<p>I just got a message from an alumni interviewer for an interview this week,
but do I refer to him by his first name, or by Mr.(last name)? </p>
<p>Also, should I tell him what I'll be wearing on that day, or ask him what he'll be wearing?
Is it normal for interviewers to be there waiting first, or should the interviewee get there first?</p>
<p>Refer to him as “Mr.” unless he asks you to call him by his first name.</p>
<p>Yes, it would help him to know what you’ll be wearing and for you to know what he’ll be wearing.</p>
<p>It’s good to get there a bit early – say 10 mins. early – but if it’s a place like a coffee shop, it’s possible that the interviewer may be there already interviewing someone else. Just wait at a discrete distance until that interview is over.</p>
<p>Refer to him as Mr. Lastname, he will correct you if he wants to be referred to as Firstname. It’s always best to err on the side of too much formality, rather than too little if you are dealing with a person older, or of higher rank.</p>
<p>No, don’t ask about clothing/outfit. Once you know where and when the interview is (his office, or cafe) you can guess about how he might be dressed. </p>
<p>Be sure to get there five minutes before the planned time, just in case you have to visit the loo, find a parking space, or take a deep breath.</p>
<p>It really is fine to ask what he looks like, and to let him know what you look like. It can be disconcerting to have no idea what your interviewer looks like and then to keep asking strangers if they are your interviewer.</p>
<p>If you get there before he does, don’t bury your head in a book because he may come in, not see anyone who appears to be waiting, and then leave, thinking you didn’t show up. Last year, I think this happened to someone who posted about it on CC.</p>
<p>One of my interviewers mentioned what color shirt he’d be wearing, which was really helpful, because the interview before that I spent about five minutes staring around awkwardly in a Starbucks looking for my interviewer haha</p>
<p>Or if its a place you’re both familiar with, perhaps you could even arrange a particular meeting spot. Its better to be safe, I think</p>
<p>Cross-posted w/ NSM up there^^^, sorry!</p>
<p>Ahh okkay thanks for the info! Btw, do you think it’ll be alright if I ask him whether he’ll have another interview before mine?</p>
<p><btw, do=“” you=“” think=“” it’ll=“” be=“” alright=“” if=“” i=“” ask=“” him=“” whether=“” he’ll=“” have=“” another=“” interview=“” before=“” mine?=“”></btw,></p>
<p>None of your business.</p>
<p>…also - he/she MIGHT need to be addressed as professor or doctor (etc). If you happen to know. My D has been interviewed by 2 MDs and 1 professor so far. I don’t know if the professor would care AS much if addressed as Ms-since you’re not her student, but Doctors can be a little pricklier…esp. MDs. BUT…neither of the doctors TOLD her they were a doctor (until the interview), so that might be something you have to save for your Thank You note anyway. Especially hard are those that call instead of e-mail so they only SAY (not spell) their name. Once, my D had to have her interviewer paged to meet him at his hospital - but had no clue how to spell his name and, it being a huge place (and it ended up being an odd spelling), the operator didn’t have any idea who he was, how to spell it, how to find him.</p>
<p>Agree with above. Be formal- use “Mr X” unless he specifically tells you otherwise. And asking “how will I recognize you” is perfectly fine. Hunting around for each other is a waste of time and can be frustrating. I try to pick a coffee shop that isnt very crowded, and I also give the applicant my cellphone # in case there is an issue. If I communicate by email, I do use my Dr title, but am wondering now if that is intimidating for the applicant. If I were your interviewer, would any of you prefer that I not?</p>
<p>That’s funny about physicians who want to be addressed as “Doctor Smith” etc. My father in law, now a retired doctor, said that being addressed as “Doctor” only guaranteed that he’d be charged 10% more than everyone else! </p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>I am used to signing things that way-- pure habit. In public, however, I typically restrict the title to when I want good dinner reservations!</p>
<p>jym: don’t go into your car dealership saying you’re “doctor so-and-so”!!</p>
<p>No problem there!! ^^ Not only do I not use a title with a car dealership, I don’t let them know in advance (usually deal via internet first) that I am female! Just sign first initial and last name. My last name happens to sound like a male first name, so if/when I do use the Dr. title, most people look at my H and assume its him.</p>
<p>(** a lot of posters here assume I am male too-- did you?)</p>