UVA Career Center

Interviewing can seem like an overwhelming and daunting process. Don’t fret! The UVA Career Center offers a wide variety of resources, programs, and services to aid students in gaining confidence and building skills for job or internship interviews. Career Center counselors are available to help you prepare for interviews. Call 434-924-8900 or come by the Career Center to schedule an appointment. Click here to schedule a mock interview today!

Day-Of Interview Checklist

After a screening interview, either on-Grounds, virtual, or at the employer’s site, strong candidates are often invited back to the company for further interviews. The on-site visit is your opportunity to "close the deal" if you decide that this job is right for you. Remember, your major task is to convince the employer that you are the best fit for the job and that you are sincerely interested in the organization and the position.

• Review the interview schedule for times, locations, and people you will be meeting with.
• Make a Positive Impact: Be sure to present yourself as professionally as possible throughout your visit.
• Dress to project the image of confidence, success, and respect. This should be appropriate to the job.
• Be honest and consistent. Be yourself.
• Be courteous, attentive and interested in all your activities during the day.
• Remember names and titles of those people you meet. It helps to get business cards during your interviews & you may want to jot down notes on the back of the card directly after your interview.
• If you participate in a group activity, keep in mind that your interpersonal skills will probably be evaluated in addition to your ideas.
• Keep in mind that the questions you ask reveal as much about you as your responses to questions.

After the Interview

After you interview with a recruiter, the company or organization will take some time to determine whether or not you'd be the best candidate. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to properly follow-up.

• Email: Send a thank you email within twenty-four hours. Acknowledge the time that the interviewer spent with you and highlight parts of your background that qualify you for the position.
• Regular mail: Thank you notes are also a must in the job search process. Thank you cards should be sent within 2-3 days and no longer than a week after the interview. Thank the employer for considering you for the position and let them know that you are happy to provide any further information that might be helpful as they consider your candidacy.
• If you do not hear from the employer for several weeks, it is appropriate to call and as for the status of your candidacy.
• If you receive a job offer: It is usually best not to accept a job offer on the spot; state your interest and appreciation for the offer and request a reasonable amount of time to consider it, e.g. several days through two weeks.
• Evaluate all aspects of the job before accepting it rather than afterward. Once you have accepted a position, the employer considers your commitment binding.