Christine M. Piotrowski - Professional Practice for Interior Designers

Most interviews in interior design are not designed to induce stress. As best as you can relax and enjoy the opportunity to talk to the employer. Focus on your qualifications in terms of what you can do for the company. Graduating students need to indicate a willingness to learn. Be enthusiastic in your answers, and stress your positive characteristics.

The interview discussion itself will include several themes. First, the employer will ask you questions to see if you fit with the needs of the company. The employer will be looking for various clues in your answers and demeanor to help with the hire/no hire decision. Second, you will have the opportunity to present your portfolio. Naturally, this is your chance to convince the employer that you have the skills to work at the company and do the job that is available. Third, you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the employer to help you determine if this is the firm you want to work for, clarify responsibilities, and acquire other information that is important to you.

Your preparation has you comfortable to answer the questions posed by the employer. Try to be calm and confident. You know who you are and what you can do. Now is your time to convince the employer. More will be discussed about interview questions in the next section.

During your interview, never bring up personal problems, argue, blame others, or beg for the job. Even if you left your previous job under difficult circumstances, do not blame anyone at the other company for your problems. This tags you as a difficult person. If you are asked if you were ever fired, be honest. Make some brief comments about what happened and hope the interviewer moves on.

Be well prepared in presenting your portfolio. Don't rush through this presentation, but also don't spend an inordinate amount of time on each item. Don't make excuses or apologize for work that is less than perfectly executed. Poor‐quality work should not have been included. Don't forget to clarify what part of a group project you did when presenting work that is not totally your own.

One very good clue that the employer is interested in you is if the interviewer suggests showing you around the studio or office. This is usually done only if the candidate interests the employer and she wants to introduce you to staff members. However, if you have not actually been offered the position, don't assume anything. Every once in a while, an employer just tries to be nice and shows off the studio but doesn't offer you a job.

On the other hand, if you realize that you are not interested in working for the company, you need to complete the interview but promptly inform the firm that you are not interested. Students should not accept an interview if you really have no interest in working for the company. Some students like to go on interviews to “practice” for the job they want. This is poor business 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.

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 6‐4are typical of ones asked in an interior design interview.

TABLE 6‐4. Common interview questions