Career
Services
Interview Guide
Market
Yourself | Assess Job Fit | The Typical Interview | Research
Potential Employers
Tips on Job
Interviewing | Body Language | Dress for Success | Commonly Asked Interview Questions
More
Questions You May be Asked | Questions to Ask | Behavioral Based Interviews | Telephone
Interviews
On-Site Interviews | Interview Expenses and Refund | After the Interview | Job Offers | Coping with Rejection
What is the
purpose of an interview?
Your resume will help you get
interviews. The interview process will
help you obtain a job. The interview
process provides you with a face-to-face opportunity to set yourself apart from
your competition, to expand on the information the employer already has about you from your resume, and for you to describe how
you can add value to their company or organization, if they hired you.
A job interview performs three
major functions:
1.
Serves
as a learning experience regarding the employer and available career
opportunities
2.
Allows
you to “present” your qualifications and interest in the position to an
employer
3.
Enables
the employer to determine if you would “fit in” with the company and fulfill
the needs of the organization.
Consider the interview an
View yourself as a product that needs to be sold to the
employer. Analyze your strengths,
qualifications, interests, and abilities and relate them to the position(s) for
which you are applying. As a
well-prepared candidate, you can use the interview process to send the message,
“I am the best person for this job,” through everything you say and do.
To succeed in today’s job market, not only must you do more
than be able to demonstrate evidence of talents and skills; you must also be
prepared to sell yourself. This requires
you to have a thorough understanding of who you are, including your short and
long-term goals, what motivates you, and what you believe sets you apart from
the competition.
The only way to determine if this is a position that matches
your career goals is if you have sufficient information. Ask questions. Do you believe you will fit in and be able to
contribute to the organization? Will the
job enable you to fulfill your goals?
How does the job match with your desires for personal growth? Travel? Flexibility? Advancement? Geographic area?
A) Introductory Stage
The interviewer will establish rapport and create a relaxed,
though businesslike, atmosphere. This is
where the interviewer gets the very important first impression of you.
B) Review of Your Background and Interests
This usually takes the form of “what,” “why,” “where,” and
“when” types of questions. Focus on what
you are like, what you have accomplished, your academic and work background,
and your goals. One objective here is
to see if your qualifications match your declared work interests. Give concise, but thorough, responses to
questions.
C) Matching Begins
Assuming you have the necessary qualifications, the
interviewer will begin the process of determining whether the employer has job
openings that match your interests and qualifications. If there seems to be a match, the interviewer
will probably explain job details to see how interested you are in the
position.
D) Conclusion
In this stage, the interviewer should explain what the next
steps are in the application process. Be
sure you understand them. Promptly
provide any additional information requested.
There should be ample opportunity for you at this point to ask any
questions you have.
Research Potential
Employers
Before interviewing, you will find
it beneficial to research the organization.
By conducting research, you will know about the potential employer and
can impress them as a knowledgeable and resourceful potential employee. Listed below are some of the things you may
want to find out:
Ø
The size of the firm, including the number of
employees
Ø
The location of the organization’s headquarters
Ø
The potential growth of the company and the industry
it represents
Ø
The annual sales growth or expansion of services for
the last several years
Ø
The product lines or services
Ø
Is there a training program? Is it structured or unstructured?
Ø
What is the typical career path within the
organization?
Ø
The CEO and President
Ø
What
are the philosophies of the organization?
Read their mission and vision statements.
Ø
Does
the organization and position fit with your employment objectives?
Generally speaking, you can learn more about a potential
employer on the web. There are many web
sites devoted to performing company research such as
Interviewing is a skill that can be
learned. Like any other skill, it takes
practice and determination. These tips
will help you in developing your interviewing skills. Many of these tips will be explained in more
detail throughout this interviewing guide.
1. Don’t be late. You should arrive ten to fifteen minutes early
for the interview. This will give you
time to relax and catch your breath.
2. Go alone to the interview. Do not bring friends or relatives with you
to the interview.
3. Bring the following with you in a
briefcase or folder:
t
Pen and paper
t
Social Security Number
t
Extra copies of resume
t
List of references (Include full names, business
titles, business addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three individuals
who will serve as references for you.
You must ask these individuals for permission, informing them that an employer
may contact them. Use adults whose
references would be of value to you– supervisors, professors, etc.)
4. Consider your appearance in making a
first impression. Do not overdress or under dress. If you are not sure, ask advice from Career
Services, a professor, or a friend employed in a similar job. Dress for your interview as you would for a
very important occasion. The key is to
be conservative. Look professional!
5. When you meet the interviewer, be
prepared to shake hands and introduce yourself. Know
the interviewer’s name and how to pronounce it, using “Mr.” or “Ms.” Stand up
until asked by the interviewer to sit down.
Do not slouch.
6. Be
aware of your nonverbal communication. Your posture, eye contact, hand
gestures, and facial expressions are all very important.
t
Sit up straight in your chair, leaning forward
slightly to indicate your interest
t
Maintain appropriate eye contact with the interviewer
t
Use hand gestures to emphasize a point but don’t
gesture wildly or nervously; avoid tapping your fingers or other nervous
habits.
t
SMILE!!
7. The interviewer will be interested in
information such as:
t
Your education and previous work experience
t
Your attitude toward people and work– very few jobs do
not deal with people either as co-workers or customers
t
Your future career plans as they relate to the job–
your direction and motivation.
8. Follow the interviewer’s lead, asking
questions when necessary. Answer the interviewer’s questions completely and
thoroughly, but don’t linger too long on one point. If you don’t understand a question, ask for
clarification.
9. Listen to the interviewer. The
interviewer’s reflective questions will not only confirm your responses, but
will also often give you information helpful to your presentation.
10. Emphasize the positive. Be self-confident and honest, highlighting
your accomplishments. However, don’t
exaggerate or lie; it may come back to haunt you.
11. Wait for an
offer to discuss salary. Let the
interviewer bring up the subject of money first.
12. Emphasize what you can do for the
organization. The employer is
interested in the skills, knowledge, and abilities you will bring to the
job.
13. Be
prepared. Think about how you will answer certain questions before the
interview. Know your strengths,
weaknesses, skills, and abilities and be prepared to discuss them. Have situations in mind to illustrate your
points or to give examples of your experiences.
However, don’t give “set” or “by-the-book” answers.
14. Never speak badly of a former employer,
colleague, teacher or institution.
If there were problems with previous experiences, try to put your
answers in positive terms.
15. Watch your
grammar. Speak up in interviews and
use good voice and diction. Say, “yes” not “yeah.”
16. Don’t
expect an offer on the spot. Offers
usually follow the interview, sometimes two or three weeks later. If you are not offered the job during the
interview, ask about the next step in the employment process.
17. Be prepared to ask questions. Asking questions shows that you are
interested and enthusiastic about the organization and the position. It also demonstrates that you are
well-prepared and willing to work.
Employers appreciate applicants who have done their homework in
researching the organization.
18. Attitude is most important. Your attitude is shown by your smile,
enthusiasm, interest, appearance, punctuality, flexibility, dependability, and
preparedness.
Body
Language and Non-Verbal Communication
Body language and non-verbal
communication are important aspects of your professional image. Research shows that body language, including
voice, account for 38% of the overall first impression. Before the interview,
practice in front of a mirror to observe your body movements and gestures. Be aware of how you look and act so that your
non-verbal cues coincide with what you say.
During the interview keep the following things in mind:
Posture: Walk
confidently into the room, hold your head up, and offer a firm handshake. You should appear self-assured, yet
approachable. During the interview, sit
up straight in your chair and lean forward to indicate interest and attention.
Greeting: Express
your gratitude when meeting someone for the first time. Step forward, maintain eye contact, smile,
and extend your hand. Be sure your
handshake is firm and positive, somewhere between limp and bone crushing. Once you’ve given your name, repeat the
interviewer’s name.
Initiate Conversation: Find an
interesting approach to begin conversation.
You can always comment on the weather!
Be aware of the world around you so you can join in on talk of current
events. Also, try to appear interested
and always be an active listener.
Eye Contact: Make eye contact, but be careful not to
stare. Shifty eyes are associated with
deviousness. A lack of eye contact may
be associated with lying. (This may
vary depending on the cultural/ethnic background of the interviewer.)
Gestures: Try to
control nervous gestures like hair twisting, nail biting, and/or pen
clicking. Warm gestures may include
leaning toward a person, smiling, and nodding expressively. Cold gestures include avoiding eye contact,
not smiling, and placing your hands on your hips. Vary your gestures and make sure they look
natural.
Voice: The sound of your voice should be warm and
friendly. Project, speak slowly, and
enunciate. Use your grammar skills to
avoid misuse of verb tense, pronouns, or other grammatical errors.
Be Yourself: Try to appear comfortable during the
interview and show that you are at ease in your surroundings. Don’t be afraid to relax and show your
natural character. You want to give the
impression that you are someone they want to have around.
When dressing for job interviews, it is almost impossible to be too conservative. Most employers regard conservative dress as a sign of good judgment. Be sure your clothing is clean, pressed, and in good repair. Being well groomed is essential. Good grooming indicates to the employer that you value yourself and your work. There are no specific rules regarding attire. However, you can follow some guidelines to make sure you are projecting a professional image. Also, if you are unsure about what is appropriate, call the company and ask. You can ask to be put through to the Human Resource department and say: “I have an interview with _____ in the _____ department for a position as _____. Could you please tell me what would be appropriate dress for this interview?”
Guidelines for Men:
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Conservative suit -
preferably navy blue, black, or medium to charcoal gray
t
Pattern: solid or pinstripe
t
Fabric: wool/polyester blend (year-round) or all wool
(winter)
t
Tie: solid color, small dot or paisley, or
conservative stripe (Here
is your chance to use color!)
t
Shirt: long sleeve, preferably white or light blue
t
Socks: long and dark (coordinate with suit); make sure
no skin is visible when you sit down
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Shoes: black; NO BOOTS!
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Jewelry: very little- watch; one ring per hand
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Hair: conservative length and style
t
Beards and mustaches, if worn, should be trimmed and
well groomed.
Guidelines for Women:
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Skirted suit or pant suit – preferably navy or medium
blue, medium to charcoal gray, wine, black
t
Pattern: solid or pinstripe
t
Fabric: linen (spring and summer), wool/polyester
blend (year-round), or all wool (winter)
t
Blouse: light color solid or subtle pattern; may
coordinate with a silk scarf
t
Shoes: plain pump, dark color, closed heel and toe,
one to two inch heel
t
Hosiery: natural color
t
Jewelry: at most a necklace, one pair of simple
earrings, a watch, and one ring per hand.
t
Make-up: natural looking, conservatively applied
t
Hair: neatly styled.
Tips for everyone:
t
Hair should be clean and neat
t
No heavy cologne or perfume
t
No nose, lip, eyebrow, cheek or tongue rings or studs
(No visible piercings except subtle earrings)
t
Shoes should be polished; make sure the heels aren’t
worn and scuffed
t
No missing buttons
t
Don’t forget to remove external tags and tacking
stitches from new clothes.
t
Clean, manicured fingernails
t
Portfolios may be easier to handle than a bulky
briefcase; leave your book bags AT HOME!!
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Keep your pockets free of jingling coins, keys, or
bulges
t
No gun, candy, or cigarettes.
Commonly Asked Interview Questions
Below are a few of the commonly
asked questions and the way the interviewers may interpret your responses.
Tell me about yourself.
You can’t tell everything, so be
brief (1-2 minutes). Keep your response
relevant to the position and the organization in question. Before the interview, consider what
qualities and experiences you want to emphasize. Typically these include academic background,
related work experiences (paid or volunteer), and any other aspects of your
background that will help the interviewer see you as potentially successful in
the position.
Why do you want to work for
us?
The interviewer is finding out how
much you know about the organization and your chosen career field. If you haven’t done your “homework,” this
question can be devastating.
Why should we hire you?
Knowing your own strengths and
abilities will be the key to this question.
You must be able to convince the interviewer that you can contribute to
the organization. Emphasize where and
how you expect to contribute, NOT what you expect the employer to do for
you.
What is your greatest
weakness?
Don’t knock yourself out of
contention for the job! Whatever you
mention, be sure to state how you have worked to strengthen yourself in that particular
area or turn it around to be a potential strength. For example, “I am a perfectionist and like
to do the best possible work, so sometimes I wind up spending more time on
projects than is really necessary.”
What are your long-term goals?
The interviewer would like to know
if you plan to stay in this career field and with this organization. General goals that confirm your commitment
are best. Mentioning specific job titles
and salary levels, or saying “I want to be president of the company” can sound
too pretentious.
Which accomplishments are you most
proud of?
Be ready for this question with at
least two (preferably three or four) concrete examples that illustrate your
personal strengths. Ideally, these
examples will illustrate qualities and abilities that will be valuable once you
are on the job.
Additional Questions You May be
Asked in an Interview
Personal Attributes
Ø
Do you like to work with groups or by yourself? Why?
Ø
Tell me about a major problem you have encountered and
how you dealt with it.
Ø
What will be the most difficult thing about making the
transition from college to career? Why?
Ø
How would a friend/family member/supervisor/professor
describe you?
Ø
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and
weaknesses?
Ø
What is it that you do very well?
Ø
What can you do that someone else can’t?
Ø
In what kind of work environment are you most
comfortable? Uncomfortable?
Ø
Describe your ideal job.
Ø
Why should I hire you?
What makes you a good employee?
Ø
Give me an example of a time when you have been under
pressure.
Ø
Why do you want to join our organization?
Ø
What other types of jobs are you considering?
Ø
What qualities do you admire most in others?
Ø
How do you feel about relocating/traveling/working
overtime/working weekends?
Ø
Tell me what you know about our organization.
Ø
What magazines or books do you read? Why?
Ø
What qualities do successful supervisors/managers
have?
Ø
Tell me about your best/worst supervisor.
Ø
What criteria are you using to evaluate potential employers?
Ø
What have you learned from your mistakes?
Ø
What are your salary expectations? What do you expect to make in five years?
Ø
Of which three accomplishments are you most proud?
Ø
How do you spend your spare time?
Ø
Do you prefer any specific geographic location? Why?
Ø
Who are your role models? Why?
Ø
Tell me about your management philosophy. Give me your definition of success.
Ø
What kind of reference do you think your last employer
will give you?
Ø
In what ways do you think you can make a contribution
to our company?
Ø
Are you seeking employment in an organization of a
certain size? Why?
Ø
Are you willing to spend at least six months as a
trainee?
Ø
How do you react to criticism?
Ø
What frustrates you?
Goals
Ø
Do you have plans for further education?
Ø
Why did you choose the career for which you are
preparing?
Ø
What are your short-term goals? Long-term?
Ø
If you could do anything in life, and know you could
not fail, what would you do?
Ø
What do you see yourself doing in five years?
Ø
What do you really want to do in life?
Ø
How do you plan to achieve your career
objectives?
Education
Ø
Why did you choose your particular college major? If you were starting all over, would you
choose the same one? Why or why
not?
Ø
What is your GPA? Are your grades an accurate
reflection of your scholastic achievements?
Ø
Why did you choose to attend
Ø
What college classes have you enjoyed the most and
why? The least?
Ø
Tell me about your most rewarding college experience.
Ø
If you started all over, what would you change about
your education?
Ø
How has your education prepared you for the work
world? This specific job?
Ø
Tell me about the extracurricular activities you have
pursued. What have you gained through
your involvement?
Ø
What percentage of your college expenses did you
earn? How?
Ø
Which of your college years was most difficult?
Experience
Ø
Tell me about your work experience.
Ø
Have you had any supervisory experience?
Ø
Have you ever spoken before a group of people? How large?
Ø
What job-related skills have you developed?
Ø
Have you ever quit a job? Why?
Ø
Have you ever done any volunteer work?
Ø
Give an example of a situation in which you provided a
solution to an employer.
Ø
Which of your jobs did you like best?
Motivation
Ø
What do you think determines a person’s work success?
Ø
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
Ø
Who has inspired you the most in your life?
Ø
What have you done that shows initiative and
willingness to work?
Ø
What are the most important rewards you expect from
your career?
Regarding the Job or Organization
Ø
Why do you want to work for us?
Ø
What position in our company interests you the
most?
Ø
What do you know about our company?
Ø
What source(s) did you use to find out about us?
Ø
Why are you interested in this field?
Be Prepared to Ask Questions!
Key questions for you to ask
include:
Ø
Is this a newly created job or are you filling a
vacancy?
Ø
What is a typical day on the job like?
Ø
What personal qualities or characteristics are most
important for success in this job?
Ø
What working relationships will I have with others in
the organization?
Ø
How often will I be evaluated? What criteria will be used to measure my
performance?
Questions
regarding the job content include:
Ø
How does this position relate to other positions
within the organization? Where would I
fit on the organizational chart?
Ø
What happens during the training program?
Ø
What are examples of typical first year
assignments?
Ø
What type of career paths do employees typically
follow in this organization?
Ø
What kind of supervision will I receive?
Ø
What opportunities exist for continued
training/professional development?
Ø
What is the organization’s policy regarding continuing
education?
Ø
Has your organization hired Trinity graduates
before?
Ø
What are your organization’s short-term and long-term
plans for the future?
Ø
I was reading about
in your organization’s literature and I am
interested in learning more about it.
Can you tell me more?
Ø
As an employee of this organization, what do you see
as some of its outstanding attributes?
Ø
What is the retention rate of people in the position
for which I am interviewing?
Ø
What type of computer equipment and software do you
use?
Ø
How would you describe your company’s management
style?
Ø
How much travel is involved in this position?
Ø
Is there a probationary period involved?
Ø
Do you promote from within?
Generally speaking, you should not ask about salary and benefits during a first interview. Instead, concentrate on finding out about the job itself. The employer should be the one to bring up the topic of money.
Regarding your bid for the job, pay
and other closing questions feel free to ask the following:
Ø
Is there anything else I can tell you about my
qualifications?
Ø
From what I have told you, do you feel my skills will
contribute to your organization?
Ø
Can you tell me the prospects for advancement beyond
this position?
If the employer does not offer a
position:
Ø
Do you know of other departments within the
organization that would be interested in my experience?
Ø
I like what you are doing here at XYZ Company. Can you please keep my qualifications on file
in case there are future openings?
Ø
If the situation changes, please let me know.
Ø
Can
you give me feedback on my interview?
Can you give me suggestions on what I can do to make myself more
marketable for this type of position?
Behavioral Based Interviews
What is behavioral based
interviewing (BBI)?
Behavioral based interviewing is a
style of interviewing that is gaining popularity in the hiring processes of
many companies and organizations. The
basic premise of BBI is this: the
best predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation. Following this premise, many employers make a
judgment about an applicant’s future behavior on the job by learning about his
or her past behavior in a similar job or through other experiences. Candidates are asked to give specific
examples of when they demonstrated particular behaviors or skills. General answers about behavior are not
acceptable; the candidate must describe in detail a particular event, project,
or experience, how he/she dealt with the situation, and what the final outcome
was. Information about one’s past
performance is obtained in the BBI by asking probing questions and discussing
situations, events, and experiences.
About the Behavioral Based
Interview:
·
Employers know before the interview which skills and
qualities they are looking for in their applicants. They ask probing and specific questions to
determine if an applicant possesses those skills and abilities.
·
To find out which skills a certain employer is
seeking, you may want to talk with alumni, read the company literature
carefully, and listen closely at the company’s information session.
·
In the interview, your responses to the interviewer’s
questions must be specific and detailed.
Rather than talking about a very general situation, describe a
particular set of circumstances that relate to the question. Tell briefly about the situation, what you
did specifically, and the positive result or outcome.
·
Once you have described a situation, the interviewer
may ask questions to gain more detail, such as “What were you thinking at that
point?” or “Lead me through your decision process.”
·
Always listen carefully to the interviewer’s
questions, asking for clarification if necessary.
Preparing for the BBI:
·
Recall examples of situations from your recent
experiences where you have demonstrated favorable behaviors or actions.
·
Use your resume as a guide to remembering your
achievements and experiences.
·
You may want to use examples from past internships,
classes, projects, activities, team involvement, community service, work
experience, or any other accomplishment of which you are especially proud.
·
Be prepared to relate these situations to the
interviewer, showing how they illustrate your skills and desired
behaviors.
Sample Behavioral Based Interview
Questions:
t
Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to
successfully convince someone to see things your way.
t
Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate
yourself from a difficult situation.
t
Give an example of a time on any job that you held in which you were
faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping skills.
t
Give an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in
coming to a decision.
t
Tell me about a time when you had to use your written communication
skills in order to get an important point across.
t
Describe the most significant or creative presentation that you have
had to complete.
t
Can you give me an example of a time when you had to go above and
beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done?
t
Give an example of a time when you used facts and reason to persuade
another person to take action.
t
Give an example of a time when you were able to successfully
communicate with another person even when that individual may not have
personally liked you (or vice versa).
t
What specifically did you do in your last job to contribute toward a
teamwork environment?
t
Describe a situation in which you disagreed with your supervisor and
how you handled this disagreement.
t
Tell me about a time when you knowingly violated a company policy to
accomplish a goal.
t
Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me
about your progress in reaching that goal.
t
Tell me about a situation in the past year in which you had to deal
with a very upset customer or co-worker.
t
Give me an example of when you had to demonstrate good leadership.
There are three basic types of
telephone interviews:
1.
You
initiate a call to the hiring manager and they are interested in your
background. The call from that point forward is an interview.
2.
A
company calls you based upon a previous contact. You will likely be unprepared
for the call, but it is still an interview.
3.
You
have a pre‑set time with a company representative to speak further on the
phone.
Telephone Interview Preparation
In preparing for your phone interview, there are several
things you can do.
To prepare for an unexpected contact:
Ø
Tape
your resume to a wall in view of the phone. It will be there for the call and
will be a constant reminder for your job search.
Ø
Keep
all of your employer research materials within easy reach of the phone.
Ø
Have
a notepad handy to take notes.
Ø
Conduct
a telephone mock interview with a friend or a Career Services staff member.
If the phone interview will occur at a set time, there are
additional steps you can take:
Ø
Place
a "Do Not Disturb" note on your door.
Ø
Turn
off your stereo, TV, and any other potential distraction.
Ø
Warm
up your voice while waiting for the call. Sing a song to yourself.
Ø
Have
a glass of water handy, since you will not have a chance to take a break during
the call.
Ø
Turn
off call waiting on your phone.
Career Services offers many resources to learn more about
interviewing. Come by and check out some
of our titles from the Career Resource Library:
Ø The Complete Q&A Job Interview Book by Jeffrey Allen
Ø Interview Strategies that Lead to Job
Offers by Marilyn Pincus
Ø Interview for Success by Caryl Krannich and Ronald Krannich
Ø The Neglected Art of Being
Interviewed by H.
Anthony Medley
Ø Sweaty Palms by H. Anthony Medley
The Company
Visit/On-Site Interviews
When
the interviewer indicates that you are a good candidate and that others in the
organization would like to meet you in a follow-up interview, keep a level
head. Get as much information about the
next interview as possible. Naturally,
you will need to know where and when it will take place, but getting additional
details is critical. Find out:
·
How long will it last? One
hour? One day? Two days?
·
With whom will you be interviewing?
A recruiter? A manager? The president of the company?
·
What kind of structure will the interview have? A simple one-on-one interview? Group/panel interviews? Testing?
·
If travel is
involved, how are expenses to be handled?
Remember, regardless of where you
are, who you are with, or what you are doing, you are being evaluated as a
potential employee. Use good taste and
common sense in all that you do.
On-Campus Interviews vs. On-Site
Interviews
The on-campus interview is a
screening process to determine whether to extend an invitation for an on-site
interview. The on-site interview often
determines whether or not you are offered a job. In some instances, the first on-site
interview might lead to a second. The
questions asked during on-site interviews tend to be more job-specific and more
technical in nature. Usually a tour of
the facility is conducted and potential supervisor(s) or manager(s) are
met. The interviewee has the opportunity
to observe the corporate environment, ask questions, provide more in-depth
information, and evaluate the company.
Interview Formats
Interviews vary in length from
organization to organization. Some will
schedule only an hour while others schedule up to two days. You might encounter individual interviews,
group interviews (with multiple interviewers and/or multiple interviewees),
testing (paper and pencil aptitude assessments, drug testing, psychological tests), meals, receptions, etc.
$
Be sure it is clear before you take an interview trip
whether you or the company will be responsible for your expenses. If you have any doubts, ask your contact in
the organization.
$
If the organization is paying for your trip, keep an
accurate account of all expenses such as meals, tips, cab fare, or private auto
expenses – including mileage. Receipts
should be kept for all major expenses, such as transportation and hotel
accommodations.
$
Unless it is indicated in the invitation, you may
normally select the most convenient means of public transportation. Travel by private automobile should be
cleared with the organization.
$
This is a business trip and your expenses should be
incurred accordingly. Excessive
expenditures might reduce an employment opportunity.
Refund of Expenses
The student usually pays all
expenses and receives reimbursement following the trip. Generally, a written record of expenses
including receipts must be sent to the employer before reimbursement will be
made. Some employers may furnish forms
for you to fill out when you return to campus.
Otherwise, you should itemize expenses on a daily basis. If you follow these procedures, expense
refunds are usually received without undue delay.
Analyze the interview. Although it is not recommended that you take
extensive notes during the interview, it may be helpful for you to do so
immediately afterwards. How did it
go? What did you learn? What was your impression of the organization,
the interviewer, and other people you may have met? Next, write a follow-up letter. This remains one of the most neglected parts
of the interview process. You can get an edge simply by being one who ALWAYS
sends a note. Reaffirm your interest and
include any pertinent information you may have neglected to provide during the
interview such as a response that you felt was incomplete or needed to be
expanded upon. If additional information
or materials were requested, verify that it is being forwarded. Follow-up letters should be typed or printed
on resume paper. Write to everyone who
interviewed you and try to personalize it.
Finally, if you are told you will hear about a position by a specific
date but do not, call the organization and ask about the current status of your
candidacy or application.
Job Offers
Ø
If an offer is extended verbally, ask for it and the
details in writing, including job title, starting date, salary, location, and
any other important information. If
anything appears vague, ask for clarification before accepting the offer.
Ø
Make your acceptance in writing, restating the
important details.
Ø
If you are going to reject the offer, do so in writing
as soon as possible. Express your
appreciation for their confidence in you.
Do not burn any bridges!
Ø
If you need more time to consider the offer, ask for
an extension of the deadline, and tell them why. It’s up to the employer to decide, but you’ll
never know if you don’t ask!
Weighing the Offer
In deciding whether to accept or
reject an offer, you will need to evaluate it on its own merits. You will want
to look at job-related, monetary, lifestyle, and geographic considerations to
help you evaluate job offers and make your decision.
Job Related Considerations Lifestyle
Considerations
Job
responsibilities Work
schedule
Promotion and advancement potential Amount of travel
Your supervisor and co-workers Social life
for singles or couples
Degree of autonomy Commuting
time to work
Professional development/growth
opportunity Dress code
Philosophy & reputation of the
organization
Monetary Considerations Geographic
Considerations
Starting salary (consider all taxes) Climate
Salary potential Size
and type of community
Bonuses and commissions Availability
and cost of housing
Profit-sharing Cultural and recreational
opportunities
Company car Proximity
to academic institutions
Cost of living
Expense account
Health
benefits/Retirement plan
Coping with Rejection
Being rejected by potential
employers is an inevitable part of every job search. This doesn’t mean that it will be easy to
accept or that you have to like it. No
one likes to feel unwanted. This is as
true in the job search as in any other aspect of life. Keep in mind two things that may help you
handle negative feedback in a positive way.
First, you will hear “no” many more
times than “yes.” This is a fact of the
job search and realizing this should help you put an employer’s “no” into
proper perspective.
Second, don’t just accept an
employer’s negative response without looking at the reasons. Try to determine why you were turned
down. Was there a poor fit between the
position and your background? Did you
fail to present yourself as a strong candidate in your cover letter and resume
or in the interview? You may be able to
see the answers to these questions yourself, but it is also a good idea to seek
guidance and input from Career Services staff or from the interviewer by
asking, “How could I have presented myself better?”
Accept the fact that you will be
rejected more often than not, but learn from the experience to better prepare
for the next interview. It is
appropriate to call the employer who rejected your application to ask for
feedback. Questions to ask might
include:
Ø
Can you give me feedback as to what areas of my resume
were weak?
Ø
How can I improve my interviewing skills?
Ø
Are there certain skills I should develop in order to
make myself more marketable in this field?
Remember to thank the employer for
his/her help. Restate your interest in
the position and the company. Anything could happen with the first candidate
they chose, or another position may come along for which you are better
suited.