The Face to Face Interview

I had 3 days to prepare for the interview. I felt uncertain  so I referred to “A Guide to Career Planning and Job Hunting.” The guide provided interview preparation tips and suggestions which was exactly what I needed. I learned 

• how to market my accomplishments to the employer, 
• practice answering sample questions, 
• how to dress, and 
• what to bring to the interview.

It was a cool, breezy Monday morning and there I was on the bus at 7am, on my way to the city. I arrived about 15 minutes before my 9am appointment time, greeted the receptionist with a smile, and filled out a job application.  When the director came to greet me, I introduced myself with a firm handshake. I was feeling confident with copies of my cover letter, resumes, and references just in case he requested them. (And I was dressed in my new black suit that I have been told really looks good on me.) 

The director asked question after question. Some questions I had been asked before in previous interviews and some were challenging. I made sure that I paid attention and maintained eye contact as I answered each question keeping in mind  my education and work experiences. When it was my turn to ask the director questions, I wanted to find out if the company was the right fit for me.

My questions entailed asking about the company’s culture, the director’s thoughts about working for the company, his expectations of a new employee within the first 3 months of being hired, and the next step in the process.

The interview lasted for an hour and now it is just a matter of waiting. You know how I feel if you  have  ever taken an exam and wished that you would get your results right away. I just have to wait and be optimistic.

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT: What about your experience with interviews? How did you prepare? What did you learn?

Resume tips from “A Guide to Career Planning and Job Hunting:” http://www.montclair.edu/CareerServices/Feb2011GuidetoCareerPlanning.pdf