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An important part of the employment journey is the interview. Regardless of your qualifications, regardless of your advance buildup, the interview is the real "make or break" test of your ability to sell a prospective employer that you are the right person for the job. Your object is to convince them that you are a mature and capable individual who will be an asset to the employer.
SOURCE: Trendhunter
You can choose from the tabs at the top of this page to understand more about each stage of the interview process including:
To get a full picture of the interview process, we recommend that you review content on each tab. Each offers unique information for that stage of the interview process. Creating the best impression during your interview is paramount to success. Understanding how to put your best foot forward is covered from start to finish in these resources.
The Value or Importance of a Job Interview from CHRON (Houston Chronicle) - This short article highlights the importance of the job interview in the process of gaining employment.
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The College provides you with free access to this interactive, multimedia tool that helps you practice and enhance your job interviewing skills. Here are some examples of what you can use and practice:
Review the User Guide and begin using the Big Interview using your DSC Single Sign On login credentials.
It is important to research the position and company you want to apply to prior to entering a career. In this area you will see the top reasons that you need to consider in researching a company before you apply and understanding the position in company.
Article: 10 Things You Should Know About A Company Before You Interview
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Virtual interviews use videoconferencing tools for online interviews allowing interviewers to see and speak with remote candidates.
Here are a few basic tips to prepare for a virtual interview.
The types of virtual platforms (most used) include:
How to Join a Microsoft Teams Interview - Have an upcoming interview on Teams but never used the platform before? Or maybe once or twice but it's been a while? This video walks you through the steps and what you'll need to get started along with some video interview tips.
Article: 4 Tips to Nail a Virtual Job Interview
Article: 9 Tips to Help You Prepare for a Virtual Interview - University of Vermont
How To Prepare for a Video Interview - Indeed - this video is 25 minutes long, but it covers everything from making sure you create the right visual (yourself and environment), how to dress and behave during the virtual interview and other really valuable information.
Article: Interview Tips and Etiquette for Virtual/Zoom Interviews - LinkedIn
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If you really think about it, preparing for interview day uses the same tips as preparing for an important exam. The time for studying is long gone. Now it is time to perform. Consider this checklist to be as prepared as possible for interview day.
Source: Flexjobs
Have you ever heard the statement, “Dress how you want to be addressed”? As you complete your studies and transition into your career, attire will be important as it will be the first impression you will make on others. Imagine having the confidence, knowledge, and skills for the position, but your first 5-second encounter aborted the opportunity. We are sometimes judged by our appearance, which can determine the difference between you and the other candidate. Generally, there are four categories for attire; Casual, Business Casual, Business/Professional and Formal.
How To Dress For Every Type of Job Interview from Purdue University
What To Wear To a Job Interview from Coursera
How To Dress For a Job Interview (with Examples) from Indeed
At the end of a job interview, you are almost always asked if there are any questions you want to ask the employer before you leave.
No matter what you've said in an interview or how great your credentials are, when interviewers discuss which candidates to bring back, the ones who leave the best impression are the ones most remembered. Your questions can leave them with a feeling that you are someone they want to add to their company, but they also give you a chance to determine if the job and company are right for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions that give you some feel about what it would be like to work there – and what they really expect, apart from anything in the job description.
Here are some questions you might decide to use. You would only typically ask 2 or 3 questions, but have 5 or 6 prepared in case some were already answered in the earlier part of the interview.
This video highlights a few of these questions, but also provides explanation of why that question provides you with valuable information and makes a good impression on the interviewers.
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Now that you have completed the job or admissions interview, let’s discuss follow-up communication. There are various ways to follow-up with a hiring manager or selection committee for a college/university. Your follow-up communication should not be pushy or annoying. Consider these follow-up approaches:
1) During your interview, your final question was, “What is your timeline for filing the position or next steps”? Send a quick note via email based on the response given during the interview. Here is a sample quick note.
Hello Falcon,
I hope you’re having an amazing week. You mentioned that you would be looking to finalize your hiring decision for the Career Services Advocate position this week. I’m eager to hear when you have an update. And, if I may provide any supplementary information to support your decision, please let me know!
2) Send a thank-you note via email to each individual who was a part of the interview process.
3) During the interview process, inquire about connecting via LinkedIn. After receiving the approval, immediately following the interview, connect; this could be the beginning of a long-term relationship.
4) The Feedback Note: This note can be sent to the interview committee if you believe you had a successful interview but was not offered the position. Here is a sample note to consider:
Hello Falcon,
Thank you again for the opportunity to interview with your company. I was disappointed to learn that I did not get an offer following my interview on July 13, 2021. I enjoyed our conversation and am impressed with the work that Daytona State College provides. Because I am a recent graduate, I was hoping you could give me some feedback on my interview. I would like to ensure that I present myself as effectively as possible in the future. Any recommendations you could provide would be appreciated.
Additional resources for Follow-up Communication:
https://zety.com/blog/follow-up-email-after-interview
https://hbr.org/2020/11/4-ways-to-follow-up-after-a-job-interview
Here's what to include in your thank-you note:
Thank your interviewer (or interviewers) for his or her time.
Reiterate your interest in the position and why you're qualified based on what you learned during your interview. For example, if you really connected with the company's culture, mention it and explain why.
Personalize your thank-you notes for each person you chatted with. Perhaps you went to the same school or have a similar professional background. You can say something like “It was great comparing our adventures in magazine writing.”
If you didn't get a chance to ask about the next steps in your interview, you can ask that now. This can be done simply: “What will the next steps look like?” You should get a response that offers up a tentative timeline.
Here are a few items to avoid in your thank-you note:
Don't explain why you deserve the job. Just briefly mention again why you're qualified and that you're excited for the potential opportunity.
Don't offer up excuses if the interview wasn't perfect. Adding a “Sorry I stumbled over my words so much; I was just really tired” isn't a great look.
Don't be pushy or assume you've got the job. It's best to let your application and interview performance speak for itself.
Don't write an essay; keep the note short and sweet.
Once you've drafted your thank-you note (or notes), be sure to proofread. If you need to, have a friend or family member read over it for a second set of eyes.
When it's ready, send the email to everyone who had a hand in your interview, including each interviewer and the hiring manager or recruiter who helped schedule the meeting and any required travel.
The best-case scenario is that you have everyone's email address. You can ask them for a business card after the interview or even phone the company's front desk and explain why you'd like the email address.
If you don't have everyone's email, it's not the end of the world. You can always send the note to your point of contact, likely the hiring manager or recruiter, but address the email to everyone you spoke with. Chances are, the email will get forwarded along.
After sending that initial thank-you, it's time to trust that timeline and be patient. You don't want to pester anyone; that's a big turn off.
If a few days have passed since the company said you'd hear back, then you can reach out again. In this follow-up note, you'll want to mention that you're still excited about this potential opportunity. This is just a gentle nudge.
Ideally, you'll receive a “We were just about to follow up with you!” email that'll give you the answer you were looking for. Otherwise, your contact might mention the team needs another week (or however long) to make a decision.
If several days have passed since the second tentative deadline, feel free to follow up again. At this point, the team should have arrived at a conclusion.
If your contact once again asks you to wait another week or so, then trust your gut. If you really feel like the company's interested in you, then you can reach out again. If you're not sure, then you might want to hold off.
If you're still not hearing back, it's time to continue on with your job search. You don't want to waste time pandering for a particular job, especially when the company doesn't take the time to inform you that you're no longer being considered.
There are more options out there, and you'll find the right fit. It just might take some patience — and a few more thank-you notes.