VI. General Tips on Interviewing

There are many "do’s and don’t’s" that apply in almost any job interview. Some of these are:

A. Attitude. It’s your responsibility to convince the interviewer that you are the person for the position by relating your accomplishments and achievements in a strong, positive manner.

B. Do not tell jokes. Do not tell risqué, ethnic or tasteless jokes. Joke telling cannot help you.

C. Remember the roll of personnel departments. Although personnel is not offering the position, they have the responsibility of screening candidates. Do your best to make friends in this department. Fill out the appropriate forms and place them with your resume (place resume on top and hand to interviewer).

D. Turn negatives into positives. If your job history shoes you have moved from one job to another, you should indicate that past experience has shown you the value of a stable position, which is what you are seeking. You can neutralize the effect of negatives by bringing them up yourself, with logical and positive answer.

E. Avoid discussion of personal problems. Keep the interview focused by discussing job-related topics. Do not waste time with excessive small talk.

F. Always give thorough answers. Look for opportunities to compliment the interviewer and the company. There is no better way to express your sincere interest in a position and in a company.

G. Once you have completed the interview, leave. Don’t let an interview turn into a social hour. Be courteous about the departure, but do not overstay your interview period. It will be easy for you to detect when the interview is no longer producing useful information. When this happens, take the initiative and begin your exit.

H. Interview with confidence. Do not back away from any item on your resume or make excuses for performance. Approach the situation with the attitude that you have a right to work, that you have had meaningful employment and that you will accept nothing less than a wholesome growth experience. Confidence always contributes to interview success.

I. Follow-up with a thank you note. Enhance your impact by sending a follow-up letter thanking the interviewer for his time. Use the letter to summarize any keep points of the interview that highlight the suitability of your skills and experience. Express your enthusiasm about the position, the company and the reasons for your interest. Limit the letter to a page and be sure it’s error-free.