Are you looking to get ready for your next interview? Check out these top 5 interview tips that will get you on track.
1) Research the Organization
- Research
- Look at the organization’s website and LinkedIn page to identify recent news, research, or other company information.
- Research the person(s) interviewing you.
- Discover common interests or other points of discussion for the interview.
2) Review your Resume and Cover Letter
- Review
- Spend time becoming familiar with your resume and cover letter.
- Think of your career goals and how this opportunity connects to those goals.
- Be able to articulate why you want this role.
- Spend time becoming familiar with your resume and cover letter.
Be able to provide concrete examples of the skills, experiences, and accomplishments that make you qualified for the role.
3) Practice
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- Review the job description to identify the qualifications and skills that the employer is seeking – they will ask questions about these skills.
- Go online to find sample questions and resources:
- Glassdoor.com has thousands of user submitted interview questions searchable by company and position.
- Vault provides information about top companies and Career Guides on dozens of industries.
- Use Interview Stream to do a self-guided mock interview or review an interview tutorial.
- Sign up for a mock interview with a career counselor.
- Attend a workshop to learn interviewing tips. View the Events calendar in Handshake for details.
4) Dress for Success
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- Dressing appropriately for the interview shows the employer that you are taking the opportunity seriously.
- Business professional attire is typically the dress expected for interviews, while business casual attire is what you are more likely to wear day-to-day on the job.
- There may be times when informal dress is appropriate. However, it is best to be on the conservative side if you are unsure.
- Check with a career services staff member or the recruiter if you have questions about what to wear.
5) Follow Up
- Next Steps:
- Ask your interviewer for their business card so that you can email them a thank you letter.
- Ask about next steps.
- Will there be follow up interviews? What’s the timeline for a final decision?
- Reflect:
- After leaving, write down notes about what was discussed.
- Include any questions that you have about the job or organization.
- Note if there were any questions that you felt unprepared for or found especially challenging.
- Thank You Note:
- Send a brief thank you note via email. Make sure the language is formal and reaffirms your interest in the job.