Great Interview Tips

Lola Mendeloff

 

As a senior, I have spent much of the year working and reworking my resume so that it 

 

gives the best snapshot of who I am and what my talents are for future employers. If sending in 

 

an application feels scary and intimidating, that is nothing compared to the interview process 

 

because the words on the paper are no longer the only impression this hiring person will have 

 

of you—you have to speak for yourself. Receiving an interview means that this company likes 

 

what they saw on your application and now it is your job to impress them even more in person. 

 

There are many ways to make a good first impression. Here is a list of do’s and don’t’s for the 

 

best job interview possible:

 

DO always dress appropriately. If you are interviewing for a position in an office or 

 

somewhere clearly professional, dress professionally. This means no jeans, shorts, t-shirts or 

 

yoga pants. Wear a nice skirt with a sweater or a dress shirt if you have one that fits nicely. 

 

If you wear something that says you do not care enough to dress nicely then that means you 

 

will not care about the job. Dressing for the job that you want says you have goals and are 

 

responsible enough to act maturely in the workplace. This also applies to language. If you swear 

 

like a sailor, you will not be hired. Being polite and demur is the best way to appear mature and 

 

sophisticated.

 

DON’T walk into the interview assuming they are going to give you the job or that you 

 

are the only candidate. Employers often will not tell you about other applicants but assume 

 

there are more out there like you, which means you have to put your best foot forward. Don’t 

 

be pushy or desperate, just be your polite self. Never act like you know everything or are owed 

 

anything; confidence is a good thing, until it becomes arrogance, which is not a good quality 

 

for a subordinate to have. Also, telling them that this position is a stepping-stone to the job you 

 

really want to have is never a good idea. You may not want to do this job forever but act like it in 

 

the interview. Don’t oversell the enthusiasm but don’t act like it is a pit stop for you—they want

 

someone who will work hard for them, whatever the work.

 

DO be honest with the interviewer—within reason of course. If they ask you something 

 

like “how well do you work with others?” do not lie and say you are a people person if you hate 

 

group projects. Tell the truth but make sure to put a positive spin on it. Say something like “I 

 

have always been a fairly self-sufficient worker, so I don’t mind working alone.” If they ask the 

 

“weakness question” (i.e. “what is your weakest point,” a popular trip-up question), don’t get 

 

discouraged or embarrassed and over share. You can work around the painful truth that you are 

 

shy or that you watch too much TV by saying “I sometimes struggle with meeting new people, 

 

but I think that a new environment will help” or you can make a joke out of it; “my boyfriend/

 

parents/etc tell me that I watch too much TV but I think it is all about time management.”

 

DON’T come in with a general resume. Personally, I have everything in my background 

 

from washing dogs to selling kitchenware, but not all of those help me in the executive world. 

 

The best idea is to make one resume with every experience you have on it and then make 

 

separate, tailored ones for each interview. Being experienced is good, unless it has no application 

 

to this particular position. If you have lots of experience with kids that does not necessarily 

 

mean you are fit for a job say in sales. The key is making the most out of what you have on your 

 

resume. Turn babysitting into experience with responsibility, highlight what is relevant and 

 

merely summarize the less pertinent information.

 

While it is always important to be mature, polite, and witty, the most important thing to 

 

remember about applying for a job is to just be you. The company will hire you because they like 

 

what you have to offer them so be proud of what you have to offer.