How to Prepare for the On-Site Interview

Black Collegian, Feb 2007 by Martin, Vernon E Jr

To prepare for the on-site interview, you should know the company's products and services, financial picture, geographical locations and culture.

You should take the time to find out if alumni from your institution are working there. If so, interview them about the kinds of positions that are available and the environment or workplace culture. Others in the workplace can provide firsthand knowledge about the pros and cons of working for the company.

Successful interviews are those in which you, the candidate, and interviewer both leave the room with a feeling that they know and understand each other.

In the interview, the employer has three objectives: (1) to gather relevant information about your qualifications; (2) to assess how your qualifications match the requirements of the job; and (3) to present the organization to you in a positive way.

Your objective as a candidate should be to communicate information about yourself and your qualifications clearly and accurately, and to seek relevant information about the particular job, position, and employer.

Most interviews can be successful for you if you prepare for the expected and unexpected. This is usually a six-part process:

1. Preparation

2. Establishing rapport

3. Talking about yourself

4. Talking about the organization

5. Close-Out

6. Evaluation

You are involved in the first five segments; the sixth typically takes place while you are on site or shortly after you leave the premises.

When you travel to the interview city, you will most likely arrive the evening before the interview is scheduled. Be sure you are comfortable with knowing exactly where you are going for the interview. Plan on arriving at least 30-45 minutes before the actual interview. This allows you time to unwind, make sure that you are well groomed and have time to relax.

Most on-site interviews will put you before a panel or group, or you may be in a one-on-one setting. Be sure that your handshake is firm, and keep eye contact with each individual as you are introduced. Let the interviewer invite you to be seated. Your eye contact is very important because often it is the believability concept that sells what you are saying. Your body language also sends a message of confidence and sincerity. In addition to the firm handshake and eye contact, be sure to have well-balanced posture, an open, relaxed facial expression, a firm voice, and use appropriate gestures when emphasizing key words.

The first 30 seconds to five minutes of the interview are very important. The first impression is next to impossible to change. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Your appearance and dress are critical in that you should fit into the culture of the workplace by dressing appropriately. You should wear conservative colors and avoid excessive jewelry, flashy colors, excessive makeup, strong perfumes or colognes.

Be sure that you have practiced your 30 second or 3-5 minute infomercial. The strong lead tells the interviewer about yourself, what your assets and strengths are and the value you can bring to their organization. Be prepared to give examples of a time when you exemplified leadership, a time when things were not going well and you turned them around. Also be prepared to discuss your involvement in professional societies, civic organizations and summer or part-time employment. Be able to describe a time when you experienced failure and the lessons that came from that experience.

Be yourself during the interview. Bear in mind that the organization chose to interview you. Let the knowledge and your interview preparation bolster your confidence. During the interview, take notes. Inform the interviewer(s) at the beginning of the interview that you would like to take some notes to help in the questioning and answering session at the end of the interview.

The competencies that will be evaluated during the interview are skills that you have polished during your education, extracurricular involvement, internships, co-op and summer experiences. The areas that will be evaluated are adaptability, communication, initiative, interpersonal acumen, planning and organization, accountability, resourcefulness, work orientation, and negotiation skills among others. Be a good listener but not reticent about asking penetrating questions.

Some routine questions that will be asked of you during the interview are listed below:

* Tell me about yourself. What do you look for in a job? What are your special abilities? How do you perform under pressure?

* Why did you choose your particular field of study and work? What do you perceive as the advantages of your chosen field?

* What makes you think that you could be successful with our organization? What do you know about our organization?

* What types of positions are you most interested in?

* Are you willing to relocate multiple times?

* What have you learned from some of the jobs that you have held?

* Is your GPA indicative of your ability?

* What leadership positions have you held in college and in your community?