Job and Internship Strategies

Interviewing

Schedule a Virtual or In-Person appointment with a Career Counselor through STARFISH. Prior to a job interview you can practice answering typical interview questions by scheduling a mock interview with a career counselor. You also will receive advice on how to make a good first impression with employers including guidance on proper interview attire, good body language and how to avoid common interview mistakes. The interview is truly the "make or break" moment. This is your opportunity to stand out from the competition. Interviews allow you to prove how you provide value to the organization plus you learn if the organization is a good fit for you. 

Mock Interview Assistance

Consider practicing for interviews virtually with a career counselor. Schedule a mock interview through STARFISH or through My Interview Simulator, this free program is designed to simulate a mock interview. Before you go to an actual job interview, one should practice and rehearse potential questions that can be asked. This will lead to a successful interview.

  • Be Prepared for Phone Interviews. Employers often use the phone interview to save time and quickly screen potential candidates during the first phase of the interviewing process. As a job seeker, you want to be prepared as if it was an in-person interview.
  • Anticipate questions. You can probably anticipate 90% of all questions that will be asked. For starters, tell me about yourself. What do you know about our organization? Why do you want to work for our organization? What interests you about the position? Behavior-based questions are very popular with employers so you want to use the Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR) approach to give very detailed answers stressing your specific skills and past experiences. The career counselors can help you identify your unique abilities to describe during an interview.
  • Dress for the part. You don't have to purchase an expensive suit, but you should have a suit. Wear minimal jewelry and use minimal amounts of perfume/aftershave.
  • Treat everyone you meet with respect. From the moment you get on the property to the moment you are leaving, you are on your interview. You never know if the person you didn't hold the door for at the elevator is the person who will be interviewing you. 
  • Follow-up after the interview. Sending a "thank you" has become a lost art. Whether it's by email, a handwritten note or a typed letter, thank everyone you meet for their time and consideration. Too many people don't send a thank note so you'll be remembered for following up professionally.

Dressing For Your Interview

If your field requires traditional formal work attire, see below for tips to help you select your attire. (Make sure you know your company’s dress culture).

Standard Interview Attire: The Suit

  • Choose a classic, neutral suit in charcoal, black, or navy. Pant or skirt suits are both appropriate. Whichever you select, ensure it fits properly and that it is work-appropriate.
  • Ensure your suit fits properly and you are comfortable in it.
  • The pant leg should touch the front of the shoe and fall just above the heel in the back. Pants can be cuffed or uncuffed.

The Dress Shirt

  • Choose shirts in a pale, subtle color (i.e., blue, white, ecru).
  • Avoid shirts with insignias.
  • Long sleeved, button-up shirts are most appropriate. Your shirt sleeve should extend beyond the suit jacket sleeves by half an inch.
  • Pointed collars give a more professional image than button-down collars, yet both are acceptable.
  • Wearing a crew-neck undershirt or camisole under your dress shirt is advisable.

Shoes/Belt

  • Shoes that match your suit or are slightly darker are the best choice in colors, such as brown, black, tan, or navy. The shoe should have a real sole (no sneakers, sandals, or street shoes) and a closed toe.
  • Avoid platform shoes and heels that are too high that they hamper your ability to walk well.
  • Shoes should be polished and in good condition.
  • Avoid wearing sport socks or ankle socks with dress shoes.
  • Belts should be in good condition and match the color of your shoes.
  • Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS)

    Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS)

    The Hispanic Educational Technology Services https://hets.org/ is the first bilingual consortium dedicated to serving the higher education needs of the fast-growing Hispanic communities. Framingham State University has exclusive access to innumerous services through the HETS Plaza Virtual. One of the most powerful tools among students is at the Student Placita. The most popular is the Testing and Education Reference Center in which an exclusive account has been created for the use of the community at FSU. The password to access the database is state315 (case sensitive).

    The password will provide access to:

    • Online practice tests and access to over 300 admission exams with real time response
    • Free eBooks to prepare them for the online practice tests
    • Scholarship search featuring $8 billion in available scholarships
    • Internship opportunities and more
  • FIRSTHAND

    FIRSTHAND

    We are excited to share FIRSTHAND with our students!

    • Internship Database – find thousands of ratings and reviews of internship programs, requirements, sample interview questions, how to apply and more.
    • FIRSTHAND Job Board – search thousands of new jobs and internships posted daily, sign up for alerts based on your criteria, complete a profile and be seen by top employers and recruiters.
    • Company Profiles – rankings and reviews on industry reputation, career advancement, quality of life, salary & benefits, interview process and more.
    • Vault Guides – over 100 titles of award-winning career guides, including interview strategies, job-search tips, and full-length profiles of leading companies.
    • Access to Mentors

    framingham.firsthand.co provides in-depth intelligence on what it's really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to land that job. Take advantage of your FREE access.