Mechanical Engineering
Interviewing
Preparing properly for your interview is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure that you are presenting yourself well and doing your best to appeal to potential employers. There are several ways you should prepare for your interview:
Research
It's important that you research a company and the products or services they sell, before your interview so that you can demonstrate your interest and commitment to the company's goals and strategies.
- Carefully re-read the job description
- Visit the organization’s website and check the LinkedIn company profile
- Locate & read the LinkedIn profiles of the interviewers
You want to know the following information:
It's also a good idea to research the person (or people) who will be interviewing you so you know who they are, what their role is in the company, and can gather any pertinent background information before meeting them. Try searching for them online or on social media or check out this page on What to Look for When Researching Your Interviewer.
Prepare Answers & Practice.
It's usually a good idea to prepare your answers to some of the most typical interview questions ahead of time. This will help you be ready to answer tough questions in a clear and professional manner and will demonstrate your commitment to the position. Additionally, practicing answering questions in the mirror or with a friend can help you examine your body language and tone to make sure you're giving off the correct impression during your interview. Online students can practice their interview skills using Optimal Resume through the Career Center. Campus students can visit the Career Development office for interview preparation.
Bring your Best.
There are several things you may want to consider bringing with you on your interview: several crisp and clean copies of your resume, cover letter, and references, transcripts or other pertinent documentation, a brief portfolio with examples of your work and accomplishments, directions to and from the place where you will be interviewing, breath mints, a list of questions to ask your interviewers, etc.
Helpful Resources
- Knock 'Em Dead Job Interview by Martin Yate This link opens in a new windowCall Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9780983973454Publication Date: 2013-12-02
- Successful Interview Skills by Rebecca Corfield This link opens in a new windowCall Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9780749456528Publication Date: 2009-09-01