Interview Preparation Guide

Ms. Keightley Dudgeon

Before the Interview

Do Your Research
Take the time to learn about the company you will be meeting with. You should become familiar
with the company’s philosophy and aims to find out what they are looking for in a candidate.
Most of this information can be found on the internet.

Interview Format
Find out some information about the interview itself. For example, who will be interviewing
you? What is their position in the company? Are you going to be asked to show any materials
from your area of study? If certain logistics about the interview are not clear, it is perfectly
acceptable to contact the company to seek out the information you need.

Practice
Participate in a mock interview if possible or practice responding to interview questions with a
to colleague, teacher, or available family and friends.

Prep Application Materials

Go over your application materials – resume, cover letter, essays – and be prepared to talk
about their content and your experiences.

Stay Up-To-Date
Brush up on current events around the world in the civil engineering field. Although it is not
possible to be up to date on every piece of news related to your career, it is incredibly important
for you to keep abreast of trends and newsworthy items for discussion in interviews. Employers
seek candidates who have an awareness of what is happening in the world, and you should be
prepared to share your thoughts on what is happening today. Utilize the technology that
surrounds you to browse headlines daily and investigate those articles and stories of particular
meaning and interest, especially those related to the civil engineering field. Twitter is another
excellent resource for learning about topical events in any industry.

Interview Attire
Pick out an appropriate and professional interview outfit and make sure it is cleaned and
pressed on the day of the interview.

Plan Route
Calculate how long it takes you to get to the interview location and practice your route so that
you can plan accordingly for interview day. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early.

During the Interview

Arrive early
Nothing makes you look worse than showing up late to an interview. Use the extra minutes after
you arrive to calm your nerves and mentally prepare yourself.

Interview from the Beginning

Remember that the interview begins as soon as you arrive at the school (including the parking
lot), so be sure to greet the secretary and be friendly and respectful to all those you encounter.

Greet Interviewers
As soon as you enter the interview room, greet all the interviewers with a smile, good eye
contact, and a firm handshake. Introduce yourself with your first and last name.

Get Names
You may be interviewed by a team of people that can consist of 2-10 people. Try to remember all
of their names and take the time to jot them down as they introduce themselves. If possible, get
their business cards before you leave. This will be important for thank you letters.

Be Genuine
Be sincere in your responses! Your answers should be genuine and authentic – not rehearsed or
canned. Remember to back up each statement you make with a story or evidence and speak
clearly and confidently. Your goal is to “wow” the interviewers with your personality and
qualifications, so put the “impress” in “impression”!

After the Interview

Relax!
Take a deep breath and relax – you did it!

Reflect
Jot down some notes about the interview – who the members of the interview team were, your
initial feelings about how you think the interview went, how long it lasted, etc. Also, make a list
of the questions you were asked and the answers that you gave. These notes will give you a solid
perspective about how the interview was conducted and provide you with questions that may
show up at your next interview.
Express Gratitude
Write a thank you note to the interviewer(s) within twenty-four hours of the interview.