The Art Of The Interview

Interviewing is a unique art form. The right appearance, overall personality and an exceptional resumé can send an applicant straight to the top of the pile. Understandably, putting aside your nerves and focusing on the task at hand may not always be easy. However, there are several steps that you can do to ease the interview-day-blues and hopefully, land the job.

Step One: Dress The Part

Wearing the right outfit can really seal the deal in terms of presentation. The way that you present yourself as an individual shows the company the amount of commitment you have for the task at hand. Take a little extra time in the morning before an interview to comb your hair and dress in your best business casual.

"Find out what the normal dress is at the company you are interested in. Do a lot of research about the culture to figure out how you should be dressing on the big day," suggests Rachel Larson, a career consultant at the UConn Career Center. "Try to dress one step above what the normal dress code would be at the job to which you are applying."

Some businesses might be less professional than others, however it is always better to be overdressed then under dressed.

"When I go on an interview I always wear a nice pair of khakis and a button down shirt," said Ethan Kutner, a 1st-semeter pre-kinesiology major. "You have to look professional, you have to dress the part."

Step Two: Think About How You Want To Present Yourself

Personality is one of, if not the biggest component that your interviewer is examining you for. There are two components to your personality, one being your verbal attributes and the other being your body language. From the way you use your hands to the way you cross your legs - any and all body language can be taken as a sign of confidence or a sign of withdrawal.

"Be yourself, as genuine and as personable as you can," suggests Larsen. "Many people do not realize that an interview is a mutual process. You are interviewing the employer just as much as they are interviewing you."

"The interview gives you a chance to ask questions in order to make sure that the job and the company are a good 'fit' for you and your interests, skills, and values. If you are not giving an honest, yet positive, portrayal of yourself, and neither is the company, it will be difficult to find out if you are a match."

Step Three: Prepare,

Prepare, Prepare

You can never be too prepared for an interview. Make sure you are on time and open to discussion. If you find it helpful, prepare some responses to potential interview questions prior to your arrival. Emphasize your responses by using appropriate vocabulary that is appealing rather than confusing.

"Provide examples from your work, education, activities and volunteer experiences to back-up your answers," suggests Larson. "Examples are key. It gives the interviewer a basic idea of how you will act in future situations based on your past behavior. And if the example is negative, that is okay. Just tell them what you learned and how you would handle the situation differently next time."

Step Four: Understand The Requirements

Make sure to walk in to the interview aware of all components for the position you desire.

"Be familiar with the job for which you're being interviewed," suggests Bruce Dwyer on about.com. "Read the advertisement or job description to identify which personal attributes and behaviors are likely to be key success factors for the role." The last thing you want to do is interview for a position where there are necessary skills you are lacking. For example, applying for a journalism internship because you like to write and then learning once you get there that the internship focuses on layout and design using InDesign and Photoshop, neither program which you have experience with, is not going to appease you, or the interviewer.

Step Five: Creating The Right Portfolio / Resumé / Cover letter

A good resumé is an important component to any job application. Make sure to accurately describe your best qualities, list your educational background and past experience. However, make sure that your resumé is not too dense, showcasing too much information and making it difficult to read.

"A resumé is not your life history," Larson adds. "You can leave things out. You don't want to make your resumé hard to read."

Companies are ideally looking for an individual with qualities that set them apart from the rest. On your resume, make sure to showcase skills you might have that others don't, whether that be knowledge of specific computer programs or your ability to speak three languages fluently.

And lastly, keep in mind that the cover letter is what you have done, but expanding upon it. The letter should depict what you've learned from your experiences and the skills you've gained.

Contact Emily Abbate at Emily.Abbate@UConn.edu.