Preparing for an Interview

Getting ready for an interview means more than brushing up on how to answer the basic questions, like, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” There are simple steps you can take that will make a difference on interview day, and being prepared will make you feel good when you finally sit down to land that job.

Do your homework. Go online. Read the newspaper. Find out everything you can about the organization that could be your future employer. Then do some research—if possible—on the staff members who will be interviewing you. Walking into a company with background knowledge about its history and its employees can be very helpful when it comes to answering questions like, “How will you impact our company?” or “What attracted you to our company?”

Consider your best characteristics, not your lack of experience. You may have very little employment experience, but don’t let that set you back. Instead, take the time to think of your best characteristics. Have you held leadership positions in school organizations? Have you volunteered with community groups? Do you have public speaking experience? Have you learned technology skills while in school? When a company is searching for an entry-level employee, they don’t expect ten years of work experience. But they will value the potential in you if you can display work-related skills you’ve already acquired.

Think about time management. Did you hold a job and take a full course load all in one semester? Better yet, did you get good grades while doing so? Think about how you can discuss your time management skills in the interview. Employers highly value professionals who can handle more than one task at a time with getting overwhelmed.

Project work. Have you taken responsibility for some type of project from beginning to end? It may have been in school or through an extracurricular activity. The important thing is you can display the ability to manage a project and maybe even manage other people.

Common courtesies. Choose an outfit that is appropriate for an interview. Although many offices today are business casual, most professionals still recommend a suit for interviews. You want to be respectful and presentable. Speaking of respect, do NOT bring your cellphone to an interview. If you have to bring one, make sure the power is turned off.

Final materials. If you have a portfolio of work or sample projects you have worked on, bring enough copies so that you can leave some behind if asked. These samples can be especially effective when you received a good grade on them. If—and only if—the opportunity arises, you will be prepared to leave behind your work without a second thought.