Informal Interview???

[TiberiusLazarus]

So tomorrow I have an interview for an internship with carfax. We had a career fair here on campus Tuesday and I got a call from them Wednesday asking to schedule a time for an 'informal interview' with them. My question is what does 'informal interview' mean? Should I wear the same type of close as when i first met them (suit and tie) or should I just wear something a little more casual (slacks and a dress shirt, no tie or jacket)?

[Buddy J]

It never hurts to be well dressed. Wear a suit.

[NiGHTS]

Informal interviews are like lunch without the lunch. You're basically given free reign to grill them with questions to find out a bit more about what it is they do specifically, what role they're looking to fill, and presumably what it takes to fill that role. They're trying to see what your personality is like.

[TiberiusLazarus]

Informal interviews are like lunch without the lunch. You're basically given free reign to grill them with questions to find out a bit more about what it is they do specifically, what role they're looking to fill, and presumably what it takes to fill that role. They're trying to see what your personality is like.

So then it would be appropriate to come in with a list of questions, or not?

[Crazy Joe]

Most definitely... It shows that you are interested and came prepared...

[the_technocrat]

I'm currently in the middle of major job interviews. Feel free to steal these, they're compiled froma google search for 'interview questions'. I took out the ones I thought were rude or stupid.

* How would you describe the top 3 priorities of the position?
* How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?
* How much travel is expected? * What is the typical work week? Is overtime expected?
* How many people work in this office/department? # What's the makeup of the team as far as experience?
* Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet him/her? * What is the company's management style?


# What does this company value the most and how do you think my work for you will further these values?
* What do you like about working here? what would you change?

# What kinds of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?
# What's the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment?
# Do you have any questions or concerns about my ability to perform this job?

* What are the prospects for growth and advancement? * How does one advance in the company?
# When key people leave the company, why do they leave and where do they usually go?
* Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do?

# What potential do you see in me?
* What can I tell you about my qualifications?
* If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start?

# Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?
* Are there any other questions I can answer for you?

[Winfrey]

How did it go jimmy?

[NiGHTS]

# Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?
* Are there any other questions I can answer for you?


I ask this all the time. More or less in the same way ...'do you have any questions or concerns, after having met me, that might prevent you from recommending me for the position?'

Win-win for you. You get feedback into what you can alter/change for the next interview (if they don't give it to you after you've been denied the position) and you are able to stamp out any problems they see right away with an example. "Well, we're unsure of how you do in group settings... OH WELL HERE IN SCHOOL WE DO GROUP WORK ALL THE TIME! etc. etc. etc."

[TiberiusLazarus]

I just got back and it seemed to have gone pretty well, though sometimes that doesn't really mean anything. I'm really hoping I can get this, I really want some experience (it also helps that it will give me something to do over the summer! :)).

[NiGHTS]

Go write a follow up e-mail to the person you met with right now. Thank them for taking the time to meet with you. Pick out one specific thing to pokes out from the interview and expand on how you would fit the role of it.

[TiberiusLazarus]

Well yesterday I had an on site interview. Went great; had a tour of the site, met some of the team, went out to lunch with them. This morning I received an internship offer with them. I am so happy right now. Thanks for the tips!! :)

[Buddy J]

Congrats! Glad things worked out for you.

[Leonardo]

Good news!

[NiGHTS]

Mucho excellante! My advice would be to keep meeting with people to find out more, even if you're going to take the offer. You're a "starving college student" and free lunches make recruitment all the more worthwhile. Meeting with others shows that you're both concerned and very interested in the offer they've extended. Keep networking, you never know where it'll end up.

Depending on where else you're looking (if you're looking anywhere else) you may want to hold off immediately accepting the offer. At this point, you know they want you, so you have SOME leverage. "I appreciate the opportunity, but to be fair to both you and myself, I have some interviews still left on the table...blahblah"

[RADA]

Congrats JJ!

:celebrate


BTW: What are you going to be doing for them?


Your next step is to make yourself invaluable to them.

This can lead to a full time well paying position, or at least to a stellar reference/bullet point on your resume.

If you kick butt and take names as an intern, it will pay you back in the future.

[TiberiusLazarus]

Mucho excellante! My advice would be to keep meeting with people to find out more, even if you're going to take the offer. You're a "starving college student" and free lunches make recruitment all the more worthwhile. Meeting with others shows that you're both concerned and very interested in the offer they've extended. Keep networking, you never know where it'll end up.

Depending on where else you're looking (if you're looking anywhere else) you may want to hold off immediately accepting the offer. At this point, you know they want you, so you have SOME leverage. "I appreciate the opportunity, but to be fair to both you and myself, I have some interviews still left on the table...blahblah"

I don't really have any other offers out there. I'll probably have to wait until Monday to accept it as they emailed me a form to sign and return but as I don't have a fax or scanner available right now I'll have to wait.

As for what I'll be doing, they said 50% of it would be helping to integrate some of their work with Microsoft Sharepoint. The other half is gonna be running cable, racking servers, etc. Best part of this is the team I will be working with, they all seem really cool and fun to be around and another intern who I would be working with is one of my friends.

[primesuspect]

woot jimmy! Nice work :D

[Winfrey]

gj buddy, glad everything is working out. Does this mean you won't be working for the student success center any more?

[Nomad]

gjdm

[the_technocrat]

It never hurts to be well dressed. Wear a suit.

in my recent interview, i was told that i would be looked down upon for wearing just a tie. They wanted to know if I'd fit in with their corporate culture, and that wasn't it. So, be careful.

Dress like you would for a big date, but casual usually means no tie. I wore dark grey slacks and a nice button-down shirt, and just got word that I got the job, so... :)


edit: heh, little late. DId I mention I'm at ICSP?