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Interviews are always nerve-wracking. Whether it’s your dream job or just a summer gig, interviews put you on the spot and have a way of making every thought in your head disappear. Talking about yourself and making yourself sound like the best person on planet Earth is a daunting task, especially when you are put on the spot. So here are some tips from an experienced interviewee.
Practice makes perfect!
Even though it’s a cliché, it’s always a good idea to prepare for an interview. Someone who’s prepared and researched is easy to spot, while someone who shows up not even sure what they are interviewing for is an immediate red flag for an interviewer. Some good ways to prepare include doing a Google search on the company and position. Here is where you can determine key skills that the position requires, what experience you need and should highlight, company values, and maybe even point you to who’s going to be interviewing you. Although it’s never a good look to seem like a stalker by knowing every tiny detail about your interviewer, that’s just creepy.
Also, practicing either by yourself or with a friend to answer questions you might get in your interview is another good way to prepare. Running through the typical “Tell us about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and “Describe a time you overcame a challenge” are always great places to start. Remember to use your resources during this preparation, such as using AI tools to generate practice questions centered around the position you are applying for and information about the company. This can prepare you for targeted questions that might come up in the interview.
Just as important: look over your application before you go in! This is often the only information the interviewer has about you, and they typically have questions about the things you wrote about, such as experiences you’ve had or previous jobs. So, looking over your application is key to simply remembering what you wrote so that in the interview, you are ready to answer any questions the interviewer might have.
Be yourself!
Interviewers want to see your personality shine through! Being authentically yourself rather than trying to impress an interviewer is the right way to go, since they are trying to get a genuine sense of who you are and how you would fit at the company or in the position. This makes it so important to be yourself so you can assess if the job is the right fit for you, too. It’s those interesting anecdotes or jokes that lighten the mood and set someone apart from a big pool of applicants, so let yourself have fun and make a genuine connection with the interviewer. This also means not being afraid to ask questions about your interviewer and how they feel about working at the company, etc. Remember, you are putting a face to the inanimate application you submitted, so make them care about you!
Be prepared for anything!
In an interview, it’s very likely you are going to get a question you weren’t ready for, or one that makes your brain draw an absolute blank. That’s OK! It’s inevitable, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t recover and use that opportunity to shine. If your mind is drawing a blank, it’s never a bad idea to ask for a second to collect your thoughts and formulate a good answer as opposed to just trying to blurt out whatever first comes to your mind. Also, sharing that you feel nervous or whatever other emotions you are feeling is OK, too — you’re human, and your interviewer knows it! It might even lighten the mood and allow you and your interviewer to connect more personally!
Additionally, an interviewer may throw an absolute curveball your way. This can be in the form of funny or interesting questions, such as “If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be?” In these situations, it’s usually more helpful to go with whatever first comes to your mind, as it’s typically the most authentic response. In these abstract questions, it’s hard to say there’s one right answer — they’re meant to see how you think under pressure, assess your creativity, or reveal something about your personality. So, don’t be afraid to be yourself or humorous in answering one of these unexpected questions. After all, an obscure question usually elicits an obscure answer.
To recap: Practice makes perfect, be yourself, and be prepared for anything! Go crush that interview, girl!
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