Preparation key in job interviews

Preparation is key in a job interview.

Just ask Barbara Juliussen, associate director of… Preparation is key in a job interview.

Just ask Barbara Juliussen, associate director of Career Services for Pitt. She’s one of the people who conducts mock interviews with Pitt students who are videotaped and then reviewed.

After 12 years in her job, she is aware of what interviewers are looking for and what students are giving them.

“Don’t think on your feet,” she advised. “Have an idea of what the interviewer will ask you and what you will respond.”

For answering questions, Juliussen recommended the STAR model: Give an example in the Situation, Task, Action and Results format of goal-oriented success.

“Show the match between what they’re looking for and what you’re presenting,” Juliussen said.

Here are some other tips Juliussen recommends for a successful interview: Have an opening, but not an autobiography. Tell the interviewer the skills you think you possess and how they would contribute to the company. Be proactive. If the interviewer does not ask for a specific example of success, it is a good idea to find time to give one anyway. Ask at least three questions to show interest, but prepare six questions in case they answer some during the interviewing process. If you have the misfortune of being sick during the time of the interview, make sure to take effective medication before going in. If the sickness is severe, address it up front and apologize. Have a closing. Reiterate interest as well as qualifications, and show confidence.

Juliussen added that students should research a company before their interview by visiting Web sites and reading brochures.

Davie Huddleston, director of strategic talent acquisition at PNC Bank, said he eliminates anyone who has no knowledge about his company.

“What we have in print, I expect them to know,” Huddleston said.

But sometimes, Juliussen said, strong, solid responses in an interview are not enough.

Nonverbal cues are also indicative of a person’s character, yet they are usually more difficult to control.

Here are some tips Juliussen gave for effectively using nonverbal communication in interviews: Smile. Juliussen said a smile is the best form of nonverbal communication. However, students should take care not to seem nervous. People sometimes smile for this reason. Maintain eye contact. Be comfortable looking into the interviewer’s eyes, but also make sure to occasionally look away. Continuously staring down the interviewer will be taken as a sign of unnecessary aggression. Avoid distracting gestures. If you have a tendency to talk with your hands, then it is best to keep them on the table, one firmly on top of the other. Lean forward. Leaning forward sends the interviewer the message that you are engaged in the process at hand. Leaning backward sends the message that you are not interested. Dress on the conservative side. For ladies, no “jingle-jangle” jewelry or strong fragrances. There is a slight, but still existent, chance that the interviewer is allergic to certain perfumes or powders. Carrying a purse or briefcase is permissible, but do not carry both. In addition, Juliussen recommended that students avoid carrying “anything that shouts ‘college student.'” Bring extra copies of resumes and references.

Juliussen always encourages her students to go in with the philosophy, “Control what I can control.”