Interviewing Guide

SUNY Westchester Community College  Career Services Interview Guidelines 2017-2019 3 Interview Training…..Introduction Why Effective Interview Skills Matter The job interview is the most important aspect of your job search. Often it is the person with the best interviewing skills, not necessarily the best qualifications, who gets the job offer. Your primary objective on any interview is to communicate to the interviewer that you have the skills and qualities to do the job. In other words SELL YOURSELF! If you don’t, no one else will. A positive self-concept, confidence in your abilities and enthusiasm for the job/organization are extremely important in the interviewing process. It will make the difference in whether or not you get a job offer. Would you hire you? If you are not sure why the answer is yes, it’s time to get started learning about your strengths and skills for the job. The Message You never get a second chance to make a good first impression! The interview is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd, to send the employer a clear message that you are the best candidate for the position. It is said that an interviewer decides during the first 30 seconds whether to hire an applicant. You have a small window of opportunity to leave the employer with the impression that hiring you is the best thing he/she can do for the organization. Developing the ability to highlight your strengths in an interview and leave a strong first impression will generate job offers. The steps to successful interviewing begin with considerable preparation. You would never act in a play without researching and practicing your “lines”. The same is true of interviewing; preparation and practice are the strategies for success. Common Misconceptions  An interview is a type of “test” where an applicant sits passively and answers questions  Interviews involve unpredictable questions  One cannot prepare for an interview; it is best to just “wing-it”  Interviewers are looking for ways to trap the interviewee  If you were unable to answer all the questions, you did poorly Types of Job Interviews All interviews have the same objective, but employers may use different methods to reach that objective. A good strategy is to understand the different types of interviews you might experience as a job seeker, so you are prepared to do your best. On the following page is information about some of the more common types of interviews.