This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Denison chapter.
Lola Mendeloff
As a senior, I have spent much of the year working and reworking my resume so that it
gives the best snapshot of who I am and what my talents are for future employers. If sending in
an application feels scary and intimidating, that is nothing compared to the interview process
because the words on the paper are no longer the only impression this hiring person will have
of you—you have to speak for yourself. Receiving an interview means that this company likes
what they saw on your application and now it is your job to impress them even more in person.
There are many ways to make a good first impression. Here is a list of do’s and don’t’s for the
best job interview possible:
DO always dress appropriately. If you are interviewing for a position in an office or
somewhere clearly professional, dress professionally. This means no jeans, shorts, t-shirts or
yoga pants. Wear a nice skirt with a sweater or a dress shirt if you have one that fits nicely.
If you wear something that says you do not care enough to dress nicely then that means you
will not care about the job. Dressing for the job that you want says you have goals and are
responsible enough to act maturely in the workplace. This also applies to language. If you swear
like a sailor, you will not be hired. Being polite and demur is the best way to appear mature and
sophisticated.
DON’T walk into the interview assuming they are going to give you the job or that you
are the only candidate. Employers often will not tell you about other applicants but assume
there are more out there like you, which means you have to put your best foot forward. Don’t
be pushy or desperate, just be your polite self. Never act like you know everything or are owed
anything; confidence is a good thing, until it becomes arrogance, which is not a good quality
for a subordinate to have. Also, telling them that this position is a stepping-stone to the job you
really want to have is never a good idea. You may not want to do this job forever but act like it in
the interview. Don’t oversell the enthusiasm but don’t act like it is a pit stop for you—they want
someone who will work hard for them, whatever the work.
DO be honest with the interviewer—within reason of course. If they ask you something
like “how well do you work with others?” do not lie and say you are a people person if you hate
group projects. Tell the truth but make sure to put a positive spin on it. Say something like “I
have always been a fairly self-sufficient worker, so I don’t mind working alone.” If they ask the
“weakness question” (i.e. “what is your weakest point,” a popular trip-up question), don’t get
discouraged or embarrassed and over share. You can work around the painful truth that you are
shy or that you watch too much TV by saying “I sometimes struggle with meeting new people,
but I think that a new environment will help” or you can make a joke out of it; “my boyfriend/
parents/etc tell me that I watch too much TV but I think it is all about time management.”
DON’T come in with a general resume. Personally, I have everything in my background
from washing dogs to selling kitchenware, but not all of those help me in the executive world.
The best idea is to make one resume with every experience you have on it and then make
separate, tailored ones for each interview. Being experienced is good, unless it has no application
to this particular position. If you have lots of experience with kids that does not necessarily
mean you are fit for a job say in sales. The key is making the most out of what you have on your
resume. Turn babysitting into experience with responsibility, highlight what is relevant and
merely summarize the less pertinent information.
While it is always important to be mature, polite, and witty, the most important thing to
remember about applying for a job is to just be you. The company will hire you because they like
what you have to offer them so be proud of what you have to offer.