• Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.
• Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering. (See types of job interviews.) And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or over-rehearse your answers. (See our some of the best collections of interview questions.)
• Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism. If you're not sure, you should consider reading our article, When Job-Hunting: Dress for Success.
• Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company.
• Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression.
• Don't chew gum during the interview.
• If presented with a job application, do fill it out neatly, completely, and accurately.
• Do bring extra resumes to the interview. (Even better, if you have a job skills portfolio, do bring that with you to the interview.)
• Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.
• Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you're not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.
• Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake!
• Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch.
• Don't tell jokes during the interview.
• Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s).
• Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
• Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And don't smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview.
• Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um").
• Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence.
• Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive.
• Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
• Do avoid controversial topics.
• Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers.
• Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.
• Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly. And don't over-answer questions.
• Do stress your achievements. And don't offer any negative information about yourself.
• Don't answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give examples.
• Do show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions. (See our Guide to Researching Companies.)
• Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
• Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you to evaluate the interviewer and the company she represents.
• Don't respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying something like, "boy, that's a good question." And do repeat the question outloud or ask for the question to be repeated to give you a little more time to think about an answer. Also, a short pause before responding is okay.
• Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it.
• Don't answer cell phone calls during the interview, and do turn off (or set to silent ring) your cell phone and/or pager.
• Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
• Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until after you've received an offer. Be prepared for a question about your salary requirements, but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer. (You might consider visiting our salary tutorial for more tips and strategies.)
• Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry. Don't ever not ask any questions -- it shows a lack of interest.
• Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process. (Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.)
• Do try and get business cards from each person you interviewed with -- or at least the correct spelling of their first and last names. And don't make assumptions about simple names -- was it Jon or John -- get the spelling.
• Do immediately take down notes after the interview concludes so you don't forget crucial details.
• Do write thank you letters within 24 hours to each person who interviewed you. (You can see some sample thank-you letters here.) And do know all the rules of following up after the interview.

I wasn't looking forward to the interview process before now Im definately not :)

What Emp loyers Expect You to Know About Their Firms
Who We Are – owner, designers, values /culture, size, longevity
What We Do – projects, clients, competitors, awards
Why We Do It – philosophy, vision, goals

What Emp loyers Are Likely to Ask
Most Frequently Asked Questions

What are your goals?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why do you want to work here?
What do you bring to the firm?
Why are you an interior designer?

Design Questions
Can you estimate the floor measurements in this room?
Describe a storage solution for children’s toys.
Describe your design process. Where do you begin?
If you were asked to measure a building, how would you go about it?
How would you redesign this room?
What are your design specialty preferences?
What did you learn from your internship experience?
What is the most important thing you learned in school?
What professional organizations do you belong to?
What were your least favorite projects in school and why?
Tell me about your marketing and business skills.
How would you classify your style?
What sets you apart from other designers?


Interpersonal Questions

How long do you plan to stay in your first job?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Do you feel comfortable presenting a
project to a room full of strangers?
How do you handle other designers’ egos?
How would you handle a difficult client?
Who are the three most important
people in your life and why?
Tell me about your greatest challenge
and how did it turn out?
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
What work is below you?
How can you make a difference
through the medium of design?
Describe your work ethic.
What would be your ideal job?
Tell me about your people skills?

Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

How you should answer:

Strengths

First you have to assess what your strengths are. You should make a list of your skills, dividing them into three cateogories:

1. Knowledge based skills: ( Acquired from education and experience (e.g., computer skills, languages, degrees, training and techincal ability).
2. Transferable skills: Your portable skills that you take from job to job (e.g., communication and people skills, analytical problem solving and planning skills)
3. Personal traits: Your unique quailites (e.g., dependable, flexible, friendly, hard working, expressive, formal, punctual and being a team player).

When your list is complete choose three to five of your strengths that match what the employer is seeking or what you think the employer would like, as some employers don't always advertise exactly what strengths they seek. You should make sure that you are able to give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further.

My strengths.

Knowledge Based

• Interior Design College graduate
• Knowledge of AutoCad 2007
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Elements
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel , Publisher and Excel

Transferable Skills

• Communication and people skills
• Organizational skills
• Problem solving
• Creative skills
• Detail-oriented
• Sales
• Resolving Conflict
• Time Management

Personal Traits

• Dependable
• Hardworking
• Determined
• Expressive
• Friendly
• Feirce
• Punctual
• Good sense of Humour
• Responsible
• Works quickly

Now my top three to five

• Knowledge of AutoCAD
• Sales
• Resolving Conflict
• Communication and people skills
• Organizational skills

Weakness

You should now assess your weaknesses. The best way to answer this question is to minimize the trait and empphasize the positive. Select a trait and come up with a solution to overcome your weakness. Stay away from personal traits and concentrate more on professional traits for example:

"I pride my self on being a "big picture" guy. I have to admit I sometimes miss small details, but I always make sure I have someone who is detail-oriented on my team."

Lastly you should script your answers.

My answer to the question would be:

"My strength is my organizational skills. As a Sales Representative and Mentor Support worker at my last jobs, I was able to make improvements in the working environments by simplifying the construction schedule and arranging the program files for a former facilitator. As far as my weakness, I feel that I am sometimes too detail-oriented, and I am constantly working to change that broaden my focus and scope."

I think that it needs some work but it is a start.

The questions and the suggestions are taken from monster.ca