Prepare for the Job Search ~ Interviewing ~ Typical Stages of an Interview

• Introduction  and greeting
• Small  talk (brief, informal conversation on a topic of mutual interest  - keep comments short)
• Employer  is looking for a firm handshake, eye contact, appearance and dress appropriate to the organization, ease in social situations, good  manners and poise

• Education
  - relevance  of coursework to career interests, willingness  to work hard
• Work  Experience
  - relevance  of skills developed to position being sought
  - motivation,  enthusiasm
  - initiative
  - willingness  to follow directions
  - ability  to get along with others, team player
• Extracurriculars
  - diversity  of interests
  - social  conscience
  - leadership  or teamwork/organizing ability     

• Preparation  for employment
• Knowledge  of opportunities
• Graduate  school plans (best to describe as at least two years in the future)

• Knowledge  of and genuine interest in the organization
• An  opportunity to ask informed and relevant questions, to learn more  about the employer

• Next  steps in the interviewing process are discussed
• Ask  for the organization’s time-line in the decision-making process  if one is not mentioned
• Volunteer  to provide additional information (i.e., references, transcript,  etc.)
• Thank  the interviewer for his/her time
• Ask  for a business card - this will be helpful when sending your thank  you letter

• Go  over the positive and negative points of each interview and modify  your responses
• Learn  from your mistakes and build on your strengths

Next: Sample Interview Questions