Before the Interview
Tell me 3 things you should do before you interview
1. shower/bathe
2. brush your teeth
3. brush your hair
4. eat
5. get a good night sleep the night before
6. Practice
Should you shake the employer's hand right away?
NO
Ask if you can shake their hand first. Some people don't like to touch hands, especially since COVID. If you don't want them to touch your hands, it's ok to say you are uncomfortable and wave instead.
Stand up, shake hands (if you did at the beginning) and thank them for their time. This is also a good time to ask when they will make a decision.
How do you dress for an interview?
Semi-dressy, upper casual.
Employment
How should I dress for the interview?
1. Semi casual/dress
2. Clean clothes
3. Pressed or not wrinkled clothes
What is/are the most important thing(s) to do while interviewing?
Make eye contact and be aware of your body language. No squirming, sit up straight, it's ok to have a fidget if you think that will help you BUT tell the interviewer beforehand.
What is a good time to follow up if you haven't heard from the employer?
1 week or the time that they told you at the interview about when they will most likely make a decision.
Why is it important to make eye contact during an interview?
It shows the employer you are confident and interested
If a stranger asks you a question while you are waiting for your interview, which response is most appropriate? A. Answer the question B. Smile, politely say you don't know and keep walking C. Walk away D. Ignore question
B. Smile, politely say you don't know and them you are waiting for an important interview
True or False: It is appropriate to share personal information with the interviewer without being asked for it?
False
What do you do if the employer asks you a question and you don't understand it
Tell them to repeat the question or be honest and tell them you don't understand
What do you do if you go on another interview before hearing back from the job you interviewed earlier for and really want
Go on the interview because practice makes improvement. But if they offer you the job right away, it is ok to tell them that you are waiting to hear back from another interview before you can make a choice.
How should you react if an interviewer is rude to you or inappropriate?
Answers will vary
What can you share in an interview about your work-based learning assignments/duties?
Use them as experience and skills that you have learned while practicing working.
What is a good thing to do about the company you are interviewing for before going on the interview?
Look up information about the company so you have some awareness of what the company is all about. OR Go into the place and look around and see what you like and what it's all about.
What do you do if the employer tells you that you have to know something you don't know how to do?
Tell them that you don't know how to do it but you are willing to learn/try anything needed for the job
What can you do if you haven't heard back by the time the interviewer told you they would get back to you?
Call to check in to tell the employer that you are still interested and haven't heard back yet. Have they made a decision?
What time is a good time to arrive for an interview?
10 minutes before it is supposed to start
What are some appropriate questions to ask at the end of the interview?
Answers will vary
1. When will you make a decision?
2. Is this full or part-time employment?
3. What are the average hours of each shift?
4. Is there room for advancement?
What is one of the most important things to work on before the interview?
Nonverbal skills and eye contact.
Thank them for their time, shake hands (if you did at the beginning) and ask when you can expect to hear back from them about their decision.
What is a good way to respond when you hear back from a job you really wanted but didn't get it?
Be polite, thank them for their time and to keep you in mind if something changes or they need more people than they originally thought.
What should you do if you are going to be late or have to reschedule the interview?
Call ahead or as soon as you can.
NOTE: This will be a mark against you though but things do come up.
What do you do when you are halfway through the interview and you realize you don't want the job anymore?
1. Stay polite and finish the interview and don't worry about it until they offer you the job, then politely decline.
2. If they offer the job right away, politely decline them and tell them that the job is different than you thought and you don't feel that it is a good fit.