How to prepare for an interview

By Lindsay Beach
Collegian Staff
April 2, 2009

So you perfected your resume, sent it out and landed yourself an interview. Now what? Interviews can be nerve-racking and intimidating. However, if you prepare yourself accordingly, you can look like a pro in no time.

1. Appearance Looking as professional as possible is a must. Simple things like taking a shower and brushing your teeth can make a world of a difference. Avoid perfumes and colognes that can distract your interviewer from focusing on your skills. For men, make sure that you wear a suit that is tailored to your body. If it is too big or too small, an employer may think that if you do not care about appearance then you won’t care about the job. Ladies, stay away from low-cut tops and short skirts. Any skirt above the knee is at risk of being too short. Make sure you layer your tops and cover your chest. Otherwise, you may put an employer in an uncomfortable position, especially if he is male. The biggest thing in the room should be your skills.

2. Do your homework Prepare ahead of time by researching the company. This shows a sign of respect for the business and commitment to the interview. It is important to use reliable resources to access your information. Finding an old Web site with old information to use in your interview will not go over well.

3. Be on time! Better yet, be early. The interviewer is doing you a favor by taking time out of his or her day to interview you. Do him or her a favor and be on time. Being late is disrespectful and shows a lack of commitment.

4. Be prepared The interviewer is going to ask tough questions, and you need to be ready to respond. Practice your answers to that may be asked ahead of time: What are your strengths? What are you weaknesses? What do you see yourself doing in a year? Elaborate on those questions with positive experiences. It’s not enough to say you are a hard worker; you need to explain what makes you one. Don’t throw yourself under a bus by stating a horrible weakness. Name a minor weakness that you can turn into a strong point. This shows a level of honesty and maturity.

5. Ask questions Come prepared with questions to ask the employer. This is an opportunity to find out more about the company and the position you are applying for.

6. Send a thank you A personalized thank you note can give you an edge over another potential candidate. Hand-written notes are virtually unheard of these days, and it shows initiative. If your hand writing is hard to read, stick with typing it and sign it in ink.

beachl1@student.lasalle.edu