INTERVIEWING

TIPS

INTERVIEW

COVER

LETTER RESUME

FOLLOW UP

JOB OFFER JOB

1. Preparation 70%

2. The Interview 20%

3. Follow Up 10%

3 STEPS

Preparation

STEP #1

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”

• Company Research

• Trial Run/Get Directions

• Prepare Professional Dress

• Make Copies of your Resume

• Prepare References or

Letters of Recommendation

• Prepare Questions to Ask

• Practice Answering Questions

Company Research

•Company Culture

•Salary and Benefits

•Profits

•Mission Statement

•Values

•Other Locations

•Future Plans

•Competitors in the Industry

•Products and Services

•Current/Industry News

•Names/Positions

•Career Advancement

•Training & Development

•Awards/Honors

Trial Run/Get Directions

• Ask for best way to get to location

• Drive to location the day before

• Find out about parking and which door to enter

• Find out EXACT location

• Don’t rely on GPS

LEAVE EARLY!!!

(WOMEN)

•Minimal make-up, perfume and jewelry

•No visible tattoos or piercings

•Comfortable shoes and & heels not too high

•Stockings should have no runs

•Conservative hairstyle and well-groomed

•Wear a jacket

•Nothing tight or form fitting

•No cleavage or short skirts

•Carry a briefcase or a purse NOT both

•Keep in mind you are NOT going on a date

•Tone down your personal style

•Part of your first impression

Professional Dress

(MEN)

•Minimal cologne and jewelry

•No visible tattoos or piercings

•Conservative hairstyle and well-groomed

•Wear a belt that matches your shoes and socks

•Shoes should be comfortable and shined

•Wear a tie that complements your shirt

•No sagging pants

•Tone down your personal style

•You should be polished and prepared

•Part of your first impression

Professional Dress

Your Resume/References

• Have multiple copies on resume paper

• Practice talking about EVERYTHING on

your resume

• Have references and/or letters of

recommendation prepared

• Prepare a portfolio with pertinent information

(have link on your resume)

Prepare Questions to Ask

• You should have at least 3 questions • What would be expected of me in the first 90 days?

• What is a typical career path for someone in this position?

• Do you have a formal training program? Please describe it.

• Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position?

• What you do like best about working here?

• Do you have any suggestions or feedback for my resume?

• When you do plan to make a decision as to whom you’re

going to hire?

• You are interviewing them as well

NEVER SAY YOU DON’T

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!!

Practice Answering

Questions

• Do research on most common interview questions

• Be prepared to give professional answers

• Answers should be 2 – 3 sentences (minimum) and

you should be conversational

• Meet with Career Services for a mock interview

The Interview

• Do not sit down until the employer has

offered you a seat

• Let the interviewer be in control

• Match the style of the interviewer

SELL YOURSELF!!!

STEP #2

•Confidence: eye contact, body language, handshake

•Appearance: attire, grooming

•Personality: SMILE, small talk, stay calm

•Enthusiasm: thorough answers, ask questions

•Work ethic: be early, be prepared

•Dedication: Show interest, turn cell phone off, take notes

•Team player: be nice to everybody you meet, Mr. and Ms.

They must see you fitting into their team.

What do employers look for?

Phone interviews

Group interviews

Panel interviews

Lunch interviews

On-campus interviews

On-site interviews

Phone Interview

•Used to narrow down candidates

•Treat it as a regular interview

•Make sure you have no background noise

•SMILE – it will project in your voice

Lunch Interview

•Treat it as a regular interview

•They are observing you the entire time

•Do not order messy foods or alcohol

•Use proper dinner etiquette

Hint: DO NOT put salt & pepper on your food before tasting it!!!!

ILLEGAL QUESTIONS

Children

Marriage

Car

Age

Race

•Some employers are not aware of what’s illegal

•Respond to the intent of the question

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Religion

Military Status

Hospitalization History

Physical Handicaps

Professional Affiliations

Workers Comp. History

Bankruptcy

Photographs

Height/Weight

Housing

Closing the Interview

•Ask good questions based on research

•Tell them why YOU are the best person for the job

•Thank them for taking the time to meet with you

•Get a business card for their contact information

•Ask what the next step is

Follow Up

•Send a thank you letter immediately to everyone you interviewed with

• Mention something specific talked about in the interview

•Be accessible

•The next interviews are just as important as the first

STEP #3

Make yourself stand out!!

OBJECTIVE:

Get them to like you!!

Preparation

70%

“If you fail to plan,

you plan to fail”

1. Arriving late.

2. Arriving too early.

3. Lighting up a cigarette, or smelling like a cigarette.

4. Bad-mouthing your last boss.

5. Lying about your skills/experience/knowledge.

6. Wearing the wrong clothes.

7. Forgetting the name of the person you're interviewing with.

8. Wearing a ton of perfume or aftershave.

9. Wearing sunglasses.

10. Wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.

11. Failing to research the employer in advance.

12. Failing to demonstrate enthusiasm.

13. Inquiring about benefits too soon.

14. Talking about salary requirements too soon.

15. Being unable to explain how your strengths and abilities apply to the job in question.

16. Failing to make a strong case for why you are the best person for this job.

17. Forgetting to bring a copy of your resume and/or portfolio.

18. Failing to remember what you wrote on your own resume.

19. Asking too many questions.

20. Asking no questions at all.

21. Being unprepared to answer the standard questions.

22. Failing to listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.

23. Talking more than half the time.

24. Interrupting your interviewer.

25. Neglecting to match the communication style of your interviewer.

50 Most Common

Interview Mistakes

26. Yawning.

27. Slouching.

28. Bringing along a friend or your mother.

29. Chewing gum, tobacco, your pen, your hair.

30. Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.

31. Saying "you know," "like," "I guess," and "um“ excessively.

32. Name-dropping or bragging or sounding like a know-it-all.

33. Asking to use the bathroom.

34. Being falsely or exaggeratedly modest.

35. Shaking hands too weakly, or too firmly.

36. Failing to make eye contact (or making continuous eye contact).

37. Taking a seat before your interviewer does.

38. Becoming angry or defensive.

39. Complaining that you were kept waiting.

40. Complaining about anything!

41. Speaking rudely to the receptionist.

42. Letting your nervousness show.

43. Over explaining why you lost your last job.

44. Being too familiar and jokey.

45. Sounding desperate.

46. Checking the time.

47. Oversharing.

48. Sounding rehearsed.

49. Leaving your cell phone on.

50. Failing to ask for the job.

50 Most Common

Interview Mistakes

UPCOMING EVENTS

Career Workshop Series Mar. 1 12:00 – 4:00 DAL2 Rm. 138

Networking at a Career Fair Workshop Mar. 31 1:00 – 2:30 DAL2 Rm. 306

Career Fair Apr. 3 3:00 – 6:00 DAL2 Rm. 138

On-Campus Interviews** Apr. 10 9:00 – 4:00 DAL2 Rm. 138

** Students have to be invited to attend. **

QUESTIONS?

Ms. Dena Bilbrew

Assistant Director

Founder’s Hall Rm. 205

972-338-1775

dena.bilbrew@unt.edu

Mon. – Fri. 9:30 – 5:00