By Mike Morales
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Over the last few months, I’ve observed and conducted many interviews with college students, recent graduates, and tenured professionals. In this month’s blog, I’d like to discuss interview mishaps and how to avoid them.
Bring your resume! And bring 2-3 copies
Believe it or not, I’ve had candidates that show up to interview with no resume in hand. That’s right, NO RESUME! Some of these candidates assume I already have their information on file (which I do), but this is a common courtesy and interviewing standard. If you don’t take the time to print out a resume, how are you going to be dependable when a report needs processing or timely approval? This is a no brainer and will dismiss you from moving forward in the process.
Bottom line: Bring multiple copies of your resume to an interview.
Arrive early
Now, I’m not saying arrive at your 10:00 AM interview at 8:30, but 10-15 minutes early is a very smart idea. For one, you have time to look through your resume, make notes, and read through the questions you have for the company. This is also a good time to interact with the front office personnel (yes, I follow up with the front desk to see how their first impression was as well).
Bottom Line: Arrive 10-15 minutes early for your interview. Plan for traffic and anything else that could set you back!
Research the company
I will typically ask a candidate, “What do you know about Sundt?” during an interview, so be prepared to answer accordingly. I am looking for signs that you did some digging, which shows me you care about the opportunity and are truly interested in Sundt, not just a job. Some common answers I have received include “not too much” or “honestly, I haven’t really looked.” If you want to really impress when this question is asked, research Sundt’s values, mission statement, current openings, projects, and recent news. This will definitely set you apart from the competition!
Bottom Line: Take 30-60 minutes to do some in depth research on the company before your interview. Jot these notes down and reference them at the interview.
Have 3-5 questions prepared
It’s common for an interview to end with, “Do you have any questions for me?” And the answer should always be YES! Most of the time, candidates will say, “Nope, you’ve covered everything.” And I’ll be honest, with my 30-60 minute interviews there is no chance I can cover everything (shocking, but true). Be prepared with questions regarding our culture, organizational structure, employee tenure, career path, etc. Not only does this continue to engage the interviewer, it also shows your preparedness for the interview.
Bottom Line: Have 3-5 questions prepared to ask the company you are interviewing with. These can be pertaining to culture, career path, etc.
And last but not least – if you think this is the job for you, ASK FOR IT!
Happy hunting.