Posted by Kelsey Johnson, Career Services Career Assistant, and OSU Senior

Anxiety and excitement are common human experiences.  Often they go hand in hand.  Whether it’s preparing for a date or for a big game, there’s a desire to impress and/or live up to one’s potential. Interviews work in much the same manner. Typically, if a student is preparing for an interview, it means that their initial contact with the employer, grad panel, or supervisor (via networking, cover letter, resume, etc) has succeeded in sparking an interest in what else they may have to offer.  Therefore, being able to communicate your skills, abilities, and experiences in a professional and timely manner is important for winning over potential managers.  Unfortunately, this is not as easy as it sounds.  Still, many students believe they can walk into an interview and “wow” any employer, just by being their normal “fabulous” selves. Well, news flash! Unless you are Bill Gates (and you don’t need a job), the chances of anyone “wowing” an employer without preparation is pretty slim, especially in today’s competitive job market.  As the old but true cliché goes: you play like you practice.  So come down and practice!

Career Services offers mock interviews which can focus on a variety of student goals.  Whether you’re interviewing for grad school, an internship, or your dream job, we’ll work with you one-on-one to make sure you don’t sell yourself short.  Mock interviews can last from 20 minutes to an hour and typically involve common questions asked by employers, such as “Tell me about yourself”, “What is your greatest strength/weakness?”, “Do you feel your grades accurately represent your abilities? Why or Why Not?”, and numerous others. We also provide various help sheets that give quick tips for different interview types and/or settings.  In addition, we provide a list of common questions to ask employers as well as tips for follow-up interviews and thank you notes. So don’t be shy. Come on by and make an appointment to ensure your interview success.  541-737-4085

Posted by Rachel Erickson, Career Services Career Assistant and OSU Undergraduate

For many people, interviews can be a stressful experience.  We would all love to walk into an interview, ace it, and leave the room feeling sure we’d landed the job.  But the truth is that you must prepare, because perfect interviews do not just happen.  You may have all the qualifications and experiences the company wants, but that is not enough.  An interviewer will be critiquing you on more than what you say.

Here are a few helpful Do’s and Don’ts of Interviewing:

• Do dress the part for the job

• Do research the company and the position you are interviewing for

• Do a practice run with a friend or make an appointment for a MOCK interview at Career Services

• Do make eye contact

• Don’t rely on your application or resume to sell you

• Don’t act like you would take any job

• Don’t say anything negative about former supervisors or employers

• Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no”

For more information on these suggestions and more Do’s and Don’ts visit http://www.quintcareers.com/interviewing-dos-donts.html

Remember, you are interviewing the company just like they are interviewing you.  Go into the interview prepared with questions you would like to know about the company.  For example “How would you describe your company’s culture” or “What do you enjoy the most about working for this company?” will give you an idea of what it is like to work for that company.