A strategy for successful on-campus interviewing

Black Collegian, Oct 1999 by Shakoor, A Tariq

Does the mere mention of an on-campus interview cause your palms to sweat and heart to beat a bit faster than normal? Well, if it does, relax, you probably have plenty of company. The on-campus interview can be as anxiety provoking as any exam. But like any test, it can be mastered with solid preparation.

The purpose of the on-campus interview

The on-campus interview should be viewed as an audition or screening. At this stage, the purpose of the interview is simply to determine which candidates from your campus are considered prospective hires for the recruiting organization. Those who make the first cut will be invited to the next round of interviews that are generally held on site at the company. Most companies will have at least two rounds of interviewing before an offer is extended. But, you have to get past the hurdle of the on-campus interview in order to get into serious contention as a prospective hire. So it's important that you make the best possible impression you can right now. The success of the interview will depend on how well you present your unique qualifications and experiences. Remember, it is not always the most qualified candidate who gets the offer, it's generally the person who does the best job of presenting themselves.

The role and expectations of the recruiter

The role of the on-campus recruiter is very simple and straightforward: to find the best hiring prospects on your campus; they are looking for the people they think will make the best fit with the company. How they go about making the first cut is pretty straightforward as well. Most recruiters have very similar expectations. Some very generic expectations are:

* Enthusiasm / a genuine interest in the company

* Knowledge of the company and industry

* A good academic record

* Some work experience (summer work, volunteer work or internships)

*Good communication skills

Again, these represent the very minimum expectations a recruiter will have of you. Depending on the particular needs of the company, other things such as computer literacy, team skills, and problem solving ability will also be a factor.

Preparing for the "Yes Pile"

At the end of every recruiter's day they create a "yes pile" and a "no pile." Obviously, your goal is to make the "yes pile." You prepare for the "yes pile" long before the interview. If you do your homework, your chances will be good. It is important that you are able to clearly articulate your strengths and interests and. the reasons you are the best person for the job. In order to do this effectively, you must have knowledge of self, company and industry. There are no shortcuts to preparation. Those who invest the time will have a clear edge in the interviewing process.

Start from the inside out

Sometimes the process of selfexamination is not as easy as it sounds. That's why you should start with a visit to your campus Career Center. Here you can get help with a personal assessment that will outline your skills, experience and accomplishments, as well as your interests and personal motivators. The selfassessment is the single most important step in preparing for the on-campus interview. A good self-assessment is the foundation for any successful job search. It will help you prepare a well-crafted resume and give you confidence for the interview itself. Finally, the self-assessment will help you decide which companies and industries are most appealing to you. Once you have determined the industries and organizations that are most appealing to you, focus on these like a laser beam.

It is often tempting to go into the recruiting process as an explorer, trying to find out "what's out there." Please, resist this temptation, as it is a waste of the recruiter's time and you may be denying someone who is legitimately interested in the position a chance to interview.

Now that you have a good feel for your goals, interests, and qualifications, you are ready to complete your resume. Look at the resume as a personal marketing tool. A recruiter may only spend 30 seconds or so on your resume, so it must highlight your skills, experience and accomplishments in an effective and convincing manner. The resume must be error free and accurate. Never build up your resume by exaggerating the truth, it will only hurt you in the end.

Aligning interests with opportunities

After you have conducted your self-assessment and have a well-crafted resume, it's time to align your interests and experience with companies and organizations where there will be a good fit. Discuss your interests and the kinds of companies that are recruiting on campus with a career counselor. The worst thing you can do is to just randomly sign up for companies just to "see what's out there." Recruiters will generally pick up your lack of real interest and preparation, so target those companies you feel you would genuinely be interested in. Start with abroad list of companies and narrow it down to a number you feel comfortable with.

The next step in the process is to research the company. According to Douglas Cooper, director of the Atlanta University Placement Center, "The most common complaint among recruiters about students is their lack of preparedness." Cooper advises students to "conduct comprehensive research on the company you are going to interview with; being knowledgeable typically ensures a smoother interview and impresses recruiters with your interest and preparation." Learn as much as you can about the organization's products, services, culture, customers, target markets, and plans. Not only will you impress the interviewer, you will also get closer to the "yes pile" by doing your homework. The key here is research. And again, your Career Center can be very helpful in guiding you to good information. Besides the traditional sources such as company literature and information sessions, most companies have excellent websites that provide up to date information that will be most helpful in an interview.