Interview Tips

Introduction | Interview Tips | Negative Factors | Telephone Interviews | Final Interview Points | After the Interview | Interview Self-Evaluation

Introduction

• First Impressions are Very Important: Give a professional impression in dress, grooming and handshake both while you wait and when you first greet the interviewer. Be organized (on time) with samples of work, transcripts or whatever supporting material you feel will enhance your interview. Always take an extra copy of your resume.

• The Employer Wants to See Keen Interest and Vitality: You really want the job so let that come through in your language.

• Accept Who You Are: Don't lament deficiencies you feel are present. Focus your attention on the good things you can bring to the employer. State qualifications positively and avoid using "I only have ..." or "I was just working as a ..." to describe your background. Phrase your responses in a positive manner ("The time-management skills I developed as a grill cook at MacDonald's will be useful in this job because...")

• A Little Nervousness Is Okay: It can even help you by keeping you alert. Do try and relax though, and listen to carefully to the questions. Remember to KEEP BREATHING. Ask for clarification if you need it ("Are you asking me if I can ...") Take a moment to think before you answer each question. This isn't a race!

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Interview Tips

100 personnel directors and managers were surveyed and came up with the following 9 most important points:

1. Interviewers attach great importance to good grooming and appropriate dress. No matter how qualified you are, you may be doing yourself a great disservice if you do not pay adequate attention to your personal appearance or if your clothes fail to show a businesslike demeanor. You have probably heard it a thousand times but remember the first five minutes are the most important for making a good impression. Your clothes should be neat, pressed and clean. A suit isn't always necessary, but don't wear jeans or t-shirts. Make an effort to dress up a little.

2. Interviewers like candidates who are enthusiastic and responsible. Let them know you are genuinely interested in the job. If you are non-attentive, withdrawn or passive during the interview, the assumption can easily be made that your "on the job" performance will reflect the same negative qualities.

3. Ask questions about the job. If you do not show your serious interest in the duties and responsibilities of the position, the interviewer will probably stop thinking of you as a serious candidate. This is why it is important that you thoroughly prepare for each interview.

4. Do not ask direct questions about salary or fringe benefits at the beginning of the interview. If you do, you're proving that you are much more interested in what the company can do for you than in providing good reasons for hiring you in the first place. You may refer to salary at the very end ("Would you please clarify for me how the co-op salary is set? Is it determined by the number of workterms, study terms, or a combination? Or by other factors?")

5. Don't be desperate. Even if you need the job desperately, don't convey it. According to the survey, the overwhelming number of personnel experts feel that candidates who call attention to their dire straits are less likely to be hired. A sound hiring decision should be based on ability, experience and attitude.

6. Do not exaggerate your skills or accomplishments. Most interviewers believe stretching of the truth is usually detectable and deals a severe blow to the candidate's chances of employment.

7. Watch your body language. Interviewers are more favourably impressed by candidates who look them in the eye, but don't stare them down. The usual perception is that people who avoid eye contact either have something to hide or lack conviction and self-confidence. Sit up straight and don't wave your hands around. Did you observe your own body language during your practice interviews? If not, ask a friend to play "interviewer" and give you feedback.

8. It bothers interviewers if the candidate does not know much about the company so do some homework prior to an interview. You cannot be too convincing when claiming you really want to work for a particular company when it is obvious you do not know the first thing about them.

9. Candidates who appear to be overconfident are much more likely to favourably impress interviewers than those who act shy, but remember there is a vast difference between being self-assured and coming across as arrogant, boastful and smug.

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Negative Factors That Can Make An Impact On An Interview

(Not necessarily in order of importance -- they are all important!)

1. Poor personal appearance.
2. Overbearing, overaggressive, conceited, with a "superiority complex;", know-it-all.
3. Inability to express him/herself clearly, poor voice, diction, grammar.
4. Lack of planning for career, no purpose and goals.
5. Lack of interest and enthusiasm, passive, indifferent.
6. Lack of confidence and poise, nervousness, ill-at-ease.
7. Failure to participate in activities.
8. Overemphasis on money, interested only in best dollar offer.
9. Poor scholastic record, just got by.
10. Unwilling to start at the bottom, expects too much too soon.
11. Makes excuses, evasiveness, hedges on unfavourable factors in record.
12. Lack of tact.
13. Lack of maturity.
14. Lack of courtesy, ill-mannered.
15. Condemns past employers.
16. Lack of social understanding.
17. Marked dislike for school work.
18. Lack of vitality.
19. Fails to look interviewer in the eye.
20. Indecision.
21. Sloppy application form.
22. Merely shopping around.
23. Wanted job only for a short time.
24. Little sense of humour.
25. Lack of knowledge of field of specialization.
26. No interest in the organization or the industry.,
27. Emphasis on whom he/she knows (name-dropper.)
28. Unwillingness to go where we send him/her.
29. Cynical.
30. Lazy.
31. Intolerant, strong prejudices.
32. Narrow interests.
33. No interest in community activities.
34. Inability to take criticism.
35. Lack of appreciation of the value of experience.
36. Radical ideas.
37. Late to interview without good reason.
38. Never heard of the company.
39. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer's time.
40. Asks no questions about the job.
41. High pressure type.
42. Indefinite response to questions.

(As reported by 153 companies surveyed by Frank S. Endicott, Director of Placement, Northwestern University, USA.)

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Telephone Interviews

Telephone interviews accommodate employers and candidates in remote or distant geographical locations. Telephone interviews avoid the time and financial commitment of in person interviews. As with personal interviews, you need to be fully prepared.

• The interview will be located in a private office on campus. Check location on your program's information board.
• Arrive at least 10 minutes early as with regular interviews.
• Bring your resume, notes and job description, but don't rustle your papers during the phone interview!
• Try to limit noise in the area. Have your notes laid out nearby.
• Speak slower than you think you should and pronounce your words very clearly.
• If the telephone line is unclear, or static interferes, tell the interviewer, and ask if they would call back on a clear line. They will!
• If you need a moment to formulate your answer, tell the interviewer. Remember - they cannot read your body language over the phone! Take your time to respond the same as you would with personal interviews.
• Be cheerful and smile. This will be conveyed in your voice. (Yes, it really will!)
• Your voice is all the "body language" the interviewer has to go on in making a hiring decision; vary the tone and convey enthusiasm. Avoid monotone, or monosyllablic responses.
• When the interview is finished, do not hang up the phone, unless asked to by the co-op secretary; keep the line available for the next student. If the phone is not put on hold, remember that the interviewer can hear everything you say!
  • Student 1 (to Student 2): That was a rotten interview. It was really hard. The questions are tricky, the employer sounded mean. What a dorky company!
  • Employer (listening): Hmmmm. Veeeeery interesting....

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Some Final Interview Points

• Timing: Arrive a few minutes early so you can relax and collect your thoughts.

• Appearance: Your appearance is important because you will be judged on your grooming and overall looks before you even get a chance to speak. Dress neatly and conservatively. Make an effort to create a good impression.

• Manner: Be polite during and while waiting for the interview. If interviewing at the employer's office, be friendly and polite to everyone you see from the moment you walk through their front door. Greet the interviewers by name and shake their hand firmly. Remain standing until you are asked to be seated and then maintain a comfortable attentive position.

• Active Listening: During the interview listen carefully and ask to have questions repeated if you did not understand them. To be very clear in your answers, you might restate the question as part of your answer.

• Honesty: Be yourself. Do not try to be something you are not. Emphasize your strong points, but if your shortcomings or past failures are brought up, explain the circumstances rather than making excuses or blaming others. ("Yes, my transcript does show how poor my grades were that term. Unfortunately I came down with the flu during final exam period, and didn't do as well as I'd expected. However, as you'll see, my grades improved signficantly during the next study term.")
  Always maintain a courteous manner even if the job turns out to be of little interest to you. You never know when you'll want to reapply to the employer for a more interesting position! Be sure to thank the recruiter for considering you. Shake hands again when you say goodbye.

• Body Language:
  Signs that register positively:
  • A firm, confident handshake;
  • calm, not fidgety, hands and feet;
  • leaning toward the interviewer;
  • direct gaze but do not stare; ready smile.

  Mannerisms to avoid:

  • Crossing your arms on your chest (implies defensiveness);
  • touching your face (implies deceptiveness);
  • leaning back in your chair or handling objects on the interviewer's desk (implies overconfidence);
  • chewing gum, chewing your nails, or fidgeting, etc., (all signs of nervous distraction).

  Employers look for:

  • Keen interest in the job;
  • vitality, commitment to career;
  • maturity, a professional attitude;
  • necessary qualifications/skills, experience and education.

Note: Employers say that personal qualities and a good attitude to work are often as important or more important than the experience and education factors, providing that the applicant meets the minimum technical standards for the job.

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After the Interview

Each interview is a learning experience. It is important to take a few minutes afterwards to reflect on your performance. Think about the parts you felt went really well. Why did they? Also think about areas where you might have improved your interview performance. Filling outan interview evaluation form (below) after each interview is a good way to begin evaluating your interview performances, and to collect a history of all your interview experiences. This will come in handy if you apply in the future to the same employer.

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Interview Self-Evaluation

Employer:
Date of Interview:

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

1. Did I arrive on time?
2. Was I courteous with everyone with whom I dealt?
3. Did I have the necessary materials with me?
   • Personal Information: Résumé, cover letter, list of references, letters of references, documents, writing samples, portfolios, etc.?
   • Writing material, pen.
4. Did I know the interviewer's name and title?
5. Did I give positive signals about my interest in the position?
   • Did my body language show my interest, enthusiasm and eagerness; did I sit up and lean forward?
   • Was my tone of voice pleasant and did I speak clearly enough for the interviewer to hear?
   • Did I look at the interviewer both when speaking and when spoken to?
   • Did I fidget or appear nervous?
   • Did I show that I was listening by answering the questions that were asked?
   • Did I control my annoyance when dealing with irrelevant questions or interruptions?
6. Did I use active listening skills?
7. When I did not understand a question, did I ask to have the question restated?
8. Did I answer all the questions put to me adequately?
9. Did I demonstrate my qualifications in the areas of:
   • Educational background?
   • Work experience?
   • Accoplishments?
   • Career goals and plans?
   • Knowledge of the company organization?
   • knowledge of the specific job placement?
10. Did I answer all the questions honestly?
11. Which questions did I have the most trouble answering?
12. Did I ask relevant questions when given the opportunity to do so?
13. What were my greatest strengths in this interview?
14. What were my greatest weaknesses?
15. How would I assess my overall performance during the interview? (Poor Adequate Good Excellent)
16. How could I have improved this interview?
17. Coordinator feedback on my interview performance, if available.

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If you feel you are doing your best, but you still aren't getting any job offers, talk to one of the co-op staff. Don't wait until you are discouraged. Remember: we're here to help you succeed in your co-op job search.

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