Dickinson College Career Center

1. Research the organization. Some great resources for company information include websites, books in the Career Library, and company literature. Another great way to gather information about a company is through informational interviewing.
2. Research the position. If you do not have a detailed description of the position, call the organization and ask them for one.
3. Know yourself.

- Study your resume so that you can speak eloquently about your education and experiences and how they relate to the position for which you are interviewing.
- Refer to the “Common Questions Interviewers Ask College Seniors” handout to get a better idea of what employers may be asking you. This will also help you prepare for answering similar questions asked by your interviewer.
- Think about the skills you may bring to the position and have examples for each.
- Be prepared to discuss your strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Always have a weakness because it shows that you do not think you are perfect. Make sure your weakness has some sort of redeeming quality and show the interviewer that you are trying to improve upon that weakness.

4. Utilize the resources of the Career Center. Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor to seek advice about the interview process. Schedule a video-taped mock interview, which is a great way to find out what you do well in an interview, as well as what you can improve upon. Also, check out our website for more interviewing advice (www.dickinson.edu/career).

BRING THE FOLLOWING TO THE INTERVIEW

• A binder
• Extra copies of your resume
• A list of references
• Seven to ten typed questions (never ask about salaries or benefits)
• A nice pen

3-STEP PROCESS OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS

1. State what you want to prove (“I am extremely organized.”)
2. Give an example (“In my previous position I was in charge of shipping and receiving, which required a significant amount of organization. I had company orders, customer special orders, incoming shipments, outgoing shipments, broken merchandise to claim, etc. I implemented a new filing system to help me keep track of all of the forms, as well as reorganized the shipping and receiving area to accommodate for all of the various orders.”)
3. Relate the skill to the position for which you are interviewing (“I feel that my previous experience utilizing my organizational skills prepared me for this position because of all of the paperwork and records I would be involved in keeping track of.”)
*Always elaborate and use examples when answering questions. Never give one word answers.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
1. Be sure to arrive approximately 10-15 minutes early for your scheduled interview. This will give you a chance to collect your thoughts. If you arrive earlier than 10-15 minutes, go somewhere else and then return when it is 10-15 minutes before your interview time.
2. Dress appropriately for the interview. This means a professional-looking suit with minimal accessories.
3. During the interview, be sure to speak clearly and enthusiastically and always maintain eye contact.
4. Immediately after your interview, send a thank-you note to the recruiter with whom you interviewed. Be sure to send a note to each person with whom you spoke, so if you were interviewed by two recruiters you will need to send two thank-you notes. This is a courteous way of acknowledging your gratitude, and it gives you one more chance to express your interest in the position. An example of a thank-you note is included in the Career Center’s Writing a Cover Letter…and Other Employment Correspondence booklet.

For more information on interviewing, for example interview questions, or to schedule a mock interview, stop by the Career Center or call ext. 1740.