Interviewing Strategies

What is the objective of an interview?

• • To see if your paper image stands up in real life
  • To see if you are a "match" for the position at hand or the organization
     

What are the different kinds of interviews?

• • Informational interview
  • Screening interview (also called first-cut interview)
  • Selection interview (also called decision interview)
     

What is the general sequence of an interview?

• • Greetings
  • Social niceties
  • Stated purpose of the meeting
  • Broad questions/answers
  • Specific questions/answers
  • In-depth discussion of organization, job and opportunity
  • Summarizing information given and received
  • Indication as to next steps
     

How do I make an impression?

• • Be yourself
  • Smile
  • Establish rapport
  • Use a firm handshake and frequent eye contact
  • Be conscious of non-verbal language, maintain an upright body posture
  • Elaborate on information that indicates you will work out well
  • Project yourself into the job as much as possible
  • Be enthusiastic
  • Be confident yet modest
     

Do I have to dress up?

• • YES!
  • Dress to the standards of the organization - find out what they wear
  • Dress at least one step up from the daily office-wear of your future co-workers
  • Wear a conservative (not trendy) business suit (typically not a sports coat or blouse and skirt)
  • Shine shoes, clean nails, neat haircut, fresh breath, nothing low-cut or tight fitting
  • Light cologne/perfume if any at all
  • When in doubt, dress up to show you take the interview seriously
     

What should I bring?

• • Anything that can support your case, but share at appropriate times in the conversation
  • Extra copies of your resume
  • Papers and projects, portfolio
  • Possibly a professional briefcase to carry samples of work, etc.
  • Writing utensil and neat folder for holding resumes
  • Transcript(s)
  • Letters of recommendation
  • List of references
     

What are inappropriate questions?

• Questions related to age, religion, handicaps, race, color, gender, national origin, marital status, children and child care arrangements are illegal.
   

What if I am asked a question I can not answer?

• Ask for clarification or an example (if you don't know, say so)
   

When asked "Do you have any questions?"

• • You should have questions, develop a set of questions before the interview
  • Request a copy of a job description
  • Don't ask about salary/benefits at the first interview
     

How is the interview concluded?

• • Last impression counts
  • Summarize why you want the job, why you are qualified, and what you can offer
  • May want to offer references or inform the interviewer they are on file at the CDC
  • Thank the interviewer for his/her time
     

What should I do after the interview?

• • Organize the information collected
  • Write down notes from the interview
  • Record the date of your next contact
  • Immediately send a thank you letter to each person with whom you interviewed
  • Never burn a lead or a source-if uninterested in a position, politely say so