As college students, we stress enough over classes, exams, social obligations, jobs and more. Well, here’s one more to add to our list: obtaining an internship. It’s stressful enough perfecting your cover letter and resume. Unfortunately, your work doesn’t stop there. Having a perfect performance during your interview is a must. Here are a few ways to help you prep for an internship interview:
- Research the company you want to intern for.
You probably spent hours re-reading the job description to make sure you can perform the tasks. However, researching the company’s history and mission statement will give you a better understanding of what the company’s goals are. Try quoting the company mission statement or a history fact during the interview and watch how it impresses your interviewer. It also shows your dedication and commitment to learning about the company.
- Research your interviewer
This may seem like a stalker move, but it can actually help you connect to your interviewer on a personal level. See if they have a LinkedIn profile or any other social media profile. If they love volunteering, mention a couple of volunteer projects you’ve done. This makes you more personable and shows that you are more than just a list of skills on a piece of paper.
- Scope out the location beforehand
This may seem like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people plan poorly on interview day. We all rely on technology to get us where we need to go when we need to be there. If Google Maps says it will take us 13 minutes to get to our destination, then we leave 15 minutes early. This should not be the case on a day you have an interview. First, don’t depend on technology. Take a mock trip beforehand and see how long it takes to get there. Know exactly where you’re going and scope out any shortcuts in case there’s a lot of traffic. On the day of your interview, leave with plenty of time. Ideally, you want to show up to your interview around 15-20 minutes early.
- Practice interviewing
You won’t know exactly what questions they will ask, but there are ways you can prepare. Try googling the company. Sometimes, you can find past employees who will actually give advice or dish on what their own interview was like. There are also various websites that give you common questions. The point of this isn’t to memorize questions and answers. You don’t want to sound robotic in your actual interview. The point of this is to make you comfortable with answering various questions on the spot.
- Be confident!
You impressed them enough with your cover letter and resume. Relax, breathe and remind yourself that they wouldn’t have called you if they weren’t highly interested and impressed with your skills.
Remember these tips and hopefully you’ll feel better about your interview. Good luck!