PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE Whether you are a seeking job or internship, interviewing for graduate school, or starting your first internship or professional job, firstimpressions are everything. The first thing an employer, supervisor, or co-worker sees when they greet you is your appearance and attire. Although dressing appropriately will not get you the job/internship or promotion alone, it can set you apart from the competition in both a positive and negative way. Therefore, you must always make every effort to wear proper attire or as the cliché goes dress for success! PROPER INTERVIEW ATTIRE How you present yourself will set the tone of the interview. If you show up looking too casual, the employer will assume that you are not taking the interview seriously. If you arrive over dressed, the employer will assume that you did not bother to do your research on the organization s culture. It is very important to put some time into selecting what you will wear to an interview. What you choose to wear should fit the culture of the organization you plan to interview at and make you feel confident when wearing it. Spend some time researching the culture of the organization to determine their typical dress code. When in doubt, dress conservatively in business professional attire. A suit is the best choice. BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR WOMEN Wear a conservative suit in a solid dark color (skirt or pants are acceptable). The suit skirt should not hit higher than 2 inches above the knee and must fit properly without tightly clinging to the body. Choose a blouse to compliment the suit. Avoid bright colors and patterns if interviewing at a more traditional organization. Be sure the neckline is professional and modest. Always wear hose if wearing a skirt. Be sure you have extra pairs on hand. Limit the amount of jewelry you wear. Avoid large pieces that draw too much attention. Don t wear any perfume. Some individuals are very sensitive or even allergic to fragrances Hair should be pulled back and away from the face so not to cause any distraction. Simple styles are best. Select a closed toe shoe in either a black, navy, or neutral color. Both flats and heels are acceptable. The heel should be a medium height (2 2 ½ inches). Be sure you can walk in whatever shoes you choose. BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR MEN Wear a conservative single-breasted suit in a solid color with a two, three, or four button jacket. Choose a darker color to carry more authority (charcoal, navy, dark gray, black). Select a 100% wool suit if possible. The fabric wears better than other material and looks more professional and traditional. Have your suit altered to fit you properly. Avoid colored shirts unless you know the organization s culture well. A white, long-sleeved, cotton shirt is best. Be sure the collar is stiff but comfortable, the cuffs extend ¼ inch below the suit jacket sleeve, and the shirt has been ironed. Select a silk tie that complements and adds some color to your suit. Avoid loud colors and patterns. The width of the tie should be similar to the width of the suit jacket s lapels. When tied, the bottom of the tie should touch your belt. Wear polished and well-maintained dress shoes in black, brown, or cordovan (dark burgundy). Pair the shoes with tall dress socks in a color that compliments the suit. Select a leather belt that matches your shoes and offsets the color of the suit (e.g. brown/tan/beige suit = brown or cordovan belt and shoes; black/navy/gray suit = black belt and shoes). Limit the amount of cologne worn, be sure to shave, and get a fresh haircut. BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE Although some offices maintain business professional attire every day, many organizations operate on a business causal dress code. It is extremely important that you clarify what the dress code is before beginning a new position. It is easiest to think of business causal as a step down from business professional. It does not require a full suit, but many of the same business professional attire rules still apply. BUSINESS CASUAL FOR WOMEN Business dresses, skirts, or pants in wool, linen, or cotton blend materials (fit and length remain prime concerns). Blouses and sweaters (with sleeves) with modest necklines. Can also pair a blouse, blazer, and pair of pants in coordinating colors. BUSINESS CASUAL FOR MEN Slacks in wool, linen, or cotton blends. Tan, black, gray, charcoal, navy, brown, and black are all acceptable colors. Dress shirts in solid colors or subtle patterns, sweaters, and sport coats are all appropriate.
INTERVIEWING Being offered an interview means that the employer has decided that you are a capable candidate. They now want to learn more about your experience and determine if you are the right fit for the position. Fit encompasses everything from your professional appearance and personality to your ability to communicate and apply your past experiences to the new position. In any interview you have three goals: Determine if you are a good fit for the organization. (This goes both ways. You need to feel like you fit too.) Prove that you are qualified for the position. (Be able to comfortably discuss your qualifications and experience.) Convince the interviewer that you understand the position and organization. (Show them you have done your research and are taking this seriously.) PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW 1. REVIEW YOUR EXPERIENCE Spend some time reviewing your accomplishments and skills. Look over the job description and circle the skills and qualities that the employer is looking for and then begin to brainstorm examples of how you possess those qualities and skills. Interviewing is all about having examples ready. Take the time to write down some stories about times when you used certain skills or exhibited specific qualities so that you can use those stories as examples in the interview. The more examples you recall beforehand, the more prepared you will be in the interview. For example, when they ask you about a time you took a leadership role, you should have a few different examples to choose from. When you describe these situations use the STAR acronym to help you tell the story concisely: Situation Explain the setting of your example. Give the interviewer some context. Task What was the goal that needed to be achieved or the problem that needed to be solved? Action What did you do to achieve that goal or solve that problem? Be specific. Talk about the skills that you used and the steps you took. Avoid talking about we or us. The employer is interviewing you, not a group. Result What ended up happening? Did you achieve the goal? Did you solve the problem and perhaps come up with a way to prevent the problem in the future? Always use the STAR acronym when answering behavioral questions. Behavioral questions are based on the idea that past behavior predicts future behavior. A list of behavioral questions can be found at the end of this handout. It is also important to prepare your answers to the three most common interview questions: Tell me about yourself (or some variation of that). Most interviewers will begin the interview with this question. Therefore, it is helpful for you to have an answer prepared so you feel comfortable and confident at the beginning of the interview. The interviewer wants to know about the professional you, not the personal you. Focus on what brought you to this point (this interview). Discuss relevant details that led up to this point: college major/experiences, research you have done, and job/internship/volunteer experiences that you have had. Avoid discussing pre-college events unless they had an impact on where you are now in terms of career goals. This answer should be concise and no more than 2-3 minutes. What is your greatest strength? This is a wonderful question that not only allows you to separate yourself from the competition, but also allows you to prove your fit for the position. At this point, you know the skills and qualities that the employer is looking for, so your greatest strength(s) should be in line with those stated needs. Be sure that you do not simply state a strength, such as organization. Saying you are organized is not enough. You need to prove it with examples. For every strength you mention, you must prove you have that strength by offering up an example of a time when you have utilized that strength. What is your greatest weakness? This can be a dangerous question, but with a little preparation it will be a breeze. The employer wants you to do two things when answering this question. (1) They want to see that you can admit to having a flaw (so do not say something about how your perfectionism is a weakness). (2) They want to hear what you are doing to improve that weakness. Therefore, it is always best to avoid mentioning anything that is a personality trait (e.g. procrastination, OCD, etc.). Personality traits cannot be easily improved. Instead, choose a skill that you can improve. Choose a skill that is not essential to the position and then explain how you are improving it. Keep your response concise. You do not want to dwell on your weaknesses. Example: You are not as familiar with Photoshop as you would like to be. So you have been taking some free seminar classes at the library each month to improve your skills in this area. CONTINUED ON BACK
2. RESEARCH THE ORGANIZATION/POSITION In order to put your best foot forward in the interview you must know as much as you can about the position and organization. In fact, if you do not do any research the interviewer will assume that you are not serious about the position. First, you want to spend some time on the organization s website. You also want to do some industry research and, if possible, talk to people who work in the field or even at the organization of interest. Ultimately, you want to have a basic understanding of the following: Organization s History Industry Issues and Trends Organization s Culture Mission or Philosophy of the Organization Salary Ranges for Position Type Organization s Competitors and Future Plans It is also important to do your research so you are able to craft well thought out questions to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. Some example questions to ask employers are included at the end of this handout. 3. PRACTICE Thinking you know what you are going to say and actually being able to articulate your thoughts are two very different things. Therefore, it is imperative that you practice answering interview questions before the big day. Make an appointment with a career advisor for a mock interview, utilize InterviewStream via Wildcat CareerLink, or sit down with a friend and practice answering the common interview questions (found at the end of this handout) and other questions you feel might be asked based on your research. Practicing will help you hone your answers into concise explanations and examples void of any unnecessary fillers. THE INTERVIEW Learn as much as you can about the logistics of the interview beforehand. Make sure you know exactly where the interview will be taking place. (If necessary, make a practice run so you feel comfortable getting there on the day of the interview.) Make sure you understand the general length and type of interview (e.g. one-on-one, panel, group etc.) you will be participating in. Know the names of your interviewers (if provided to you prior to the interview) and the title of the position you are applying for. Arrive 10-15 minutes early and bring the following with you: copies of your tailored resume on quality resume paper, copies of your references, transcripts (if requested), and a portfolio (if you have one). Dress appropriately. Choose something conservative and professional that is appropriate for the culture of the organization with which you are interviewing. A suit, typically in a dark color, is always a safe choice for both men and women. (See the Professional Attire Handout.) Pay attention to your nonverbal communication. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and a smile. Maintain appropriate eye contact throughout the interview (but do not stare them down). Sit up straight and lean slightly forward to suggest interest. Avoid being too stiff. Keep your hand gestures in check and avoid fidgeting. Remember to smile and show enthusiasm! Follow business etiquette. Always begin the interview and end the interview with a firm handshake. Follow the hosts lead if you are taking part in a dining interview. Listen. Be sure to answer the questions that are being asked of you. If you forget a question or need clarification, ask the interview to rephrase or repeat the question. If you are asked a question that you do not know how to answer immediately, take a moment to collect your thoughts. Remember, you do not need to have an answer ready to go immediately for every question. The interviewer wants to know that you took time to think through their question before answering. Keep in mind that an interview is just a conversation. Avoid using filler words such as uhm, like, and you know. Also be sure to avoid jargon and abbreviations (e.g. IU, IUSPH, IMU, etc.). Be yourself. Answer the questions truthfully. Do not be who you think they want you to be. Just be you. AFTER THE INTERVIEW Take some time to write down your thoughts, impressions, and observations. What went well? What did not go well? What were the difficult questions? Did you share a humorous moment with one of the interviewers? Write everything that you can remember down. This will help you later when making decisions about accepting job offers and will also help you write better thank you letters. Write your thank you letter(s). You should write a thank you letter to each of the people who interviewed you. You must send your thank you letter(s) within 24 hours of the interview. You can either e-mail them or send handwritten notes. (When possible, shoot for the handwritten note. It sends a stronger message.) Be sure all names are properly spelled and be sure to include some personality. If you and your interviewer spoke for a moment about a book you both read, mention it in the thank you letter. These personal touches will help them remember you and will let them know that they made an impression on you. Inform the employer if at any point you decide that you are no longer interested in the position or have accepted another job offer. This is an important professional courtesy to uphold. This can be as simple as an e-mail thanking them for their consideration and explaining that at this time you are no longer interested in the position or have accepted another option. EXAMPLE QUESTIONS
COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Tell me about yourself. What are some of your long-term and short-term goals? What are some of your greatest strengths? What is your greatest weakness? How do you define success? What is your greatest accomplishment? What three adjectives would you use to describe yourself? What do you know about us? What are your salary expectations? Why are you interested in working here? Why this position? What made you choose to pursue a career in? What important trends do you see in this industry? How would you describe a productive work environment? How have your past experiences prepared you to take on greater responsibility? Why should we choose you over other applicants? Do your grades reflect your abilities? Why should we hire you? Describe your ideal supervisor. BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult person. Describe a situation in which you failed to reach a goal. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure and deal with deadlines. Tell me about a time when you had to use communication skills to complete a task. Describe a time when you worked as part of a team. What role did you play? Describe a time when you made a mistake. Tell me about a time when you didn t agree with a rule or policy. STRESS QUESTIONS Can you work overtime? Travel? Entertain at home? Have you done the best work you are capable of? How do you think this interview is going? How long would you plan on staying in this position? OFF-THE-WALL QUESTIONS What song best describes your personality? How many dogs are there in the US? What is a recent book you ve read or movie you ve see that had an impact on you? If you could meet one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why? Check us out on Twitter and Facebook! www.facebook.com/ukcollegeofpublichealth @UKCPH QUESTIONS TO ASK EMPLOYERS/INTERVIEWERS What are your organization s three most important goals? What attracted you to work at this organization? Could you describe a typical day in this position for me? How will my performance be measured? By whom? What is the company's policy on providing professional development for employees? What are the most critical factors for success in your business? What challenges might I face if I were to be in this position? What personal qualities or characteristics do you most value in employees? How would you describe the organization s culture? What are the organization s plans for future growth? What makes this organization better than its competitors in your opinion? What s the next step in the selection process? What does the timeline look like for filling this position? ILLEGAL QUESTIONS In the United States, employers cannot legally ask you questions about the following topics: Age Marital/Family Status National Origin/Citizenship (They can ask if you are authorized to work in the US.) Sexual Orientation Disabilities (unless related to the ability to perform the job -See Americans with Disabilities Act) Personal Information (e.g. height, weight, etc.) Arrest Record (unless related to the job) Club and Social Organization Memberships Unrelated to the Position If you are asked an illegal question, you have two options. You can choose to answer the question, but you understand that by offering the information you are allowing the employer to make a hiring decision about you based on that information. Alternatively, you can choose to not answer the question. If you choose to not answer the question, do so respectfully. You may say that you do not feel comfortable answering that question, that you do not see how that question relates to the position, or you can simply state that you believe that is an illegal question and would prefer not to answer. A NOTE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA: If you have a public profile on a social media site you are, in essence, throwing away all of the legal protections granted to you by the illegal questions discussed above. By putting your picture out there with information about your marital status, social organization membership, etc. you are giving an employer the ability to make hiring decisions about you that are not based on your actual abilities. Make sure your social me *Adapated from Indiana University School of Public Health - Bloomington
INTERVIEWING FROM A DISTANCE In today s job search environment, it is likely that you will be asked to conduct an interview from a distance. These interviews will likely take the form of either a traditional phone interview or a more modern web-based interview using a platform such as Skype. Phone and Skype interviews have increased in popularity for a number of reasons: They save both the candidate and employer a lot of time and money. They allow employers to consider candidates from a wider geographic region. They allow employers to better screen potential applicants. It is extremely important to prepare for distance interviews the same way you would prepare for an in-person interview. You will need to research the organization, have answers prepared for the common questions, and have questions that you hope to ask them. For more information about preparation, please see the Interviewing Handout. GENERAL TIPS FOR DISTANCE INTERVIEWS When scheduling your interview, allow for ample time to prepare before and review after the interview. Find a quiet, private space where you can conduct the interview. Have your resume, notes, questions, and blank paper nearby. You do not want to read from any of these materials, but it is fine to reference them while answering questions. Dress professionally as you would for an in-person interview. (See Professional Attire Handout for more information.) Do not be afraid to ask for clarification if you were unable to understand or fully hear a question. Also, feel free to ask if they need any additional information after you answer questions. Take a breath before responding to each question. This will give you a moment to formulate your answer and will prevent you from cutting the interviewer off. Consider that there may be a delay in the transmission. When responding, use specific examples that paint a picture in the listener s mind. Interview alone. Do not let anyone else into the room they will only serve as distractions. Take notes during the interview to help you remember the questions asked and how you answered them. This is valuable if you move on to the second round of interviews. Be sure to ask questions showing your preparation and interest in the position. Be prepared to discuss your availability at the end of the interview should the interviewer ask to set up an in-person interview with you. Be sure to get your interviewer s name and contact information so you are able to follow-up with a thank you e-mail or handwritten letter. Always thank your interviewer(s), ask about next steps, and re-express your interest and fit. PHONE INTERVIEW TIPS Use a landline phone if possible. If you must use a cell phone, take a moment at the beginning of the conversation to determine who will call the other person back if the call is dropped. If using a cell phone, put it on silent in case you receive another call or text messages during your interview. Be enthusiastic, avoid a monotone voice, and utilize facial expressions and gestures. This will help you avoid sounding flat on the phone. Avoid chewing gum, eating, or drinking while on the phone. SKYPE INTERVIEW TIPS www.facebook.com/ukcollegeofpublichealth @UKCPH Be sure your Skype account name is professional. If you do not have a Skype account, go to www.skype.com to set up a free account. Make sure your laptop is fully charged or plugged in and that you are in a place where you have a strong internet connection. If Skype is new to you, be sure to practice with a friend to familiarize yourself with its functions, volume, and lag time. Look into the webcam and not at the screen otherwise you will appear to be looking away from the interviewer. Check your appearance at the beginning but then close the image of yourself so you are not tempted to look at it. Turn off cell phones, e-mail alerts and any other programs that make sound. You do not want interruptions during your interview. Avoid putting your face too close to the camera. Choose your background wisely. You will want to avoid anything too distracting or too boring such as a flat white wall. Take a moment to figure out how lighting is affecting your image on the screen. Natural lighting tends to be best.