Preparing for the Interview

Do: try to get all pertinent data during phone call
· Names and titles of those interviewing you and their relationship to the position you are
applying for
· Location, time, type and duration of interview
· Phone number and name of person to contact if a problem arises and you must reschedule or
be late for the interview

Do: your research on the position, company and industry
· Review all company/position data; become familiar with the industry and the company’s
major competitors
· Keep copies of the job postings/descriptions you have applied to for reference/preparation

Do: know the culture of the company
· May not be obvious over the phone, but always a good idea to start formal and then
acclimatize yourself to the culture
· Beware of “Casual Friday” syndrome – where you interview in full business attire but the
company representatives are dressed down due to special circumstances
· Knowing an insider can really help here; but as a minimum, try to read company literature
and/or check with the CPC

Do: pack properly
· No backpacks or bulky purses – your image should be that of a professional and not a student
· Your briefcase or portfolio should include:
o Paper (spiral pad) and pen/pencil
o Copy of job description, résumé, cover letter, list of references
o Address, directions, telephone number and name of contact
o Name of person/people you will be meeting
o Business cards
o Change for parking meter, breath mints, tissues
o Shoes in a bag (weather dependent)

Do: follow business etiquette
· Your handshake should be firm, with two or three “pumps” and no ancillary movements
(e.g., shoulder/arm grasping, two hand cupping)
· In the initial meeting, let the interviewer offer their hand first; after the interview, offer your
hand first to show you are thankful that they took the time to meet with you
· Let the interviewer “lead” you to your seat – remember, you are their guest
· No slouching in chair; sit with the base of your back touching the back of the chair
· Turn off any pagers/cell phones; never be the cause for interruption during the interview
· Behave professionally with everyone you encounter
· Ask for business cards so that you have the proper spelling and title of each person who has
interviewed you

Do: try to schedule strategically
· Always be as cooperative with the interviewer’s schedule as possible
· Know yourself – try to schedule when your energy level is normally high (are you a morning
person, or is afternoon better for you?)
· Worst timings are considered to be 9:00 a.m. (you are likely to be the first interview and there
will be no benchmark), 1:00 p.m. (time when people like to catch up on their schedule),
4:30/5:00 p.m. (late in the day, the interviewer may be fatigued or looking forward to
wrapping up their day)
· Ideal timing is mid-morning or mid-afternoon

Do: arrive 15 minutes early
· Announce yourself to receptionist
· If you are unfamiliar with the area, perform a dry run the day(s) before (you can use
MapQuest for directions), noting how long it took you to get there, whether security
measures need to be considered, and time the building is open –
· Get a good night’s sleep before the interview

Do: bring a list of referees
and keep in touch with your referees
· In case they have changed jobs
· To remind them of your performance
· To keep them updated on your career
· To gage whether they remain a good referee