10 Tips To Ace An Interview

At WVJC, we understand that your ultimate goal in attending school is landing a career at the end of it. We also know that that career search process can be intimidating at times. An integral part of this process is the interview. To help prepare you for this, we have put together a few interview tips.

1. After you apply for a job and get a call to interview, do some research on the company! Do your homework.
2. If you are invited to interview on site, make sure you are there 10-15 minutes early. Do not show up to the interview right at the interview time. That will make you seem unprepared, unprofessional, and uninterested. You also do not want to show up too early. If you arrive more than 15 minutes early, sit in your car and wait until the time to go inside.
3. Make sure you are friendly and professional to the receptionist and anyone else you may come in contact with.
4. Do not smoke before your interview. Make sure you are in clean clothes and avoid strong perfumes or colognes.
5. It is important to have several copies of your resume with you during your interview, even if you submitted your resume when you initially applied for the job. Print them off the night before. There may be several people interviewing you and you need to be prepared.
6. During the interview process, be aware of your facial expressions! Smile and make eye contact. Show interest and participate in the conversation. Give more than one word answers.
7. Prepare follow up questions ahead of time. When they ask if you have any questions after your interview, never say no. Come up with a list of questions beforehand and be prepared to ask these.
8. Before you leave, make sure you ask for a business card and give a firm handshake.
9. Again, remain professional the entire time you are in and around the facility. Speak to the receptionist when you are leaving.
10. After you get home, take the time to type out a thank you letter. You will be able to do this because you got their business card, which has their contact information on it. Always write a thank you letter. You will stand out from other applicants and be fresh on their mind.