Interview Tips

The two articles I read were "Minor Matters that Make your Interview," by Erin Hovanec, and "An Interview Stragey: Telling Stories," by Joe Turner. Both articles gave helpful strategies to perform well at an interview.

The article by Joe Turner states there are two types of interviews commonly used. The first is the traditional interview, where there interviewer will ask you questions to discover if you have the skills and knowledge required for the job. The second type, which is beginning to be used more often, is called a competency-based interview. The interviewer still asks the same types of questions, but he or she will also ask questions to discover if you fit into the company. It is important to have a few short stories to show the interviewer what kind of person you are and what type of situations you have been in.

Erin Hovanec's article gives tips on not overlooking minor details that can be pivotal to a good interview. It is smart to lay out an outfit the day before so that you are not rushing to get ready. Also, make sure that you have all materials ready that you might need, such as copies of your resume and references. One minor detail that might be overlooked is making sure to eat a substantial meal prior to the interview. One last detail that might be forgotten is to make sure you know where you are going. Each of these details can easily be overlooked when it comes to preparing for an interview, so it would be smart to take a few minutes to make sure they get taken care of.

The most important thing I took away from these articles is to be myself in the interview. The interviewer is looking to see what kind of person I am. It is important to stay calm and be relaxed, and taking care of minor details can help ease stress.