Interview Process

Helpful Tips

Before the interview practice answering basic interview questions. Dress professionally and be respectful, polite, and confident in your abilities.

Research the company you are interviewing for.

  • Size
  • Recent news about the company
  • Products or services
  • The company’s general history
  1. Learn some basic information about the company or organization.
  2. Review your application and resume; you do not want to appear unfamiliar with the items that YOU wrote and submitted!
  3. Get the names and contact information of the people who interviewed you so that you can send them a thank-you note for the opportunity.
  4. Consider your attitude and your knowledge. Remember that a potential employer will consider your attitude and your knowledge in addition to your prior work experience.
  5. Use the Job Resource Center’s software and the Library’s online databases.
A few more suggestions:

DO:

  • Research the company or organization thoroughly before the interview.
  • Dress professionally- a little better than you would working on the job itself. For men: Wear dress pants, a dress shirt, and dress shoes. For some interviews, you will also need to wear a coat and tie, or perhaps a suit. Wear dark conservative colors, leave jewelry at home, and shine those shoes! For women: Wear a dress or pantsuit. Avoid flashy jewelry or strong perfume. For both: Be well-groomed- and this includes fingernails!
  • Bring several copies of your resumé, the job posting, and paper and a pen to take a few notes during the interview.
  • Arrive a few minutes early, but not too early.
  • Think before you answer a question, and provide short, direct answers. Have prepared answers to standard questions, and practice the answers. Long answers can lead you quickly into Interview Never-land.
  • Have a few questions ready to ask after you have answered the interviewer’s questions.
  • Thank the interviewer(s) for his/her time.
  • Mail a thank-you note the same day. But if a quick decision is expected, e-mail a thank-you. Reiterate your qualifications, and comment on those which you did not mention in the interview.
DON’T:

  • Bring up salary.
  • Be too friendly and act too desperate for the job. It’s better to be professional. There’s a difference!
Job & Career Accelerator includes a section with tips on preparing for interviews, common interview questions, and suggestions of what to do after an interview. It also includes an Adult Learning Center providing live online help with the GED exam, using Microsoft Office, writing skills improvement, and other topics. The Job Resource Center computers also offer the software Resume Maker Web Deluxew, which includes several videos and resources that demonstrate good interviewing techniques. Ask one of the librarians for assistance in using any of these resources.

In addition to these tools we also have many books to assist you in preparing for your interview. Some of the titles include:

  • 101 Smart Questions to Ask on Your Interview by Ron Fry
  • 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions by Vicky Oliver
  • Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview? by Ellen Gordon Reeves
  • The First 60 Seconds by Dan Burns
For a look at more of our print resources go to the library catalog page and use the search word INTERVIEW. CLICK HERE!