Interview etiquette

Parents Forum
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<p>Hello All! I am sure all of you smart parents are sick of questions about interviews, but hopefully you won't mind answering a few questions of mine.</p>

<p>So, I am meeting an admissions director for a college at a coffee shop. Well, I REALLY want to make a good impression, because this isn't just an alum. interviewer, it's the guy that will actually decide my fate(happen to live in proximity of SE adcom). </p>

<p>I want to know what the etiquette is. Do I arrive exactly on time, early, or fashionably late? Do I sit down first waiting for the interviewer, or do I stand at door? Do I pay for her coffee, or should I allow her to pay. I know she might offer, but I think this is an uncomfortable situation either way. </p>

<p>Also, what do I bring. Right now, I have a copy of my resume, a transcript, my senior year schedule, and my Why College X essay. I want her to read these things early, so she can have a good impression. And maybe she might fancy a look when she gets home, and gives more time to look at my EC's.</p>

<p>I don't have very good SAT scores, but I have strong ACT and AP scores. Should I bring a copy of that stuff, or just leave at home?</p>

<p>Thanks so much, and I respect the opinions of y'all so much.</p>

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<p>Northstar mom, Susan, help!</p>

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<p>Hoo:
Being "fashionably late" will be the kiss of death. You may come a bit early, since it is a public place; if it were a private home, it would be rude, as the interviewer might not be ready for you.</p>

<p>Bring your resume. You can also bring the rest of the application if you like, but it is very probable that the interviewer has already glanced at it. You just want the resume to work as a sort of launching pad for talking. </p>

<p>The interview is not about going over your schedule, transcript, etc... but about you, the person. Look over the thread on interviews. There are some great tips there.</p>

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<p>OK thanks. But my questions aren't answered in that thread.</p>

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<p>I am going to go ahead and * try * to answer your questions. I'm a student, but I have some experience with interviews, both conducting and being the interviewee..</p>

<p>
[quote]
I want to know what the etiquette is. Do I arrive exactly on time, early, or fashionably late?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Arrive early. It is better to be waiting for the interviewer than for the interviewer to be waiting for you. Besides, changes are both of you will not be walking in the door at the same time.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do I sit down first waiting for the interviewer, or do I stand at door?

[/quote]

Sit down, waiting for the interviewer. Standing at the door just makes you look awkward.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do I pay for her coffee, or should I allow her to pay.

[/quote]

As gentlemanly as it may seem to pay for someone's coffee, I think it's best if people buy their own.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I know she might offer, but I think this is an uncomfortable situation either way.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>To avoid this situation, buy coffee earlier on, get a book to read (something that interests you or is in your particular field of interest), sit down, start sipping and reading. Sooner or later, the interviewer is going to come.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, what do I bring. Right now, I have a copy of my resume, a transcript, my senior year schedule, and my Why College X essay. I want her to read these things early, so she can have a good impression. And maybe she might fancy a look when she gets home, and gives more time to look at my EC's.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Get a briefcase or an accordion portfolio (I don't know if you quite know what I'm talking about). I would a) not bring the transcript, b) not bring the senior year schedule, and c) not bring the Why College X essay. I would, however, bring the resume.</p>

<p>When I conduct Officer Review Boards for ROTC, the candidates don't have to bring me everything, their qualifications, their positions, et cetera. I just direct the adjutant to print out their cadet record. However, it is nice for them to bring in a resume or something extra to look at, so the board can review it.</p>

<p>When I went up for the District Staff Board for ROTC (a board is like an interview, by the way), we were required to bring our resumes, listing our positions, and yaddie yaddie yaddah. </p>

<p>The reason I say bring the portfolio/briefcase is because you may want to put things in there to show what you do.. I.E. For my Georgetown interview (Hoya Saxa!) I brought my briefcase (I just came from a staff lecture so I really didn't have a choice) that had the curriculum for my AP Comparative Government, AP Macroeconomics, Resume, Department of the Army Memos, Inspection Criteria, and a whole lot of other stuff. Granted, I wasn't going to give her everything, I just ended up giving her my Resume, a course syllabus of a course I developed, and an Inspection Sheet from ROTC, just to show the vigors of it.. also a little something from LAWAC (the world Affairs Council program I'm in).. the signatures of the 9/11 Commission members).. but other than that, I didn't give her too much supplemental material, just to show her what I do.</p>

<p>In fact, I wasn't intending on giving her anything (except the resume), but she wanted to take it so she could have a second look.</p>

<p>I know it is a different predicament than I was in (but hey, at least you won't have anyone threatening you off the street.. hehehe, Marite and the other parents know what I'm talking about).. but general interview etiquette does apply.</p>

<p>As far as why I don't think you should bring:</p>

<p>a) The transcript -- they are going to see it back at the admissions office, so I think it is a bit excessive if they need to see it twice. If you have anything to say about your grades and such, then let it come from your mind and heart, if she needs to verify, then she can do it back at the office (or wherever she will see your application).</p>

<p>b) The Why College X essay -- I wouldn't bring this either, because the whole purpose of the interview is to a) show yourself, and b) show why you want to go to College X. If you have the essay there.. well, needless to say -- the interviewer can read. Granted, you can cover things that aren't in the essay through the interview, but I still feel this is a bit excessive..</p>

<p>c) Your senior year schedule -- You can always tell someone what your senior year schedule is. I think interviewers have to have SOME degree of faith in you, right?</p>

<p>
[quote]

I don't have very good SAT scores, but I have strong ACT and AP scores. Should I bring a copy of that stuff, or just leave at home?</p>

<p>Thanks so much, and I respect the opinions of y'all so much.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think I read in a college admissions book -- never ever bring up your SAT or AP scores, unless the interviewer brings it up. And keep talk about it very, VERY minimal. I remember during my interview, I didn't want to bring up the subject, and it never came up at all. All I talked about was how wonderful Georgetown is, how I wanted to go there, why I wanted to go there, et cetera.</p>

<p>In fact, my interviewer only asked one one question.. The rest was just a free-flowing exchange of thoughts.</p>

<p>Looking at the casual setting of the interview that is going to take place, I think it is going to be semi-casual, semi-formal, to say the least. At least it will not be three retired Army officials staring at you blankly, as you answer each question "Yes, Sir!" or "No, Sir!" -- now, that's formal.</p>

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<p>tlaktan: I can't thank you enough. You're help has been beyond great. All my Q's are answered, so...ugh...there isn't anything else to say.</p>

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<p>How will she know who you are? Have you met already? Maybe you should wear a red carnation. I hate going to a public place to meet someone I don't know. You glance sideways at every person that walks in, "Are you...? are you?... is that.... you..? "</p>

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<p>Can I add something? First of all, be early. If your interviewer is already there, he/she will see a nicely dressed young man(I assume you're a guy) entering and looking around awkwardly and they'll approach you. If you get there first, just sit down at a table near the door. When the interviewer comes in, she'll look around and see a nicely dressed young man looking at her awkwardly and she'll approach you. (I conduct alum interviews in coffee shops and it always happens that way!) As soon as you greet, shake hands - firmly. </p>

<p>I strongly suggest that you DON'T drink anything - especially coffee. She will definitely offer to buy you something, just politely decline. The last thing you need to worry about is spilling something, coffee breath, fiddling with sugar packets, etc. Believe me, she is not there to check out your coffee habits! Bring any and all materials that you want - she probably won't ask for them. You might have a resume handy but she knows all that stuff already. She's there to check you out in person: are you articulate? mature? motivated? independent? mono-syllabic? sense of humor?She's an experienced interviewer so she knows how to get you relaxed and have a conversation, not an interrogation. Before you know it, your hour will be up. Stand up, shake hands again and thank her for her time. Leave first - it's awkward for interviewer and interviewee to leave together.</p>

<p>Answer questions thoughtfully and even if it's a yes/no question with more than a yes or no. I'm always impressed with interviewees who seem to really listen to the question and not only answer it but take it to a deeper level. Don't be afraid to to use humor - although I don't mean tell a joke. It's okay to laugh. One of the things interviewers look for is maturity. Are you ready to handle being on your own at school and fully responsible for your life? What examples do you have of being an independent person? How you handle yourself in the interview will reveal that.</p>

<p>Good luck and I hope I didn't portray it as a bad experience. Interviews really are not that hard - if you're prepared and relaxed. If it helps you, just admit upfront that you're nervous and the adcom will try to relax you. It's ok to be nervous - just don't let that be the overriding and lasting impression that you leave the adcom with.</p>

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<p>Hoo, I have not been online that much and in the meantime, you already got wonderful responses to your questions. </p>

<p>I concur with most of what others wrote. </p>

<p>I would not bring all those things you mentioned because the interview is not meant to rehash all your credentials. Rather it is to get to know the more personal side of you that is not so black and white. Thus don't bring transcripts, scores, etc. I would bring a resume because when the interviewer asks about how you spend your time outside the classroom or variations of such a question, you can show them the resume and go on to talk aloud about things but then they have a nice list to refer to. Sometimes, they might see something on it that they may want to ask more about. I recall an interview my D recently had with an adcom and the interviewer was scanning the resume and asked about her trip to Italy and Greece, for example, that was on it. </p>

<p>I would go to the interview prepared with things you are hoping to talk about and get across. No matter WHAT the questions are, you will have YOUR agenda that you will plug into the conversation of things you are hoping they learn about you. So, use each question to expound on your agenda. Be prepared to discuss why you want to go to that college specifically and be able to ask questions about it. Don't bring the Why X college essay....this is time to have a conversation about that point. </p>

<p>Go over lists of typical interview questions ahead of time and think of things you would would talk about. There are no trick questions. The questions are ones you would assume would come up in this situation. So, go in prepared of things you want to say about those topics. </p>

<p>Also, arrive on time, not early or late. I am sure the person will be able to pick you out....seventeen year old, looking for someone in a coffee shop, tends to be pretty obvious. Another thing sometimes when lining up such a meeting is to mention what kind of hair you have or what kind of coat you'll have on, but I am sure it will work out. </p>

<p>When questions are asked, try to go beyond the simple answer but use the opportunity to talk about things you want the person to know. </p>

<p>Good luck...
Susan</p>

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<p>The other day, I was browsing at Barnes and Noble and there were two people at the table in front of me, one an applicant and the other the interviewer. I could pretty much hear everything that was being said and I was shaking my head. Not only was the interviewee not prepared but she was using the word 'like' twenty million times and had come totally unprepared. Samples:
"Why are you attracted to Penn".
Answer:
"I have looked at the locations of different universities and, like, I like urban locations. UPenn is urban and has everything I want in a university....yada yada yada".
I was thinking that if I was the interviewer, I would have eliminated her in the first round and mentally checked out of the interview.</p>

<p>She had some science research experience but wanted a liberal arts education. But she could not articulate why.
'I have done research, and, like, I find that cool. But I also want to study English, because, like, that is cool too!'. Please................please..........</p>

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<p>These are great tips! I would add one thing - agree to meet at the tables farthest away from the espresso machine. I had a meeting last week in a coffee shop, and the noise from that machine was really annoying.</p>

<p>For identification purposes, bring a book from home and tell the interviewer, "I'll be reading a book on chess," or whatever. It might make a good conversation starter.</p>

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<p>One suggestion...</p>

<p>Make sure you write a thank you note to the interviewer for his time. Reinforce your continued interest in the school of your choice. Send it out the next day!</p>

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<p>I agree with Megsdad on the thank you. As an interviewer for ten years , I never get these. As a parent of two college applicants, both have written thank you's after every interview and personalized them to reiterate their interest as well as touch on something that came up in the conversation, etc. I can't believe more kids do not do this.
Susan</p>

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<p>Thanking someone is a lost art to some young people, I'm sorry to say. Especially if the student comes from a well-heeled household and he conveys a sense of entitlement! The interviewers pick up on that. When my S interviewed for Harvard, he was 10 to 15 minutes late. I was mortified! Turns out, he told the interviewer the truth. He had come from working at the mall as a stock clerk in a chain "software" store and was not sure how to get to the alum's house from there...yada, yada. The alum ended up being quite impressed that besides all of his noble accomplishments and solidly difficult senior year, he had still the drive to take on a menial weekend job that both paid little money and required that he vacuum up when he finished for the day! My S was readily accepted! My thoughts? Just be yourself.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I think I can handle it now. I will definetely write a thank-you note. And I'll just bring a resume for her. It already has my GPA and Rank on it, so that's enough academic info for her. </p>

<p>Y'all(or you guys in the north) are so helpful, and it is truly astounding how much knowledge this board has. Geez, y'all should write a book or something.</p>

<p>And I went through some 10 or so sample questions with my mom last night, and it was way easier to think up stuff than I thought. So, I will just go in there confidently, not drink coffee(I don't like it anyways), and I'll leave first. I think I'll do just fine. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Do one more thing for us - let us know how afterward how the interview went!</p>

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<p>Everyone else gave such good advice, all I can add is, "Good luck!" Be sure and let us know how it goes. You sound very prepared. :)</p>

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<p>Thanks guy!</p>

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<p>I think that a thank you note to the interviewer would be a great idea. How would you go about getting the alum's address?( if you are not meeting at their home) It seems awkward to ask for their address.</p>

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<p>Ask if they have a business card. If they don't, then tell them that you appreciated the interview, and would like to send them an update after you hear from Harvard. Ask if they would mind giving you an address to send that to.</p>

<p>Another option would be to send the thank-you note to them c/o the college. The college probably has the addresses of all of their interviewers, including the alumni ones, so should be able to forward your note to the person.</p>