| Interview
DOs and DON'Ts |
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On this page: Interview DOs | Interview DON'Ts
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| Interview
DOs |
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Dress appropriately for the industry;
err on the side of being conservative to show you take the interview
seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable. |
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Know the exact time and location of
your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, find
a rest room to freshen up, etc. |
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Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the
interview start time. |
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Treat other people you encounter with
courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during
hiring decisions. |
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Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact,
and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer. |
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Listen to be sure you understand your
interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation. |
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Even when your interviewer gives you
a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr.,
Dr.) and last name, until invited to do otherwise. |
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Maintain good eye contact during the
interview. |
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Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting
and slouching. |
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Respond to questions and back up your
statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible. |
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Ask for clarification if you don't
understand a question. |
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Be thorough in your responses, while
being concise in your wording. |
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Be honest and be yourself. Dishonesty
gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for
firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer.
If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you
and your employer will both be unhappy. |
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Treat the interview seriously and as
though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity
presented. |
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Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer
is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone
you would want to work with. |
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Have intelligent questions prepared
to ask the interviewer. Having done your research about the employer
in advance, ask questions which you did not find answered in your
research. |
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Evaluate the interviewer and the organization
s/he represents. An interview is a two-way street. Conduct yourself
cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about the
way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization. |
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Do expect to be treated appropriately.
If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions
that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this
with a Career Services advisor or the director. |
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Make sure you understand the employer's
next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should
expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next,
if any. |
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When the interviewer concludes the
interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully. |
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After the interview, make notes right
away so you don't forget critical details. |
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Write a thank-you letter to your interviewer
promptly. |
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| Interview
DON'Ts |
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Don't make excuses. Take responsibility
for your decisions and your actions. |
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Don't make negative comments about
previous employers or professors (or others). |
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Don't falsify application materials
or answers to interview questions. |
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Don't treat the interview casually,
as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice.
This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization. |
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Don't give the impression that you
are only interested in an organization because of its geographic
location. |
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Don't give the impression you are only
interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues
until the subject is brought up by your interviewer. |
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Don't act as though you would take
any job or are desperate for employment. |
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Don't make the interviewer guess what
type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's
job to act as a career advisor to you. |
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Don't be unprepared for typical interview
questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview,
but being unprepared looks foolish. |
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A job search can be hard work and involve
frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude
in an interview. |
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Don't go to extremes with your posture;
don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair. |
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Don't assume that a female interviewer
is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms."
unless told otherwise. Her marital status is irrelevant to the purpose
of the interview. |
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Don't chew gum or smell like smoke. |
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Don't allow your cell phone to sound
during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore
it.) Don't take a cell phone call. |
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Don't take your parents, your pet (an
assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiance,
friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and
independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently
grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your
new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.) |
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| Also
see: |
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Typical interview format |
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Interview attire |
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Sample questions |
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Sample questions for teaching candidates |
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Behavioral interviewing |
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Researching employers — why and how |
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Questions to ask the employer |
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Responding to salary questions |
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On-site interviews |
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Dining
Etiquette |
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Interview expenses |
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After
your interviews / follow up / thank-you letters |
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The
Mock Interview Program |
