.
Once you and the employer agree upon an offer, ask for a confirmation letter with the details.
When you accept a job, deactivate your name in The Wright Search.
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This page was last updated Thursday, 15-May-2008 16:16:27 EDT.
Questions or comments?
Email career_services@wright.edu