Job seekers, know your interview how-tos

Many college students who will graduate and look for a job willgo on countless interviews, trying to impress potential employees.So they'd better be prepared.

Good body language, speech and manners on an interview are amust, and of course, the resume should be perfect, said BarbaraDavis, associate professor of management at The University ofMemphis.

Pressure is always added to the stress of the actual interview,"especially now with the job market, employers are looking to cutyou out," Davis said, "although some degree of nervousness isexpected" by the employer.

For this reason, interviewees should always dress and conductthemselves in a professional manner.

"Especially in the days of business casual, interviewees shouldstill wear proper business attire," Davis said, adding intervieweesshould wear something they are comfortable with to avoid beingstiff in the interview.

Blind dates don't usually work out, and neither do blindinterviews. So experts stress the importance of researchingprospective employers.

Research is the key word in the pre-interview process. Theinterviewee should feel comfortable enough to ask questions basedon their research at the interview. In fact, employers see a lackof interest in a prospective employee if they have not done theirhomework.

Prospective employees should also research advancement positionsif available and ask about the company's plans for expansion andplanning, Davis said.

In short, find out if you are not interviewing for a dead-endjob.

Interviewees should "practice and anticipate the kind ofquestions employers will ask," and think through possible answers,said Clay Woemmel, assistant director of The University of MemphisCareer and Employment Services.

Interviewees should be very familiar with the information ontheir r�sum� and reference list because employeeshave a right ask about anything on these two documents. Prospectiveemployers look for -- and expect -- specific examples of theirskills. If a r�sum� lists expertise with a computerprogram, and the interviewer asks about it, an example of how thatprogram is used and the end result is expected.

Questions can range from professional and problem-solvingquestions to behavioral matters.

First-time interviewees usually struggle with the behavioralquestions and problem solving questions, like the example with thecomputer program. Jobs that require a high level of creative energyusually employ on the spot problem-solving questions, like "Come upwith a sales pitch to sell a stapler," Woemmel said.

All interviews should begin and end on a strong note becauseinterviewers will usually remember the first and last things said,Woemmel said. Interviewees should summarize their strengths and thereason for seeking the job as well as inquire about the next stepof the job process.

Companies hire on the basis of how interviewees presentthemselves. If the interviewee presents a false sense of self, itwill be impossible to keep the same image when hired, so Davisadvices interviewees to be themselves.

For those who feel uncomfortable with the process, The U of MCareer and Employment Services offers a mock interview workshopwhere students are asked typical interview questions. The sessionis videotaped, and students go over their video to work onweaknesses.

For more information on the mock interview workshop, contactCareer and Employment Services, Wilder Tower, Room 400, at678-2239.