The secrets of a successful interview

Okay. So your resume got you in the door. Now what?

Most companies look for very specific criteria in all candidates. Here at Staples, no matter what the position or level of job, we hope to see the following in all candidates.

• Strong ability — and desire — to learn
• Willingness to work hard
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Proven leadership
• Solid communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task
• Interest in serving our customers
• Passion for the retail environment
• Hunger to succeed

Study up

We expect you to know something about Staples. So before the interview, do some research on Staples, the office supplies industry and the position you're seeking. If you know associates at Staples, ask them about Staples. Don't know anyone at Staples? Contact your college. There may be alums who work at Staples with whom your college can connect you.

Practice makes perfect

During the interview you'll want to be yourself. So ask a family member, friend or career services counselor to conduct a couple of mock interviews.

Here's a list of questions you may be asked:

1. What do you want to do?
2. Why do you want to do it?
3. What are your strengths?
4. What are your weaknesses?
5. What have you done in the past that you could apply to the position you are seeking?
6. How have you worked in groups?
7. What is your greatest achievement?
8. How do you handle stress?
9. What will you bring to Staples that no other candidate could?
10. What is your favorite office supply?

When answering these and other questions, incorporate specific experiences and successes. If a question catches you off guard, pause for a moment. Taking a minute to think is okay.

You may not have a lot of work experience, so draw on experiences from school projects, personal situations, sports teams and clubs.

Day of

On the day of your interview, give yourself a little extra time (at least 30 minutes) to get to Staples. You don't want to seem rushed or be late. Expect to spend approximately 30 minutes with each interviewer.

At Staples, we follow a business casual dress code. However, for interviewing, dress appropriately.

Making the right impression

You may meet 1:1 with various Staples associates or you may interview with a group all at once. Regardless of the format, be yourself. Be confident (not arrogant). Be enthusiastic (not giddy). Be pithy (not long winded). Be poised and professional.

Strong candidates are also engaged. Remember, interviewing is a 2-way street. Come up with a couple of questions to ask the interviewer. You may ask for more information about career advancement, corporate culture, work/life balance, mentoring, training or overall company performance. Think of all of the factors that will impact your decision should you be offered a job.

Thank-you note

Within 24 hours, you should send individual thank-you notes to each interviewer. An email thank you is appropriate, but phone calls are not. You might want to consider handwriting your thank-you notes to make them more unique and personable.

Take a deep breath

You may not hear from Staples right away. We may be interviewing other candidates. If we are interested, you will likely be invited back for a second round of interviews. Regardless, Staples will let you know one way or the other about the job.