Federal Express
Subscriptions:
Individual
Corporate

Log-In
Subscriber Services
DiversityInc Magazine | Advertise | Special Sections | Resource Guide | Foundation | Webinars | Benchmarking | DiversityInc Careers
Site Sponsors
Merrill Lynch Wachovia
Novartis
Hewitt Scripps
PWC
American Express Coca-Cola
ibm
Lowes
You are here: DiversityInc | Homepage Free Stories | 5 Job Interview Dos . . .
5 Job Interview Do's and Don'ts
By Daryl Hannah

 e-mail article | print print | post comments | digg | Mixx! | NEWSLETTER
©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.

January 29, 2008

Not sure you'll fit in at that company? Afraid you'll blow the interview because you didn't go to the same schools or have the same background as the interviewer and most of the people at that company? DiversityInc has compiled a list of five Do's and Don'ts to help you ace your interview and land that job.

 

Career Advice

  • Could Your Tattoo Get You a Pink Slip? 

  • Can You Get Fired Because You Are Fat?  

  • 'Don't Touch My Hair' and Other Personal-Space Invasions: How to Stop Them Forever 

  • Love Your Makeup and Snazzy Nails? Be Fashionable, Not Flashy, on the Job 

  • Will Your Accent Keep You From Getting Ahead? 

  • Hair, Clothes, Makeup, Nails: Look Professional Without Losing Your Identity 

  • 5 Biggest Job-Applicant Mistakes 

  • Showing Up Naked for the Interview--What's Your Worst Fear? 

  • 'Enough Is Enough': These Black-Female Execs Proud of Natural Hair 

  • Don't Get Caught! Which Job-Interview Questions Are Illegal 

  • Don't Burn Bridges: 5 Ways to Resign 

  • Should You Lie on Your Résumé? 

  • Career Advice: 5 Keys to Success for Young Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans  

  • How to Land Your First Job

  • Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? The Right Answer for Interviews 

  •  

    No. 1: Do Your Homework. The only thing that will make the interview jitters go away is preparation. Being familiar with the company's mission and what it holds as most important will build your confidence and ultimately help you answer questions better.  "Know a lot about the workplace before coming in for the interview," says Eliza Byard, deputy executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). 

     

    Research the company's antidiscrimination policy. This helps you ensure this is a company you want as an employer. "I tell my students to use their interview time to really get a feel for the environment," says Yolande Johnson, director of the Career Placement Center at Bennett College for Women.

     

    No. 2: Don't Lie. Despite what your gut or that little devil over your shoulder tells you, honesty is always the best policy. "You want to make sure the interviewer is drawing the right conclusion. Describe that honestly and openly," Kathy Haskins, vice president of human resources at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (No. 15 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list), told DiversityInc.

     

    For information about answering questions that are inappropriate, read 5 Questions Job Interviewers Never Should Ask ... And How to Answer Them

     

    No. 3: Do Be Upfront. As a member of an underrepresented group, disclosure is often a big issue. When is the best time to discuss orientation? When is the best time to reveal a disability? The answer is: Whenever you decide. It is very important to be comfortable with your decision to offer such sensitive information.

     

    For applicants with disabilities, putting your disability in your cover letter is an option--but you must be aware of potential ramifications, warns Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Executive Director Alan Muir. "This option can be positive but most likely will be negative. If you have leadership and work experience, this option may not work against you, but it certainly will not absolve you from the burden of discussing it," says Muir.

     

    No. 4: Don't Over-Personalize. While understanding who you are is imperative, it is critical to understand how you--the individual--will fit into the overall picture of the company. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you professionally. "A lot of students don't understand what their disabilities are and how it can affect how they perform on a job," says Muir.

     

    If asked to address some of your accomplishments, relevance is key. It is also a great way to further highlight why you are right for the job. Here, details and variety are important. Include some community or social programs with which you work, and use them to show your accomplishments and to present yourself as a well-rounded applicant.

     

    No. 5: Do Ask Questions. Again, use your research to show that you are well prepared and ask questions that show your interest in the company. But do NOT ask about salary or benefits in the first meeting unless the interviewer brings them up.

    More Career Advice >>



     e-mail article | print print | post comments | digg | Mixx! | NEWSLETTER


    Send Your Comments About This Article Now

    First Name:

    Last Name:
    Your E-Mail Address
    Message Subject
    Message:

    Clicking "Send Message" registers your e-mail address to
    receive DiversityInc's Free Daily Newsletter.


    ©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.


    ·  What was the best piece of career advice you've ever received?
    ·  Want a Job? Don't Let Your Cover Letter Stop You
    ·  The $64-Billion Question: Why Are Talented People Leaving Corporate America?
    ·  Your Piercing or Your Job: What Would You Do?
    ·  What Do Talented People of Color Want Most on the Job?






    Also Read
    10 Things NEVER to Say to Latino Executives
    The Top 10 Companies for Latino
    'The Sleeping Giant': Latino Voters
    The Top 25 Best Black Films of All Time? Did TIME Get It Right?
    SIRIUS

    Ask the White Guy: Controversial Q&A from Luke Visconti
    What Do You Think?: Do you have a horror story about working with recruiters? Tell us about it
    Sodexho USA
    Most Popular Articles on DiversityInc
    5 Ways to Avoid a Layoff

    How to Develop References That Get You the Job

    NASCAR's Diversity Drive: 'Smoke and Mirrors'

    Why NASCAR's Diversity Efforts Are Ineffective

    Which Presidential Blog Is Best for Diversity?

    Join Now! | Log-in | Contact Us | Post Jobs | Magazine | Advertise | About Us | Site Map
    Legal | Research & Reference | Financial Literacy | Video Network | Foundation | Webinars

    ACCESSING FREE CONTENT ON DIVERSITYINC.COM...
    Thank you for visiting DiversityInc.com!
    To continue viewing free articles on our site and in our newsletter, please enter your email address in the box below...

    EMAIL ADDRESS:

    Avoid Pop Ups! Choose Your Premium Subscription Below.



    Already a Member? Click Button Below.