Speaker advises preparation
Successful interviews take practice, coordinator says
by Richard Turner, reporter

    Practice and preparation are the keys to a successful interview, a South Campus counselor told students during a seminar earlier this month, Are You Prepared for an Interview?

   Monica Carrasco-Bettle, career center coordinator, said practicing for an interview is one important step in the job search.

   “The best way to prepare for an interview is to role play,” she said.

   “A résumé is used to sell yourself on paper, and in the interview you are selling yourself in person,” she said.

   Most interviews typically start off with a question such as “Tell me about yourself,” Carrasco-Bettle said.

   “Clarify by asking the interviewer, ‘Do you want to know about me personally or professionally?’” she said.

   “Participate in the conversation, and be sure to show enthusiasm,” she said.

   Preparation for the interview involves more than just knowing the position one is seeking, Carrasco-Bettle said.

   Knowing what not to do is even more important than what to do, the counselor said.

   Carrasco-Bettle offered a few suggestions for the interview:

   Dress and appearance should not be distracting to the interviewer; one should not display nervousness and should avoid discussing salary and benefits too soon.

   “These are just a few of the things not to do during an interview,” she said.

   Researching the company is good preparation for the interview, Carrasco-Bettle believes.

   “You have to know the company,” she said. “Check it out before hand.”

   Also, Carrasco-Bettle said students should get the interviewer’s full name, title and status before going to the interview.

   That information will assist the job hunter in responding to questions during the interview.

   Carrasco-Bettle said the job seeker also should be prepared to answer questions concerning former employers.

   “Avoid any type of negative information about former employers; stress the positive,” she said.

   Carrasco-Bettle recommended that job seekers plan a closing statement and practice for the interview.