Interviews and Recruiting

Interviews can be intimidating. Prepare ahead so that you can exude confidence rather than self-consciousness in your interview. The attached interview handout outlines all that you need to know about interviewing, including highlighting various types of interviews.

Practice Interviews

Would you ever compete in a sports event without practicing? Why compete for a job without a honing your interview skills? Our office offers free practice interviews with a career counselor. Call (616) 526-6485, or stop by to set up your practice interview. You'll be asked to dress as you would for a real interview and to submit this form 24 hours prior to your appointment.

What is an informational interview?

Informational interviews are used to find out more about a field you're interested in; they provide a chance for you to speak with someone who has insider information about your field of interest. For example, if you find out that a Calvin grad is working in a job similar you'd like to have, you could request a brief meeting with that person. Informational interviews can be great networking tools as well as means for finding out more about your future profession. See our handout for more details.

What should I wear to an interview?

Our handout entitled "Best-Dressed" will thoroughly answer this question. Generally, you should dress the part that you hope to play; dress as someone who has the job would on her most important day in the office.

Do you have any tips for dining with prospective employers?

Sharing a meal with employers can be intimidating; trying to remember all those manners your mother taught you isn't always easy! Our handout should prove a good refresher to get you through a meal in style.

My interviews have gone well, and now I must negotiate a salary. What should I do?

It's important to do your homework before attempting to negotiate a salary. Make sure you've considered the minimum you're able to accept, and research the national average for your type of work online. See our handout for details on salary negotiations.