Advice for interviewers

[ohdearhopeipass]

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Hey guys, I just wanted to start a thread with some quick tips or words of wisdom for everyone interviewing. Please add to this list!! Just to name a couple things I found... some of these may be quite obvious

1) Carry on your suit with you incase your checked luggage is lost
2) Ladies bring a change of shoes for the campus tour
3) bring a copy of your aadsas application just in case you need to fill out any secondaries at the school, then you'll have all your info
4) Try to book hotels as close to your school as possible, even if it means spending a bit more money. Traffic is a very finicky thing that you don't want to deal with on the day of your interview, especially if you tend to be late.
5) be respectful and very courteous to everyone in the building (security guards, other students etc). You never know who's watching

i can't really think of any more right now, but i'm sure you guys have things to add!

 

[iZeno]

6) Bring a Pen (Just in Case)
7) Smile A LOT
8) Read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie before your interviews =D
9) Have a small breakfast
10) Answer each question completely
11) Speak clearly and slowly, it is a tendency to speak faster when you are nervous
12) give them nothing, take from them... everything

 

[yuppers]

Be yourself.


or have iZeno's stats.

 

[ncdentist711]

iZeno's stats/extracurriculars = bull

 

[yuppers]

iZeno's stats/extracurriculars = bull

Didnt even see the ecs.... all that would be hard to accomplish.

 

[Matt2010]

At each interview I have been in this year, I have heard these exact questions at each school:

1) Why dentistry?
- You really need to be yourself here. More often than not, they probably hear the same response over and over. Be real, give a legit answer.
2) Why did you apply to our schoool?
- Do your research, but do not regurgitate their stats; they are aware of their stats!! Explain to them what about them drew you to their school, but make sure to include why this certain aspect will help you thrive as a dental student. Also, don't forget that they want to know what YOU will do for them.

Spend some extra time practicing these responses, they are key to helping you stick out from the other 10-12 people you are interviewing with that day.

 

[ucla2134]

1/ Make eye contacts
2/ Correct yourself if you say something dumb
3/ No hmmm
4/ Most important is just be yourself

 

[Badgerfaithful]

1.) Take a pre-game dump.
2.) Don't drink caffeine. I had to piss like a race horse during my hour long interview 2 weeks ago.

And I think you mean interviewees..

 

[golf05]

Look alert! First place I went was so warm I thought I was going to fall asleep! Last place I went I brought a water bottle with me. 🙂

 

[peerless218]

Look alert! First place I went was so warm I thought I was going to fall asleep! Last place I went I brought a water bottle with me. 🙂

Take care of yourself and DONT GET SICK!!!! I had a terrible experience lasting my interview day with a fever.

 

[loraindeniso]

hi there....

I have a job interview tomorrow at a orthodontic office tomorrow. but i just got a job as a dental assistant at another office. i always wan have a job interview tomorrow at a orthodontic office tomorrow. but i just got a job as a dental assistant at another office. i always wanted to work at an ortho office. what shuld i do, work at the office im at now, or go to the job interview. plz help.....

 

[nze82]

hi there....

I have a job interview tomorrow at a orthodontic office tomorrow. but i just got a job as a dental assistant at another office. i always wan have a job interview tomorrow at a orthodontic office tomorrow. but i just got a job as a dental assistant at another office. i always wanted to work at an ortho office. what shuld i do, work at the office im at now, or go to the job interview. plz help.....

Perhaps the first step you should take is to be respectful to others and not hijack their thread!!

 

[nze82]

I don't really understand why some people make such a big deal out of interviews. The interview is simply introducing yourself to someone, who's there and is interested to get to know you.
There are no specific guidelines. You know yourself better than everyone else. Sit back, relax, be confident (not cocky), and tell them about yourself.
There's really nothing more to it. The rest should be common sense:
1-Smile when you need to smile, be serious when you need to be serious!
2-Be respectful (DUH!!!).
3-Look professional.
4-Communicate with other interviewees, even if it's just making a small talk.
5-Relax
6-Relax
7-Relax
8-Listen to the question, before opening your mouth and giving an answer.
9-By all means avoid playing the role of the "PERFECT APPLICANT." They're interested in who you really are and not who you're pretending to be. I can assure you, the minute you start faking stuff, they WILL notice and that's enough for sending you a rejection letter.
10-Don't be afraid to admit the mistakes you made. Just by admitting the fact that you're capable of making mistakes you're telling them that you have confidence in yourself.

 

[mueladeljuicio]

not that this a big problem (i hope), but i have an issue with maintaining eye contact... I notice that although I try to maintain eye-contact, the interviewer doesn't. In fact, it seems he gets uncomfortable looking into my eyes after 10 seconds... so to make them more comfortable I start to look away, and they do too, and then it just gets weird cause neither of us will at each other for more then 10 seconds... I wish this were an isolated incident, but its happened all my interviews... You think i should just bite the bullet and continue to stare down the interviewer or should I just continue mirroring him?

 

[sfrice80]

1.) Take a pre-game dump.
2.) Don't drink caffeine. I had to piss like a race horse during my hour long interview 2 weeks ago.

And I think you mean interviewees..

LOL I dont think I've ever laughed so hard from a post on SDN before....Kind of caught me off guard!

 

[nze82]

not that this a big problem (i hope), but i have an issue with maintaining eye contact... I notice that although I try to maintain eye-contact, the interviewer doesn't. In fact, it seems he gets uncomfortable looking into my eyes after 10 seconds... so to make them more comfortable I start to look away, and they do too, and then it just gets weird cause neither of us will at each other for more then 10 seconds... I wish this were an isolated incident, but its happened all my interviews... You think i should just bite the bullet and continue to stare down the interviewer or should I just continue mirroring him?

Pick up any human behavior and psychology book and it tells you maintaining eye contact is a sign of confidence. The interviewer doesn't need to prove anything to you. Besides, he/she is probably reviewing your file as you speak. So, he/she really doesn't need to maintain eye contact with you. BUT YOU DO!

 

[FutureDent020]

not that this a big problem (i hope), but i have an issue with maintaining eye contact... I notice that although I try to maintain eye-contact, the interviewer doesn't. In fact, it seems he gets uncomfortable looking into my eyes after 10 seconds... so to make them more comfortable I start to look away, and they do too, and then it just gets weird cause neither of us will at each other for more then 10 seconds... I wish this were an isolated incident, but its happened all my interviews... You think i should just bite the bullet and continue to stare down the interviewer or should I just continue mirroring him?

I think its hard to look anyone in the eyes for longer than 5-10 seconds. I agree it gets a little awkward and you can lose your focus. I just look them in the eyes for about 5 seconds look away then make eye contact again. Eye contact is important, but does need to be maintained throughout the interview. Confidence can also come from body language and a smile. A trick many actors and actresses use is look the person between the eyes. Looks like your looking straight at them.

 

[wwdaffodils]

not that this a big problem (i hope), but i have an issue with maintaining eye contact... I notice that although I try to maintain eye-contact, the interviewer doesn't. In fact, it seems he gets uncomfortable looking into my eyes after 10 seconds... so to make them more comfortable I start to look away, and they do too, and then it just gets weird cause neither of us will at each other for more then 10 seconds... I wish this were an isolated incident, but its happened all my interviews... You think i should just bite the bullet and continue to stare down the interviewer or should I just continue mirroring him?

I have this problem too! One of my friends actually noticed that I don't like making eye contact for extended periods of time. By all means don't have a staring contest with your interviewer; there are natural times that you can break eye contact. Just be more conscious of it during your every day conversations and it'll fix itself.

 

[FutureDent020]

I don't really understand why some people make such a big deal out of interviews. The interview is simply introducing yourself to someone, who's there and is interested to get to know you.
There are no specific guidelines. You know yourself better than everyone else. Sit back, relax, be confident (not cocky), and tell them about yourself.
There's really nothing more to it. The rest should be common sense:
1-Smile when you need to smile, be serious when you need to be serious!
2-Be respectful (DUH!!!).
3-Look professional.
4-Communicate with other interviewees, even if it's just making a small talk.
5-Relax
6-Relax
7-Relax
8-Listen to the question, before opening your mouth and giving an answer.
9-By all means avoid playing the role of the "PERFECT APPLICANT." They're interested in who you really are and not who you're pretending to be. I can assure you, the minute you start faking stuff, they WILL notice and that's enough for sending you a rejection letter.
10-Don't be afraid to admit the mistakes you made. Just by admitting the fact that you're capable of making mistakes you're telling them that you have confidence in yourself.

I also agree with this post, but I think people get uptight because while the interviewers want to get to you know you, ultimately they are judging your character and comparing you to other applicants. I agree, its easy to be yourself, and if you have confidence in yourself then an interview shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Doctor PJ]

I have this problem too! One of my friends actually noticed that I don't like making eye contact for extended periods of time. By all means don't have a staring contest with your interviewer; there are natural times that you can break eye contact. Just be more conscious of it during your every day conversations and it'll fix itself.

agreed here! It's ok to look away especially if you have to think about a question then make eye contact for a few seconds. I wouldn't continue to just stare at the interviewer. 👍