Preparation:

• Learn about the organization

• Have a specific job or jobs in mind

• Review your qualifications for the job

• Be ready to briefly describe your experience, showing how it relates it the job

• Make sure your answering machine/voicemail has a professional sounding message (Remove any inappropriate language, music, and other recordings)

• Be sure you use an appropriate email name (a combination of last and first name and/or initials is a good way to setup up a professional email name)

• Be ready to answer broad questions, such as “Why should I hire you?” “Why do you want this job?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” “Where do you see yourself in five years?’

• Practice an interview with a friend or relative (use video if possible and critique your performance)

• Inform the interviewer if you must cancel or change the date of your interview. Plan ahead for conflicts with other interviews, exams, etc.

• Find out the logistics of the interview (When is it scheduled, what to expect during it, how long you will be there and who will be interviewing you)

• Give yourself extra time to get to the interview

Personal appearance:

• Be well groomed/practice good hygiene

• Dress appropriately (Generally, attire is more formal/conservative for large corporations and less formal for nonprofit and government)

• Do not chew gum or smoke

• Avoid wearing cologne/perfume, your potential employer may be allergic or may simply not like your fragrance

• Jewelry should be kept to a minimum

• Remove body piercings and cover tattoos

The interview:

• Be early (10-15 minutes)

• Turn off your cell phone

• Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him or her with a firm handshake

• Bring a copy of your resume

• Use good manners with everyone you meet

• Relax and answer each question concisely

• Use proper English-avoid slang

• Be enthusiastic and cooperative

• Use body language to show interest-make eye contact and don’t slouch

• Ask questions about the position and the organization, but avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company’s Web site

• Also avoid asking questions about salary and benefits until a job offer is made

• Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands

• Send a short thank you note following the interview