Interviewing Tips & Strateges
How to Succeed at Interviewing
Interviewing is critical to landing your perfect internship or job. From practicing to what to wear, we share our interviewing tips and strategies to perform your best!
Research the Organization in Advance
Your prospective employer will expect you to know something about the company. Understanding the company’s history or origins, what they specialize in, who their customers are, etc. is par for the course. Some strategies here would be to:
- Research the company website; what are their goals, mission, or vision?
- If the website has a blog or news section, read their recent articles; any upcoming plans, projects, or changes?
- Review the company’s LinkedIn profile
- Perform a Google search to see if there is any recent news about the company or any senior management you might be working with
- If you can, find out who you’d be working with and learn a little bit about them: hobbies, interests, etc.
- Compose questions to the interviewer that show you have done this research.
Practice Makes Perfect
This sounds like a cliché, but it’s seriously important. Here’s an article about common interview questions and how to answer them. Think about how you would answer them, and then practice those answers out loud.
- If you are practicing at home, record yourself on video and pay attention to your tone of voice, your body language, and any nervous tics you may have.
- Pay attention to your speech. Do your best to eliminate any “ummms” or “uhhhs”, tongue clicking or lip smacking, or excessive nervous laughing or giggling.
- Contact Professional and Career Development to schedule a mock interview. We encourage you to make an appointment so we can get you prepared and ready!
Dress for a Great First Impression
It may sound unfair, because you may be the greatest candidate coming in, but if you don’t dress appropriately, your chances of getting the job are slim.
- Indeed.com: How to Dress for a Job Interview
Be Thoughtful During Your Interview
Be aware of discriminatory topics and avoid introducing them into the conversation, as well as answering any from your interviewer. These include: religion, plans for pregnancy or the number of children you have, sexual orientation, etc. If it’s personal information or unrelated to your ability to do the job, don’t talk about it. If the interviewer raises one of these topics, politely ask what the question has to do with your ability to perform the job.
- Indeed.com: Common Interview Mistakes and What To Do Instead
Send a Thank You Note Immediately Afterward
This is absolutely non-negotiable. If you don’t take the time to do this, you will not get the job, no matter how qualified or prepared you are. Manners matter.
If you plan to send a hand-written “thank you”, have your note or card ready to mail shortly after your interview – same day if possible. It is also acceptable to send an e-mail, with an hour if possible.
If you’d like to make a bigger impression and stand out from the crowd, email them within the hour and send a hand-written as well.
General Info
Phone Numbers
- Admissions (Undergrad): 207-859-1101
- Admissions (Grad): 207-859-1255
- Advancement: 207-859-1118
- Counseling: 207-859-1245
- Financial Aid: 207-859-1110
- Health Services: 207-859-1401
- Health Svcs. Fax: 207-859-1126
- Main Fax Number: 207-859-1114
- Registrar: 207-859-1202
- Safety & Security: 207-859-1399