Interview Tips

Before your appointment with Human Resources and your hiring manager, we recommend taking a few additional preparatory steps in order to make the greatest impression and present your best professional self.

Ahead of Time

• Take advantage of raymondjames.com to find out more about the firm.
• Think about what questions you have regarding the position, department or firm, and prepare a list to bring with you to the interview.
• How does your experience and education match up with the posted requirements of the position? Think about why you are the best candidate for the position, and what challenges you might have to overcome.
• Consider conducting a mock interview with a friend or family member.
• Limit your application of colognes and perfumes.
• Dress appropriately for the interview.
• Plan your schedule to arrive 15 minutes early so you are not rushed or late due to minor traffic delays.

If Circumstances Change

• Always call to cancel or reschedule your interview if you are unable or uninterested in keeping your original meeting time. We appreciate advanced notice of schedule changes, and will do our best to provide you the same courtesy.

During the Interview

• Employ calming techniques that work for you if you find yourself feeling anxious or nervous.
• Think of the conversation as a two-way process. You are interviewing us as a potential employer and should ask us any questions you have that will help you determine if we are the right company for you.
• Maintain eye contact with interviewer(s).
• Be thorough but concise during the conversation.
• Avoid topics unrelated to your qualifications and your ability to be successful in the position for which you're interviewing. Examples include religion, politics, financial circumstances, health or personal circumstances.
• Be professional and truthful. Not being completely forthcoming with relevant information, embellishing accomplishments or hiding jobs doesn't build trust, which is key to getting an offer.
• If the interview is near the end, and there is a piece of information you feel is particularly relevant to your ability to be successful in the position, take the initiative to communicate that experience to the interviewer(s).
• Don't forget to ask any questions that you might have.

Behavioral Interview Overview

• You will be asked questions like "tell me about a time when..."
• If you're not sure about how to answer the question, ask for clarification.
• Be sure to include these points in your answer: the specific situation or task, the action you took and the result.
• Expect detailed follow-up questions regarding what you did in that circumstance, and how the outcome was reached.
• Take your time - we understand that you may need a minute to think about a specific example related to the question we are asking.
• Don't be surprised if we take notes as we proceed through the interview.
• Keep in mind that there aren't right and wrong answers. The interviewer is simply trying to understand the actions you took in a given situation.