Careers
 
Job Search Management
Interviews:
Top 5 Blunders
Strategies
Techniques
Examples
Case Interview Strategies
Case Interview Tactics
In a Nutshell
FAQs

Interviews: Frequently Asked Questions

¤  How should I dress?
¤  What should I bring with me?
¤  How much should I research the company?
¤  Where can I find information on companies?
¤  What is the best way to respond to a really difficult question?
¤  What is the best way to talk about myself during an interview?
¤  What is the best way to improve how I carry myself in an interview?
¤  If during an interview I get a job offer I like, should I immediately accept it?
¤  How can I reduce my anxiety about the interview?
¤  What is a good way to end an interview?

 
How should I dress?
Dress to feel confident and to show respect. Wear clothes that you think you would wear to an important meeting on the job at that company.

 
What should I bring with me?
It is always a good idea to bring extra copies of your resume. Bring them in a nice folder. In this folder bring a tablet of paper and a nice pen. The paper might be handy for taking notes. The pen shows that you care enough to be prepared.

 
How much should I research the company?
You should research it enough to describe the following: their main products, their performance in the past few years, their top competitor, trends in their industry. You should also have an idea about how you can help the company.

 
Where can I find information on companies?
If you are a college student, there is often a good deal of recruiter information at your placement office. Otherwise, the best place to go is online. The organization's website is the best place to start. Good summaries are often found in the "About" sections of the website. Sections for investors often include annual reports. For public companies in the US, go to www.sec.gov and search in the Edgar database for annual accounts given in the 10K reports.

 
What is the best way to respond to a really difficult question?
Ask the interviewer to qualify the question, to explain it in more detail. This gives you a better chance of coming up with a focused answer. It also gives you a little more time.

 
What is the best way to talk about myself during an interview?
Always keep in minde two ideas: (1) Talk about your accomplishments, not about your duties. (2) Turn each statement about your past into a statement about how it will help you to do a good job working for that company.

 
What is the best way to improve how I carry myself in an interview?
Role play. Make a deal with friends: they pretend to be an interviewer for you if you pretend to be an interviewer for them. Ideally, you should also role play with someone who is not a friend and who is willing to give you candid criticism.

 
If during an interview I get a job offer I like, should I immediately accept it?
In general, no. Give yourself some time. Ask for a few days to consider it. Ideally talk awhile about the whole package - salary, equity, bonus, benefits, relocation. It shows maturity and interest. It also prepares you for negotiations that might be needed in the near future.

 
How can I reduce my anxiety about the interview?
Here are the two best ways: (1) Know more about the company than the interviewer knows about you. (2) Role play using difficult questions. If you do these two things you can be confident that you will be better prepared than almost all other candidates.

 
What is a good way to end an interview?
Ask two questions: "What are the next steps in the process?" and then, "Is there anything I can do to facilitate the process?"


 

Tips      Blunders      Strategies      Techniques      Examples      Nutshell

  

   Search Help

Tell a friend about this webpage!