The Truth About Interviewing

"But it seemed to go so well! We talked about everything...campus life...the weather...the football season. I just don't understand why I got a rejection letter..." Beware of the interview that gets too chummy. It may be that the interviewer has already decided to take a pass and in simple politeness passes the remaining time talking about everything but you. The truth about interviewing is that most initial interviews only last about 5 minutes. Oh, sure, the actual interview always takes longer than that. 30 minutes. 45 minutes. Sometimes even an hour. But the interview is typically over in just 5 minutes. If you have not impressed the interviewer by the 5 minute point that you are the right person for the job (or at least a contender who should be taken to the next level), it will be next to impossible to recover. Recoveries do happen. But they are also very rare. In that first 5 minutes of the interview, I will have noted many critical aspects of your background. Your dress. Your grooming. Your handshake. Your personal presence. Your eye contact. Your articulation. And, most importantly, your personality. Notice that I didn't mention anything about your coursework, your GPA, or your work experience. That's what got you to the interview in the first place. But it's all of the "soft factors" that will take you to the next level. Don't get me wrong. Having taken the right courses, having good grades (critical!), and having related work experience are all important selection criteria. But they don't matter one iota if you're not a strong personal fit for our company. The truth is that most interviewers are seeking individuals who are able to personally present themselves well in a face-to- face interview. They are seeking to recommend those who will be a good reflection upon themselves and their selectivity. So most interviewers naturally gravitate to specific "success factors" that have worked for them consistently. Although they may vary somewhat from company to company, there are threads common to all employers: Dress and grooming - The interview is not the time to make a personal fashion statement. The best interview dress is that which is least noticed. Conservative dress will allow the interviewer to focus on you, not what you're wearing. And remember that campus fashion is usually quite different from the work world. Keep it neat and simple. Personal presence - How your present yourself by your personal presence is critically to interview success. This includes all of the "non-verbals" and other body language cues we give during the course of the interview. This is an especially difficult area for self-assessment, since we are typically unaware of our own quirks. The sure cure for upgrading your personal presence is to conduct a mock interview (either with a counselor at your Campus Career Placement Center or with a trusted friend) in which you ask them to focus on your non-verbal body language. But be prepared for some shockers to be brought to light. Always better to hear from them (who will tell you as it is) than from me (who will only send you a rejection letter). Articulation - The ability to articulate your background is a combination of good preparation (which you have full control over) and vocabulary/enunciation (which you have little control over). Your "smartness," "sharpness," "quickness," "aggressiveness," and "brightness" and all attributes that are typically evaluated based upon your articulation. If you have "lazy lips" you may want to practice enunciating and forming your words more clearly. And whatever you do, don't continually reach for elusive words to perfectly portray your thoughts and feelings. Any practiced interviewer prefers an individual who is comfortable within their vocabulary level than one who is always searching at the level above. And make sure you are fully prepared. Both prepped on your own background (nothing will kill an interview quicker than someone who cannot recall personal events) and knowledge of our company. Proper research will help you formulate your answers in a clear and succinct manner. The truth about interviewing is that it is weighed heavily toward first impressions. Interview preparation is critical, but it's important that this preparation goes far beyond having "all the right answers" to the questions. Interview preparation also includes preparing yourself for those initial impressions. What you say is often not as important as how you say it. The very best thing you can do to prepare for your interview today is to participate in a mock interview. It can be intimidating to be put under the microscope. You will make errors. You will make mistakes. But how much better to make those errors with those who can help you. A mock interview gives you the opportunity to be at your very best when it means the most. Check with your Campus Career Placement Center today to arrange for your mock interview. Be fully prepared and ready for when it counts the most.