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Interviewing Tips: Preparation
Preparation | What to
Wear | During
the Interview | Follow-Up
Sample Questions | UCS Interviewing Resources
Congratulations! You’ve been selected for the job interview. Time to prepare!
Conduct Your Research
It is essential that you prepare yourself for the interview by doing
research on the organization. Interviewers
will want to know why you want to work for them as opposed to working
for some other organization.
You should have knowledge of
their services, products, or goals before going into the interview.
This is a must for on-campus interviews. UCS also recommends that
you research the industry for which you are interviewing (e.g., banking,
insurance, advertising, non-profits).
A few good resources for conducting your research include:
- The employer's homepage (if available) - most employers have a website, and you can be certain that they will expect you to have viewed it!
- College professors and people already working in the field.
- Stock brokerage firms for annual reports.
- Online career research tools such as Vault and Wetfeet (available through UCS website).
- Job Choices Magazine for basic information on organizations which hire college graduates
- Industry-related magazines or journals.
- Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, Business Periodicals Index, F & S Index of Corporations and Industries for magazine articles about an organization, products, or services.
The publications mentioned above, as well as others, are available for reading in the UCS Resource Room.
Practice Makes Perfect
- Schedule a practice interview with UCS. No time for a practice interview? Drop by UCS during walk-in hours to get last-minute tips from a counselor.
- Make a list of questions you want to ask about the organization.
- Rehearse answers to questions that employers are likely to ask you.
The Day of Your Interview
- Dress appropriately! Appearance is the first thing you communicate to others. A suit for both women and men is almost always appropriate for all types of interviews. Visit What to Wear for more detailed tips on interview attire.
- Know the name of the interviewer. Be ready to greet him/her by a last name and be prepared for a handshake
- Bring a pen and portfolio-style folder containing extra copies of your resume. Don’t bring your book bag to the interview.
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early. You never want to start off an interview with an excuse for being late. Also, you may be asked to fill out paperwork before your interview begins.
- Take
a deep breath and give it your all!
Questions, comments? Email us
at ucs@unc.edu
919-962-6507
Campus Recruiting & Job Listings
Networking: It's Easier than You Think
Diversity in the Career Search: Resources for Specific Populations
