WORKING IT

By Gary Boley gboley@mscd.edu

Q: I know your office provides workshops and coaching on developing interview skills. What else can I do to ensure my interviewing improves?
Mishka Char, sports and industry
operations major

A: Alan Forker of the CareerLab in Denver describes his interview style as passing out enough rope for the candidates to hang themselves with. Interviewing is serious business, as this statement proves, and only those who prepare and rehearse succeed. My suggestion is to know your audience and know what they want. It is OK to memorize standard answers to standard questions like tell me about yourself or where do you see yourself in five years? The objective is to meet your goals for the interview and maintain a comfort level that allows you to accurately reflect what you're like to work with.

Interviewing is serious business as this statement proves and only those who prepare and rehearse succeed. My suggestion is to know your audience and know what they value/want (do your homework)! It is OK to memorize standard answers to standard questions like tell me about yourself or where do you see yourself in five years? The objective is to meet your goals for the interview and maintain a comfort level that allows you to accurately reflect what your like to work with.