The Art of Interviewing

Practice Makes Perfect
Interviewing is a skill. You are encouraged to anticipate interview questions and plan your responses. Start by preparing for general questions regarding education, grades, work experience and interests. 

Preparing your responses can take on many forms. For some, jotting down an outline may help in preparing; for others, practicing verbal responses will be more effective. It is not enough to simply read the questions; you should plan your response. Videotaped mock interviews, conducted by the Career Services staff, are highly recommended as an effective means of preparation. To schedule a videotaped mock interview, call the Career Services office.

Making a Good First Impression
As cliche as it may sound, you will not get a second chance to make a first impression when it comes to interviews. Your nonverbal skills and the manner in which you present yourself will be evaluated in addition to your verbal responses to interview questions.

Be sure to arrive for your interview 10-15 minutes early. This will provide you with time to check your appearance and collect your thoughts prior to the interview. Be sure to greet the receptionist, secretary or others in the office in a friendly and courteous manner. These employees often have some influence in the hiring process.

As you are waiting on the interviewer to greet you, be sure to position yourself so that you have a good view of the hall or reception area from which you expect the employer to enter. You do not want to have your back facing the employer when he/she enters the room. When the employer greets you, be sure to stand and offer a firm handshake. Look the employer in the eyes and offer a return greeting similar to, "Nice to meet you." If the employer mispronounces your name, clearly state your name as you shake his/her hand. The only thing that you should be carrying is a portfolio with paper and pen; leave your coat and book bag (if you are interviewing on campus) in the waiting area unless otherwise instructed. You are always encouraged to take an extra copy of your resume with you for all interviews. For on-site interviews, women may also carry a small, professional looking purse.

As you enter the interview room, wait for the employer to indicate where you should be seated. After the employer is seated, it is your cue to also take a seat. During the interview, remember to practice good nonverbal skills:

• sit up straight with your shoulders back and hands resting in your lap
• place both feet on the floor
• maintain eye contact to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm
• use limited hand gestures to emphasize key points
• be aware of nervous movements such as tapping of your foot or playing with a ring
• try to smile when responding to questions (when appropriate); a smile will indicate confidence and enthusiasm
• try to relax; you will find that you are better able to respond to questions if you simply relax a little.

Interview Attire
The way in which you dress for your interview will tell the employer about your professional savvy and, in some cases, will be one of the factors an employer will take into account in evaluating you as a candidate. Your ability to "dress the part" speaks to your knowledge of the industry and interest in "fitting in". Also, by dressing professionally, you will appear more mature and seasoned; this will aid you as you may be competing with older individuals with more experience. Understand that you will probably dress more professionally for an interview than may be required once you begin working in that environment. Appropriate interview attire will vary by field, however, you are best advised to dress professionally using the following guidelines from UCLA’s 1999 Business Attire Survey:

• Two-piece business suit (navy or other dark color)
• Consistent look: avoid wearing a business suit with sandals or sneakers
• Well-groomed hair: avoid unusual styles or colors
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• No visible body art: cover tattoos with clothing if possible
• Breath mints; use one before greeting the recruiter
• No visible body piercings (other than earrings for women)

• White, off-white, or neutral-colored blouse with a conservative neckline
• Suit with a skirt preferable to a pantsuit
• No ill fitting (short, tight, clingy, or slit) skirts
• Closed-toe leather pumps with low to medium heels. Avoid open-toe strappy high heels, sandals, or shoes with decorations.
• Skin-colored hosiery
• Briefcase or portfolio in place of a handbag or purse
• Conservative nail polish, avoid unusual colors, e.g., blue or green
• Understated makeup
• Small stud earrings instead of dangling or oversized earrings
• Long hair pulled back in a neat, simple style. No "big hair" or elaborate styles

• Long-sleeved oxford cloth shirt in white or light blue
• Conservative necktie in terms of color and pattern. Avoid cartoon characters, less-than-serious graphics, or theme ties
• High-fitting dark socks. Avoid light colored socks with a dark suit
• Business-style leather shoes
• Matching shoe and belt color. Do not mix black and brown.
• Briefcase or portfolio, no backpack

Interview Tips

• Shake hands firmly.
• Look the employer in the eye when you are talking.
• Speak clearly, don’t mumble.
• If you need time to think before answering, take time. Stick to the subject at hand, which is the job and your skills related to it.
• Use the employer’s name, pronounce it correctly.
• Don’t fidget in your seat and otherwise show nervousness with your body (hands, posture, etc.).
• Don’t take notes during the interview if you can help it.
• Don’t complain about a former boss or co-worker. By complaining in this way, you’re likely to make the employer think that you are hard to get along with.
• Don’t ask about salaries, sick leaves, pensions, vacations, or benefits on the first interview.
• Don’t exaggerate; state the facts.
• If you have specific qualifications for a job, be sure the employer knows about them. No one knows what you can do unless you tell him or her.
• Talk about school subjects and hobbies that you have done well in and which are related to the job for which you are applying.
• An employer may be interested in everything you can do, but will be most interested in your skills that relate to the job for which you are applying.
• Ask questions when you don’t understand what the employer is talking about. You’ll want to know as much about the job as you can and asking questions is the best way to find out.
• The interviewer will close when he or she has enough information - don’t try to extend the interview unless you have an important point which has not been covered-then cover it, but make it brief.
• Before leaving the interview (assuming you want the position), let the employer know that you really want the job. By doing this, the employer will feel that you will work hard and that you will want to stay on the job.

Ethical Principles of College Recruiting for Candidates
The Office of Career Services and the National Association of Colleges and Employers expect students to adhere to the following principles of college recruiting:

1. In seeking interviews, you should recognize your responsibility to analyze your values, interests and abilities, and consider carefully your employment objectives and appropriate ways of meeting them. You should read available literature, consult other sources for information about the employer, and organize your thoughts in order that you may intelligently ask and answer questions.
2. You should contact Career Services well in advance regarding desired interviews or cancellations.
3. You should use care in filling out forms that may be requested in preparation for the interview.
4. In your interview, you should recognize that you are representing Rollins College, as well as yourself, and you should be punctual and professional in your conduct.
5. You should promptly acknowledge an invitation to visit an employer’s premises. You should accept an invitation only when you are sincerely interested in exploring employment.
6. When you are invited to visit an employer’s location at the employer’s expense, an accurate record of actual expenses incurred should be kept. The actual expense pertaining to the trip should be the only expenses reported on the expense report. If two or more employers are visited on the same trip, expenses should be prorated among them.
7. As soon as you determine that you will not accept an offer, you should immediately notify the employer.
8. You should not continue to present yourself for interviews after accepting an employment offer.
9. Your acceptance of an employment offer should be made in good faith and with the sincere intention of honoring the employment commitment.

Please remember to notify Career Services when you accept employment and/or admission to graduate or professional school.