Interviewing Success

Terri F. Smith

Employer Relations Coordinator

Career Center

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Top Three Interview Mistakes

• Lack of Preparation

• Dressing Inappropriately

• Arriving Late

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Before Your Interview

Tips for Interview Preparation

• Research the Industry/Employer

• Research the Position

• Know Yourself

• Know Your Skills

• Practice, Practice, Practice!

• Be Organized: Plan Ahead

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Research the Industry/Employer and Position

• Employer / Organization Website

• Career Insider – Online Library

• Review Job Descriptions

• O*Net / Occupational Outlook Handbook

• Alumni Career Network

• Professional Associations / LinkedIn

• Prepare 2 – 3 questions to

ask the interviewer

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Know Yourself and Your Skills

• Practice discussing your accomplishments and skills

• Prepare for Behavioral Interview questions

– 4 or 5 examples of past experiences/skills that you can use

* Time management skills * Problems solving skills

* Working on a team * Working with difficult people

* Organizational skills * Customer service

– Structure your “stories” using the STAR Method

• Situation

• Task

• Action

• Results

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Be Organized: Plan Ahead

• Prepare items to bring

– Several copies of your resume

– List of 3-5 references

– Pen and paper

– Name of interviewer

– Reading material, preferably about the company

– Good directions and phone number of company

• Cell phones

– Be sure they are turned off

– Wear a watch

– Employer does not need to see your phone – ever!

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Be Organized: Plan Ahead

Women’s Interview Attire Men’s Interview Attire

Professional, neat and conservative attire

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Types of Interviews

• Structured

• Unstructured

• Behavioral

– STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

– Specific examples

• Group

• Panel

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

During Your Interview

• Be punctual – arrive 5-10 minutes early

• Styles vary – could begin with direct questions or small talk

• Interviewers assess immediate competency

• Confidence is important – eye contact and open discussion of

accomplishments

• Self disclosure is important

• Researching organization shows initiative and interest

• Acceptable to ask about the interview process

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Sell Yourself

• Tell Me About Yourself / 30 Second Commercial

• Why You Applied for the Position

• Your Relevant Experience

• Your Fit for the Position

• Recent Relevant Accomplishment(s)

• Discuss your current position

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Verbal Communication

• Provide direct and specific

examples of YOUR

accomplishments

• Project openness and

confidence

• Be positive

• Ask questions to

demonstrate interest

• Avoid “fillers”

• Speak slowly and clearly

Non Verbal Communication

• Shake hands with

interviewers

• Maintain eye contact

• Demonstrate good posture

• Avoid nervous habits

• Be polite – treat everyone

the same

• Take notes

• SMILE

During Your Interview

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

After Your Interview

• Concluding your interview

– Ask for business cards

– Thank the employer for their time

– Ask about next steps

– Emphasize your interest in the job

– Shake hands and smile

• Thank you notes

– Send within 24 hours of interview

– Email or “snail mail”

– Include

• Thank interviewer for their time

• Remind them of something from your interview

• Reiterate that you are a good fit

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Practice Questions

• Introduce yourself (stand up, shake hands)

• What is your greatest strength?

• Tell me about one accomplishment that you’re

proud of.

• Tell me about a time when you demonstrated

the ability to show initiative.

• Why should I hire you?

• How do you manage your priorities between

school and work?

Career Center

Interviewing Seminar

Resources

• Career Center Website

– http://cc.camden.rutgers.edu

– Students Interviewing

• InterviewStream

• Mock interviews

Terri F. Smith Employer Relations Specialist

Career Center

856-225-6046

terrif.smith@camden.rutgers.edu