Discovering Dreams

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW:

​

• Be Knowledgeable: Do your research! Before an interview, research the company thoroughly, the job you're applying for, the interviewing process, and be prepared to answer questions about yourself and why you would be the best fit for their company. Employees are less impressed with a candidate that appears inexperienced or unprepared for the interview. 

​

• Practice Makes Perfect: It's good to practice speaking before an interview to rehearse the basic information. Anticipate possible questions and try talking in front of a mirror, or practicing with family and friends to practice sounding smooth, calm, and professional, but not scripted, in the days leading up to an interview. Be sure to cut out the "um" and "like" to sound confident and practice being more articulate.

​

• Dress Appropriately: Depending on the job, dress in the appropriate clothes to make the best first impression! Even for more casual jobs, dress cleanly and nicely. It's also advised against wearing particularly strong perfume or musk; what smells good to you may be overpowering to others. This shows the employer that you are taking the interview and the job seriously and being considerate. For more tips, visit our page on Attire.

​​

• Turn Off Your Cell Phone: Allowing a cell phone to go off in the middle of the interview is awkward and unprofessional. If possible, turn your cell or other devices completely off, or double check that your ringer is on silent. Also resist the urge to check social media or text alerts. Your focus needs to be solely on the interview.

​

• ​Don't Chew Gum or Candy: Gum chewing is a fad that may help you focus and freshen your breath, but generally doesn't look professional during an interview and hinders your speaking ability. Spit out your gum before the interview and avoid smacking your lips!

​

• Bring Your Resume and References: It's more than likely your interviewer already has a copy of your resume and references, but it never hurts to be prepared. Carefully and neatly pack them the night before so you don't forget them in a rush. This will present you as prepared, organized, and dedicated to the job.

​

DURING THE INTERVIEW: 

​

• Be on Time: There is no excuse for being late to an interview. Being late can imply that you don't take the job seriously and can leave a bad first impression. Be sure leave early to prepare for any circumstances (traffic, road work, flat tire, etc), or whatever it takes to be on time and start the meeting off on the right track. Don't keep your interviewer waiting!

​

• Be Engaged and Passionate: During an interview, it's important to stay focused and alert. Get a good night's sleep before an interview and smile. Convince your potential employer that you really want the job. Being monotonous, unnecessarily brief, or appearing disengaged implies disinterest and can send a signal to the interviewer that you don't particularly care about the job.

​

• Think Before You Speak: Every word that comes out of your mouth will be heard and evaluated. When answering questions, directly answer the question and don't babble. Going off on tangents, cussing, flirting, or trying to make jokes often backfire and can be inappropriate. Be friendly and outgoing, but avoid talking about topics that are irrelevant to the interview or discussing negative topics (ex. avoid complaining about previous bosses, jobs, or other issues)​ 

​

• Tell What You Can Do For the Company: The conversation should never be solely focused on you. When asked why you applied for the job, don't place all the emphasis on yourself. You especially should not put all the focus on the money or what the company can do for you. While relevant points, you should emphasize how  you can benefit the company and show interest in its welfare. To simply focus on how you would benefit will make you appear self-absorbed.

​

• Avoid Fidgeting: Playing with your face or hair, shaking your leg, or rubbing your chin can be distracting and can give the impression you're either lying or lacking confidence, both of which are negative qualities. Stay calm, and control your hands and body.

​

• Be Confident: Confidence means that you believe in yourself. Show your interviewer that you believe that you are the best candidate for the job! Because if you don't believe you are capable, why should your interviewer? Demonstrate confidence by keeping your posture erect, smiling, making eye contact, avoiding stuttering, and babbling.

​

• Thank Your Interviewer: At the end of every interview, be polite and thank them for their time! It's simply a common courtesy. The end of an interview is also an appropriate time to ask for their contact information, if you wish to follow up on the job. 

​

AFTER THE INTERVIEW:

​

• Send a Thank You Letter: Yes, you've already thanked your interviewer at the actual interview. But sending a thank you letter will be seen as a formal recognition of the time they took to interview you and also reaffirm you interest and qualifications for the job. It doesn't hurt to be polite!

​

• Be Patient: If it becomes necessary to call back or check on the job's status, wait at least 7-10 business days. Realistically, it's likely there are other applicants to be evaluated as well and it takes time to make a decision. Don't rush them!

​

• No Texting: If you must get in contact with your interviewer, it is always recommended to place a call or to email them. Do not text them. Texting is generally seen as an informal mean of communication and is not acceptable. When wording the call or email, be polite, state your name, what job you applied for, and why you made contact. You can also offer to provide any additional information about yourself that is needed. 

​

• Do Not Contact Them Repetitively: Calling or emailing once will be interpreted as interest and potential. Contacting multiple times will be seen as spam and high maintenance or desperation and will hurt your chances. Remember the importance of patience; lots of things take time. ​

​

• Acceptance and Rejection: If you are accepted for the job, that's great! Be sure to thank the person calling you and be ready to start your job whenever possible. If you are rejected, don't give up. Continue to apply to other jobs you are interested in and remember the following tips above!

​

​

Always strive to make a good impression! Having a smile and a positive attitude is half of the success. Present yourself as confident and reliable and remember to be polite! The interviewing process is one of the most important processes when applying for the job. Be authentic to yourself and relax: the point of an interview is for a potential employer to get to know YOU.

​