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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Prep for Job/Internship Search

During the Interview

  1. Realize the importance of the first three minutes. This is where you will make your first impression.

  2. Smile and greet the interviewer by name if you are sure of the pronunciation as you enter their office.

  3. Take your cues from them at the start. If they move to shake hands, do so but not unless they make the first gesture. If they shake hands with you, use a firm grip. A limp fish handshake will make a bad impression. However, do not try to prove how strong your grip is by grabbing their hand and mashing it. Wait until they offer you a chair before you sit down, unless, in a very small room they remain seated or sit down immediately.

  4. Do not chew gum or smoke unless they invite you to do so.

  5. Be aware of body language: Sit up in your chair and look alert and interested at all times. Lean forward to show interest. Do not look tense, but do not relax so much that you look slouchy. Show that you can be a wide-awake intelligent listener as well as a talker. Do not let your hands betray nervousness. If you do not know where to put them, leave them in your lap and keep them still.

  6. Most interviews will follow a rather simple question and answer formula. If this is the case, your ability to answer quickly and intelligently is of great importance. Above all, answer honestly. Do not give confused or contradictory answers. The greatest preventive against contradictory answers is the plain truth. A frank answer, even if it seems a little unfavorable to you, is better than an exaggeration which may tangle you up in the next question. Often, a frank admission can be turned to your advantage. Frankness is admired, and you may be able to recover in this fashion: The interviewer may ask you if you always pitch right into an assignment and get it done ahead of time. You answer, I am afraid I do not always get assignments done before they are due. I sometimes have a tendency to put a thing off until it has to be done. However, I never turned in a major assignment or term paper that was late. And I am sure that the supervisors I have had in my last two jobs (I've listed them among my references) will be glad to tell you that my work for them was always finished on time. Both of them told me that my work was thorough and very accurate, and both asked me to return to the job the following summer." Score one for frankness and three for responsibility, accuracy and giving satisfaction in previous jobs.

  7. Be ready for at least one surprise question right at the start these are a few of the favorites:

    1. What can I do for you?
    2. Tell me about yourself
    3. Why are you interested in this organization?

    If you think those are easy questions to answer without some previous thought, just try it. This is where preparation will count. If they want to know what they can do for you, tell them that you would like to apply for a job in a certain function of their company, with an idea toward progressing into some more advanced phase or say anything that will show them you are interested in progress with this employer. Be as specific as you can. Suppose they ask you to talk about yourself. If you are wise, you have thought, "If I were in this place, working for this employer's organization, what would I like to know about an applicant?" Tell those things about yourself which relate to the situation your background, your education and your skills. Be informative without boasting, and avoid sounding like you have prepared a speech. As for the third question, if you have studied the employer's organization literature you will not be at a loss for words.

  8. Be prepared for a few personal questions, such as, "What motivates you."

  9. Be ready to give an answer to the favorite questions, "What do you plan to be doing ten years from now?" or "How much money do you expect to be earning in ten years?" The purpose of these questions are to determine your ambition, ability to plan ahead and the soundness of your thinking.

  10. If you are asked if you have ever been fired, and you have been, frankness is the answer. Tell them you have learned from your mistakes. Also, there is the possibility you got into a wrong job through a misunderstanding.

  11. You may be asked why you left your last two of three jobs. Return to school, better pay and more responsibility are acceptable reasons. Be careful not to give the impression that you are a job "jumper."

  12. Follow the interviewers lead. Do not answer in just yeses and noes. On the other hand, do not talk too much. If you find yourself talking in a monologue, give the lead back to the recruiter by saying: "Perhaps you have some other questions to ask me?"

  13. Use frequent, direct eye contact with the interviewer, especially when responding to questions. Look pleasant and smile frequently at appropriate occasions.

  14. Emphasize your strengths: Make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer. They will not know unless you tell them. Mention your best qualities in relation to something concrete. Try to appear factual and sincere, not bloated with conceit. Emphasizing your goals and strong points may alert an interviewer to an attribute that did not show up on your resume.

  15. Never make a slighting reference about a former employer or a professor. If something went wrong, suggest that at least some of the blame must have been your own.

  16. Do not take notes in an interview if you can help it. This is annoying and distracting to some recruiters. If you feel that you must write something down, make a remark such as "That is very interesting. Do you mind if I make a note of it?" The best policy is to note on paper immediately after the interview everything you want to be sure to remember.

  17. A few interviewers like to do most of the talking and judge you by your reactions, the interest, comprehension and intelligence you show. Even if the recruiter does much of the talking, remember that you can lead them by asking questions which call in turn for a question you want to answer. For example, you are strong in extracurricular organizations. They have mentioned that point and you want to go into a little detail you could not cover fully in your resume. You simply watch for an opening and ask, "Are you interested in my extracurricular activities?" They are not likely to say "no."

  18. Some interviewers hardly speak at all and expect you to sell yourself. For an amateur, these are the hardest to deal with. This is where you will have to call on knowledge of yourself and your interest in the work their company does. However, stick to the subject at hand. Do not go off on a tangent because you like the sound of your own voice.

  19. The interviewer may steer the conversation into politics or economics. Be honest in what you say, and do not be evasive, but try not to say more than is necessary to answer the recruiter's line of questioning. If you can agree in general with them, fine. If you stray off into talking about your pet enthusiasms, you may hang yourself.

  20. Conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. The recruiter is aware that you may have other irons in the fire, but they want to think that you would like a job with their company.

  21. Try to avoid giving the impression that you have come in to look over the possibilities, and that you are not sure what you want. Do not say, "I'll do anything if I am given the chance to learn," or, "I do not know what I want to do, I hope you can suggest something." Wherever possible, apply for a specific job or field of work. If there is no opening in the line you suggest, the way you present what you have to offer may lead the interviewer to suggest another job or department, perhaps even better than the one you were seeking. For this reason, it is not advisable to get too far out on a limb by saying you will not consider anything but one certain job.

  22. If the courses you took have not led you into preparation for a specific field of work, don't, on that account, pass up chances for interviews. Researching the organization will better help you present your broad qualities in light of the company's needs. If the employer has a training program you will naturally want to express interest in it.

  23. Show the interviewer that you are interested, realize the demands on their time and that you appreciate the opportunity they are giving you to present your case.

  24. Show your interest by asking some definite questions about the company. Ask about opportunity, not security. Have in mind two or three good reasons why you are interested in this particular employer. The chances are excellent that you will be asked for your reasons.

  25. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, do not let your discouragement show. You have nothing to lose by continuing the appearance of confidence and you may gain much. Sometimes an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your possibilities may seem to discourage you in order to test your reaction.

  26. What if they offer you the job on the spot? If you are absolutely sure it is the one you want, accept with a definite yes. If you have the slightest doubt, ask for time to think it over. Trying to set a definite date when you can provide an answer will reassure them that you are giving their offer serious consideration. You may also have the opportunity to arrange a trip to the plant or office. (If you are invited to make such a visit at an employer's expense,your expense sheet should include only costs actually relating to your trip, such as transportation, meals, housing, and tips. Costs should be prorated among several employers if you visit them on the same trip. ) Above all, do not create the impression that you are playing one company off against the other to drive up the bidding.

  27. Do not make appointments in which you are really not interested, and avoid accepting more than one offer. You will find yourself in an extremely awkward position and you stand to lose the confidence of everyone involved. If you have accepted one job and a chance turns up suddenly to interview for a really irresistible position, turn to your placement officer for advice. Breaking job engagements is possible, but the way it is done is important.

  28. Salary??? Where most college interviews are concerned, the company representative has arrived on campus with a certain number of jobs to be filled in definite salary brackets. The interviewer may choose not to tell you what he or she has to offer. They may ask you how much you want. The best answer in that case is to indicate that you are more interested in a job where you can prove yourself than you are in a specific salary. There is a tendency to overrate the importance of starting salary. It is the job and what goes into it that finally determines an employee's salary. It is easier to raise a low salary than it is to justify a salary that proves too high for the experience and ability demonstrated. If the interviewer is interested, they will generally suggest a figure. In most cases, reputable corporations will offer the standard salary for the type of job in question. It is in your interest to have found out what the rate is. The Career Services Center can tell you what the normal range of starting rates is for a person with your background.

  29. Do not be too discouraged if no definite offer is made or no specific salary is discussed. The recruiter will probably wish to communicate with the office first or interview more applicants before making any offers.

  30. Most interviews last between 30 minutes to an hour. A glance at your watch will tell you if your time is almost up. Do not go on talking and talking. Be alert to signs from the interviewer that the session is up. If time is up and you still want the job, tell them you are interested and stop.

  31. Summarize and have a positive close. Be certain to thank the recruiter for their time and their consideration to you. Resist the temptation to flatter them, even if they are the most fascinating person you have ever talked with. You will be misunderstood. Smile, and show as much confidence in leaving as you did in arriving. Say something like, "If you have any other questions, or if there is anything you want me to do, I hope you will get in touch with me." Then say, "Thank you" and leave. By now you should have answered the two questions uppermost in the interviewer's mind:

    1. Why are you interested in their company?
    2. What can you offer?