Pace Paw Print

Finding a job can be tricky. Unless your job involves standing on a sidewalk at three in the morning, there are certain procedures you have to go through in order to get it. The first step is the interview.

On the day of the interview, make sure you already know how to get there. Plan to arrive approximately fifteen minutes early and go in confidently with a smile. Counselor Susan Potter explains you should always give a firm handshake. Making small talk with the interviewer and being positive are also important factors in making a good impression.

For example, if on your way to the interview you get a flat on your spare tire and had to ride in a tow truck to the company. When the interviewer asks how your trip was, smile and tell them it was wonderful. The interviewer doesn't care if you got a flat, plus no one likes a 'Negative Nancy'. If he offers you anything to drink, politely decline the offer telling him you had something to drink on the way there.

Consider yourself a sales person and you are the product. Why are you special? What makes you different from all the other candidates? Know yourself so that you can sell yourself. According to the Interview Techniques Guidebook, put out by Co-op Education Career Services, interviewers are looking out for three main things: skills or background necessary for the position, eagerness to do the job, and a personality that matches the culture of the company. If all these traits aren't present, it is probably in your best interest not to take the job.

Here are more tips for the interview:

1. Research the company to avoid embarrassment at not knowing simple details.

2. Study your resume and bring extra copies.

3. Make a conscious effort to not use fillers such as 'um' or 'like'.

4. When asked questions don't give simple yes or no answers. Elaborate on each answer with an example(s).

5. The night before, formulate two to three sentence answers of questions commonly asked at interviews such as: "Tell me about yourself" and "Why should I hire you?"

Before leaving, politely and briefly thank the interviewer for their time .Follow up the interview with a letter of appreciation. If rejected, inquire about future positions and feedback on why you weren't given the job.

No one gets the job every time. Try to look at the positives and look toward finding another. Being successful on interviews requires skill that can be developed through practice and preparation.

Footnote: All Information in this article was from the "Ace the Interview" workshop held in the Birnbaum Room at the Mortola Library on March 7. For dates of similar workshops contact the Cooperative Education & Career Services at 914-773-3415.

Article Tools