Interviewing Tips

Preparing for your Interview

The Day/Week Before

  • Get enough sleep (do not stay out late)
  • Get your haircut
  • Fill your gas tank, check oil, tire pressure, etc.
  • Wash and clean out your car
  • Know where you are going (map it, drive the route before)
  • Research the company (review their website)
  • Clean and iron your clothes (dry-clean if necessary)
  • Buy new clothes if needed (have at least 2 outfits)
  • Buy quality interview clothes that fit you
  • Practice your answers to interview questions

Preparing Yourself

  • Shower and use deodorant
  • Light on the perfume and cologne
  • Conservative hairstyle and color
  • Trim and clean your fingernails
  • Clear or conservative colored nail polish
  • Neatly cover/bandage cuts, scrapes, etc.
  • Light on the jewelry (conservative)
  • Limit piercings on the face or mouth
  • Light makeup, hairspray, lipstick, curling iron
  • Wear a watch or bring your Phone

Dressing for Your Interview

Try to take the middle-of-the-road approach and be somewhat conservative in your appearance. Shine through with your positive personality, design work, and clear and informative answers. You’ll have plenty of time to show your personal style and flair once you’re hired.

Here are several examples of designers dressed in business casual for their interviews. This is slightly more casual than business professional, which usually includes suits and ties.

A group of college graduates wearing business casual clothing that shows how to dress for their first interview.

Bring to Your Interview

  • Portfolio of your work
  • Laptop, phone, tablet to show digital work
  • Any other samples that demonstrate you can do the job
  • Extra copies of resume, references, cover letter, and job posting
  • 2 pens & a legal pad in a portfolio folder
  • 5 questions to ask the interviewer (write them down)
  • Information to help you fill out an employment application
  • Names of the people you are meeting with (job titles)
  • Map/phone with directions/address
  • Phone number of your interviewer and/or the company
  • Breath mints (before the interview, not during)

During Your Interview

  • Greeting – eye contact, firm handshake, not too long
  • Keep an interested and enthusiastic appearance
  • Facial expressions (don’t look scared or arrogant)
  • Sit up in your seat, back straight, confident
  • No sudden movements or overly excited gestures
  • No nervous “ticks,” foot tapping, pen clicking, etc.
  • Take your time to answer questions completely
  • Maintain personal space – 3 feet
  • Ask to sit down, or to put things on their desk
  • Allow them to control the interview. You are in control of
    yourself, your presentation, and your answers.

Smile, be enthusiastic, make eye contact often (don’t stare), answer their questions with authenticity, passion, intelligence, and eloquence, and give an outstanding presentation of yourself.

Don’t gossip, put down your previous employer, or talk negatively, and don’t talk about politics, religion, or other
sensitive issues. Focus on communicating to them that you have the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and enthusiasm to do this job!

Remember

  • Practice, practice, practice answering interview questions
  • Learn from your mistakes (you will make mistakes)
  • Always thank them, shake hands, and discuss the next steps: “When will you be making a decision?”
  • Always send a thank you letter/note. Handwritten is preferred.

Anecdotes

The best interview answers are anecdotes. Anecdotes are real stories that relate your skills and experiences to an interviewer. Memorize 5 to start… they will take you far!

Think of a time you stood in the rain for five hours to get the perfect sunset photo for a website background. That’s an anecdote.

Or, how about the time you searched and searched YouTube for a video tutorial that taught you how to apply a certain Photoshop effect? That’s an anecdote.

Most anecdotes should focus on your skills, experiences, and the job you are applying for.

Helpful advice on Zoom/virtual interviewing

Here are two web pages that offer helpful tips for successfully interviewing virtually. Many of you are already comfortable with Zoom meetings, but I thought this extra interviewing advice was worth sharing.

1. Mastering a Virtual Interview

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mastering-virtual-interview-tips-successful-online-2024-oo18c

2. Zoom Interviewing Tips

(10:18)

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/zoom-interview

Remember…

  1. Always answer honestly.
  2. Always relate your answers to your ability to do the job they are hiring for.
  3. Always answer with conviction and enthusiasm.
  4. Always end each answer and the interview on a positive note. If you are ending on a negative note, turn it around or change the discussion to end on a positive note.
  5. Always believe that you can do the job you are applying for.
  6. Always remember that you can only control your part of the interview:
  • Yourself (answers, comments, dress, attitude, honesty, professionalism, sense of humor
  • Your portfolio presentation (this proves you have the skills to do the job)
  • Let the rest be the interviewer’s responsibility, not yours. Do not try to take control. You have enough to think about