|
 |
12465 County Line Road, P.O. Box 8002
Gates Mills, Ohio 44040-8002
440.423.4446
|
|
 |
|
|
Pathways Program >
The Interview
Whether through formal or casual arrangement, remember to
always put your best foot forward.
Prepare for the interview or meeting. Know how to respond
to questions about your strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly,
know of the name and title of the person with whom you are
meeting.
Research the organization, and know yourself as well.
Not only should you research the organization, but come
prepared to talk about your own strengths and interests
as well.
Dress and act in a confident and professional manner.
Avoid wearing overpowering colognes or perfumes to an interview.
Turn your cell phone off.
Arrive on time. Bring an extra copy of your resume
as well as notepad to write down any thoughts or important
directions. Have references ready on a separate sheet in
case the interviewer requests them.
Greet the person with a strong handshake and eye contact.
Sit up straight in your chair and maintain a concentrated
interest.
Ask intelligent questions. Write questions down and
bring them to your interview. Review the organizations website
prior to the meeting or conduct independent research. The
most impressive candidates do their homework.
The worst thing to say is that you have no questions. Everyone,
including people who interview, like the opportunity and
courtesy to have a chance to talk about themselves or their
organization.
Remember, an interview is a two-way conversation in which
both parties may ask questions. Candidates should not talk
all the time nor be too silent.
Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Interviewers
frequently ask candidates to describe their weaknesses.
While the interviewer is interested in how you handle this
question, try not to give the pat answer they've heard a
thousand times, such as I am a perfectionist. The conventional
wisdom of turning negatives into positives does not work
well at the early employment stage and will likely end-up
sounding phony.
Since you have not had ample employment experiences, it
is perfectly okay to convey that you're not familiar with
their type of operation and that you hope to learn more
about how their organization or agency.
Write thank you notes. Be sure to write a thank you
note for having the opportunity to meet with the interviewer,
and mail it that same day if possible. Even with available
technology, a paper note or card is far more appropriate than
an emailed one.
|
|
|
|
