1.
Successful Interviewing

2.
Workshop Topics
1. Identify your goals
2. Learn about the company
3. Know your strengths & skills
4. Know your weaknesses & challenges
5. Be prepared for questions
6. Prepare questions to ask
7. Practice
8. Appearance and Impressions
9. What to bring with you?
10. What to do at the end of the interview?
11. How did you do?

3.
IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS

4.
Identify Your Goals
 Remember you want this job
 Why
 Visualize yourself working at this job
 What do you like to do?
 What do you want to learn?
 What is your vision of your career?
 Remember you want this job

5.
LEARN ABOUT THE COMPANY

6.
Learn About the Company
 Company Website
 Google or other search engines
 Visit if possible
 Talk to people who work there or have
worked there
 Job description or posting
 Consider how your skills match up
 Make some notes about the company for
discussion during your interview

7.
Useful Information About the Company
 How long have they been around
 What do they do
 Do they face competition
 How are they doing
 What is their reputation
 One site or many
 Number of employees
 Earnings
 What are their current activities
 Mission Statement

8.
KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS &
SKILLS

9.
Strengths and Skills
 They must relate to this job
 How have these helped you accomplish
things in your life?
 What did you do to achieve or develop
these?
 Who has guided you?

10.
References
 Make a list of potential professional,
academic and personal references
 Contact the ones you think are most likely to
have positive things to say about you
 Tell them you are interviewing for jobs and
ask if they are willing to provide a positive
reference for you

11.
KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES &
CHALLENGES

12.
Weaknesses & Challenges
 We all have weaknesses and challenges
 The interviewer expects you to identify yours but
does not have to be told something that would
create a negative opinion of you as a candidate
 This is not the time to discuss your concerns
about yourself
 Turn your weakness into a strength

13.
Examples of How A Weakness Can Be A
Strength
 I like to work on a project or assignment until
it’s completed, so I generally don’t socialize
very much.
 I’m something of a perfectionist. I expect a
lot of myself.
 I like a clean desk, so I try to complete as
much as possible every day.
 I have trouble saying no because I really like
to be helpful and busy.

14.
BE PREPARED FOR QUESTIONS

15.
The Interviewer’s Goal
 They want to fill the position with a
good fit
 Need to find out
 if you have the skills
 If you have personal attributes
 If you are motivated

16.
Tell Me About Yourself
your 60 second commercial
 Where you grew up
 Educational background
 Including major area of studies and why you
chose it
 2 or 3 strengths or skills that are related to this
job
 Academic or vocational accomplishments
 Your ability and desire to make contributions to
the success of your employer
 Your career goals
 Speak in a conversational tone

17.
STAR OUTLINE FOR ANSWERS
S ituation
 I worked at…….
 T ask
 Where I ……
 A ction
 I did……
 R ESULT
 I achieved…….

18.
Notes for possible answers and
descriptions
 Its OK to have notes with you
 There are questions that you can
expect and can write down points to
remember (see handout of frequently asked
interview questions)
 How would you describe something
you have done that relates to this type
of work?
 You may refer to your notes during the
interview

19.
Interview Success Tips
 Focus and refocus attention on your successes.
 Always offer positive information.
 Discuss only the facts needed to answer the
question.
 You may mention hobbies/interests but keep it brief
 Listen carefully.
 If you are not sure you understand the question, ask
for clarification.
 Tell the truth but do not offer information not asked
for.

20.
Interview Success Tips
 Make your points. Then ask if the interviewer
would like further details
 Be organized in your presentation
 Be concise in your responses
 Pause at times to consider your responses
 M. DeLuca & N. DeLuca, 24 Hours to the Perfect Interview (2004),
McGraw Hill

21.
Illegal Topics
 Interviewers May Not Ask About
 Nationality/race
 Marital status
 Religion
 Affiliations
 Disability or medical history
 Pregnancy, birth control, child care
 Age

22.
TO DISCLOSE OR NOT TO
DISCLOSE
 Employers CAN NOT ask you if you have a
disability
 You are not required to disclose a disability
during an interview
 Why would you?
Source: Baker, Jed. Ph.D. (2005): Preparing for Life: the Complete Guide to
Transitioning to Adulthood for those with Autism and Asperger’s
Syndrome. Arlington, TX. Future Horizons INC.

23.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
 Is your disability readily apparent?
 Poor eye contact, idiosyncratic movements, etc.
 Can you explain how it will not interfere with performing the
job duties?
 Can you point out how aspects of your disability make you
a desirable candidate for the position?
 i.e. RULES = HONESTY
 (see handout on disclosing)
 If your disability is not readily apparent
 No need to disclose
 Accommodations may be simple and can be requested
without disclosure
 Steven Shore and baseball hat

24.
PREPARE YOUR OWN
QUESTIONS

25.
Write Out Questions for the
Interviewer
 Your questions show your interest in the
position and the company
 Examples:
 What do you consider the most important qualities
for someone to have in this job?
 Why is this position available now?
 What do you like about working here?
 What are the opportunities for advancement?
 When do you plan on filling this position?

26.
PRACTICE

27.
PRACTICE
 Ask friends, parents, teachers to spend 30
minutes doing this
 Divide the Practice Interview into 3 Parts
 First Impression
 Questions & Answers
 Closing
 How did you do?
 What do you need to do better?
 See Practice Interview Rating Sheet

28.
Make a Practice Trip to the Interview
Location
 Check out the route
 Travel at the same time of day as your
interview
 Allow extra time for traffic or delays
 Observe the business environment
 How are people dressed

29.
APPEARANCE & IMPRESSIONS

30.
Appearance Matters. . .A Lot!
 If you don’t dress seriously, they can’t take
you seriously!!
 Make a good first impression
 Pride in yourself implies pride in your work
 Show your creativity in your work, not your
appearance
 Dress conservatively
 Be well groomed and clean

31.
Don’t Forget the Details
 Conservatively styled hair
 Clean and neatly trimmed
beard
 Clean fingernails
 No large or distracting
accessories
 Clean & well-pressed
clothes
 No perfume or cologne
 No smoking or gum
chewing
 Brush your teeth and use
mouthwash

32.
Tips for Women
 Good Outfits
 Dark colored skirt or pants suit with a
blouse or sweater
 Fit should be comfortable….not tight or
very loose
 No Cleavage!
 Nothing transparent
 Skirt still at knees when sitting
 Wear polished, low heeled shoes
 Small, neat accessories
 Might be a good time to remove nose and
tongue rings
 Wear clean, matching panty hose or
socks

33.
Tips for Men
 Good Outfits
 Depends on position
 Dark colored business suit with solid shirt
 Tie with a neat knot
 Shirt, tie and slacks
 Keep jacket buttoned when standing
 Shoes shined and in good condition
 Socks same color as shoes or pants
 Pants should be long enough to
cover legs when sitting

34.
Making A Good Impression
 Firm handshake
 Stand up when the interviewer comes to
greet you and any time you are introduced to
someone
 Repeat the interviewer’s name, with their
proper form of address: Mr., Mrs., Dr.
 Be on time for the interview (5-10 minutes
early)
 Be polite and respectful to the receptionist

35.
Impressions
 Don’t sit until you’re invited to, and sit up
straight
 Practice good eye contact
 Look at one eye, shoulder or forehead
 Walk next to or behind interviewer and at
same pace
 Say something nice about the office, brief
small talk
 Nod your head in agreement or
understanding
 Say please and thank you

36.
Impressions
 You may be invited to lunch or offered coffee
 Practice your table manners
 Use a napkin
 Don’t talk with your mouth full
 If you’re not confident in ability to interview
and drink coffee at same time say no thank
you

37.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU

38.
What to Bring to an Interview
 Several copies of your resume
 Examples of your work if appropriate
 New notebook (with your notes in it) and a
nice pen
 Briefcase or folder
 Names, addresses, and phone numbers of
references
 Photo I.D.

39.
Other things to bring with you
 Comb
 Dental Floss
 Mouth Freshener
 Tissues
Take a few minutes to go to the bathroom and
check out your appearance when you arrive

40.
WHAT TO DO AT THE END OF THE
INTERVIEW

41.
At the End of the Interview
 Ask for the interviewer’s business card
 Use the interviewer’s name as you thank
him/her for taking the time to meet with you
 Mention some topics from the interview that
you appreciated learning about
 State your interest in the job and belief in
your ability to perform well

42.
After the Interview
 Send a short thank you note within
24 hours
 Neatly typed, spell checked
 Summarize a few key points from
the interview
 Clearly state your interest in the
position
 You may phone to check on the
decision making process after 10
days – 2 weeks

43.
HOW DID YOU DO?

44.
Use Your Rating Sheet
 How did you do overall?
 What were your strengths?
 What needs improvement?
 Call and ask the interviewer for feedback