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Some candidates look fantastic on paper, only to
disappoint in the interview. On the other hand, some people have a
natural talent in interviewing. But interviewing is ultimately a learned
skill.
Following are ten tips to help you be your best as
you interview.
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Research the industry and company beforehand;
over-prepare.
Use every resource to your advantage: fellow students, professors,
career-center resources, informational interviews with alumni of
your school, the company's recruitment literature, and databases and
websites such as Lexus/Nexus, the U.S. Business Browser, and
Hoovers.
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Know what you're looking for, what's important
to you, and why you are in the interview.
What are your values, interests, preferences? What kinds of roles
and responsibilities are stimulating to you? What are your top five
criteria for choosing a company or accepting an offer? What drew you
to interview with this company, for this job? Thinking through these
issues will keep you focused in your interviews-and keep you from
wasting time (yours and the interviewers) in interviews for jobs you
aren't truly interested in.
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Understand what you have to offer: your
skills, experience, education, talents, and strengths.
What makes you unique? What are your points of difference?
Understand how these make you a good fit for the opportunity the
company is offering, so you can make the fact that you are a good
fit clear to the interviewer.
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Anticipate the questions you'll be asked.
Think about key points you would emphasize for each question you can
imagine the interviewer asking. Additionally, prepare how you would
handle any illegal, unfair, or politically incorrect questions in a
firm but graceful manner. And remember: If it's on your resume, it's
fair game.
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Practice, refine, practice.
Participate in mock interviews; practice on your own or with other
students. Solicit honest feedback and work to improve. At a minimum,
one practice interview is a must. (For case interviews, do two or
more, since they can be quite complex. Check with your school's
consulting club and career center to see if they conduct mock case
interviews.)
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Be on time, enthusiastic, and professional in
your interviews.
When in doubt, dress more formally (most of the time, a suit and tie
for men, a pantsuit or jacket and skirt for women). Don't overdo the
accessories (scarves, jewelry, perfume, makeup). Bring extra copies
of your resume, just in case. Make sure pagers and mobile phones are
turned off. Present a firm handshake and eye contact when you
introduce yourself. Wait to sit until after the interviewer does, or
until he or she offers you your chair. Don't rush to fill in
silence. Think before you speak; take time to form your thoughts.
Tell the interviewer that you can be reached by phone or e-mail if
there are any follow-up questions. Show enthusiasm modulated to the
interviewer's. Speak with clarity and confidence. Close the
interview with a handshake and genuine thank you; make a positive
last impression.
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Develop questions (at least three) for each
interview.
Examples might include: What keeps you in the company or makes you
most excited about working there? How do you think the new players x
and y and recent merger activity between a and b will impact you?
Can you give me some examples of what kinds of roles MBAs typically
have at the company after two, five, or eight years?
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If the interviewer does not discuss next steps
and the timing of the recruiting process, ask about them.
If you think you'll be invited for a second-round, this will allow
you to block out the time on your calendar so you can participate.
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Follow up-quickly-with a written thank-you
note.
In this age of e-mails, an old-fashioned handwritten note can be a
breath of fresh air. You don't need fancy, personalized stationary;
a simple note-card or nice paper will do. Try to personalize your
thank-you's if you are sending them to more than one person in a
given company; assume they will be passed around. Saying the same
thing to everyone shows you did not take the time to differentiate
between your interviewers, which could be interpreted as meaning
that you don't care about the position, or bring into question your
level of business sense.
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After each interview, assess your performance.
Understand what worked, and what didn't.
Keep learning and improving as you go on interviews. Ask yourself
questions like: What do I need to do to perform better for next
time? Should I get additional practice-such as a videotaped mock
interview, or mock-interview feedback? Your career centers, the
people you've interviewed with, and fellow students with whom you've
participated in mock interviews can all be a source of excellent
feedback.
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