Interviewing Techniques
Your co-op interviews will be very important in securing the job you want
most. Each 20 or 30 minutes spent with an interviewer may shape the entire
course of your future.
- Find out all you can about the company through the student
description file and the company literature at the co-op office, and
in the library. Show that you are interested and have some questions
ready - obviously you don't know everything about the job even if you
have researched the company thoroughly.
- Be flexible about location. Don't shut off any job
opportunities. Co-op cannot guarantee you a job. The more
restrictions you put on a job that would be acceptable, the more your
chances are of ending up without a job.
- Even if you have had major disagreements with the way a previous
supervisor did his/her job, never talk about it in an interview. An
employer wants to hire someone who will be loyal, not one who will
downgrade the company.
- Enthusiasm is a must. One mustn't overdo it of course, but a
healthy eagerness to get right to work is very attractive to an
employer.
- Never bring up the subject of where else you are interviewing.
It will make you appear less interested. If the interviewer asks if
you're interviewing anywhere else, be honest but don't elaborate.
Remember, the interviewer doesn't want to trap you, trick you or reject
you. He/she has to hire someone to get the work done. The interview is a
chance for him/her to determine how you could contribute to the company, so
sell yourself!
- Be on time - allow yourself extra time to find the right room or
in case you have a flat tire or get lost.
- Upon meeting the interviewer, extend your hand confidently and
give a firm (but not deathgrip) handshake.
- Men - wear a suit and tie and real shoes (not sneakers or
sandals).
Women - wear a dress or suit, skirt and jacket, stockings and
dress shoes.
- Don't chew gum.
- Keep hands quiet, sit up - don't sprawl all over the chair.
- Don't smoke.
- Maintain eye contact, but don't stare.
- Be enthusiastic and interested.
- Always shake hands and thank the interviewer for his/her time.
Ask what will happen next - will you be notified or should you call
the company to check?
- Send a thank you letter for the interview.
Naturally, all employers are looking for neat, clean, well-groomed,
eager, energetic, enthusiastic, interested, observant, "sharp" people. These
are the basics. But they are only the basics -the concrete block. To build
and maintain an organization, employers need and look for more. The following
are the most commonly sought after attributes most employers tell us they
want.
Communication skills. In most cases, the means of communicating information
is verbal (spoken and written) English.
Economic awareness. Every human endeavor leading to the creation of an
organization has goals which are essentially involved with the assembly,
allocation, and utilization of material, energy, and human resources.
Career maturity. Professional occupations establish and enforce their own
standards and criteria of membership, certification and recognition. This
is done through professional societies and honor societies. You can apply
for membership in most, but membership in the honor groups is by invitation
only. Join early - fees are lower for students.
College of Computer Science,
Cooperative Education