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Interview Preparation & Process

Once you have secured the interview, you should begin to focus on interview preparation. Do not be fooled into thinking that you can simply walk into an interview and answer a few questions. The employer will often meet with several hundred candidates in order to find 5-7 potential employees. Your goal must be to demonstrate you interest and qualifications for the position. Preparation is the key!

Preparation

Interviewers have many expectations of you as a candidate for potential hire. You must know general information about the position for which you are interviewing. You must also be able to articulate your qualifications and interest. In addition, the employer expects that you have researched his/her organization.

Many college seniors have not had the opportunity to participate in formal interviews; therefore, the process may seem overwhelming. However, through research and practice, interviewing skills can be greatly improved. The best candidate does not always get the job. Many candidates are not chosen due to the lack of interview preparation or an inability to articulate "fit" for the position. The following suggestions outline proven methods of enhancing your interviewing skills and improving your opportunities of employment.

Analyze the position

Before you are able to convince an employer that you want to be a bank management trainee, it is important that you understand what a bank management trainee does. To gather this information, you may start with research in the Career Library. Current resources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Information and Skills sections of SIGI Plus, provide up-to-date information regarding job responsibilities, employment outlook, educational requirements, starting salaries, and required skills. This basic research will prove valuable as you prepare to demonstrate a match between your credentials and the position for which you are interviewing.

In addition, you are encouraged to participate in an internship in a field you wish to pursue. These will help you gain experience and provide you with first-hand knowledge of the field. If you are not able to participate in internships, try conducting informational interviews described on pages 6-7 to gather information on specific career fields.

Research the Organization

To begin, you must research the company or agency to determine the nature of the organization. A demonstrated knowledge of the organization will also help convince the interviewer of your interest. In order to ascertain sincere interest, many interviewers will begin the process with a question such as, "Why are you interested in our organization?" or "Tell me what you know about our company." It is a mistake to assume you know enough about the organization without conducting any research. Only through research will you be able to answer the question with confidence.

Through your research, you should become familiar with:

Sources of Information: There are a variety of useful resources for researching organizations. Publicly held companies are the easiest to research for they are required by law to make certain types of information available to the public. Privately held companies do not have the same requirements and are, generally, more difficult to research. To begin, consider utilizing the Internet to locate general information. The Career Center web page has several links to employment databases that will include company information. Annual reports and employment brochures also provide good information for beginning research. This information is generally available in the Career Library for employers who recruit on campus or can be obtained from the human resources department of the company.

The Career Library, Memorial Library, and public libraries have business periodicals and newspapers to help you research company trends and noteworthy ventures. For Atlanta-based companies, you may consider researching articles that have appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution or the Atlanta Business Chronicle. In addition, the following publications are well-respected sources of information:

Also, consider articles from trade publications, generally available through professional associations.

If you are interviewing with a privately held company or agency, you will need to be more creative in your research approach. If you cannot find information using the recommended methods, try identifying employees or volunteers (for non-profit agencies) to gather information; the Chamber of Commerce may also be able to provide limited information.

Market Your Skills: The Product is YOU!

After you have analyzed the position and researched the organization, you are now in a position to review your qualifications for the position. Expressing yourself clearly and concisely is an essential element of effective interviewing. Self-assessment of your skills, interests, and work values will help you organize your thoughts in order to project a positive impression. A thorough self-assessment, as discussed on page 5 should enable you to:

The first interview is called a screening interview. It may take place on campus (through the On-Campus Interview Program), at a job fair, or at the employer's office. This type of interview generally lasts 30 minutes to one hour. The purpose of the screening interview is to separate qualified applicants from unqualified ones. An invitation for a second interview may be offered in a few days from the screening interview or it may take up to four weeks. Usually, only a small percentage of candidates will be invited back for the second interview.

The second interview is an in-depth interview conducted at the site of the organization. It may last anywhere from one hour to two days. Some employers may even call you back three or four times before making a decision regarding your candidacy. For more information on second interviews, refer to pages 33-34.

Through your research, you should be able to identify three to five skills that you believe the employer will seek in a successful candidate. Be prepared to discuss examples of these skills by describing specific experiences and accomplishments from your past. It is up to you to demonstrate enthusiasm and "fit" for the position.

Practice Makes Perfect

Interviewing, in itself, is a skill. Start by preparing for general questions regarding education, grades, work experience, and interests. The Lindquist-Endicott Report, on pages 35-36 provides 50 of the most frequently asked questions.

For some, writing down answers may help in preparing; for others, practicing verbal responses will be more effective. It is not enough to simply read the questions; you should plan your responses. Videotaped mock interviews, conducted by the Career Center staff, are highly recommended as an effective means of testing your level of preparation. To schedule a mock interview, call the Career Center.

First Impressions

As cliché as it may sound, you will not get a second chance to make a first impression when it comes to interviews. Your nonverbal skills and the manner in which you present yourself will be evaluated in addition to your verbal responses to interview questions.

Be sure to arrive for your interview 10-15 minutes early. This will provide you with time to check your appearance and collect your thoughts prior to the interview. Be sure to greet the receptionist, secretary, and others in the office in a friendly and courteous manner. These employees often have some influence in the hiring process.

When the employer greets you, be sure to stand and offer a firm handshake (women too!). If the employer mispronounces your name, clearly state your name as you shake his/her hand. The only thing that you should be carrying is a portfolio with paper and pen; leave your coat and book bag (if you are interviewing on campus) in the waiting area unless otherwise instructed. You are always encouraged to take an extra copy of your resume with you for all interviews. For on-site interviews, women may also carry a small, professional-looking purse.

As you enter the interview room, wait for the employer to indicate where you should be seated. After the employer is seated, it is your cue to also take a seat. During the interview, remember to practice good nonverbal skills:

The Interview Process

The interview generally consists of five stages: introduction and icebreaker; verifying information and asking questions; responding to your questions; closing the interview; and decision-making.

The first stage is a basic introduction and "ice breaker." The interviewer will try to establish rapport with you talking about an unrelated topic such as the weather. Keep all of your comments positive, even if the weather is terrible that day; the employer will have concerns if you begin by complaining about small, insignificant events.

After a few minutes of introduction, the employer will begin asking questions and verifying information from your resume. As each question is posed, take a moment to consider your answer. Try not to look up at the ceiling or down at the floor as you consider your reply. Start your response in a positive note; be careful not to start with "um" or another verbal filler. Be sure to provide specific examples of accomplishments to demonstrate skills.

A helpful outline for answering interview questions is best described through the S.T.A.R. (situation, task, action, result) method. Using this method, you would respond to an interview question with an example of a situation or tasks for which you were responsible. Thoroughly describe the actions that you took in this situation or task. Emphasize specific results or accomplishments. Remember, numbers can be impressive. Always speak in first person when describing the situation. Whenever possible, try to articulate the value of the experience in terms of how the experience has prepared you for the position for which you are interviewing. Do not be overly concerned if the interviewer is taking notes during the interview process. Keep your composure and try to keep your eyes level so that when the employer looks up, you will have eye contact.

Generally, following this stage, the employer will ask for your questions. Again, this is an important part of the process as it provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your research and interest. Before each interview, you should carefully prepare two or three questions based on your research. This is not the time to ask questions concerning salary or benefits. You may ask for clarification on information that you have read. Check the Career Center for examples of questions you might ask employers. If you do not have any questions for the employer, he/she may think that you are not interested. Following your questions, you may take a minute to summarize your interests and qualifications. For example, you may say, "At this time I have no further questions, however, I would like for you to know that I am extremely interested in this position and hope that I have been able to demonstrate my qualifications and enthusiasm for your company during this brief time together."

The fourth stage of the interview process is the close, which is initiated by the interviewer. A seasoned interviewer will explain the decision-making process and provide information concerning future steps in the process. If the interviewer does not specifically state this information, it is appropriate for you to ask about follow-up procedures. Be sure to ask the interviewer for his/her business card; this information will be helpful as you prepare your thank you letter.

After the interview, the employer will assess your qualifications and determine the "fit" between you and the position. This is also a time for you to evaluate your interest in the position. Immediately following your interview, take time to write down questions you were asked, general impressions, and questions that you may now have as a result of the interview. Also, evaluate your interviewing skills and consider ways you can improve for your next interview. Remember to send a thank you letter to the employer within 24 hours after your interview.

Interview Attire

The way you dress for your interview will tell the employer about your professionalism, and in some cases, will be one of the factors an employer will take into account in evaluating you as a candidate. Your ability to "dress the part" speaks to your knowledge of the industry and interest in "fitting in.” You will probably dress more professionally for an interview than may be required once you begin working in that environment. Appropriate interview attire will vary by field, however you are best advised to dress professionally using the following guidelines:

 

"Your resume looks fine, however, we need to work on your body language."

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