Learn to Interview Like a Pro

Writing an effective resume and cover letter can open the door to an interview, but strong interviewing skills will get you the job. The ability to articulate your skills and match them to the job in question are crucial to being hired. Like any learned skill, interviewing improves with practice, so we cannot stress enough the importance of interview preparation. Preparation will keep you one step ahead of your competition.

Several resources at the Career Center can be invaluable as you practice for your interviews.

Mock Interviews
A mock interview with a Career Center staff member is a practice interview in a non-stressful setting with instant feedback about your performance. The interview may be videotaped if you choose. This experience will enable you to see first hand what improvements are needed both in your ability to describe your experiences and abilities in a concise yet complete manner, as well as in the area of nonverbal communication. This is the time to ask all those questions you have about interview etiquette and difficult questions. Simply call or stop in the Center to schedule an appointment.

Adams Job Interview Pro
This CD ROM (which you can use in the Career Center or check out overnight) provides both video and audio responses to give you the feel of being in a real job interview. It provides over 300 of the most-often-asked questions, along with advice on how to respond, as well as sample answers. In addition to the hundreds of general questions presented, you can watch complete interviews in the following fields: Accounting, Banking, Communications/Media, Consulting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Retail, Sales, and Software Engineering.

There are also eleven quick multimedia workshops that give authoritative advice on such topics as how to land interviews, interview preparation, handling phone interviews, interview dress, responding to stress questions, illegal questions, and salary negotiation. You can test your knowledge by taking the job interview quiz. This does not replace a mock interview, but can be a useful supplement.

On-Campus Interviewing
About 20 recruiters from a variety of companies come to campus each year to interview for entry-level positions or internships. Most of these are employers seeking business-related candidates. Students who wish to interview with these recruiters can sign up in the Career Center. In order to participate in an on-campus interview, you must do the following:

Give the Career Center a copy of your resume at least two days before the interview.
Find out as much as possible about the company or organization by reviewing the recruiting literature provided by the employer.
Dress professionally. This usually means a suit for both men and women. However, in some instances, business casual dress is permitted.
Plan to arrive at least ten minutes prior to your scheduled interview.
Schedule a mock interview for practice, or, at the very least, ask for a list of typical questions.
Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer.

On-Campus Interview Cancellation Policy
If you must cancel an interview due to illness or a serious emergency, you must call the Career Center at least 24 hours before your appointment. Cancellations are only for emergencies, not changing your mind about the interview. Any person failing to appear for a scheduled interview without notifying the Career Center will jeopardize their privilege to sign up for subsequent interviews on campus. All cancellations require a letter of apology to the recruiter with a copy for the Career Center before interviewing privileges are restored. Our policies are strict to ensure the quality of our program and to encourage recruiters to return to Otterbein each year.