Keys to a Successful Interview

1
Keys to a Successful Interview

• Presented by
• Career Services

2
Types of Interviews

• Telephone Interview
• One-on-One Interview
• Group Interview
• Lunch Interview
• Stress Interview
• Behavioral-Based Interview

3
Before the Interview

• Research the position and the company
• Review job posting/description what skills do
  you possess that would make you a qualified
  candidate
• Visit company website, attend employer
  information sessions on campus, read company
  press releases, check out company in ITT Tech
  Career Bank.
• Familiarize yourself with company or industry
  vocabulary, hot trends

4
Before the Interview (cont.)

• Know yourself
• Be prepared to talk about your strengths,
  weaknesses (areas for improvement/development),
  education, skills (i.e. technical, creative,
  soft), and extracurricular activities
• Be prepared to discuss your resume anything on
  your resume is fair game!
• Be able to discuss at least one or two
  significant accomplishments professional or
  educational
• Know your career goals

5
Have your Portfolio Prepared

• A portfolio is a collection of your technical
  work and achievements that showcase your
  abilities.
• Contents of a Portfolio should include, but are
  not limited to
• A copy of your resume on business paper
• Colored copies of any projects, drawings, course
  work or professional work that shows your
  technical ability.
• Copies of certifications, awards, diplomas, etc.
• Reference Letters
• Writing Samples

6
Have your Portfolio Prepared (cont.)

• If you have an electronic portfolio (you should!)
  make sure to include the link on your resume
  underneath your email address
• If you have a laptop you can bring it with you to
  the interview to bring up your portfolio
• By bringing your portfolio to the interview you
  can set the tone and spend more time discussing
  your work and less time answering unfamiliar
  questions from a recruiter.
• If possible, provide the recruiter with a nice
  copy that they can keep to remember you by.

7
Before the Interview (cont.)

• Prepare and practice answers to commonly asked
  interview questions
• Tell me about yourself. never reveal age,
  marital status, religion, or other items NOT
  relevant to the hiring decision.
• What makes you a solid candidate for the
  position?
• Why do you want to work for our organization?
• What are your primary strengths?
• What do you see as your biggest area for
  improvement? try to focus on areas where you
  can improve your technical skills/professional
  experience do not focus on personal limitations
  (if you do, try to put a positive spin on them).

8
Before the Interview (cont.)

• What to Wear
• Pick out your interview outfit the day before
  your interview make sure that it fits, is
  clean/pressed, and that your shoes are polished
• Recommended Outfit for Males dark colored
  business suit or sport coat and dress pants (if
  you do not have a suit), dress shirt, tie,
  matching socks, dress shoes
• Recommend Outfit for Females dark colored
  business suit (skirt or pant), matching
  stockings, dress or skirt/dress pants with
  matching blouse (if you do not have a suit),
  close-toed shoes

9
Before the Interview

• What to Wear
• Be sure that you are well groomed get a
  haircut, shave/trim facial hair, take a shower,
  apply deodorant
• Wear minimal cologne, perfume (some people have
  allergies)
• Females wear minimal makeup
• Males beware of earrings may want to check
  website to learn about company culture

10
WHAT NOT TO WEAR
WHAT TO WEAR
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WHAT NOT TO WEAR
WHAT TO WEAR
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WHAT TO WEAR
13
Before the Interview (cont.)

• Resources available to help you prepare
• Sign up for a mock interview with Career Services
• Have a friend/family member ask you questions
• Practice reciting answers to questions while
  looking at yourself in a mirror

14
Before the Interview (cont.)

• Do a dry run!
• Make sure you know where you are going
• Look up the company address
• Ask company representative for directions or use
  an online site to get directions (i.e. MapQuest,
  Yahoo! Maps)
• Take a ride out to the location the day before
  and time how long it takes you to get there (give
  yourself extra time the day of the interview in
  case you hit traffic due to rush hour,
  construction, or an accident).

15
The Day of the Interview

• Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early
• Check appearance when you arrive
• Know who to ask for when you arrive (first, last
  name)
• Bring a couple of copies of your resume on
  business paper
• Be prepared to complete company application (know
  last 3 places of employment address, phone,
  employment dates, managers name, reason for
  leaving and three references and their contact
  information) .
• Do NOT chew gum!

16
During the Interview

• Greet interviewer by name with a firm handshake
• Make and maintain natural eye contact
• Do not fidget, shift in chair sit up straight
  with both feet on the floor and hands on lap
• Try to avoid conversation fillers such as umm,
  ahhh - take time to think about question and
  prepare your answer (Silence is not always a bad
  thing!)- if you do not understand the question,
  ask the interviewer to repeat it or clarify it

17
During the Interview (cont.)

• Keep your answers short, concise make sure you
  are answering the question being asked
• Stay positive never speak negatively about past
  employers or positions
• Let your enthusiasm and confidence show
• Try to relax! It is ok to be nervous but do not
  let it over come you.
• Beware of illegal interview questions
• Have at least 2-3 questions prepared to ask the
  employer either about the position or the company
  (you can write these down ahead of time and bring
  them with you).

18
The End of the Interview

• Thank the interviewer(s) for their time
• Reiterate your interest in the position
• Ask when they expect to make their decision by
  (that way you will know when you can call to
  follow up)
• Ask for a business card so that you can send a
  thank you letter

19
After the Interview

• Send a thank you letter within 24 hours! Send by
  email or regular mail
• Include any information or documents requested
• Clarify any information provided during the
  interview if necessary
• Be sure to send thank you letters to everyone who
  interviewed you including the person who set up
  the interview for you