Career Development Center

Practice
We offer several opportunities to fine-tune your interviewing skills:

• Practice interviewing online with Big Interview
• Make a counseling appointment in Handshake
• Periodically, employers visit AppState to conduct practice interviews with students. Search and sign up in Handshake, just like you would for a real interview. Practice interviews are labeled as such.

Know the Employer

• Study the organization’s culture and make sure you review their mission statement, policies, website content, and printed materials
• Familiarize yourself with the job description
• Identify how you can add value with your skills and training to their organizational goals

Strategize your Answers

• Focus on what you have to offer the employer
• Emphasize your skills and experiences to help identify how strong a match you are to the position
• Be detailed and substantive; quantify your success when possible (successfully met fundraising goal by 110%)
• Provide short anecdotes to illustrate your points

Plan your trip

• Create a travel plan that incorporates plenty of extra time for the unexpected
• Take the employer’s contact information with you in case of emergency
• Travel the day before to ensure you are already in town on the day of your interview
• Bring extra copies of your resume
• Be prepared for any technological needs you may have for showing your electronic portfolio or making a presentation
• Be prepared with cash for parking
• Manage your travel plans independently. Do not rely on the employer for directions, parking, or any other accommodations unless they offer
• Take medications or other personal essentials with you
• Turn off your cell phone immediately upon arrival
• Be courteous, professional, and friendly with everyone; anyone you meet could have input on the hiring decision