
If you've landed an interview, you've proven to be a competitive candidate. It's now your job to help the employer determine at a minimum if:
- You meet the qualifications.
- You will perform well in this position by meeting deadlines, taking direction well, and delivering quality work.
- You will work well the rest of the team.
Before the Interview
Interviewing can be nerve-racking. Imagine going on your first date, meeting the parents and proposing all on the same day! This is especially true if you do the interview unprepared. Come prepared and all should go well for you.
Mock Interviews
We offer several options for improving your interview skills. Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor to learn about interviewing strategies and follow it up with at least one mock interview appointment.
Mock interviewing Appointments: Offered in-person, over the phone, and over zoom. Mock interviews let you to practice your interviewing skills in a low-stakes setting with a Career Advisor, followed by feedback on strengths and areas for improvement.
Big Interview: an online platform with interviewing strategy tutorials and tools practicing over a video platform with prerecorded questions based on industry.
At the Interview
- Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the interview location; “on time” for an interview is more like 10-15 minutes before the interview
- Make eye contact and shake hands with the people you meet with confidence and warmth.
- Listen closely to questions; if you need clarity on a question, ask. You can also write down questions on a pad of paper to make sure that you are answering each part of the question and not skipping over critical components of the interview question.
- Be engaging and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the opportunity by asking informed questions, when prompted, about the organization and job opportunity.
- Ask about their hiring timeline and how you will be hearing from them next.
After the Interview
- Follow up with an email to your interviewers within 48 hours. This email should be brief and express your interest and enthusiasm for the position and involvement in the next steps of the process. If you don’t have the interviewer's contact information, you can send it to who you have been in contact with (i.e. HR, Recruiter) to forward along.
- Resist the temptation to ask when the hiring decision will be made. Ideally, you asked during your interview when you expect to hear from the organization.
- If you are given an offer, listen to the terms and then reach out to a career advisor to consult about the next steps you may have to take, if you think you may have room to negotiate the offer. You can ask if you can have time to consider the offer when it is made. Follow-up within the range of time you established post-offer. Learn more about negotiating salary.
- If you are not offered the position, remain professional, thanking the organization for an opportunity to interview. You never know when you may cross paths with them again, in a professional capacity. Additionally, if you feel comfortable, you can request feedback on your interview to learn if there are components of your interviewing skills that need to be strengthened.
Need quiet virtual interview space?
If you're struggling to find a quiet, distraction free space to do a virtual interview, we got you.