Professional Practice for Interior Designers. Christine M. Piotrowski
etiquette that can come back to haunt you later.
For the most part, if you are offered a position, be prepared either to accept or reject it at that time. If you are offered a position that is different from the one you expected or you are being offered a lower salary than you were expecting, it is acceptable to ask for time to consider the offer. If you really want the position, say so. Do not leave without knowing what the salary range is if you have been given an offer.
It is very common for a firm to interview several people for even an entry‐level position. If you are not made an offer but there is no indication that you have been rejected, ask the interviewer when he will be ready with a decision. This will help you decide about making other interview appointments or making a decision about another offer.
Watch for clues that the interview is drawing to a close. A few common ones are the interviewer begins to stack the job application, your resume, and his notes together; or the interviewer pushes his chair back in preparation for getting up. This is the time to summarize your interest in the position and why you are the best candidate. State this in a few sentences so that you do not overstay your welcome at the end. When the interview is over, get up and leave promptly.
If an offer is made and you accept it, be sure that you understand what day you are to start, the time, and anything else that you need to take care of, either prior to your first day or during your first day on the job. If you don't get an offer, you will probably be disappointed, but you still need to be gracious and professional. Say something that indicates you are interested in the job if you really are. It is important to keep a good attitude at this point because needs change in interior design all the time. The firm that doesn't need you today may have work come in that requires hiring additional staff next week. Don't forget to thank the interviewer for his time, regardless of the outcome.
TYPICAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
There are many kinds of questions that are commonly asked in interviews. Interviewers will ask questions to find out about your personality and demeanor. They want to determine whether you will fit into the existing group. They will ask questions to determine your overall interest in interior design and the specialty area that you are interested in pursuing. If you are a recent graduate, the interviewer probably will ask you about your educational background and the classes you took.
Typically, an employer will ask you to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Whenever possible, discuss your strengths related to specific examples. Perhaps CAD is a particular strength, so consider mentioning grades in those classes or extra workshops you have taken. Weaknesses are harder to discuss. Deal with any of these in a straightforward manner, focusing on how you are trying to overcome the weakness.
Questions are likely to come up to find out about your ambitions in the field and, to some degree, your future plans with regard to your career. Interviewers may even ask questions to find out if you have any “skeletons in the closet,” to discover whether you left a prior job under bad circumstances. It is important that you prepare yourself for these questions in advance. The questions shown in Table 6‐4 are typical of ones asked in an interior design interview.
TABLE 6‐4. Common interview questions
| General Questions for Any Candidate |
| Why did you decide to become an interior designer? |
| What do you know about our company? |
| How did you hear about our company? |
| Why do you wish to work for us? |
| Have you applied to any other companies? |
| Tell me about the qualifications you have for this position. |
| Are you willing to do the traveling out of town that is necessary for this position? |
| Tell me about yourself. |
| How long have you lived in this city? |
| How much compensation are you expecting? |
| What will you add to our company? |
| Describe what you consider to be your weaknesses. |
| How do you plan to overcome those weaknesses? |
| Could you name a coworker we could contact who could tell us something about you? |
| Do you have any objections to taking a psychological test? |
| Questions Common for Entry‐Level Positions |
| Why did you select the college or school you attended? |
| Why did you select a major in interior design? |
| Did you have any leadership experience in college? |
| How do you think your colleagues in your major would describe you? |
| How do you view this job in relationship to your long‐term goals? |
| Describe your reactions when your work was criticized. |
| What are your ambitions for the future? |
| How long would you expect to stay with our company? |
| Did you find it comfortable to work in the classroom studio? |
| How long do you think it will take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm? |
| Common Questions for Candidates with Prior Professional Experience |
| Tell me about your previous experience and how those positions relate to this position. |
| How do you think you can best contribute to this firm? |
| Why are you looking for another position? |
| Are you a leader? |
| What are your ambitions for the future? |
| You appear to be overqualified for this job. Why are you applying for this position? |
| If you are offered a position with this company, tell me what you would do during the first month on the job. |
| How much are you worth? |
| How would you describe your supervisory (management) style? |
| How have you increased sales or profits at your present employer? |
| How do you think your present boss would describe you? |
| May we contact your present employer? |
| Please tell me how many days of work you missed last year. |
Your Interview Questions
You too will have questions when you interview. Some of the ones you initially planned to ask may have been answered during the interview discussion. There might not behave much time to ask your questions, so use the time to help you better understand the company and show the employer that you are the right person for the job. Questions you might ask include:
Can