Career Research & Resources: Interviews

These tips are from MCC's Career Services office.

Call or email the office to set up an appointment for one-on-one career help.

Before

• Research the company/organization
• Practice interviewing with someone you trust and prepare some questions for the interviewer

Day Of

• Dress appropriately
  • Need interview-appropriate clothes? Contact MCC's Purple Closet  through Career Services for more information.
• Arrive on time (15 minutes early is even better!)
• Be confident in how you carry and present yourself
• Listen carefully to the interviewer, and ask thoughtful questions

After

• Follow up with a thank you note no later than one business day after the interview. Include your thanks for their time, a reference to the discussion, and why you think you'd be a good match for the job.
• Wait 2-5 days to follow up and ask about a decision

How to Research a Company Before an Interview

These tips from themuse.com can help you learn about the organization before you go for an interview. Remember, you're interviewing them, too!

• Know the company's strengths - What is their mission? What are their values? Check their website for an About Us section.
• Find their financial data -  Use ReferenceUSA (library database) to locate a company's earnings and financial data, including business expenditures and sales earnings.
• Consider community relationships - Look at their social media accounts. Can you find reviews of their company? Are they active in their community?
• Learn about company culture - Find employee reviews of a company on Glassdoor.com (after registering for a free account).
• Be familiar with the industry - What's trending in the field? Who are their competitors?

Popular Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself.
• How has your previous experience prepared you for this position?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What interests you about this role?
• What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
• Tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it.
• How do you handle conflict at work?
• Describe a time you went above and beyond at work.

Popular Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

• Can you describe the day-to-day details of the role?
• Can you describe your management style?
• What do you like about working here?
• How do you help your team grow professionally?
• What are the challenges of this position?