Interview Tips

1. Business Etiquette
Presented by Professor Crystal Barletta
cbarletta@keiseruniversity.edu
Keiser University
September 29, 2011

2. Before the Interview
• Research the company
• Review questions you may be asked during the interview
• Research the interviewer
• Think about what you can contribute to the company
• How big is your digital footprint? (Do a Google Search and
remove anything that is inappropriate)

3. Resume Writing
• What are the key elements of a resume?
• Work Experience
• Education
• Qualifications
• Skills
• Community Service
• Leadership/Management Experience
• Awards and Certificates

4. Dress for Success

5. Dress Tips
• Ladies should make sure that their dress attire is appropriate fits
well, is clean and pressed, and is professional
• Gentlemen should make sure that their dress attire is clean and
pressed, and professional
• Minimize jewelry
• Cover any visible tattoos

6. Interview Tips

7. The Handshake
• All Hands on Deck
• Make sure your hands/ nails are neat and clean prior to the interview.
• If you have sweaty palms, or get nervous easily, carry a tissue with you to wipe your
hands.
The confident handshake
Offer your hand even if the interviewer doesn't offer his or her hand first.
• Use a firm handshake and adjust your grip to the other person's hand.
• Hold the handshake for 2 to 3 seconds making a slight up and down pumping motion.
• Smile and make eye contact as you shake hands. In a panel interview, take the time to
shake hands with everyone you meet.
• Leave the Interview With a Handshake as Well
• Refer to the interviewer by name when you are saying goodbye. Thank them for the
interview personally as you shake hands before you leave. Remember to shake hands
with everyone in the room even if you must reach across a table or walk around a room.
• Learn local customs when interviewing for a position in another country or with an
international business. Not all cultures consider a handshake as an appropriate gesture.

8. Interview and Office Etiquette
• Greet the Interviewer as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.
• Shake hands and look the interviewer in the eye
• Have a copy of your resume ready
• Answer the questions to the best of your ability an try to
showcase your talents and abilities

9. The End of the Interview and
the Follow-up
• -Ask important questions about the company, but do not ask
about vacation time, salary, and other information that does
not pertain to job requirements.
• Thank the interviewers and shake their hands as you leave the
room.
• Send a thank you card after the interview, thanking the
interviewer for the opportunity.

10. Helpful Sites
• Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/12/cx_sr_job_interview_slide.
html?thisSpeed=35000
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20045.htm
• Glassdoor
http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm
• Resume Writing
http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/skills/resumes.html

11. You Have the Job…Now What?
• Climbing the career ladder
• Getting job experience
• Showing leadership
• References

12. Leadership- 7Habits of Highly
Effective People
• HABIT 1: Be Proactive
• Take initiative
• Manage change
• Respond proactively
• Keep commitments
• Take responsibility and have accountability
• Have a positive influence on results

13. HABIT 2: Begin with the End
in Mind
• Define vision and values
• Create a mission statement
• Set measurable team and personal goals
• Start projects successfully
• Align goals to priorities
• Focus on desired outcomes

14. HABIT 3: Put First Things First
• Execute strategy
• Apply effective delegation skills
• Focus on important activities
• Apply effective planning and
prioritization skills
• Balance key priorities
• Eliminate low priorities and time wasters
• Use planning tools effectively
• Use effective time-management skills

15. HABIT 4: Think Win-Win
• Build high-trust relationships
• • Build effective teams
• • Apply successful negotiation skills
• • Use effective collaboration
• • Build productive business relationships

16. HABIT 5: Seek First to
Understand, Then to be Understood
• Apply effective interpersonal communication
• • Overcome communication pitfalls
• • Apply effective listening skills
• • Understand others
• • Reach mutual understanding
• • Communicate viewpoints effectively
• • Apply productive input and feedback
• • Apply effective persuasion techniques

17. HABIT 6: Synergize
• Leveraging diversity
• • Apply effective problem solving
• • Apply collaborative decision making
• • Value differences
• • Build on divergent strengths
• • Leverage creative collaboration
• • Embrace and leverage innovation

18. HABIT 7: Sharpen the Saw
• Achieve life balance
• • Apply continuous improvement
• • Seek continuous learning

19. References
• Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people.
New York, New York: Free Press.