Interview

SEMINAR ON SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENGLISH

Interview Etiquette
What is an Interview?
 refers to a one-on-one conversation
with one person acting in the role of
the interviewer and the other in the r
ole of the interviewee
Interview Etiquette
What is an Interview?
 usually involves a transfer of information fro
m interviewee to interviewer, which is usually
the primary purpose of the inter view, althoug
h information transfers can happen in both di
rections simultaneously
Interview Etiquette
Preparation
for the Interview
Interview Etiquette
 Know with whom you will be meeting and the
time and location.
 How many people will be interviewing you?
Have enough resumes printed for everyone.
 Discover how long it will take to get to the int
erview location.
Interview Etiquette
 Research the company and learn all you can abo
ut their product or service, history, vision,
mission, culture and current goals.
 Prepare 3-5 questions to ask the interviewer.
 Acquire professional interview clothing for the
interview.
Interview Etiquette
Interview Attire
A conservative, professional approach to
dress for an interview will help you avoid
being screened out before you get a chance
to sell yourself in the interview.
Interview Etiquette
Interview Attire
When in doubt, be conservative, be professi
onal, and be aware that you are selling a tot
al package. Appearance may be the reason y
ou do not get a job offer!
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for Men
 Dark dress shoes, polished and buffed (no
loafers)
 Dark suits, properly fitted, preferably wool
or wool blend
 Dark dress socks
 No long side burns or long hair
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for Men
 No earrings or other jewelry (wedding or
class ring permitted)
 Well-groomed facial hair; cleaned and
trimmed nails
 Conservative neck tie (no bright colors or
loud patterns)
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for Women
 Dark coordinated suits, properly fitted, with
matching dress blouse (no plunging
neckline)
 Skirt length no more than one inch above
the knee
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for Women

 Natural looking make-up

 Neutral colored hose
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for Women
 Polished matching dress shoes with
moderate heel (no open toe/heeled shoes)

 Hair past shoulder length pulled away from

face
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for Women
 Minimal conservative classic jewelry (no fla
shy, dangling earrings)

 Clear or conservatively colored nail polish,

no chipped nail polish
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for All
 No heavy cologne/perfume
 No visible tattoos and body piercings
 Fresh breath
 No purple, green, orange, etc., colored hair
Interview Etiquette
Recommendations for All
 Freshly pressed, appropriately fitting
clothing
 Freshly bathed/showered (no body odor,)
 Dress watch
Interview Etiquette

Day of the
Interview
Interview Etiquette
Make a Positive First Impression
 Confirm the interview time, place, and with
whom you will be meeting, including titles.

 Be sure to get directions. Arrive about 15 min

utes early so you are not rushed and have tim
e to collect yourself.
Interview Etiquette
Make a Positive First Impression

 Show respect and courtesy to ALL employees

with whom you interact, as they may be aske
d to provide input on the candidates.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Face-to-Face Interviewing
Body language and facial expressions tell a lot
about you.

Be aware of your walking and sitting postur

e.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Face-to-Face Interviewing

Don’t cross your legs or ankles and you will

be able to maintain a better posture while sitt
ing. Knees together and feet flat on the floor.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Face-to-Face Interviewing

Do rest your hands on your lap. Arms should

not be folded across your chest as that sugge
sts defensiveness or an unwillingness to liste
n.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Face-to-Face Interviewing
Keep your hands away from your face and h
air.
Eye contact is important to show that you ar
e listening and will help you bond with the in
terviewer.
Avoid excessive head nodding.
Interview Etiquette
Verbal Do’s and Don’t’s
Do avoid using verbal placeholders such as
“um”, “you know”, uh” and the ever popular
“like.”

Avoid cursing, regardless of how mild you

may think it is.
Interview Etiquette
Verbal Do’s and Don’t’s
Don’t try to impress the interviewer with a l
arge vocabulary.
Practice the STAR system of answering “be
havioral” questions so that you don’t ramble.
STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result
Interview Etiquette
Verbal Do’s and Don’t’s

Don’t speak too loudly or too softly.

Don’t lie about your experience. You will be

found out.
Interview Etiquette
Verbal Do’s and Don’t’s

Don’t bash previous employers. It only mak

es you look bad.

Don’t giggle.
Interview Etiquette
Attitude

Many people who may not have had as muc

h experience as their competition have been
hired because of a positive attitude in the job
interview.
Interview Etiquette
Attitude

Share your willingness to learn and how qui

ckly you have picked up new skills in the pas
t.
Interview Etiquette
Attitude
Show your enthusiasm for working for their
company.

Give examples of why you would be a good

fit for their organization
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Online Interviewing
Most of the interviewing etiquette tips above
still apply to online types of interviewing as
well with a few additions. If you are using a s
ystem such as Skype you will want to conside
r:
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Online Interviewing
 Technology
 Prepare ahead of time with the right co
ntact info for Skyping in.
 Try to assure that you can see and be se
en in the interview.
 Check audio levels.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Online Interviewing

 Clear away anything distracting in the back

ground.
 Eliminate any possibility of unnecessary no
ise in the background.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Online Interviewing

 Keep items in front of you to a minimum; y

our resume, portfolio items, and questions f
or the interviewer.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Online Interviewing

 LOOK INTO YOUR WEBCAM LENS. Th

e employer doesn’t want to interview the to
p of your head!
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Online Interviewing

 Don’t forget they can see you, so continue t

o smile
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing

 Don’t forget they can see you, so continue t

o smile
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing
 Never interview for a job while at your curr
ent job. Plan this interview time during hom
e hours.
 Whether using a cell phone or landline, be s
ure all batteries are fully charged.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing
 Shower, dress, have a meal and whatever el
se makes you feel alert and on the job. Don’
t interview in pyjamas or any other “slouch
y” time of clothing; it will come across in y
our voice.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing

 Eliminate all background noise as much as

possible.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing
 Don’t multitask while interviewing such as
flushing toilets, walking the dog, driving or
as a passenger in a vehicle. Even Bluetooth
type devices often emit a loud background
noise.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing

 If you are unable to understand the person o

n the other phone, be honest and express thi
s to them so that adjustments can be made.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing
 In any type of interview, if you don’t under
stand a question presented to you, feel free t
o ask for clarification.
Interview Etiquette
Etiquette Tips for Phone/Tele-conference
Interviewing
 If you don’t know the answer to a question,
it is perfectly fine and expected that you sta
te that you don’t know.
Interview Etiquette
Ask the Right Questions
 Be ready to ask intelligent questions during
the interview. DO NOT bring up issues rela
ted to salary and benefits until the employer
initiates these topics.
Interview Etiquette
The Closing
 If you like what has been discussed in the i
nterview, let the employer know that you're
excited about what you've heard and are stil
l very much interested in the position.
Interview Etiquette
Thank You Letter

 The thank-you letter does make a difference

and can help you stand out among prospecti
ve candidates.
Interview Etiquette
Thank You Letter
 If you have previously corresponded with t
he employer by email, it is acceptable to als
o send your thank you "letter" via email. H
owever, post mail often conveys a more per
sonal touch.
Interview Etiquette
Thank You Letter

 Keep your letter brief and concise. Mention

the date of your interview and your continu
ed interest in both the position for which yo
u interviewed and the organization.
Interview Etiquette
Thank You Letter

 Reiterate your most important skills and qu

alifications, how you expect to contribute to
the organization, and any unique points of i
nterest discussed during the interview.
Interview Etiquette
Thank You Letter

 Express your appreciation for the opportuni

ty to interview, tour the facilities, meet othe
r employees, etc., and confirm follow up pr
ocedures.
Interview Etiquette

Common Reasons
for Applicant Reje
Interview Etiquette
Poor appearance
Poor voice, diction, grammar
Little enthusiasm, passive, indifferent
Evades, hedges answering questions
Interview Etiquette
Late for interview, disrespectful
Talks too much, rambles
Unable to handle silence
Lack of purpose, career goals
Interview Etiquette
Negative attitude
Couldn't sell him/herself to the employer
Overbearing, aggressive
Unwilling to start at the bottom
Lack of courtesy, proper etiquette
Poor eye contact, extreme nervousness
Interview Etiquette
Lack of poise, lack of confidence
Condemnation of previous employer
Lack of leadership skills
Didn't ask for the job
Talked about salary
Interview Etiquette

The Nine Worst Body L

anguages
to Make in an Intervie
Interview Etiquette
Bad Posture
 Leaning back is lazy or arrogant, leaning fo
rward is aggressive and slouching is just lazy.
Instead, experts say to aim for a neutral positi
on, sitting tall as if a string were connecting y
our head to the ceiling.
Interview Etiquette
Breaking Eye Contact
We tend to feel uncomfortable holding eye
contact once a personal connection has been
created. Don't stare, but try to hold your inter
viewers gaze for one extra second before bre
aking away. Do this especially when shaking
hands.
Interview Etiquette
Chopping and Pointing

Chopping or pointing motions can cut up th

e space between you and your interviewer in
an aggresive way.
Interview Etiquette
Crossed Arms

Arms crossed over your chest signal defensi

veness and resistance. When they are open at
your sides, you appear more approachable.
Interview Etiquette
Excessive Nodding

Nod once or twice with a smile of agreemen

t, but find your still center and stay there.
Interview Etiquette
Fidgeting
The nervous energy will distract the intervie
wer. You want the interviewer focused on wh
at you have to say, not coins jingling in your
pockets or the hangnail on your finger.
Interview Etiquette
Hands Behind Back

It's important to appear approachable and o

pen, so don't try to cotnrol gestures or fidgeti
ng by keeping your hands still. This is especi
ally important when you begin to speak.
Interview Etiquette
Mismatched Expressions

If someone asks what you're most passionat

e about and your face is in deadpan while yo
u answer, it's not going to translate well.
Interview Etiquette
Staring Eyes

Locking eyes with someone for an extended

period of time can be interpreted as aggressiv
e, not to mention creepy.