Interview Basics

Submitted and designed by the Bakersfield College Computer Studies Advisory Board

Rick Rodriquez, Committee Chairman

Division Chief, Application Development

County of Kern - Information Technology Services

Be On-Time

Besides being discourteous, showing up late immediately brings questions to the minds of interviewers regarding your reliability, your organizational abilities, your commitment, and your interest in the position being recruited. Some companies will immediately disqualify you for being late and not allow you to interview, while others may move you to the end of the process and will only allow you to interview if time permits.

Dress Appropriately

Your appearance as you come through the door is your first chance at a good (or bad) impression. Business attire is always appropriate. Suits, dress pants, dress shirts, ties, and dress shoes. No matter what you choose to wear, ensure that your clothes are clean, pressed, and in good order.

Display Good Personal Hygiene And Grooming

Again, your appearance as you come through the door is your first chance at a good (or bad) impression. Displaying poor personal hygiene or grooming will seriously hinder your ability to be hired. Candidates who display poor personal hygiene or grooming will bring questions to the minds of interviewers regarding your suitability to be around their other employees and their customers.

Be Honest

Don’t embellish or lie about your skills and experience. Most interviewers are competent professionals in the field that you are seeking a career. Efforts to overstate your skills or experience will often be detected by these people and you will quickly lose credibility. Additionally, if there is a questionable event in your past (legal troubles, substance abuse, employment issues, etc.) be prepared to discuss honestly and explain what happened. Employers are likely to be understanding and forgiving about past transgressions, they are very unlikely to forgive lies or deceit during the recruitment process.

Answer The Question

When asked a question, be sure you answer the question. Always give a thoughtful and accurate response. If you don’t know the answer, say so. If you don’t understand the question, ask the interviewer to restate or rephrase the question to ensure you understand what area the question is meant to explore. Always speak in a clear manner and a respectful tone. Avoid speaking too fast or in incomplete thoughts as this may lead to confusion for the interviewer regarding your answer, and their confusion will lead to the perception of your confusion.

Be Prepared

If you have properly prepared yourself for the job (education, skills, experience, etc.), you are properly prepared for the interview. It is recommended to have copies of your resume, educational transcripts, degrees, and technical certificates with you during the interview. Samples of past work may be appropriate for certain type positions such as programmers, technical writers, etc.

Relax

If you have properly addressed the areas mentioned above, you should feel relaxed and confident in your ability to do your best during the interview process.

Always Remember

Interviews are a part of a competitive process that employers use to find the “best” candidate for their job. You may possess all the necessary knowledge and skills for a position and have a great interview, but you may not be offered the job. This is a reality of the process. But do know that most employers/interviewers want you to succeed. They want you to be successful in your employment search and in your actual job. Your success reflects positively on them and their organizations.

Additionally, if at anytime during the recruitment process, the interviewer or anyone associated with the recruitment process, solicits or demand favors (financial, personal, sexual, etc.) from you in return for employment, you should immediately report such behavior to an appropriate person or agency (immediate supervisor, Personnel department, etc.).