Interviews: How to Prep, Dress and Shine!

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

Just showing up at an interview definitely does not mean that you are prepared. Beforehand you must complete some simple steps of interview preparation that will put you ahead of the game and help you outshine the competition.

What can make you stand out from other applicants in today’s competitive job market? Knowledge. Knowledge about the company, about how you can contribute to the position, and how you are more qualified than every other applicant.

Research

The key to learning about a company is through research. Before the interview find out as much as you can about the company and the position you’re applying for. Do some basic web research about what the company does, how big it is, what they say about their products/services and recent news (if you were applying for a job at Apple, for example, you would want to know about the new iPhone5). Make sure that you clearly understand the job description, so that you are able to demonstrate your qualifications.

Reflect

Think back on your past job experiences and remember a couple stories that demonstrate your fantastic work ethic. Make them pretty general because you’re not sure what the interview’s questions will be, but chances are they will ask you a lot about yourself and your experience. Be prepared to answer them confidently with stories that highlight your skills.

Dress

Make sure to pick out your interview outfit the night before. This should include professional and tasteful clothing in solid, dark colors like navy, black and brown. Men should remember to wear a tie, long sleeve dress shirt and a jacket. Women don’t forget to dress conservatively, avoiding sheer clothing, low-cut shirts and short skirts. Click on the highlighted links on “men” and “women” for more tips on how to dress!

Shine

Go into the interview with confidence – your hard work and preparation will pay off! Don’t be afraid to show the interviewer why you are right for the position because after all, they need to know why!