UCSI Co-Operative Report 2009

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Career preparations Top Tips for interviews Dress for success The way you dress should be appropriate to the job you are applying for. It is better to look a little too formal than too casual. Even if you know that the office dress code is casual, wait till you get hired before you dress like the employees. Here are some basic rules for interview clothes: • Neat business wear, clean and freshly ironed • Solid, muted colours – no loud or clashing patterns • Leather or patent leather shoes, clean and well polished. No sports shoes! • Hair should be neatly combed and styled. Long hair should be tied back. It’s best not to dye your hair shocking colours when job hunting • Jewellery and accessories should be low-key and modest • Wear an unscented or lightly fragranced deodorant or antiperspirant. Dressing points For men Tailored suit, or ironed shirt, tie and suit trousers – no jeans or khaki pants Your tie should be a neutral colour with no loud patterns You should preferably be clean-shaven. If you have a moustache or beard, it must be neatly trimmed and groomed For ladies Tailored suit with clean, modest lines. Your skirt should be no shorter than two inches above the knees. Wear closed-toe shoes with low heels Makeup should be minimal and natural. Fancy manicures are not recommended Choose and lay out your clothes the night before the interview. 22 I UCSI University Co-Operative Education Report 2009
Career preparations Be punctual Ideally, you should arrive approximately 15 minutes early. If you even think you are going to be late, call before the scheduled interview time to let them know. Be well-mannered and courteous Remember to be on your best behaviour from the beginning to the end of the entire interview process. • Greet the interviewer(s) with a smile, a firm handshake, and introduce yourself • Don’t sit down until you are offered a seat • Maintain natural eye contact as much as you can (don’t stare!) and smile. Listen well to respond well Listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying to find out as much as possible about the internship. Don’t be afraid to ask him or her to rephrase a question you do not understand. If you’re totally stumped by a question, it’s all right to ask for a minute to gather your thoughts. It is even acceptable to answer ‘I don’t know’ if you genuinely do not know what the answer is; but avoid doing this too often or you will appear to be clueless. Technical interviews If you are applying for an internship in an engineering, IT or science company, chances are you’ll get an interview containing technical questions. Know the basics of your subject inside out As you are not expected to have much work experience, interviewers are sure to quiz you in-depth about your course. Revise the basics that everyone in your year should be secure in knowing, and place particular focus on topics that relate to the employer’s area of work. If you have any project work or vacation experience that is particularly relevant to the company you are applying for, practise summarising it. You could produce a short digest of the information and take it with you to the interview. Use it to illustrate your answers or leave it with the interviewer when you finish. You may not know the answer to everything you are asked, but try to show the interviewer how you might go about solving problems or finding the information you would need to answer the question. Be prepared to talk While interviewers are interested in your technical knowledge, they also want to test your ability to think on your feet and to communicate with non-technical people. They might show you a device and ask you to imagine you have to explain how it works to your grandmother, or show you a circuit diagram and expect your instant analysis. The best way to prepare is to make sure you know your subject matter and fully understand the requirements of the internship. Technical interviewers often focus on project work. Be ready to give a brief summary of what your project focused on, situations you faced, how you overcame problems and the final results. If you were involved in a group project, make sure you are able to talk about what your team did and the parts that you yourself took responsibility for. You need to show that you can work well with others and communicate clearly, avoiding technical jargon that may confuse the uninitiated. Remember, interviewers are not out to harass you or catch you out. They want to see your enthusiasm for employing your skills to find solutions. Prepare well, be confident and upbeat, and enjoy the opportunity to talk with experts. Article courtesy of GRADMalaysia. c GTI Media Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved. UCSI University Co-Operative Education Report 2009 I 23
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Page 3 and 4: Introduction Building a bridge of e
Page 5 and 6: 2009 in review At a glance A total
Page 7 and 8: 2009 in review Student evaluation W
Page 9 and 10: 2009 in review Si Toh Guo Bin, Aric
Page 11 and 12: 2009 in review MAS internship leave
Page 13 and 14: 2009 in review vastly different fro
Page 15 and 16: 2009 in review Employer testimonial
Page 17 and 18: 2009 in review Co-Op placements by
Page 19 and 20: Career preparations Tips on Groomin
Page 21 and 22: Career preparations Opening Ceremon
Page 23: Career preparations Year 2 Year 3 T
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Page 29 and 30: 2009 Co-Op employers Employers by F
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Page 37 and 38: Faculty contacts Faculty of Applied
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UCSI Co-Operative Report 2009

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