For many job seekers, just the thought of interviewing with an employer can be a source of anxiety and nervousness. After all, it\u2019s not often that we find ourselves sitting alone in a small, hot room answering unpredictable, probing questions from a complete stranger who seemingly holds the fate of our future in their hands. But before you push the panic button, let\u2019s take a collective deep breath and dispel some of the more common interview myths and explore ways to help you go into your next interview feeling more polished, prepared, and confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First off, everyone experiences some degree of increased energy before an interview. Whether you call it nervousness or excitement or anticipation, it\u2019s all the same basic physiological reaction. Our bodies secrete an increase of adrenaline, resulting in an elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, and increased body temperature. For some, this can create a sense of increased energy and confidence. For others, it can cause more intense, adverse sensations, such as upset stomach, shortness of breath, racing mind, and a fight or flight response that can feel like a full-blown panic attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of where you find yourself on the interview-nervousness continuum, the good news is that interviewing is just like any other skill you\u2019ve ever mastered; the more you practice, the better you will get. If you have ever been on a team, played an instrument, or performed in public, you probably didn\u2019t just show up on game day and expect to deliver a flawless performance. Instead, you most likely spent many hours beforehand practicing, rehearsing, and visualizing what you would do and say. Well, interviewing is no different. Even if you have strong communication skills and don\u2019t get stressed out about interviewing, don\u2019t underestimate the benefits of practicing! Winging it seldom works.
To this end, I highly recommend that every Wilson College of Textiles student participate in a practice mock interview prior to the real thing. You can schedule a mock interview with a member of the Wilson College of Textiles Career Services Office via ePACK. In an addition, keep an eye out in ePACK for upcoming Mock Interview Days with Textile employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as employers interview you to see if you are a fit, you are interviewing them as well. By being attentive and thoughtful, you can learn important things about an organization during the interview. Some things you may want to consider include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it may not seem like it, you are also interviewing the employer as well. Before accepting a job or internship, it\u2019s important that you get your questions answered and feel secure about the role you are ultimately stepping into. Conducting employer research is essential to ensuring that you understand the role, culture, expectations, and vision of the organization you are considering joining. You are a commodity, meaning that you have valuable skills that the employer wants. Otherwise, they wouldn\u2019t be wasting their time and resources interviewing you in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contrary to what you may think, the interviewer isn\u2019t interested in watching you crash and burn under the pressure of ambiguous questions. Instead, he or she is typically more interested in seeing you be successful during the interview. After all, it\u2019s in their best interest to make you feel welcomed and comfortable during the interview, so that they can get to know the real you and determine if you\u2019d be a good fit. Also, many of the employers who recruit candidates from the Wilson College of Textiles are alumni themselves, so they have a special connection to our students and are invested in your success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By investing the time to interview you, the employer has already demonstrated their initial interest in you as a potential employee. The items on your resume offer a potential match with the role they are seeking to fill. So, now they need to determine the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More specifically, employers have outlined 5 top skills that they seek in new hires:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to determine whether or not you possess these skills and attributes, employers will ask a variety of questions pertaining to your past experiences, personality, goals, and interests. While there\u2019s an endless number of questions that employers can choose to ask, there are some fairly consistent and common questions you should be prepared to answer. Please see the Sample Interview Questions link for examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long before you ever sit down face to face with an employer, your interview has already begun. As soon as you post your resume online or email it to an employer, you must be ready for the employer to call or email you regarding a position. So, it is imperative that your email address and voice mail message are professional, as well as any information you post on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. An employer who receives your resume can choose to call you at any time, so be prepared right from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important aspects of the interview process occurs before you ever even speak to the employer. Conducting research on prospective employers is essential to a successful interview. So, what things should you know about an employer before the interview? Simply put: as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n
You should be knowledgeable about the organization\u2019s mission, history, growth, products, competitors, locations, etc. Obviously, visiting the employer\u2019s website is the easiest place to start. Employers want to hire candidates that can demonstrate a solid knowledge and genuine interest in their organizations.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
In addition to conducting employer research, it is also important that you are able to adequately communicate your skills, interests, and goals during the interview, and match them to the position you are pursuing. Keep in mind that anything and everything on your resume is fair game for the employer to ask about. Carefully review your resume and make sure that you can speak in detail about everything on it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s recommended that you bring with you a professional, leather portfolio with a pad and pen. Though you should not take extensive notes during the interview, you may want to jot down a few things, or have some prepared questions that you would like to ask the employer. Additionally, don\u2019t forget to bring several copies of your resume, work samples (optional), and any other examples of your accomplishments.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The first thing an employer will notice upon meeting you is the way you present yourself. Though organization culture can vary, the importance of professional attire cannot be overstated. By dressing appropriately, you demonstrate not only respect for the interviewer, but a larger understanding of professional etiquette. Though you should ultimately be evaluated and hired based on your skills and abilities, the image you project during the interview will certainly be taken into consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n
It\u2019s highly advised that you plan what you are going to wear in advance. The morning of your interview is not the time to discover that your one dress shirt has a stain on it or doesn\u2019t quite fit as well as it once did. For many Wilson College of Textiles interviews, business casual attire will be appropriate. This typically means a collared shirt\/blouse and slacks. However, some organizations more closely aligned with the fashion industry might appreciate a candidate who dresses in a more stylish manner. If you\u2019re not sure, ask a member of the Wilson College of Textiles Office of Career Services.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Much of how and what we communicate is done through non-verbal communication. According to some studies, as much as 90% of our communication is done through body language. This is especially true during a job interview. You need to be aware of the messages you are conveying both verbally and non-verbally.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Everyone should be comfortable offering a firm, dry, confident handshake. You do not want to break anyone\u2019s knuckles, nor do you want to offer a limp, sweaty palm. Practice your handshake; this simple gesture can convey a lot to an employer.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Your body language during the interview should convey a sense of positive energy and engagement. Sit up straight with legs crossed or feet firmly on the floor. Your back should be straight, head up and looking forward. Refrain from slouching, appearing too relaxed, or excessive fidgeting.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t forget to smile! While you want to come across as serious and professional, you also want to remain friendly and likeable. Don\u2019t be afraid to show your interpersonal skills and natural warmth during the interview.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important that you maintain a good balance of eye contact with the employer. This conveys honesty, confidence, and interest. While your goal is not to stare the employer down, you do want to show that you are comfortable with direct eye contact. A good rule of thumb is to engage in eye contact when the employer is asking you a question or when you are responding. When you are thinking of your answer, it is okay to break eye contact.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
As previously mentioned, nervousness during the interview is common for many people. However, you do want to pay attention to the way that you react to your nervousness. If you are tapping your foot or fumbling with a pen throughout the interview, it can be very distracting to you and the employer. Work on controlling any nervous behavior before you meet with the employer in person. Also keep in mind that chewing gum is never appropriate in an interview.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
As previously mentioned, nervousness during the interview is common for many people. However, you do want to pay attention to the way that you react to your nervousness. If you are tapping your foot or fumbling with a pen throughout the interview, it can be very distracting to you and the employer. Work on controlling any nervous behavior before you meet with the employer in person. Also keep in mind that chewing gum is never appropriate in an interview.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
When responding to a prompt, try to frame your answers as if you\u2019re telling a story (which is pretty much what you\u2019re doing). There should be a logical beginning, middle and end, and the story should focus on what\u2019s often referred to as the STAR<\/strong> method:<\/p>\n\n\n Employers are interested in how well you can answer their questions, not how fast you can answer them. If you\u2019re asked a difficult question, take a moment or two to collect your thoughts. Rather than blurting out the first answer that comes to your mind (which may not be your best answer), take a deep breath, think your answer through, and then deliver your response. You can buy a little extra time by repeating the question aloud while you think. By doing so, you demonstrate to the employer that you are thorough, thoughtful, and reflective.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Another common mistake job seekers sometimes make is talking too much during the interview. While it\u2019s important that you answer each question thoroughly, it is equally important that your answers do not go on too long. While you can expect to do the majority of the talking during the interview, you do not want to bore the interviewer with very long, extraneous answers. Pay attention to the interviewer\u2019s non-verbal cues to make sure you are not losing your audience. Remain professional and positive regardless of how friendly or laid back the interviewer may appear, your language and vernacular should be completely professional and appropriate.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Avoid using any slang, profanities, poor grammar or stereotypes. At no time in an interview should you voice any negative comments or opinions about former supervisors, professors, or classmates. This can only serve to hurt your candidacy.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many employers will conduct their first-round interviews via the phone. These interviews typically last from 15-30 minutes, and are used as a precursor to an in-person interview. Since so much of how and what we communicate is done non-verbally, the phone interview can present some unique challenges. When you are having an in-person conversation with someone, you can take in a lot of information through their body language; are they listening, do they seem engaged, do they seem bored? With a phone interview, it is much more difficult to gauge the interviewer\u2019s interest.<\/p>\n\n\n Video interviews have become extremely common for employers, particularly if they are not local.<\/p>\n\n\n Each year, several employers come to the Wilson College of Textiles to interview students for jobs and internships. These interviews typically last for 30-45 minutes, and give the employer and candidate both a chance to get to know each other in a more formalized setting. Employers who wish to interview students on campus will post their open positions in ePACK, and then choose interview candidates from the pool of resumes they receive.<\/p>\n\n\nTake Your Time<\/h2><\/a>
Answer the Question (and then be quiet)<\/strong><\/h2><\/a>
Keep it Professional<\/h2><\/a>
Common Interview Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Phone Interviews<\/h2><\/a>
Video Interviews<\/h2><\/a>
On-Campus Interviews<\/h2><\/a>