Before the Interview
What are three things you should do the night before your interview?
Make sure your clothes are ready (clean, pressed/ironed).
Look up the directions and how long it will take to travel to the interview location.
Read over the job description so that you are familiar with the duties.
What are 3 things you should bring with you on an interview?
Demonstrate good body language for your interview.
You should maintain good eye contact, and be sitting upright in your chair and not slouched. You should also have your hands on the table or on your lap, and don't make a lot of distracting movements.
Is it appropriate to lie on your resume or on your interview? Why or Why Not?
No, it is never appropriate to lie on your resume or on your interview. If the interviewer finds out you are lying, they will not hire you.
Why do you want to work here?
Tell them you are interested in the company, and that you think you would be a great employee. You can mention that you like their culture or the specific products or items that they sell.
What can you do to prepare yourself for the questions that you'll be asked on the interview?
Practice your response to the common interview questions. Ask your parents or a family member to conduct a mock interview with you. Ask your CDA to conduct a mock interview with you.
After the phone interview, the recruiter on the call tells you to wear whatever is comfortable to the in person interview. Jokingly, they state "It is mid-summer, you can even wear a Hawaiian shirt and shorts if you want..."
Is this appropriate interview attire? How do you check?
This would depend on what job you are interviewing for but best way to be certain is to double check with the person on the phone or call and ask either the head of HR or the person you are interviewing with directly.
What is the first thing you should do before you walk into the interview?
Make sure your phone is off or on silent. You don't want you phone going off during your interview.
Your interview is scheduled for 11:00am, but you show up early to the area at 9:30am. What should you do?
Find a coffee shop or somewhere nearby the area for you to wait. You should not show up to the interview area more than 15/30 minutes before your interview.
Tell me about your weaknesses.
This is tricky question. You should talk about a weakness that doesn't relate to your potential job duties. Any weakness you mention, you should say that you are aware of it, and have strategies in place to improve your weakness.
What are ways that you can research the company/position?
Google. The company website. Glassdoor.com. Asking alumni working there. IE Library resources (factiva etc.). Chat GPT
If your interview is scheduled for 10am, what time should you arrive?
9:30am. You should arrive around 30 minutes early for your interview.
When does the interview actually begin?
The interview begins as soon as you are close to the building. You never know who from the company is watching you, so you have to be on your best behavior.
You are about to go into the interview room in a few minutes, but you are feeling very nervous, what can you do?
Take a deep breathe. Count to 10 slowly. Take a sip of water.
If the interviewer asks you the question "tell me about yourself", what information are they trying to find out?
Your previous work/volunteer experience.
Your skills.
Your interests/hobbies.
If you applied to a job and did not get a response, what can you do?
Email the company and keep in touch with them. Tell them you are still interested in the position.
What should you do if you are going to be late for the interview or need to reschedule?
Call or email the interviewer the moment you are aware you maybe late and apologize for running behind. If you need to reschedule, email or call the interviewer as soon as possible, and ask them if you can reschedule the interview for another time.
What are some things you shouldn't do in the waiting room?
Be rude to the receptionist/other employees. Take your phone out and use it. Eat food. Apply/fix your makeup. Be loud and disruptive to others.
No! You should never talk bad about previous employers/bosses. You can say that the position wasn't the best fit for you, and you are looking for something new.
Tell me about your strengths. Something that is unique about you, and makes you stand out versus other people trying to get the job.
detailed, hardworking, knowledgeable, kind, helpful...
What should you know about the company before you go on the interview?
What they do. Who their customers are. What types of positions they are hiring for. What the job duties are for the job you applied to.
What does the STAR (or CAR) method stand for? Can you use it in an example?
The STAR method = Situation, Task, Action, Result
The CAR method = Challenge, Action, Result
What is one question that you can ask the interviewer at the end of your interview?
What do you like about this job?
What is a typical day like?
What is one thing you need to be successful in this role?
What is the company culture like?
The interviewer asks you a question, but you don't understand the question or how to answer it, what can you do?
You can ask the interviewer to repeat the question, or maybe to phrase it in a different way. You can also ask the interviewer to give you an example of what they are asking.
How do you handle stress and pressure at work?
Answers vary. You should tell them how you can handle stress and that you will make sure that you can still get the job done.