Interviewing 101

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Interviewing 101

• Fall 2004

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Professional Dress

• For Interviewing

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Shoes

• Men
• Closed dress shoe
• Belt should match your shoes
• No boots
• No athletic shoes
• No hiking boots
• No sandals

• Women
• Closed dress shoe
• Belt should match your shoes
• No open toes
• No open heals
• No boots
• No sandals

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Preferred Shoe Color

• Black

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Socks

• Men
• Socks are a must
• Socks should match your shoes

• Women
• Socks are a must
• Trouser socks with a pant suit
• Trouser socks should match your shoes
• Hose with a skirt suit
• Hose in neutral tones

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Suits

• Men
• 1. Dress suit (fabric matches on pants and coat)
• 2. Dress slacks/sport coat
• 3. Dress slacks (not chinos) without a jacket

• Women
• 1. Skirt suit or pant suit (fabric matches on
  pants and coat)
• 2. Dress slacks or skirt/blazer
• 3. Dress or skirt or slacks without a jacket
• No excessively short skirts
• No excessively long skirts

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Preferred Colors for Suits

• Men
• Navy
• Gray
• Avoid black (except slacks)
• Avoid brown

• Women
• Navy
• Gray
• Black
• Other dark colors
• Avoid brown

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Shirt

• Men
• White or very light-colored dress shirt
• A tie is a must

• Women
• White or very light-colored blouse
• Knit top most colors
• Camisole with semi-sheer tops
• Knit tops should be roomy
• No low décolletages
• No sleeveless blouses

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Grooming

• Men
• Neatly trimmed natural-color hair
• Neatly trimmed beard
• Clean trimmed nails
• No visible tattoos
• No visible body piercings

• Women
• Neatly trimmed natural-color hair
• Clean trimmed nails
• Polished nails should be in a solid color and in
  a very standard color (pinks to reds)
• No visible tattoos
• No visible body piercings

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Jewelry

• Men
• No earrings
• No more than one ring per hand
• Tie tack
• Watch

• Women
• Very conservative jewelry
• Nothing that jingles or dangles
• NO CHAIN BELTS
• No ankle bracelets

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Hats

• Men
• NO!

• Women
• NO! (includes bows, clips, headbands, flowers and
  glitter)
• Small purse that completely closes

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Professional Deportment

• For Interviewing

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Language

• Dont use slang
• Dont curse
• Talk to EVERYONE in the firm the same way no
  familiarity at ANY level
• Speak slowly and at an audible level
• NO CHEWING GUM!
• No cell phones

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Manners

• Be on time
• Handshake
• Dont sit until invited
• Hold the door for anyone of a rank equal to or
  greater than yourself (thats everyone)
• Dont remove your jacket
• Sit straight in your chair
• Body language
• Dont cross your legs unless you are a lady and
  are wearing a skirt then only at the ankles

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Business Casual

• Firms often invite potential interns or hires to
  an office visit. Usually the candidate is told
  that the visit will be business casual.
• THIS IS A TRAP! You are being tested.
• Wear full interviewing dress A SUIT!

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Eye Contact

• Maintain good eye contact with the interviewer.

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I dont know

• Firms frequently perform behavioral interviews.
• You will be asked about handling certain
  situations.
• I dont know is NEVER the right answer.
• You should have some recognition of the topic.
• Dont shoot from the hip or lie.
• State what you recall about the topic, and
  indicate that you know where to find the solution.

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Meals

• Food
• Drinks
• When to start eating
• When to stop eating
• Doggie bags
• General table manners

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Questions?