Transcript Interview Skills & Attire - North Carolina Wesleyan College

Interview Success
Internship & Career Services Center
North Carolina Wesleyan College
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Presentation Outline
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What is an interview?
Preparation
Planning your interview
Dress for success
At the interview
After the interview
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What is a job interview?
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An opportunity to:
– Learn details about a company and job
– Convince an employer that you have the
skills and qualities needed
– Visit the workplace to evaluate your fit
with the office culture
– Decide whether or not you want the job
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Can be on the phone or in person
One-on-one, panel, presentation
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Preparation
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Research
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This very important step will allow you to
answer and ask questions intelligently
– Publicly owned (shares traded on the stock
exchange)
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Info. easy to locate
– Corporation, subsidiary or division
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More info. available on corporations than
subsidiaries, divisions, or regional and local
companies.
– Privately or foreign owned
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A bit more difficult to find info. but its out there
Research (continued)
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Where can I find company information?
– Corporate websites
Look for “HR” or “About”, maybe “Strategic Plan”
 Also browse the consumer side of their site to be
up on what they offer and how they present
themselves
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– Newspapers
– Libraries and Career Centers
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May have limited and dated information
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Research (continued)
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Better Business Bureau
Chambers of Commerce
Human Resources department
Individuals who work there
Business Directories
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Research (continued)
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Look for these answers:
– Is it for-profit or non-profit?
– If it’s an educational institution, public or
private?
– How old is the company?
– What types of services/products does it
provide?
– What are its competitors?
– What kind of growth has it experienced?
– What is its reputation?
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Research (continued)
– How many employees?
– Are there any branch offices or is this
part of a larger corporation?
– What are its sales records, assets, and
earnings?
– What are its current goals?
– Are they working toward any new
products or projects?
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Review Job Announcement
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Look back over the original
announcement, highlighting all
mentions of duties and specific skills
Try to form a picture of the individual
they are seeking
What is missing? Often times the
announcement is vague, you will want
to decide in advance what questions
you have so you can ask them.
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Review Your Skills
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Match your skills with those mentioned
in the announcement
– Plan specific examples you can share that
will exhibit your possession of these sills.
– Try to recall a time you have done
something similar to what they are
looking for.
– What transferable skills do you have that
will be helpful in this position? Give
examples.
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Practice
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Review a list of typical interview
questions and anticipate how you
might respond.
– Pretend you are the interviewer. What
questions would you ask?
– Do not try to script your responses.
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Participate in Mock Interviews with the
ICSC Director.
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Planning Your Interview
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Scheduling
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Agree to a time you know you can make.
Canceling or rescheduling is a bad idea.
If the interview is out of town will they
pay or reimburse you for travel?
If scheduling a phone interview be
certain that you will have access to a
quiet environment where you can spread
your materials out in front of you.
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Scheduling (continued)
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Plan to use a land-line, if possible, for phone
interviews.
Inquire as to who will be on the call.
Ask if they expect you to bring anything or
prepare a presentation.
– Even if they say no it’s great to have samples of
your work on hand
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Request an agenda of the day
– They may have plans for you to meet with other
folks in the company
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Determine what you will wear. Do you need
to have something dry cleaned?
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The Night Before
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Be certain your clothes, shoes, briefcase (or
bag), and other accessories are ready
Plan your travel – get directions, check for
road closings, and allow plenty of time for
potential delays
Prepare your interview materials
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Conservative pen and portfolio
Copies of your resume
Questions for the employer
Get a good night’s sleep!
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Dress for Success
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General Guidelines
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Dress conservatively
Sensible, practical clothes that make
you look like you know how to focus
on your work
Make sure clothes look clean and neat
Do not chew gum during the interview
or smoke before (the smoke smell will
attach to your suit)
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Women’s Appearance
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Conservative suit color (black, grey, navy)
Conservative blouse color (white, ivory)
Appropriate neckline
A tailored dress or coat dress is also
appropriate
Skirt/dress length should be between an inch
above or below the knee
Check slip length
Wear hosiery
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Women’s Appearance
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Accessories add color and variety but less is
more in the interview situation
Heels should be around 2” height
Conservative shoe style and color (close toe,
black, navy, taupe, brown)
Be aware of manicure
Do not carry a purse, only a professional tote
or leather-bound pad
Wear make-up, but not too much
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Men’s Appearance
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Fit is critical to a suit jacket and pants
Dark blue, grey, or black
Button your jacket when standing and
walking, unbutton when sitting
A pressed, white, long-sleeved, cotton
shirt
– You should be able to fit 2 fingers
between the collar and your neck
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Silk tie in a conservative color/print
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Men’s Appearance
(continued)
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Tip of tie should reach center of belt buckle
Shoes should be black or brown
Socks should complement pant color
Belts – plain leather in black, 1”
Neatly trimmed facial hair
Clean nails
Polished shoes, no worn heels
Carry a brief case or leather-bound pad
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General Grooming Tips
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Deodorant
Light on cologne/perfume
Brush your teeth, use mouthwash
Neat haircut
Polished shoes
Impeccably clean
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At the Interview
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Behavior
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Arrive early (but not too early). 5-10
minutes is about right.
Be polite to everyone you meet.
Speak clearly and with good grammar.
Avoid verbal fillers (“uh”, “you know”,
“like”).
Answer questions with examples and
stories. Use humor if it seems
appropriate.
Feel free to take down a few notes.
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Behavior (continued)
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Food and drink - Feel free to accept if offered
but drink sparingly to avoid needing the
restroom. Eating may cause you to have your
mouth full when needing to answer a question.
Visiting the restroom – avoid by doing this
before arrival but if you must ask to be excused
and apologize upon your return.
If something embarrassing happens – stay calm
and laugh it off. You’ll win points for keeping
composure.
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Body Language
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Firm handshake
Good eye contact
Erect posture (slightly leaning forward)
Relaxed and confident
Small facial/hand gestures
Avoid fidgeting
Smile
Be enthusiastic
Swallow yawns
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What Not To DO
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Don’t…
– Be late
– Ask about money
– Criticize prior job or boss
– Lie (better to say you don’t know an
answer)
– Slouch
– Cross your legs
– Interrupt
– Feel obligated to answer illegal questions
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After the Interview
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Evaluation & Action
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Immediately make notes
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What do you still have questions about?
What are the pros of the company/position?
What are the cons of the company/position?
How do you feel about your performance in the
interview?
– What could you improve on next time?
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Complete any follow-up instructions given to
you by the employer
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Send a thank you letter to the employer
within 24 hours (example)
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Thank You Letters
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Express appreciation for the interview and
meeting the individual.
Comment on things that were mentioned in the
interview.
– If the employer had mentioned a current problem,
remind them of ways you can help.
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If there was something relevant you forgot to
say in the interview, mention it here.
Express your interest in working at the
company and that you look forward to hearing
from them.
Example
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