<p>Hey guys!
I've got an interview in a few days with an alumni from my first choice college. I've realized while I was corresponding with my interviewer to set up the interview it self that I really am not familiar with "proper interview" protocol (I'm not kidding: I asked the interviewer if I could call him Mr. -First name here- in one our first e-mails. I have no clue what I was thinking. He didn't even respond to that question).</p>
<p>So, pointers please? Anything goes. :)</p>
<p>-Be polite (I guess you realize this already with how to address your interviewer). Try to schedule the interview during a time and at a place that is convenient for him.
-Dress neatly. Casual formal, but this could also depend on where you are meeting.
-Don't offend him/her during the interview. Try to find subtle similarities if possible, and play to those. I think interviewers truly appreciate honesty though, so make it a point be yourself.
-Send a thank you note after the interview.</p>
<p>What school by the way? Because certain schools have interviews to "sell" you their school, while others really want to know you as a person.</p>
<p>As an alumnus who does interviewing I can tell you that it probably wouldn't bother me if someone asked to call me by my 1st name. What I look for is someone who is energetic and interesting. The conversation should be 2 sided. You should be passionate about the school and when asked if you have any questions, you should have a few in mind. You should be knowledgeable about the school, but at the same time not look like you've memorized the web site.</p>
<p>Lastly and most importantly you should be yourself and even more importantly be on time!</p>
<p>HTH</p>
<p>Thanks everybody. This is really helpful so far. :)</p>
<p>And Primeminister-- it's for Wesleyan University.</p>
<p>Also check the various CC threads about interviews. There is even a thread that's pinned to the top of one of the major boards.</p>
<p>spsdds,</p>
<p>so is it true that interviewers are just looking for a good overall impression and will let small things slip by, as long as the conversation is 2-sided and flows well, and as long as the applicant seems interesting?</p>
<p>Aznoverachiever-Not sure what you mean by "let small things slip by", but I personally am interested in how you interact as opposed to the specifics of what you might say. So in answer to your question, yes.</p>
<p>Interview over! It went well. :) Thanks guys! I was quite nervous, but he seemed to understand.</p>
<p>Question: I asked for a business card afterwards, but there's no mailing address on it where I could send him a thank you card. Should I:
1) ask him for it via e-mail, or
2) just write him e-mail telling him "thank-you?"</p>
<p>I sent my interviewer an email thank you note. I didn't want to be intrusive and ask for his address at the interview. I considered sending a thank you note to the admissions office in the hope that it'd eventually find its way to him, but I decided that that, too, was silly. </p>
<p>I even asked my GC before my interview if that was all right, and she said that it's perfectly acceptable if you don't have the interviewer's address.</p>
<p>Often, one can find people's addresses by looking in the phone book or switchboard.com.
The same is true of business addresses.</p>
<p>There's nothing creepy or stalkerish about doing something like that to send a thank-you note.</p>