Tips for having a Professional Interview

 

Interview Tips for Students: Many recent college graduates have little or no interview experience. When you get invited for an interview, you may be optimistic but perhaps a little panicked. These tips will help you to make the most of every interviewing opportunity:

 

- Get there early:  Make sure you know where you are going ahead of time. Have the interviewer’s contact information on hand, and get there 15 minutes early.

 

- Look the part: Wear professional clothing, maintain good posture, and make eye contact. Have a firm hand shake. Turn off your cell phone and put it in away. Don’t bring friends to the interview. Don’t bring food or drinks. Bring along a copy your resume, cover letter, and any letters of reference. Make it clear that you are excited and interested in the opportunity. Use professional language.

 

- Do your homework: Read through information about the business on the company’s website. Find out about the job, the organization, the competition, and the industry. You can look for new articles related to the business. During the interview, use words in the job description.

 

- Prepare for typical questions: “What can you tell me about yourself?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” “What are some of your greatest accomplishments?” “Why do you

want his job?” “What are your career goals?” Explain how you can be an asset to the organization. You can find a list of common interview questions from a college career service center or from the internet. Practice these questions with a friend, mentor, or parent ahead of time. Prepare two or three questions you can ask the interviewers.

 

- Act the part: Be polite, professional, and attentive. Be outgoing and positive. Have a humble self-confidence, personality, and enthusiasm. Answer in a concise, honest manner and stay on point

 

- Follow up:  Before you leave the interview, get business cards or contact information from the interviewers. After the interview, send a thank you email to the interviewers, and make sure it is grammatically correct. Mention the qualities that make you a good fit for the job. As a new graduate about to venture into the real world, the work force may seem intimidating. However, these tips will help you to distinguish yourself from competition.