Career Center

Interviewing Checklist

Before the Interview

The Basics

  • Know the name and title of your interviewer.
  • Ask where to park and get specific directions.
  • Take several copies of your resume and reference list to the interview.

Research the Organization

  • Ask for an annual report if one is published.
  • Know the products, services and locations for the organization.
  • Identify and be able to discuss the mission of the organization.

Prepare for Interview Questions

  • Be able to identify and discuss your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Be prepared to give examples of your work or work situations that you handled successfully.
  • Have questions prepared to ask the interviewer.
  • Bring a list of your employment history including street addresses, zip codes, and phone numbers for application forms.

Prepare for your first impression:

  • Make sure your hair is trimmed and neatly groomed.
  • Pick out your clothes and ensure that they are pressed and cleaned.
  • Get a good night’s rest before the interview.
  • If you usually smoke, abstain until after the interview.

During the Interview

The Basics

  • Arrive at least 15 minutes early at the interview location.
  • Greet the first line contact politely and write down that person’s name.
  • Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and look him/her in the eye.
  • Sit up straight and lean slightly forward.
  • Maintain eye contact.

Be sure to:

  • Ask for a business card if one is not offered.
  • State your sincere interest in the position.
  • Ask how the selection process will continue.
  • Thank the interviewer.

After the Interview

Write a typed business thank you letter to each person with whom you talked.

  • Remind him/her why you are a match for the position.
  • Add information you forgot to mention during the interview.
  • Thank them again for their time and attention.
  • Send the letters within 24 hours.
  • Maintain eye contact.

For Future Interviews

  • Write down the questions you were asked and how you responded to them.
  • Evaluate how you did and what you could improve
  • Save your notes to review before future interviews

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH

Step 1: Research the Company

It is important to know as much as possible about the organization with which you are interviewing.Candidates who show up and say,”Uh,what do you guys do here?” annoy and turn off employers. Advance preparation increases your chances of receiving a job offer.

Types of information you should know:
  • What are the organization’s major products and services? Any new products or services?
  • Who are the organization’s clients or target market(s)?
  • Who are the organization’s competitors?
  • What is the organization’s relative position in the marketplace? (e.g. leader, #2, #5, etc.)
  • What problems/issues is the organization facing?
  • What are some of the organization’s recent projects, successes, new accounts, etc.
  • What is the company culture?
  • What size is the organization? Annual sales? Areas of growth or decline?
  • Is the company privately or publicly owned? Is it an independent organization or part of a larger conglomerate?
Sources of Information:
  • Review the organization’s website if applicable.
  • Use any search engine to access links to information about the organization.
  • Call the company directly and request information such as annual reports, brochures, or other available materials. NOTE: The Career Center may have some of this information on file in the career resource library.
  • Go to www.jobhuntersbible.com, and then click on “Research.” This site has an extensive list of links to a variety of company research sites.
Available resources in the IWU Career Center resource library include:
  • CareerSearch — an on-line database of information about employers in a wide variety of industries. Includes description, contact information, and key personnel.
  • Hoover’s Handbook of American Business
  • Hoover’s Handbook ofWorld Business
  • Hoover’s Handbook of Emerging Companies
  • Vault Reports The Job Vault
  • Peterson’s Top 2500 Employers
  • Peterson’s Job Opportunities in Business
  • Peterson’s Job Opportunities in Health and Science
  • Peterson’s Job Opportunities in Engineering and Computer Science

Step 2: Research the Position

In addition to knowing about the organization, gather as much information as possible about the job itself.Ask friends, neighbors, networking contacts, or anyone you know if they know someone who works for the organization. Then, follow up and call or plan a brief meeting to talk to that person. This process is often referred to as “informational interviewing.” Potential questions might include:
  • What are the positives and negatives about the job/career?
  • What are the major priorities or responsibilities of the job?
  • Qualifications, professional and personal, needed for success?
  • Advancement potential?
  • What aspects of the organization are working well?
  • What situations need to be addressed?
  • Company culture? (The day-to-day environment, attitudes of management and employees, management/corporate philosophies or mission, etc.)
NOTE:
At this point, you are only gathering information.You are not a job hunter, you are a job-researcher, trying to learn more about the organization/position. If possible, try to interview someone who does exactly what you would be doing if you were hired.Also, keep in mind that the information you’re obtaining is subjective (one person’s opinion) and may not be entirely factual.Nevertheless, talking to a current employee is often the best way to get the inside scoop on the job and the organization.

Job advertisements often contain information about key responsibilities, professional and personal qualifications, and possibly salary information.

Salary Research is vital and may require using many written resources and/or personal contacts to find what you need.You must know the market value for the position you are seeking before you go into any interview.

Sources of Salary Information available at the IWU Career Center resource library:
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook
  • National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Salary Survey
  • Internet – try http://jobstar.org/, the most extensive collection of salary surveys by industry or position

Step 3: Research Yourself

What skills and qualifications do you possess that the employer needs? What sets you apart from other candidates? What personal qualities will make you a successful candidate? Create an inventory of your skills. First, create a written inventory of your major skills.

Major Skills:
  • Computer/Technical
  • Communication
  • Accounting/Bookkeeping
  • Analytical/Research
  • Organization Management/Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Financial
  • Teaching/Training
  • Administrative
  • Selling
  • Helping/Counseling
  • Creative
Write down your accomplishments as they relate to your skills. You must do more than simply claim you have certain skills and abilities. Successful interviewing requires being able to demonstrate that you, in fact, have the skills and abilities you say you do.One way to demonstrate that you possess a particular skill is to give the interviewer specific examples of when, how, and where you used that ability, AND, most importantly, what was the positive result of what you did? Did you help save money, increase efficiency, save time, increase sales, improve client relations, or increase profits? (Whenever possible, try to quantify your accomplishments by including numbers, percentages, etc.)