The Interview

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

1. Research the company
2. Confirm your appointment
3. Arrive 15 minutes early
4. Anticipate and be prepared to tell the employer why he/she should hire you.
5. Dress for success. Be powerful and pleasant, not casual and friendly.

1. Sell yourself by selling the skills you will bring to the job.
2. Demonstrate your availability, friendliness, and dependability.
3. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question.
4. Don’t initiate discussion if you don’t understand a question.
5. Don’t initiate discussion of wages and benefits until and job is offered to you.
6. Use examples to support the information you provide to the employer during the interview. Example: If an employer asks if you are organized, do not just answer “yes.” Also give a short example that illustrates how you have used this skill. For example, “In my last job I created a new record keeping system that saved us a lot of time when we needed to look up customer orders.”

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

1. Write a thank you note and mail it that day!
2. Continue networking!

THINGS TO REMEMBER

1. If you are a mature person, stress your knowledge and experience.
2. If you are a young person, stress your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
3. First impressions are important because employers hire people they like! When they like you, they will examine your skills. When they don’t like you, your skills will not get you the job.
4. Remember, along with questions directly linked to the actual on-the-job responsibilities, the employer may also ask questions that relate to other job dimensions such as: communication skills, motivation, initiative, planning and organization, judgment, ability to learn, work ethic and problem analysis.
5. If interviewing with a public sector employer (city, country, or state) expect a panel interview.

For more information about Job Placement, contact us by phone 503.399.5026, fax 503.399.7483 or by e-mail at jobplacement@chemeketa.edu. Visit us on the main floor in Bldg. 2, Rm 115.

Updated June 2007 by the College Advancement Department.