The On-Campus Interview

Be Prepared to Run the Race

By Walter Vertreace

Would you go into a foot race without proper preparation? If you have not properly trained, don't have the right equipment, or have not learned the appropriate technique for the specific type of event you have entered, you are guaranteed to fall short of your objective. The question is not about adequate preparation. Your competition will be at least adequate. This is about being superior to the contestant running in the adjacent lane. Your quest for success at the on-campus interview is no less a contest, one that can open - or close - the door to achieving your career goal, and like in a race, you may not get another chance.

If you will be successful as a runner, whether competitively or for personal satisfaction, you must first learn and employ the discipline of conditioning. You need to prepare, both physically and mentally for the task ahead. This is also true for your on-campus interview. This preparation is not something you can start at the last minute. To be effective, start your training early, and fine tune your skills as the day of the race draws closer. Many students find practice interviews to be helpful.

Work with a coach or a classmate who can play the role of interviewer, and rehearse your answers to typical interview questions. You will develop a comfort level that will help you to shake off any nervousness you may have felt if the process was foreign to you.

Some campus career services centers provide videotaping for your practice sessions, which are invaluable in assessing the areas in which you need to improve. Also, some companies in your area may conduct mock inter interviews with actual recruiters, who will then give you helpful feedback. The employer's campus representative will evaluate not only your written qualifications, but also your interpersonal and communications skills.

During this training phase of your preparation, you will become familiar with your strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to build on your strong points and build up where you are weak.

ON YOUR MARK!

The old saying, “If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else,” is so true in your search for employment after college. Before doing anything else in your search process, start by deciding what career field you desire to enter, and what industries and companies provide the best opportunities in that field. You don't want to be poised at the starting line, only to discover that you are on the wrong track!

A runner is no better than his or her shoes. Too loose or too tight, and you could wind up with blisters, or worse. Likewise, as an applicant, you are as good as your best advertisement, and that is your resume. This most important document should be properly fitted to the career field, company and industry you have identified. Seek professional assistance from the career center, a trusted professor, or some other knowledgeable source, to help in drafting this all-important document. Several copies, along with a one-page summary, letters of recommendation and any references you have collected, should be carried to the interview in a professional-looking folder, valise, or portfolio (not the backpack you wear to class).

Your clothing also is an important part of your sales pitch. Even if the company for which you are recruiting has casual dress as a matter of course, you should still arrive for the interview in a business suit. For the sake of comfort, and the appearance of comfort, wear the suit before the day of the interview. If this is the first time you have had it on, you will be uncomfortable, and that could take you off your game.

On race day, it is always a good idea to arrive at the track or course early, to become familiar and comfortable with the conditions, and to determine if there have been any last-minute changes to the previously announced procedures - you don't want anything to take your mind off the game. In the same way, you should arrive at the interview 10 to 15 minutes early to look around, get a “feel” for what is going on around you, and generally to settle down.

GET SET!

For the sprinter, the set position is the key to an explosive start, and can make the difference between winning and losing. When you present yourself ready for the interview, waiting for the starting gun, you should be in a position to get started for the next big phase in your professional career.

As important as it is to be ready, it is equally important to be relaxed. Several things can help you calm the butterflies in your stomach as you prepare. Have a good breakfast before you leave home, and stay well hydrated. Take a few sips of water or an energy drink before you go into the interviewing room, but don't overdo the liquids, for obvious reasons. Try to relax. A little deep breathing as you sit in the waiting room, or reading some familiar material, may do the trick.

GO!

Your first interaction with a representative of the company may be with the greeter who escorts you from the waiting room to the interview room. This may be a recent grad hired by the company, or it may be the interviewer; either way, introduce yourself with a firm handshake, repeating his or her name, and accompany that person to the site for your session. If you are then introduced to one or more other company representatives, greet each in a similar manner before you take your seat.

Interviewers will often begin with “small talk” about seemingly innocuous subjects, such as the woes of the local sports team or the weather forecast. Although these comments are generally made to put you at ease, be careful. Your answers are not that important as far as content is concerned (you won't get hired because you like or dislike the Dallas Cowboys), but they are important in terms of your demeanor, grammar, and how you carry yourself. Remember to use proper English in a conservative style, not laced with clichés or slang. Unless something was truly extraordinary, it should not be described as “awesome.”

By now, you have practiced with such standard interview questions as, “What do you expect to be doing five years from now,” or “What led you to choose that major,” so this phase of the interview should go as expected. Just remember to think through your answers, speak slowly and clearly, and be positive, even in response to questions that seem designed to elicit a negative response. Don't criticize former employers or professors, but instead present even your bad experiences in a favorable light. Most important, be honest and truthful. Your job is to help the interviewer make the right decision - to choose you for the next step in the selection process. Demonstrate, by your performance, why you are better than the next candidate.

This interview is a feeling-out process and a sales pitch, during which the interviewer, who has already read your resume and has a general idea of your coursework, is attempting to get a general impression of how you would fit into the organization. You, on the other hand, have already researched the company, and are trying to assess next few years there. When responding to questions, use the information you have gained in your research to show that you have some knowledge about the firm. Also, avoid the temptation to give yes-or-no answers.

They do not exist in the interview scenario. Give answers that show you are knowledgeable, professional and interested.

The interview will probably last about 30 minutes, after which you will be asked if you have any questions. The correct answer is “yes,” followed by a well thought-out inquiry. Do not fall into the trap of saying, “No thank you, you already answered all of them.” Have a list of questions in mind before the interview begins, and ask one or two, paying attention to the answers and following up as appropriate. Be sure to inquire as to the next steps in the process. To some interviewers, no questions means no interest. Be sure to end with a sincere “Thank you” and a handshake, and don't forget to obtain a business card.

AFTER THE RACE IS OVER

Following a strenuous foot race, the participants first do some cooling down exercises and stretches to avoid cramping and muscle tightness. They then should analyze their performance, getting feedback from teammates and coaches, so that they can improve their performance for the next race. You should do the same thing after your interview.

Although you should not take notes during the interview, keep a mental record of the questions asked and answered. Discuss these with the people you have been working with in preparing for the interview, and determine what you should do to improve your performance next time. Also, talk to the placement office personnel; they were probably briefed by the company representatives before the end of the day, and may have some constructive suggestions.

Remember to forward a letter of appreciation to the interviewer, thanking them for their time and for considering you for employment. So many students leave out this step, which in the end could be the one thing that sets them apart from those applicants who did not take the time to extend this small courtesy.

And most of all, maintain a positive outlook, even if you are not selected. Just as there is always another race, there will always be another interview.