2. Who Is the Ideal Employee? Candidates who: Have good communication skills Are honest and have integrity Are team players Have a strong work ethic Are willing to take initiative Are flexible Are well organized Businesses often use interviews to see how well candidates demonstrate these traits. Many colleges also have interviews to see if their applicants demonstrate these traits. Over the next few weeks, you’ll begin to develop the skills that you need to become a spectacular interviewee!

3. Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts 1.Dress appropriately. 2.Be on time, or even a little bit early. 3.Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and a smile. 4. Make eye contact. 5.Be polite. 6.Speak in a voice that is clear and loud enough for the interviewer to hear easily. DO… DON’T… 1.Wear clothes that are dirty or wrinkled. 2.Be late! 3.Be unfriendly when you first meet. 4.Look down or up at the sky when answering questions. 5.Forget to use basic manners like saying “please” and “thank you,” or not interrupting when the interviewer is talking. 6.Mumble.

4. Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts (Continued) DO… DON’T… 1.Start answering a question until you are sure what is being asked. 2.Give yes or no answers. However, you should also avoid rambling and giving too much detail. 3.Forget to prepare 1-2 questions to ask just in case you can’t think of anything during the interview. 4.Expect to remember everything without writing it down to read later. 5.Doubt yourself! 1.Listen carefully. Ask for a question to be repeated if you need it. 2.Answer each question in detail and give specific examples when you can. 3.Ask questions about the company or school. 4.Take notes on information that the interviewer shares about the company/school itself, as well as the process for what you should expect to happen after the interview. 5.Be confident!

5. Prepare answers to typical interview questions. Participate in mock interviews, or practice interviews. Mock interviews help you: Understand what to expect in an interview Improve your presentation skills Build confidence P R A C T I C E M A K E S P E R F E C T ! Getting Ready for Your Interview P R A C T I C E M A K E S P E R F E C T !

6. Next week, YOU’LL get to do some mock interviews!