Before Interview (Page 1 of 2)	
Before the Interview	
LEARN ALL YOU  CAN ABOUT THE  EMPLOYER
If you were an employer and had two equal qualified job seekers, which 
would you hire — job seeker who knows nothing about your company or job 
seeker who knows about the company’s products and services?  Employers 
want to hire job seekerss who care enough to learn about the company!   
How do you learn about a company before an interview?  Visit the company’s 
website or social media page to research information about the company.  
Research the following: What products or services does the company sell?  
What sales pitch is made to customers to get them to buy the products or 
services?  What is the company's history?  Does the company have branch 
locations?  What does the company say about employees?  What does it say 
about its future?  What is the attitude towards customers (or guests or clients)? 
BRING IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TO THE INTERVIEW
Show the employer that you are a thinking person who plans ahead by bringing all important documents 
that you may need during the interview.  Important documents include a resume, copies (not originals) of 
diplomas, awards, certificates (including job training certificates), driver’s license, social security card, 
letters of reference, and any certificates you received in the armed forces.   Also, you may bring samples of 
your work if you are applying for a job as a drafter, photographer, writer, artist, computer programmer, or 	
crafts person (such as wood, ceramics, sewing, or other skill crafts).
KNOW WHERE YOU ARE TO GO FOR THE INTERVIEW
Employers may schedule interviews at the main business office or inside the store.  
Visit the interview site before the interview to see how long it takes to get there.  Then, 
on the day of the interview, allow extra time to get to interview location so that you are 
not rushed.  If someone drives you to the interview, ask them to wait in the car.  Prove 
that you are a responsible, capable adult.  Do not take a friend to the 
interview — go alone.  Also, make sure a friend does not text or call 	
you during the interview.  Turn your cell phone OFF!
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Think about what you are going to wear to the interview.  To make the right 
impression you should be clean, neat, and dressed for the job.  For example, if you are 
applying for a job in retail sales, you should dress as the sales clerks in the store dress.  If 
you are applying for a job as an auto mechanic, you should dress in clean, casual clothes 
(such as jeans and a nice T-shirt).  If you are applying for a job as a paralegal, you should 
dress as a worker in a legal office would dress.  Look into a full-length mirror to see if 
you look like an employee.  For example, if you applied at Target, ask yourself, "Would 
Target hire this person?"  If the answer is no, make adjustments until the image in mirror 
fits the company for which you are applying.

Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.	Before Interview (page 2 of 2)	
PREPARE ANSWERS FOR POSSIBLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
The employer will ask questions to find out if you are the right person for the job.  Practice 
answers to these interview questions so that you are relaxed during the interview.  Great 
leaders know the value of practice.  Former President Reagan practiced his speeches in front 
of a mirror.  Ben Franklin practiced his speeches in front of cows on his farm.  You may 
practice your interview answers in front of a mirror, in front of your pet, or with a friend.  
As you practice good answers, you will gain confidence that will convince the employer to 
hire you.  Before interview, THINK OF and PRACTICE good answers!	
9. How can you practice making a good first 
 impression?
10. Why should you practice the answers to
 interview questions before the interview?
11. a) Where did Reagan and Franklin practice their 	
speeches?  b) List 3 ways that you can practice 
your interview questions.	
12. a) How long is a sound bite?  b) What 3 things 	
should you cover during a sound bite?	
13. Write a 25 (or more) word sound bite that you 	
could say about yourself for a job interview.	
14. What should you not say to the question: Why 	
do you want to work for this company?	
15. What should you have ready to say for the 	
question: What job do you want?	
16. With what 3 things should you answer the 
 question: Why should I hire you?
17. What should you not say to the question: What 	
did you dislike about your last job	?	
1. In your opinion, why would an employer want 	
to hire a job seeker who knows about the 	
 company’s products and services?
2. a) How do you learn about a company before 	
an interview?  b) List 3 questions that may be 
answered about a company from its web site.	
3. a) List 5 important documents you should bring 	
to the interview.  b) When should you bring 
samples of your work?	
4. Why should you allow extra time to get to the 	
interview location?	
5. Why should you go to the interview alone?
6. What should you do to your cell phone before 	
the interview?	
7. In your opinion, why might employers prefer to 	
hire neat and clean job seekers?	
8. Give an example of what it means to go to an 	
interview "dressed for the job."	
QUICK CHECK:
Tell me about yourself!
 Practice a "sound bite" or one-minute speech 
 telling of your: skills, volunteer/work experience, 
and personal traits, such as dependable worker, 
that would make you the best person to hire.
Why do you want to work for this company?
 Do not say, "For the money."  Let the employer 
know that the company is special to you for some 
good reason: "I enjoy eating at BurgerTown, and I 
think I would make an excellent crew member.
Tell me what you know about our company.
 Let the employer know the positive things the 
 company said about itself on its web page.
What motivates you to work hard besides money?
 Example: "I enjoy learning new skills."	
What job do you want?
 Think of a job title before the 
 interview: crew member, sales 
 associate, clerk's helper, ticket taker, or other.
Why do you think you would like this job?
 Answer with something that would help the 
 company: "I enjoy helping customers and selling"
Why should I hire you?
 Answer with your skills, experience, and personal 
traits: "I have experience in customer service, and 
I am a dependable worker."
What did you dislike about your last job?
 Do not say anything bad about the supervisor or 
coworkers.  You may say: "I want to learn new 
skills in a different job."