Interview Guide
Preparation is the key to a successful interview. The importance of knowing how to interview effectively is revealed in the fact that hiring decisions are based mainly on the employment interview. Every employer is searching for the applicant who is organized, sincere, mature, enthusiastic, and communicates his or her ability to achieve. Getting through the job interview successfully requires action on your part. Consider the follow checklist.
Interview Checklist
Steps to take before the interview:
- Research the organization/industry.
- Identify skills needed to do the job.
- Identify your skills, accomplishments, training, experience, and activities.
- Practice interviewing.
- Make sure you have the correct date, time, and place of the interview.
- Make a trial run.
- Dress for success.
- Contact your references.
Take to the interview:
- Name, address, and phone number of the interviewer
- Directions to the interview location
- Extra copies of your resume in a nice folder
- Typed list of references (name, title, company, address, and phone number)
- Paper and pen
- Your Driver’s License
- Professional Portfolio that includes samples of your work
- Information that may be needed to fill out a job application
During the interview:
- Greet the interviewer warmly.
- Allow them to tell you where to sit.
- Establish a rapport with the interviewer.
- When prompted, ask questions about the organization.
- At the end of the interview, summarize your strengths.
- Ask for the job.
- Ask when a decision will be made or when you may call to find out the status of the position.
- Thank them for meeting with you.
Follow-up:
- Send a brief thank you note or email (when appropriate) within 24 hours after the interview.
- Call to inquire about the status of the position, or to find our why you did not get the job. Note: Don’t call if they said not to call.
Win over the interviewer with preparation, not desperation!