Appendix H

Interview/Opportunity Preparation Checklist

Preparation for an Interview

box Research the company.
  • Go to the company's website.
    • Read the section labeled “About Us/Get to Know Us/Careers.”
    • Read recent press releases to learn about current events in the company and industry.
    • Review the remaining pages for greater situational awareness.
  • Do a web search for relevant information/news/opinions about the company.
  • Learn as much as you can about the company's culture, customers, and business offerings. The best way to learn this is by interviewing employees or others that are closely connected to the company or industry—perhaps even customers of that company.
    • Products and brands.
    • Top-selling products.
    • Relevant market and industry news.
    • Customers and target markets.
    • Competitors and how the company of interest distinguishes itself from them.
box Generate a list of thoughtful questions you might ask the interviewer.
box Practice answering potential interview questions prior to the interview.
box Find out the name(s) of your interviewer and how to pronounce it correctly.
box Obtain the specific address and other pertinent logistical information for the interview.
  • If there's a specific interview location within a larger complex, how long is the walk from parking to the suite?
  • Get the mailing address.
  • If the interview will take place on a large corporate campus:
    • Are there security check points? What are procedures?
    • Where is parking and what building should you report to?
box Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the interview time. (Arrive no earlier than 15 minutes, and no later than 5.)
  • Drive the route prior to the interview date if you live nearby, and plan accordingly.
  • Make sure your car has sufficient fuel the preceding day.
  • Make sure your car is clean with no visible clutter on the dash or seats.
  • If you need to travel a long distance or by air, make a detailed travel plan in advance and anticipate traffic patterns.
box Get haircut or style if appropriate or needed. Your look should be conservative.
box Dress appropriately. (Refer to the attire checklists in Appendices I and J.)
box Clothing for the interview is cleaned and pressed.
box Wear only subtle fragrances, or none at all.
box Do not smoke prior to the interview.
box Determine how you will sit with appropriate posture beforehand without shifting and fidgeting.

Materials for an Interview

box A black or brown leather portfolio without logos. Inside be sure you have:
  • Pad of paper within with a clean top sheet.
  • Good quality pen (no logos).
  • Six hard copies of your resume and references list.
  • Any relevant paperwork that is required by the company (e.g., application, portfolio of work, writing sample).
  • Business cards, if appropriate.
  • Calendar, unless you use the calendar app on your phone.
  • Your list of questions to ask the interviewer. (Don't read from the list during the interview!)
box Carry an additional good-quality pen on your person or in a pocket.
box Cash for incidentals.
box Good-quality, undamaged umbrella if there is any possibility for rain.
box Needle and thread for last-minute repairs to clothing.

Interview

box Arrive 10 minutes prior to the interview but, if earlier, loiter near the interview location. Don't hang around the parking lot of the business.
box Park away from the main entrance, if possible.
box Do not chew gum.
box Turn your cell phone off or on a vibrate setting that can't be heard before going to the interview site.
box Treat everyone you encounter with respect, cheerfulness, enthusiasm, and politeness.
  • Don't be surprised if you are given tests to take prior to the interview.
  • Don't make phone calls in the waiting area.
  • Make polite conversation with others if appropriate, but don't be distracting or disruptive if others are working.
box Offer a firm handshake.
box Look around the office for some personal artifact belonging to the interviewer that may spark a common interest and politely ask about it to generate rapport-building conversation.
box Sit only if offered a seat.
box Ask for the job! “I think I have the skills you are looking for and I'd like to work for your company. What's the next step?”
box Thank the interviewer for his or her time, and when you might expect to receive some notice about a decision.

Follow-up

box Write a handwritten thank-you note within the next 24 hours and mail it to the interviewer.
  • Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration.
  • Make a comment on some topic that was discussed during your interview.
  • Restate that you believe you are the right fit for the position.
  • Summarize your value proposition in line with the needs of the employer.
  • Explain, briefly, why you want to work for the company.
box If the promised follow-up date has passed, it's okay to ask about the status of a decision, so long as you are polite and phrase your question diplomatically. Doing so demonstrates interest.

Additional Tips

It's a numbers game. On average, 8 to 12 percent of interviewees for any given job posting are hired. That's just 1 in 10. That means that the average person must have at least 10 interviews to gain a single offer. The lesson for you is that you should not feel unsuccessful if you do not get an offer for every opportunity. Keep at it!
When in doubt, dress to the default standard. If you have clear direction on the dress code of a potential employer, dress one level above that required dress code. Keep in mind that one step above a business-causal dress code means that you dress in business attire, which is described in the default checklists in Appendices I and J.
Plan for potential delays. Consider the potential for having to clear a security check point in the building where you will interview. Leave extra time to pass security checks so that you are not late for an interview.
Create a written list of DOEs. Craft a one-page list of your most relevant demonstrations of effectiveness (DOEs) for a particular career opportunity and leave it with the interviewer after your interview.
Arrive 10 minutes before the interview. The optimal time to show up for an interview is 10 minutes. If you show up much earlier, you can impose on the interviewer's time. If you show up too close to the interview time, you may be perceived as having poor judgment. If you are late, you will have failed the interview in all but the most extraordinary circumstances.
Never say anything negative about a previous employer or employment experience during an interview. In general, interviewers will consider that you may be overly negative or critical and, therefore, not a good fit for their organization. Bottom line: Having negative comments about anyone or any company reflects poor judgment on your part.
Ask questions, but not obvious ones. Formulate intelligent questions for an interviewer that show you're well prepared, interested in the opportunity, and understand the company and industry. Do not ask questions that are easily answered by researching the company's website.
Follow up, but… Follow up with a company if they do not get back to you about a hiring decision in an agreed span of time. Do not hound a company for information. Excessive communication may be considered annoying, or evidence of a high-maintenance personality.