Preparing for the Interview

1. Preparing for the Interview Making a Personal Impression By John Day Student Employment Advisor Student & Graduate Employment Services, Mohawk College

2. About the Interview • The interview is your best chance to make a favourable personal impression with an employer. • You have already made an encouraging written impression with your resume and now you are selected to come in for an interview.

3. Useful Interview Tips • Punctuality and Timing • Arrive at your interview no sooner than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time. • Investigate how long it takes to get to the interview location. • For larger companies, know which entrance you are to use and where you should report once you have arrived. • Under NO circumstances should you ever be late for an interview.

4. Presentation and Appearance • Dress professionally for every interview. • Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed. • Don’t wear anything that will distract or divert the recruiter’s attention. • The daily dress code will be explained, once you get the job.

5. What to Carry • Prepare a portfolio that includes: • Your resume, perhaps updated since you submitted it for the interview. • Your personal reference page. • Letters of reference from previous employers. • Work samples, if you have something that would prove to the recruiter that you can do the job. • A copy of the job ad to review prior to the interview. • Your transcript of marks. (recent graduates only!)

6. First Impression • Many interviews are won or lost in the first few minutes after you meet the recruiter. • Make a great first impression. • Offer a firm handshake with a smile. • Let the recruiter break the ice and set the tone for the interview.

7. Question Period • Listen to each question carefully and respond the best you can. • When answering questions, keep your responses brief and to the point, unless they ask you to elaborate on a certain topic. • Maintain eye contact with the interviewer(s) while listening and responding to questions.

8. Rehearsal • Prior to the interview, rehearse with a friend, across a table or in front of a mirror, your posture, attentiveness, and your response to the questions you expect to be asked. • Before the interview, think of previous work examples that describe your skills so that when an employer asks, you will be prepared with an immediate answer.

9. Do Your Homework • The interview is your chance to show the recruiter your enthusiasm towards working for the company in the available position. • Use the company year-end report, newsletter, newspapers, and the company website for useful information. • Find out how long the company has been in business and learn about some of their history. • Mention recent developments that have affected the company in a positive way. • Be prepared for the “Why do you want to work here?” question, give reasons and examples.

10. Office Tour • Sometimes the recruiter will take you around the office to see or meet people you might be working with. • To allow for this, you should never schedule interviews less than two hours apart.

11. Closing • Make sure that you know when the recruiter will contact you following the interview. • Leave the interviewer with a strong, confident handshake and a smile. • Thank them for the opportunity to meet with you.

12. What NOT to Say in an Interview • Knowing what to say in an interview is often a matter of knowing what NOT to say to recruiters. • Telling the truth is always the first rule for job seekers, don’t lie about your skills, abilities or education, it could cost you your job later.

13. Things to Avoid in the Interview • Personality Conflicts • The interviewer asks, “So why are you leaving ABC Co.?” You are not prepared for this question and sit there is silence. You might respond by saying “I’m leaving because of a personality conflict with a fellow employee”. In one brief statement you have gone from a potential candidate to unsuccessful applicant. The interview is over. • The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is that you may not get along with co-workers.

14. School Plans • Do not discuss future full-time school plans with a potential employer unless they bring up the subject. • Most employers like to hear that you have made plans to continue your education and training through part-time studies.

15. Family Problems • Never say that something may be wrong in your personal life because recruiters may be afraid that it will affect your performance on the job. • Employers are not allowed to ask about your age, religion, marital status, number or age of children, physical appearance or sexual preference.

16. Don’t Mention Your Faults • A question that interviewers frequently ask is “What are you weaknesses?” • Think of a weakness you might have but mention what you are doing to correct it. • Turn a weakness into a positive statement!

17. Salary • If the salary isn’t mentioned during the interview, a good rule of thumb is to wait until the company makes you a job offer. • If you are asked how much you expect to earn, indicate a salary range and never one exact number. • Before the interview, you should have an idea of the minimum pay you need each month to cover your bills and expenses.

18. When Could You Start • Recruiters usually want to hire as soon as possible and they like to hear that you can start right away. • If you are not working you may want to start right away, but if you are working, arrangements have to be made with your current employer. • Once you get the job offer you can negotiate the details of your starting date with your current employer.

19. Additional Suggestions • To ace an interview today you have to be alert and able to quickly adapt your presentation to the style and skill level of the person or persons interviewing you. • You never know what to expect when you are called into an interview, how many people will interview you, or what the questions will be. Be confident on what you know and what you are capable of. • Don’t use words in your resume or cover letter that are not in your vocabulary as this will show up during the interview.

20. When you are given the opportunity, talk about your recent accomplishments, the skills that you’ve demonstrated and the knowledge you possess and how it has been applied. • Put modesty aside, be strong and confident. Sell yourself! Remember the competition is strong, there will be many others applying for the same job. • Have an established plan in place to improve on your weaknesses. In your mind, define a weakness you have and establish a plan on how you will manage to improve on it.

21. Be prepared to elaborate on things you enjoy doing for relaxation or your hobbies. • Employers like to know that you are concerned about your health. Don’t hesitate on talking about your routine, physical activity or whatever you do to keep healthy and fit. • Behavioral interview questions allows the interviewer to get a better idea of how potential employees would handle specific situations. • These questions are less predictable and requires the candidate to think about how they would handle the given situations and explain their reasons for doing it that way.

22. The day before the interview, make sure you know exactly where you have to go, how you will get there and where you will park. • The day before the interview, decide on what you will wear. • If questions are truly offensive, you have little choice but to leave. You wouldn’t want to work with this person or company anyway.

23. Preparing for the Interview Making a Personal Impression By John Day Student Employment Advisor Student & Graduate Employment Services, Mohawk College