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Academic Job Interview: Dos and Don'ts
INTERVIEWING “DO’S”
- Know where
you’re going before your appointment.
- Prepare…know
about the company, the job, and how your background relates.
- Dress
appropriately. Keep in mind the job for
which you’re interviewing. Take extra care
with your grooming.
- Bring along
your questions for the employer an extra resume, and your list
of
references.
Also, your social security card if it is a job that they tend
to hire on the spot.
- Arrive about
10-15 minutes early. Take a short walk or
deep breaths.
- Remain calm.
It’s ok to be nervous, and you can control it by being
prepared.
- Introduce
yourself. Wait until you are asked to be
seated before sitting down.
- Be
positive…stress your strong points.
- Be confident,
determined.
- Be honest.
- Show
enthusiasm and interest in the job and company.
- To be prepared
means you have researched the company.
- Listen
carefully. Understand the questions before
answering. Think before speaking.
Speak clearly, distinctly, and loud enough to be heard.
- Support your
general statements with specific, job-related examples.
- Maintain eye
contact. Think of this as an opportunity to
make a friend. They might help you with future jobs or be on
future interview teams.
- Be concise.
- Anticipate
probing questions about any difficult career experiences such as
gaps in employment, long periods of unemployment, jobs held only
briefly, etc.
- Thank the
interviewer for his/her time.
- Be polite and
pleasant to everyone you meet including the receptionist.
- Evaluate and
learn from every interview.
INTERVIEWING “DON’TS”
-
Don’t talk too much--the employer will think you don’t work…you
just talk.
-
Don’t talk too little--employer wants you to answer the
questions with more information than “yes” and “no”.
Explain your answers in 1-2 sentences.
-
Don’t interrupt the interviewer. Let
interviewer “lead” the interview.
-
Don’t go unprepared—practice answers to interview questions and
above all, sell yourself and your qualifications (have a
30-second commercial about your skills).
-
Don’t wear dirty shoes or clothes—and no holes.
Be sure to bathe, trim hair, brush teeth, clean
fingernails. Face needs to be clean or
neatly trimmed.
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No shirts that say things like “Take My Job and Shove It.”
-
Don’t be late to interview. Check out where
the interview will be ahead of time, figure travel time and
allow for traffic, trains, accidents, etc.
-
Don’t bring wife, girlfriend, children, or friends.
Be on your best behavior.
-
Don’t ask the salary. If at the end of the
interview if the subject hasn’t come up, then ask what the
benefit package is. You should know ahead of
time what the going wage is for that position in case you must
negotiate.
-
Don’t
talk about unrelated subjects. Share your
interests, education, skills, goals, and objectives.
You need to know your goals for the future.
“Where do you plan to be in 10 years.”
“Tell me about yourself”—tell your skills, not your
personal life.
-
When you are asked why you want the job, don’t say “To make my
truck payment.” Let them know you want to
work for them, you bring such-and-such benefits and skills, and
this company fits into your goals in the long run to be a ……….
Remember, organizations want an energetic, contributing
employee who will stay for the long term.
They don’t want a “yes” person, but a supportive team member.
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