A struggle that all collegiettes know: job interviews. They can be stressful and discouraging, but with a few tips and tricks you can learn to diminish your nerves and officially master the art of interviewing. Your email will be blowing up with job offers!
BEFORE:
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Book a mock interview at the Career & Academic Planning office.
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Research a little bit about the company so you know the main mission/purpose of what they do.
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Think of the experiences you’ve had and your strengths MOST relevant to the position, using the information you found from your research. If you’re applying for a secretary or office assistant position, talk about your excel, phone or organizational skills, not about the summer you spent building a house.
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Form questions to ask the interviewer, such as “What do you enjoy most about working here and what do you find the most challenging about your job?” NOT “Can I get a couple days before New Years off?”
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Bring water to save you from that nervous dry mouth we all hate.
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Dress for success: if you aren’t sure what to wear, you can call the office and ask what the dress code is. Business casual is usually a good way to go.
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Take a couple of deep breaths right before you go in. This is your chance to impress and show what you got!
DURING:
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Early is better than on time, and on time is better than late
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It’s not all about your answer, it’s also about the impression you make:
- Smile
- Give a firm handshake with eye contact
- Turn off your phone
- Be polite to EVERYONE. If you are rude to waitstaff (if the interview is at a restaurant or coffee shop), janitors in the hallway or the receptionist, word may get back to the interviewer.
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No need for a five minute answer: be thorough, but if you ramble on and on you may start to repeat- or even contradict- yourself, confusing the interviewer.
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If you feel yourself getting nervous, take a couple of deep breaths and relax your shoulders.
AFTER:
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Take a deep breath and celebrate! You did it!
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Email the interviewer within 24 hours of the interview to thank them and maybe even mention a couple parts of the interview that you enjoyed and interested you.
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In a personal journal or word document, write down what you think you did well in the interview, what you could have done better and questions you remember the interviewer asking you. This will allow to you prepare for interviews in the future!