Interview Etiquette

[s5260205]

So I am what you might call a socially awkward person. I have some upcoming interviews and am now wondering about some of the common etiquettes during and after the interview.

1. Do you shake hands with your interviewers when you enter the room? And do you make small talks or they just go right into the interview questions?

2. Do people usually send thank you notes to the interviewers? Do you ask for contact information of the interviewer if none is given?

Thanks!

 

[pink/\floyd]

First off, go and schedule a mock session with the career center at your school STAT!!
Now to answer the questions:
1. Enter room-->make eye contact-->shake hands while introducing yourself (SMILE!). Let things flow naturally. Usually the interviewer will start with small talk and then get into the questions.
2. Send them you notes. I don't think it affects your chance of admission, but why take the risk? Besides, it will show you in good light. If the interviewer doesn't give you his contact info, send the email to the admissions committee and request them to forward it to your interviewers.
GL! Stay positive and quit thinking you are socially awkward!

 

[baxt1412]

1. yes firm hand shake (but not too firm, and not too prolonged), smile, speak clearly and at a good volume. you want to sound confident, and you should be confident. look them in the eyes, but don't be afraid to look away from time to time when developing an answer, etc. you don't want to STARE at them. also, don't be afraid to use your hands from time to time when explaining something. don't feel like you need to keep your hands perfectly still or anything. don't overdo anything essentially.

2. yes send thank you notes. like pink/\floyd said, it may not help, but it can never hurt unless you spell their name incorrectly, or make yourself look like a fool in the note. if you had something that really stuck out in your interview, like they were really interested in X on your application, and you can find a way to tie it into your thank you note, do that so it reminds them of who you are (they see a ton of people every week). for example, at lunch, one of the interviewers with whom i did not even interview, started talking about state birds and what not, and i brought up a specific breed of birds that he had never heard of. i started talking about how fascinating and awesome they are, etc. he really liked that he goes "whatever you got on your MCAT, add 2 points". we really hit it off. i plan on sending him a thank you note just because we connected over lunch and i'll mention the bird species in a non-chalant way. that kind of stuff gets you remembered. don't try too hard in the thank you notes, but be sincere, and HAND WRITE THEM.


side notes:
unbutton your suit jacket when you sit down.
i would try not to take a seat until they ask you to, or until they sit down, unless it's super awkward, then just sit. but don't just march in and plop down right away.
if you have to go to their office, obviously knock (not too loudly) and wait to come in until they invite you in or they start talking to you

 

[DoctorKrieger]

If you're socially awkward to the point of asking if you should shake hands with interviewers, you need to focus on improving that every day from now on. Go to parties, introduce yourself to people you see in your classes and around campus, and so on.

Also, I'm in the camp that your interviewers probably don't want to hear from you after the interview. They met with you, made their recommendation to whomever, and probably can't remember you after a week.

 

[baxt1412]

If you're socially awkward to the point of asking if you should shake hands with interviewers, you need to focus on improving that every day from now on. Go to parties, introduce yourself to people you see in your classes and around campus, and so on.

Also, I'm in the camp that your interviewers probably don't want to hear from you after the interview. They met with you, made their recommendation to whomever, and probably can't remember you after a week.

if they can't remember you, you probably didn't do something correctly. now i'm not saying that you will be on their mind 24/7 after your interview, but if you left nothing unique in their mind that they couldn't remember with a small hint/or something to spark their memory, then your interview was not successful. that is my opinion at least.

 

[j4pac]

I'm going to have to agree with DoctorKrieger. If you have a problem being social...you are going to struggle in this profession. You need to fix that...now. Go to parties...meet random people...visit your professors in undergrad during their office hours to get you to talking to someone on a formal basis.

 

[CUNYguy]

I, myself, am a bit socially awkward so I get where you're coming from.

Since I'm far from the interview process, my advice from the military is:
When you meet the interviewer, even if they know your name from your file, introduce yourself, so the interviewer can introduce themselves to you, and shake their hand. For me, I don't shake my hand more than once, I just hold it firmly for a second or two.

This is their house, don't sit unless told to do so. And when you do sit down, try to sit up straight, as close to 90 degrees as you can, but don't lean on the chair, and not too far to the edge (personal space).

Try to be amiable when you speak, as if you were talking to your future patients. But remember that the interviewer is the authority, so don't stray from that motif. Act like you actually want to be there.

When you exit, don't get up until they get up or invite you to get up. It seems like you just wanna run away... Not a good impression.
-----
One thing that is an amazing tool is what we called "shirt stays". Don't know what the civilian name is. It keeps your shirts from crinkling by means of two elastic straps with clips. You clip one end to your shirt, and one to your sock.

 

[baxt1412]

-----
One thing that is an amazing tool is what we called "shirt stays". Don't know what the civilian name is. It keeps your shirts from crinkling by means of two elastic straps with clips. You clip one end to your shirt, and one to your sock.

gonna be checking into this... one of my biggest annoyances lol. thanks


==edit==
lots of mixed reviews and can't seem to find a good vendor... any suggestions?

 

[AM508]

Also, I'm in the camp that your interviewers probably don't want to hear from you after the interview. They met with you, made their recommendation to whomever, and probably can't remember you after a week.

I am generally of this opinion too. For me it feels like notes are neutral at best and could be damaging if you are not really careful about it, as in you could make a mistake or the interviewer may see it as an attempt to garner favor or something to that effect. Risk vs benefit doesn't seem to be favorable

 

[baxt1412]

i think people have forgotten the age old tradition of hand-writing anything and a simple note saying thank you for your time, etc seems pretty innocent to me. unless you are sending a gift card or like praising the interviewer, i don't think it would be seen as a brown-nose.

 

[allycantaloupe]

Also, I'm in the camp that your interviewers probably don't want to hear from you after the interview. They met with you, made their recommendation to whomever, and probably can't remember you after a week.

Agreed. I remember even Goro saying himself that it's a nice gesture, but they usually get thrown away. If it makes you feel any better, I didn't send any thank you notes and have gotten acceptances.

 

[s5260205]

Thanks everyone for your input! I will definitely need quite a bit of practice on greeting and introducing myself. Was thinking to give my social shyness as the answer when asked about my weakness in interview, but now it doesn't seem like a very good idea.

For handwriting a note, do you write the note before hand and give it to the interviewer right after?

 

[Ipper91]

Thanks everyone for your input! I will definitely need quite a bit of practice on greeting and introducing myself. Was thinking to give my social shyness as the answer when asked about my weakness in interview, but now it doesn't seem like a very good idea.

For handwriting a note, do you write the note before hand and give it to the interviewer right after?

Nah...proper thing to do is mail it to them after, if you have their office address that is. If you need their address, I am sure you could ask someone from the admissions office for the address while you're there for the interview. Also, don't email them unless they specifically gave you their email address from what I heard.

 

[CUNYguy]

Yea.. Having one prepared already is a bit of a creeper move.. You're jumping the gun. What if at the end of the day, you hate it there? Then it will look extremely bad on you. (Like declaring a diagnosis before the test results have come back)

@baxt1412, most shirt-stays are really crappy. But whether it's in the Corps, or it's in an interview, you're not wearing it for more than a couple hours, and after you're done with x-hours of wearing them, just take off your dress clothes, and re-iron.

 

[Goro]

Shake hands when 1:1; with roup interview betetr to wait until the end.

1. Do you shake hands with your interviewers when you enter the room? And do you make small talks or they just go right into the interview questions?

Many people do out of politeness. I ignore them.
2. Do people usually send thank you notes to the interviewers?

 

[CUNYguy]

@Goro's guide to interviews has a few interview pointers.

(Should make a Goro's guide to searching for Goro's guides)

 

[AM508]

@Goro's guide to interviews has a few interview pointers.

(Should make a Goro's guide to searching for Goro's guides)

Yeah, they should sticky those guides so they are always at the top. Very useful indeed!

 

[reaperx58]

I feel like this might be a stupid question, but it kinda fits in with the theme of this thread so I didn't want to start a new one...

Is there anything that you should actually bring to an interview? Would a leather binder or small satchel type thing to put the info packet they give you be appropriate?

Edit: I'm a guy by the way, I searched for answers to this before i asked but after the first 4 threads I read were specific to the gals I thought I'd just ask myself.

 

[nontrad78]

I feel like this might be a stupid question, but it kinda fits in with the theme of this thread so I didn't want to start a new one...

Is there anything that you should actually bring to an interview? Would a leather binder or small satchel type thing to put the info packet they give you be appropriate?

Edit: I'm a guy by the way, I searched for answers to this before i asked but after the first 4 threads I read were specific to the gals I thought I'd just ask myself.

I brought a legal pad and pen to my interview days to take notes. I did not take them into the interview rooms though. At all of my interviews we were allowed to leave whatever folders/portfolio brought in the conference room we spent most of the time in.

 

[baxt1412]

I feel like this might be a stupid question, but it kinda fits in with the theme of this thread so I didn't want to start a new one...

Is there anything that you should actually bring to an interview? Would a leather binder or small satchel type thing to put the info packet they give you be appropriate?

Edit: I'm a guy by the way, I searched for answers to this before i asked but after the first 4 threads I read were specific to the gals I thought I'd just ask myself.

some places will give you a drawstring bag. otherwise, just carry the folder... it'll be okay. i don't think bringing a satchel or a leather binder is necessary at all and i've seen many people who have brought them and then never use them so it's just silly.

you'll be given paper with all the school's info on it, you can write notes on those if you'd like.

 

[csx]

If you ever get stumped during an interview question, excuse yourself, pull out your phone, and ask siri. #bonuspoints #thatsaboldmovecotton

 

[CUNYguy]

some places will give you a drawstring bag. otherwise, just carry the folder... it'll be okay. i don't think bringing a satchel or a leather binder is necessary at all and i've seen many people who have brought them and then never use them so it's just silly.

you'll be given paper with all the school's info on it, you can write notes on those if you'd like.

Wouldn't you say that if you don't bring anything, that it seems like you're uninterested? I mean, I would bring a folder and have a notepad or a notebook inside of it, just so I can open it up and write notes. And I assume that many students are commuting to other schools, even if it's instate, you're still commuting, so unless you have a car for your interview, I wouldn't think that you would be empty handed.. So what do you think about a clipboard/folder/notebook combo would seem overzealous? Or would it make you seem interested?

 

[baxt1412]

Wouldn't you say that if you don't bring anything, that it seems like you're uninterested? I mean, I would bring a folder and have a notepad or a notebook inside of it, just so I can open it up and write notes. And I assume that many students are commuting to other schools, even if it's instate, you're still commuting, so unless you have a car for your interview, I wouldn't think that you would be empty handed.. So what do you think about a clipboard/folder/notebook combo would seem overzealous? Or would it make you seem interested?

the schools know you are interested because you just spend $500 on a flight hotel and car. maybe i'm just more minimalistic but i'd prefer to have nothing. i don't think an admissions decision would ever come down to whether or not you brought a notepad.

but for the love of god, if you bring a legal pad, make sure it's in good condition. might as well make it a brand new one. someone at my in state MD school brought one that was all tattered up.

the majority of people between my two interviews have brought nothing unless they were female and brought a purse.

 

[AM508]

All I brought to interviews was a discreet fake leather covered, pocket notepad, that I kept in my inner suit jacket pocket, that I could jot some quick notes on during presentations. Other than that the notepad stayed in the pocket. There were plenty of people at the interviews I attended who brought big legal-sized leather notebooks, but I preferred not to as a small pocket pad was all I needed. Just, please don't be "that guy" who busts out the notepad during the actual interview .

 

[reaperx58]

All I brought to interviews was a discreet fake leather covered, pocket notepad, that I kept in my inner suit jacket pocket, that I could jot some quick notes on during presentations. Other than that the notepad stayed in the pocket. There were plenty of people at the interviews I attended who brought big legal-sized leather notebooks, but I preferred not to as a small pocket pad was all I needed. Just, please don't be "that guy" who busts out the notepad during the actual interview .

This sounds like a good way to go, just something to jot a few things down that I want to remember later and then glance at before I go into the interview.

 

[AM508]

This sounds like a good way to go, just something to jot a few things down that I want to remember later and then glance at before I go into the interview.

That and its a nice way to write down things you want to remember after the interview. I went back to my little notepad and reviewed what I had written during interview day while I was making a final decision where to put my deposit.