# Squee! I've got an interview! For a real job! Advice please. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115 "2012-09-18T23:37:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/21 "2012-09-19T18:11:46Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > It was me, I am frequently shocked when we ask the candidate at the end of the interview, “So, do you have anything else you’d like to say?” and they say “no, that’s it.” Show some passion, show you want the job, tell me why you’ll be great at it! We’ve given you plenty of job info during the interview, are you smart enough to USE IT?? When I was an interviewer I would end by saying: _OK, is there anything about yourself that you would like to tell me that I haven’t thought to ask? This is a chance to sell yourself, use it as you wish._ It always seemed a shame when people didn’t use that opening. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/22 "2012-09-19T19:52:42Z")
Thanks so much guys! I never would have thought to close the interview by ‘selling myself.’ It makes total sense, but I wouldn’t have done so without your input. I am taking notes on all the advice given here and will practice before I go. Think of me at 9 am Friday. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/23 "2012-09-19T20:32:52Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Thanks so much guys! I never would have thought to close the interview by ‘selling myself.’ It makes total sense, but I wouldn’t have done so without your input. I am taking notes on all the advice given here and will practice before I go. Think of me at 9 am Friday. Best of luck. I guess I would take the concept of “sell yourself” and add the following other cliche “you will never get the business unless you ask for the business.” In other words: At the end, as you prepare to summarize and sell yourself as a good fit, start by declaring your interest unabiguously, such as “This sounds like a great organization and the role is something I would be very interested in. And I am a great fit for the following reasons…” Please follow up with an update if you can. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/24 "2012-09-19T21:24:35Z")
Another piece of great advice is “be yourself.” I know it sounds trite, but if you just sit there and politely answer questions, you are not going to stand out in any way. It took me a while to figure this out. During that great interview I had I was cracking jokes and offering suggestions and everything. This felt like a huge risk to me - what if they didn’t like my personality? - but by the time I left I felt like I already worked there. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/25 "2012-09-19T22:53:40Z")
Don’t audibly or silently fart. ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/26 "2012-09-19T23:05:06Z")
Been interviewing a lot of people recently who surprisingly don’t meet some basic qualifications for an interview so: - Dress professionally. I highly recommend a pant suit or something equally formal. Dress code at the college may be jeans-and-a-t-shirt-casual, but for the interview? Wear your nicest. - Be sure to have copies of your resume on you to offer. Ditto for a sheet of 3-5 references - you usually won’t be asked, but it’s best to have anyway. - Be prepared with 3-4 questions (at minimum) to ask. You can easily figure out some solid questions by - Check out the college on Google and Wikipedia. Get the basics down. Since its a program director at a college, try to learn whatever you can about the college - if they recently got an award or something and ask about that. - Look up on Monster or Careerbuilder or something for “top interview questions”. Some of them are trite and seem laughable, but make sure you have answers to them anyway, a lot of businesspeople are trite and laughable. Oh, and one of my favorite questions to get asked (assuming you’re speaking to your potential direct manager) is “What could I do on day 1 to make your job easier?” Most bosses aren’t expecting that and it usually sticks out in their mind. Being memorable is usually\* a good thing. See **FoieGrasIsEvil** ’s post as to when being memorable is not good… And good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/27 "2012-09-19T23:14:46Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > If you’re interviewing directly with the people you will be working with (as opposed to an HR person), remember they will be just as interested in the personality of the person they have to work with everyday, as they are your skill set. I tend to be just a tad more jovial and personal if I’m speaking with my future cow-orkers. Ask questions! What’s the most important part of the job? What is the work environment like, how big is the team I would be working with? Is this a new position, or would I be replacing someone? If I would be replacing someone, where did they go? All of these type of questions give the interviewer a chance to talk. Some of the most successful interviews are when you let the interviewer talk a lot. But these also give you good information about what you would be walking into - there could be things about the job that you really don’t want - you need to know if it’s a fit for you too. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/28 "2012-09-20T02:39:21Z")
Realize the person interviewing you may be as nervous as you are about the interview. If you can be friendly and relaxed and make them feel at ease they will remember you in a positive way. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/29 "2012-09-20T12:01:56Z")
How much detail do you have on the position that you are interviewing for ? I would think that you would want to go into the interview and ask specific questions about the position and responsibilities, thus showing that your are genuinely interested in the work that you will do rather than seeing it as just a job. Such questions it would demonstrate that have done your homework and be a more efficient use of the interviewer’s time. Boa sorte !! ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/30 "2012-09-20T13:15:21Z")
One other thing. Be prepared for typical interview questions like “where do you see yourself in 5 years” or “what is your biggest weakness?” These can be tricky if you haven’t thought about them, and I get asked them a lot. The best advice I received for the biggest weakness question was to tell them a weakness along with how you resolve it (which turns it into a strength), like: I can sometimes be forgetful, which is why I always take detailed notes and enter everything into a day planner, that way I don’t miss anything. At my previous interview, they asked me to describe myself on a bumper sticker. I was tempted to say Gas, Grass, or Ass, Nobody Rides for Free, but I honestly could not think of anything, so after a second or two I said “I have no idea, how about seasoned professional wants this job.” They said the previous person said “Will work for beer.” Despite my lame answer, I got the position. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/31 "2012-09-20T15:08:06Z")
I remember one of my first job interviews. I’d read that it’s good to have a cup of coffee an hour before, and I was paranoid about being late, so I killed two birds: found the place, parked legally, and spent an hour in a coffee place on the corner. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/32 "2012-09-20T15:35:07Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > … is asking for a glass of water ok? Coffee and me don’t go well together… Well, yes. If you don’t drink coffee, just say: “Thanks, I don’t drink coffee, but I’d love a glass a water!” Or a cup of tea or whatever is there. I guess I should have added that. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/33 "2012-09-20T15:42:49Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > When I was an interviewer I would end by saying: _OK, is there anything about yourself that you would like to tell me that I haven’t thought to ask? This is a chance to sell yourself, use it as you wish._ > > It always seemed a shame when people didn’t use that opening. I will combine this with the **Don’t Ramble** advice, and the **Be Professional** advice. You know how hiring people aren’t allowed to use certain info about you in hiring decisions, so they don’t ask how old you are, or whether you have kids at home, or whether you’re the primary caretaker to your ancient parents or whatnot? I hate to break it to you, but if you use “_Tell me what you want us to know about yourself_” to include ANY of those details, or the funny story of how your son got busted for pot (not kidding) then as much as we the interviewers try not to take that into account, we’re only human, and we will remember those details. Be warned. We don’t want to know about you as a PERSON. We want to know about you as a PROFESSIONAL WORKER. Please make it easy on us to keep that distinction tight and legal. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/34 "2012-09-20T17:15:17Z")
I can’t stress this enough: send a thank you note to whoever interviews you immediately. After the interview go out to your car, write the note, go back into the building and get the receptionist or whoever to deliver it. Not thank you email, not thank you phone call. Thank you note, on stationery 'n stuff. I have landed 2 good jobs this way and both times I was the ONLY one who sent one. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/35 "2012-09-20T18:31:51Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > I can’t stress this enough: send a thank you note to whoever interviews you immediately. After the interview go out to your car, write the note, go back into the building and get the receptionist or whoever to deliver it. Not thank you email, not thank you phone call. Thank you note, on stationery 'n stuff. I have landed 2 good jobs this way and both times I was the ONLY one who sent one. Interesting. Another thing that would never occur to me. What do you write in your note? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/36 "2012-09-20T19:44:38Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Interesting. Another thing that would never occur to me. What do you write in your note? Thank them for the time. Restate your interest and summarize the case for why you are a good fit. If you can make an observation about something you found interesting about the company or your specific role, say it. If there is a smart next step - e.g., I look forward to hearing from you and will follow up on Sept XX. Now - do all that in a couple of short paragraphs or so - it should be brief and to the point, but demonstrate that you are thoughtful, that you are interested and understand the job and can do it, and are ready to go. Best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/37 "2012-09-21T15:51:19Z")
So. How did it go? ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/38 "2012-09-21T17:23:25Z")
I think it went pretty well, but it’s hard to tell. They said they are interviewing a bunch of people for this position. But I followed all of your advice: I turned off my cell phone, I ‘sold myself’ at the end of the interview, and I even wrote a thank you note immediately after. After talking with the people I am even more sold on the idea that this would be a perfect job for me, and I really really really hope I get it. They said they would contact me at the end of next week. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/39 "2012-09-21T17:34:09Z")
Good deal. Sending out lucky thoughts. (My interview went well too, thank you all for asking… 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115/40 "2012-09-21T17:35:46Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > If you got there via public transit and needed to have the phone when not in said building, what else can you do? I’ve been in that position. I’ve not only been in that position, I’ve been in that position at at time when there were no cell phones. People can and do survive being incommunicado for hours or even days at a time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squee-ive-got-an-interview-for-a-real-job-advice-please/635115.md?page=3)