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Interviews and Job Offers: Be Prepared!

Posted: 7 Aug 2009 by Kay Shelton

Tags: pdo lcs career brief 

As you enter the fall recruiting season, you need to start thinking beyond polishing your resume. Now is the time to think about how to conduct yourself if that resume happens to land you an interview, or if you get an actual offer!  PDO will be sharing more tips and information on this subject as the recruiting season progresses, but you should begin to prepare in the following ways:
 
Review the materials in the PDO folder on the shared network on Interviewing.  The folder contains handouts on professional dress, interviewing skills, and questions you might be asked or might consider asking your interviewer.
 
Attend the Interviewing Skills Seminar with Anneliese Booher:  Thursday, August 20, 12:15 p.m.
 
Use Common Sense and Consult PDO! Consider in advance how you will react if an employer to whom you have applied calls to schedule an initial interview (if outside of OCI) or a callback interview (within OCI).  At least plan to answer your phone in a professional manner at all times, have a calendar reasonably available, and be prepared to sound enthusiastic!  As you interview with various employers, keep notes about what you like and don’t like about them.  Engage in a ranking process as you go.  This will help you make a decision if and when you get an offer.  If that happens, keep in mind that you may express enthusiasm and gratitude, but you may still politely ask for time to consider the offer.  Particularly if you are uneasy—ask for time to consider an offer, and consult PDO.  Most employers anticipate that you will need time to consider their offer.
 
PDO recommends that employers hiring SJQ students follow the NALP timing guidelines.  These guidelines suggest that employers offering positions for the following summer to candidates not previously employed by them should leave those offers open for at least 45 days following the date of the offer letter or until December 30, whichever comes first.    If a candidate has been previously employed by them, the offer should remain open until at least November 15.  These (previously employed) candidates should reaffirm these offers within thirty days from the date of the offer letter.  Employers may retract any offer that is not reaffirmed with the 30-day period.
 

As a practical matter, PDO recommends that you not take 45 days to reach a decision.  Again, please consult with PDO if you have any questions about whether you should accept an offer.  It will create bad will with an employer if you accept an offer then change your mind, so please consider any offers you receive carefully, so that you can make a good decision.




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