Interview Preparation

Know your audience. If people who work at the company wear suits to work, try to dress accordingly for your interview. If people who work at the company wear jeans and t-shirts, though, that gives you the green light to go slightly more casual for your interview. Should you also wear jeans and a t-shirt? No. But do you need to wear a suit? Definitely not. Try to make a wardrobe choice that’s somewhere in the middle, being mindful of appropriate hemlines and necklines. Whatever you choose, your clothing should never be in obvious disrepair (holes, rips, stains).

It depends! If the company is small, and if you can’t find a mailing address, a short and sweet thank you email will suffice. However, a handwritten note can show an employer that you’re willing to go the extra mile. If you interview with more than one person, send individual thank you notes, and always differentiate them; do not simply copy and paste your message. Always send thank you notes or emails within 24 hours of interviewing.

• There are a few no-no’s that can dash your chances of landing your dream internship or job. Steer clear of doing or discussing the following things:
  • Salary and/or pay: this information will either be made clear in the job description before you apply, or it will be made clear in an offer letter so that you can consider it before making a decision.
  • Bad-mouthing a former employer or experience, or placing blame on a former coworker: avoid this. It puts the interviewer in an awkward position to respond, and it may cause you to come across as unwilling to take responsibility or remain professional. 
  • Answering or checking your phone: plainly and simply, it’s disrespectful to pay attention to your phone during an interview. Give the employer your undivided attention, and you’ll come across as genuinely interested in the position.
  • Not asking questions: always come to the interview prepared with a list of eight to 10 questions that you’d like to ask. Chances are that many of your questions will be answered during the interview itself, and you’ll still have some left over that you can ask at the end. It’s a good idea to bring the list of questions with you, along with a pen and notepad to take notes throughout the interview or when your questions are answered.

• Find out timeline before you leave. When do they plan to make a decision?
• Ask for a business card from anyone you speak with in order to get the correct spelling of their name and their title.
• Send a thank you note in a timely fashion – include any themes you may have left out. This should be a handwritten note. If you’re traveling into town for the interview, drop your note in the mail before you leave so it will arrive more quickly.
• If you know your interviewer is making a decision quickly, it’s ok to send an email in addition to the handwritten note through US mail.
• If you haven’t heard within the timeframe the provided, make one short, friendly follow-up call to express that you’re still interested in the position and looking forward to hearing from them.

• Interviewing gets easier the more it’s done. It WILL get easier.
• Those who interview best, know themselves best. This comes with age and experience, but even after going on a few interviews, you will have a MUCH better sense of what employers are looking for in response to certain questions.