Interview Tips & Strategies 

General Professional Dress Guidelines  

The first qualities an employer will notice upon meeting you are your professionalism and the way you present yourself. While organizational culture can vary, the importance of professional attire cannot be overstated. 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. Here are some simple guidelines to keep in mind: 

• Aim for polished and intentional, not overly formal unless required. 

• Choose clothing that fits well and helps you feel confident and comfortable. 

• Stick to a neutral or minimalist color palette — navy, grey, black, beige, white — and add personality through accessories, texture, or subtle patterns. 

• Make sure clothes are clean, wrinkle-free, and in good condition. 

• Keep footwear clean and close toe unless the event is specifically casual. 

• Style choices (jewelry, bags, shoes) should reflect your identity without distracting the interviewer from the professionalism of the outfit. 

• Dress for a phone interview as you would for a virtual/in-person meeting.  Dressing professionally places you in a professional mindset. 
• Make sure that you are in an area with good cell phone reception; we do not want a dropped call.   
• Smile and make sure you are showcasing your enthusiastic personality.   
• Slow down.  When you are on the phone, you won’t be able to see the body language of the person you are talking to.  Slow down so they understand your answers and you don’t accidentally cut them off.  

• Virtual interviews are often the first step of the interview process.  
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview (professional business attire). 
• Make sure your Wi-Fi is working and ready to go. 
• Make sure that there are no distractions in the background.   
• Make sure you are making eye contact with your webcam (we don’t want to look like we are looking down on the interviewer’s screen).   
• Smile and project your answers with confidence.  Remember, you are qualified for this position.   
• Follow-up with the interviewers within 24 hours with a thank you email.   
• If a technical glitch happens, don’t panic.  Email the recruiter to explain the situation.   
• Hop onto Zoom, Microsoft Teams Call 10 minutes before your start date (sometimes zoom will have updates needed).  We do not want to be late. 

• You will need a leather folder style portfolio containing pockets (for extra copies of your resume, references, unofficial or official transcript, and writing sample if necessary), a notepad and pen. 
• Business Cards can be ordered through FedEx or Vista Print.  Include contact information (email, telephone number), class year, major and other essential information.   
• On business cards, include a QR that will take the person to your LinkedIn account.   

• Much of how and what we communicate is done through nonverbal 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. It is important that you create a positive impression non-verbally. 
• If the interview is off campus, do a “dry run” of locating the interview. Arrive for the interview early and walk around the block. This will relieve stress and help you perform optimally.  
• Make sure you have a firm handshake (no limp wrist handshakes) and look the employer in the eye.  
• Maintaining good eye contact with the employer shows that you are present and engaged in the interview.  
• 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.  
• Smile! There is no overstating the positive impact a simple smile can have during the interview. While you want to come across as serious and professional, you also want to remain friendly and likeable. Don’t be afraid to show your interpersonal skills and natural warmth during the interview. 
• Practice controlling nervous ticks (twirling hair, tapping foot) and “talking” hands to ensure they enhance your image and don’t detract from it. Also, keep in mind that chewing gum is never appropriate in a professional setting. 

• If a recruiter mispronounces your name, politely and clearly say, “I’m sorry, my name is ….”.  
• Don’t be too casual; always maintain a strong level of respect and professionalism. If you have any doubt on this issue, use a more formal approach. 
• When shaking hands with employers, you may extend your hand as soon as eye contact is made and the introduction begins. 
• If you draw a blank on someone’s name, take the embarrassment on yourself by saying, “I’m sorry, I know we’ve met, your name is…?”. 

Employers typically want to know three things: 

1. Can you do the job? 

2. Will you do the job? 

3. Will you fit in with the organization? 

Your job is to provide enough solid information to answer an unequivocal “YES!” to all three of these questions. To do so effectively, you will need to be aware of the specific characteristic’s employers seek in new hires.  The NACE Competencies showcase what employers are looking for in new hires.  When in doubt, talk about your skills with the 3 C’s: Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking.

Just as employers interview you to see if you are a good 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: 

1. How does the organization’s mission match your interests? 

2. Does the nature of the job sound interesting? 

3. How is the organization run; does it seem well organized? 

4. How do the other employees interact with each other? 

5. Are you excited about the possibility of this position? 

6. Does the job match your career interests? 

STEP 1: RESEARCH THE EMPLOYER AND FIELD 

You should be knowledgeable about the organization’s mission, history, growth, products, competitors, locations, etc. Sources can include: 

1. Company Website 

2. Handshake 

3. LinkedIn Page 

4. Vault Page 

5. Glassdoor 

STEP 2: KNOW YOURSELF 

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. 

STEP 3: PRACTICE 

Practice makes perfect. Students can either schedule an appointment with one of the members of the Career Education Team through Handshake or login to their Big Interview Account and record themselves answering behavioral style questions, admissions questions, skills-based questions, and other popular questions. 

terviewers appreciate and expect questions, and the questions should never seem as if they are being read (See a list of questions below). The key is to show you have done your research and are interested in the company and the position.  Every candidate should have 3 to 5 questions ready to ask.   

You never ask the employer about salary. Your research of the industry should give you an idea of what the position will pay. The interviewer is responsible for initiating negotiations on salary and may not mention salary at all during the first interview or until a job offer is made. 

1. What do you think are the greatest challenges associated with this position? 

2. How would you describe the organization’s culture? 

3. What would be a typical career path for someone in this position? 

4. How is performance evaluated? 

5. What are some professional development opportunities that are available to new hires? 

6. What do you look for in an ideal candidate? 

7. How is the training/rotation handled? 

8. What is the next step in the process? 

9. What is the percentage of teamwork to individual work? 

10. What do you like best about working here? 

• To find out an employer’s deadline for making a hiring decision, be sure, at the end of the final interview, to ask the employer if he or she has a date in mind for making his or her final decision. Having a specific time frame will help you in your follow-up. 
• Always send a thank you note to the employer within 24 hours of the interview.  Thank you messages can be emailed or typed on business-sized paper and mailed.  
• If you meet with more than one person at the interview, it is not necessary that you send each person a thank you letter. You can if you wish, or you can send one thank you to the person who arranged the interviews and have them thank all the interviewers and list the interviewers by name.  
• In order to spell their names correctly, request business cards at the interview. 
• If you are offered employment, ask the employer what the deadline is for making a final decision.   
• Make your decision within that time frame. If you need an extension, let the employer know. Your reason for this request should be a good one. The employer is under no obligation to accept your request. You do not get what you don’t ask for, so be polite and act professionally in making any requests from the employer.