Interview is crucial test to pass

But first, you must make it past The Interview.

Resume and interview coaching offered by The University ofMemphis' Career and Employment Services can create a confidentbuilding block of skills, which help graduates overcome the tremorsof their first professional interview.

"It is like the test your haven't studied for and the test yourhave studied for," said Clay Woemmel, assistant director of Careerand Employment Services. "You concentrate better when you areprepared."

Woemmel is part of a four-person team that offers mockinterviews and resume critiques by appointment for anyone whowishes to prepare for an interview or for those who would like tolearn more about proper interview behavior.

Woemmel tapes each mock interview, providing a system to reviewan individual's behavior in a pressurized interview environment. Inapproximately an hour, an interview comparable to a real-lifesituation is conducted and reviewed by Woemmel and theinterviewee.

"There is nothing like seeing yourself on videotape to realizeyour own strengths and weaknesses," Woemmel said.

Woemmel highlights specific behaviors while reviewing the tapethat may demean the abilities of the student. For example, he saiddefensive behavior during an interview is representative of someonewho is hard to work with, blames others for their shortcomings andis unable to solve their own problems.

Another weakness highlighted by the videotapes is answers givenin response to behavioral questions. He said the difference isbetween saying, "Our project was so successful. We achieved ahumongous return on investment," and more accurately stating, "Ourproject was so successful. We achieved a 15 percent return oninvestment."

"You want to use quantitative data as much as possible becauseit makes it more concrete," Woemmel said. "It gives a clear idea ofthe scope of accomplishment."

Preparing concrete examples prior to the interview forbehavioral questions is one solution, said Karen Hayes, director ofCareer and Employment Services. Students should generate concreteexamples of leadership and ethical dilemmas prior to the interviewto use as examples when asked, "How are you heavily involved?"Hayes said.

Avoiding slang is also a common problem for most students thatcan surface during a mock interview, said Woemmel. He said sayingyou are "fixin' to get an interview" or something similar is fatalto your chances of being hired.

Interviewing success depends on more than the nice haircut,pressed suit and proper grammar, Woemmel said -- it depends onproviding an interviewer a parallel to how an interviewee willconduct themselves in the office.

Without an effective resume, however, graduates may not get theopportunity to wear their new suit. Therefore, Career andEmployment Services also conducts resume critiques.

"If you do not effectively convey your knowledge, you won't gethired," Woemmel said. "You can have the knowledge the company islooking for and still not get an interview."

When creating a resume, students should evaluate how thedocument displays its holder's professional ability, Woemmel said.A quality resume not only tells an employer about past jobexperience, leadership skills and software knowledge, it alsopersonifies the applicant's work ethic. Woemmel said an error-freeresume translates into a detail-oriented professional.

Some employers are looking at resumes and using screeningcriteria such as grade point average and software skills to filterout candidates, Hayes said. Therefore, she said it is importantthat applicants include these skills in their resumes. Insituations where the GPA is mediocre, Hayes said applicants shouldprovide a supplemental balance of leadership and workexperiences.

Applicants should also come prepared to provide the employerwith relevant materials, such as extra resume copies, referencesand portfolio materials, Woemmel said, adding that employers oftenask for a copy of the student's resume just to measure whether theycame to the interview prepared.

Some students who have participated in the on-campusinterviewing program said they wish they'd utilized the servicesprior to their formal interview.

"The interviewer was really forward, and the questions weretough," said Vanessa Muldrow, student assistant at Career andEmployment Services.

The resume and interview resources offered by Career andEmployment Services have value for everyone, Hayes said.

"It's free, so why not take advantage?" Woemmel said. "Everyoneneeds a good resume and good interview skills."