Tips for Interviewing

You should be well prepared for any interview you are going to participate in. Never enter unprepared! Here are some great ideas:

• Do Your Research -- You should always research a company thoroughly before an interview. Your chances of being hired increase when you show your knowledge and interest in a company.
  
• Dress Professionally -- Obviously you should dress well for an interview but you also dress in a way that represents you and your own fashion. Be subtle and tasteful. The nicer you need to dress depends on the job you are being interviewed for. You are typically safe as long as you take the general standard of dress for the job applying for and dress a step nicer than that.
• Prepare for the Typical Questions -- There are several questions out there that many employers ask. For example, "What are some of your strengths?" or "Tell me a weakness you have." It's always best to plan ahead and think of some good answers for these types of questions or anything else you think may come up.
• "Tell Me About Yourself" -- Almost every single interview starts with this question. Never respond with, "Well, what do you want to know?" Employers do not want to hear this. Instead, be prepared with what you would like to tell the employer. This is a great opportunity to show that you are in fact a person and not just a professional looking for a job. It's your opportunity to share about your life and how you got to where you are now, and why you are applying for this specific job. Always think ahead of time what you would like to share.
• Be Honest -- Honesty is the best policy. If you don't have a certain skill, explain that you don't have it yet but would like to learn or are in the process of learning.
  
• Be Concise -- It's not great to ramble on. Interviewers appreciate answers that actually answer the question but are right to the point.
• Give Examples -- It's not enough to say you can do something. You need to give actual examples. Come prepared with several examples of things you have done that are relevant to the position.
• Ask Questions -- Most interviews end with the interviewer asking, "Do you have any questions for me?" Come prepared with some good questions to ask. It impresses interviewers when you can show you've done your research of the company as well as the role you are interested in.