Fall Break always seems to come at the most perfect time in the semester, when your body needs to catch up on the sleep missed from pulling all-nighters, and could also use a definite detox from the party scene. Besides catching up with your Netflix shows and eating mom’s home-cooked lasagna, Fall Break is a perfect time to polish your resume and interview skills to best prepare yourself for any on-campus interviews that will be taking place in the coming weeks. To help calm the nerves, Her Campus Miami has compiled a few suggestions that we’ve found to be helpful from our own experiences and are guaranteed to wow your interviewer.
Research the company and interviewer
By far our most crucial interviewing tip is to research the company and the position for which you are applying. Consider taking a look at not only the company’s mission statement and job qualification description, but also do a Google search for any recent news or press releases circulating the Internet about the company. If there has been an increase in the company’s stock over the last year, that is something to make note of as well. If you know the name of your interviewer in advance, searching them on LinkedIn is a fantastic way to learn more about the person you are about to meet for your interview and will show the employer that you did your homework when you ask them specific questions about their past career experiences. Prepare a document with a set of notes addressing the above to review the night before and you’re guaranteed to feel more confident walking into the interview. You will also be able to more easily answer questions fired at you such as, “What about our company appeals to you?”
Speak with current employers
If you have a family friend, sorority sister, or fraternity brother who currently works for the company you will be interviewing with, or they have worked for them in the past, be sure to reach out to them. Don’t be shy about picking their brain regarding what it is/was like working for the company you’re interested in. People are always extremely willing to help, and understand the difficult position you’re in now to find a job.
The name of the game here is networking! Crucial to success, networking is a skill that we are all constantly developing and practicing, and speaking with someone who can give you an inside scoop on what it’s like being an employee at the company you will be interviewing with and what kind of training they provide their staff will assist with our next suggestion of coming prepared with a list of questions.
Come prepared with a list of questions
While the interviewer will primarily be the one doing the majority of the question asking, a way to set yourself apart from other candidates is to ask engaging questions, as well. One of my all time favorite questions to ask people, and one that I’ve found recruiters, employers, or anyone I’ve interviewed for a HC story particularly like and are intrigued by is, “How would you define success?” I love asking this question because the response is never the same and it generates really authentic dialogue, which gives you further insight as to the values of the person you are speaking with. When I asked this question of an interviewer this week, her definition of success was, “personal growth, the impact you make on a community, and the legacy you leave”. Be thoughtful in your question asking and take time to consider what it is you really want to know that will help you determine whether or not this is a company you’d like to work for full-time if you do receive an offer.
Do a mock interview
Doing a mock interview with your housemate, on the phone with your Mom and Dad, or scheduling an appointment with Career Services is a great way to become more comfortable with marketing yourself and your skill set. Role-play different hypothetical questions that an interviewer could ask you, such as “How have you overcome challenging situations”, “What makes you best fit for this position”, “Describe your career aspirations and goals”, “Tell me about your involvement on-campus”, etc. Even writing down some answers to these questions is helpful, that way you have go-to responses when a similar question comes up during the interview. Through all of your answers, be able to clearly communicate with concise adjectives the experiences, personality traits, and values that make you an excellent candidate and competent for the job.
Throw on a blazer, and a smile
Dressing for success goes without saying, but we figured it doesn’t hurt to highlight that on this list. You want to look your sharpest and be on your game, so make sure you try on outfits the night before and have the fashion police (your friends) chime in with their thoughts. By having your outfit planned the night before, this will allow you more time in the morning to eat a solid breakfast, relax, and review your notes before the big interview. A blazer always looks chic and professional paired with anything, but by far most imperative accessory to remember is a smile. When you walk into the room and have a firm handshake and big smile, that will put both yourself and the interviewer at ease. As the saying goes, “you’re never fully dressed without a smile!”
Ask for the order
Oftentimes asking for the job is something that most of us feel uncomfortable doing, or forget to do in the heat of the moment. When we say “ask” for the job, what we mean is to truly make it known to your interviewer that you would jump at the chance to work for their company and absolutely love the opportunity to work there full-time. By doing so, interviewers will appreciate seeing that you’re driven and enthusiastic about potential opportunities with them.
Follow-up, Follow-up, Follow-Up!
Another huge part of networking is following up. If you haven’t heard from an interviewer in regards to scheduling a time to meet, follow-up with them. After your interview, be sure to follow-up letting the interviewer know that you appreciate the opportunity to have met with them and thank them for their time. If you haven’t heard back from an employer regarding their final decision, again, follow-up. Even if you don’t end up walking away with a job offer, ask the interviewer for feedback, which going forward will help prepare you in putting the best heel forward for your next interview.
Want more practice before your upcoming interview? Here’s how you can schedule a mock interview with Career Services in Hoyt Hall (on Western Campus). You can also make an advising appointment and check out their calendar of events happening throughout the year.
Throughout the semester we’ll be posting more career-related articles, like ways to best apply your study abroad experience, so be on the lookout! Best of luck to those who have interviews in the coming weeks; let your personality and passion shine!