Interviewing Success
Terri F. Smith
Employer Relations Coordinator
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
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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
* Working on a team
* Organizational skills
* Problems solving skills
* Working with difficult people
* Customer service
– Structure your “stories” using the STAR Method
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Career Center
Situation
Task
Action
Results
Interviewing Seminar
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Career Center
Interviewing Seminar
Be Organized: Plan Ahead
• Prepare items to bring
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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
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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
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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
During Your Interview
Verbal Communication
Non 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
• Shake hands with
interviewers
• Maintain eye contact
• Demonstrate good posture
• Avoid nervous habits
• Be polite – treat everyone
the same
• Take notes
• SMILE
Career Center
Interviewing Seminar
After Your Interview
• Concluding your interview
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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
Career Center
Employer Relations Specialist
Career Center
856-225-6046
[email protected]