How to Rock the Interview!

1. How to Rock the Interview! By: Amanda LeDuc Last Modified: May 18, 2011

2. First Impression: Wardrobe • Know the industry for which you interview and dress appropriately • Never dress more casually than business casual • When in doubt, dress more formally • Remember, you may feel awkward by over-dressing, but you’ll lose the job by under dressing! • Never wear anything revealing, too tight or overly trendy! • Your employer is looking for a colleague, not a date

3. Interview Dress Code DO’s Men Women

4. Interview Dress Code DONT’s Men Women

5. Communication • Be Confident! • Make eye contact • More eye contact when listening • Less eye contact when talking • Listen to the interviewer • If you don’t understanding something they say, ask them to elaborate, most interviewers like to be asked for more details or clarification • Gather your thoughts before speaking • Don’t start talking before your brain knows what its going to say • It’s okay to ask for a moment to think/collect your thoughts before you answer a question

6. Communication • Don’t fiddle with your pencil (or anything) while talking • If you know you fiddle with things when you talk, clasp your hands together on the table • It’s okay to be a “hand talker”, just be aware of your movements and don’t go overboard • Don’t lie or make up stories • If you are asked for an example as part of situational question and can’t think of one, be honest. Instead, offer what you would do in that situation • If you don’t have a skill that you are asked about, talk about how you are interested in that skill and would like to acquire it

7. Typical Questions • Tell Me About Yourself • Classic first question • Puts you at ease by having you talk about a topic you know a lot about, you! • Let’s the interviewer get an idea of who you are aside from what your resume and cover letter tell them • Despite its simplicity, this question lets the interviewer know if you are experienced or have prepped for the interview • Talk about your extra-curricular involvement, why you chose your program or your career aspirations

8. Typical Questions • Why Did You Apply For This Job? • If answered correctly, this question alone can land you the offer • Having done your research, talk about their company, how you’d like to learn from them and what unique skills you can contribute • Talk about your career goals and how this position lines up with those goals • Talk about past experiences and how those lead you to apply for this job

9. Typical Questions • What is your biggest strength/weakness • This question requires you to reflect on your own abilities and honestly critique yourself • Weakness: try to pick something that isn’t a glaring reason not to hire you. They are looking for honesty, but answering, “I have terrible time management skills; in fact, I’ll probably be late for work everyday and get my projects to you at least a week late” will cause you to lose the job • Strength: pick a unique strength that others wouldn’t usually give that will help the interviewer remember you. Be honest, we all have strengths, but try not to gloat

10. Typical Questions • Is There Anything Else You Would Like to Tell Us? • Occasional last question and good for you if asked and your prepped for it • Don’t say, “Nope, that about sums it up!” • This is an opportunity to sell yourself and mention any relevant skills or interests that you have that make you the perfect candidate for this job

11. Typical Questions • Do You Have Any Questions For Us? • Don’t say, “Nope, that’s good” • Try to ask at least one insightful question based on research done prior to the interview or based on something mentioned during the interview • If you wish, you can ask about typical working hours, office dress code, office ambiance (is it open concept or closed offices) • Make sure you ask about salary! Employers know you will ask and expected to provide the answer. If you aren’t sure how to ask, try “I have one last question, if you don’t mind me asking, what is the salary for this position?”

12. Typical Questions • Behavioural Questions • These are tough because they require you to think of a specific example on the spot • You can draw from either past coop experiences or academic experiences if you need to • These are “Tell me of a time when...” • You had a conflict with a teammate • You displayed leadership • You were given a task above your skill level • You went above and beyond what was expected • You couldn’t meet a deadline • Other industry-specific scenario questions

13. As The Interview Ends... • This is the big secret to landing the job you’ve been waiting for... • Any guesses?

14. As the Interview Ends... • Express your sincere interest in the job • In first round, employers are competing for you as much as you are competing for them • You may have interviewed well and be the employers top choice, but they won’t give you the offer if they don’t think you’ll take it, they don’t want to walk away without a student (this frequently happens in first round, remember how I told you the same students get all the offers in first round? The employers know that too!) • Thank them for taking the time to interview you • Again, express how much you enjoyed learning about the position and how you hope to work with them in the future

15. Questions? • Have you been asked a question I didn’t cover and wonder how to answer it? • Do you have questions about specific types of interviews • ie. management consulting case interview

16. Workshop • Find a partner and practice the questions we discussed: • Tell me about yourself • Why did you apply for this job as an engineering assistant at Company X? • What is you biggest strength and your biggest weakness? • Tell me of a time when you had to manage confliction view points in a project? How did you complete the project? What was the result? • Is there anything else you’d like to share with me? • Do you have any questions?