For those of you who are graduating in December or May of 2012, you may have already started applying to jobs. Or maybe you haven’t even thought about your life post-graduation, but once you do begin to decide what jobs to apply to, interviews will be an inevitable part of the process of scoring your first full-time job. If you’re anything like me, interviews can be the tipping point to a stressful week filled with papers, exams and group presentations. Luckily, there are ways to prepare for interviews and lessen your stress levels! Here are some tips to keep in mind before your interview.
1) Do your research. Find out the type of your interview (behavioral, case, etc.). If you can, find out who will be interviewing you or if you will be interviewed by one or more than one person. This will take away some of the uncertainty on the day you show up to interview.
2) Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
3) Shake hands. A firm handshake is a great way to make a positive first impression with your interviewer. But remember, don’t do a death grip.
4) Make eye contact. There’s nothing more aggravating than talking to someone who is not looking at you directly. Plus, eye contact shows the interviewer that you’re confident and in control.
5) Treat your interview as a conversation. Don’t show up to your interview with rehearsed answers to the questions. Remember that a human being is interviewing you and not a robot.
6) Ask questions. Most interviews will end with a chance for you to ask your interviewer questions about their job and their company. Here’s a list of thought-provoking questions you can choose from.
a. What are the biggest challenges the person in this position will face?
b. Can you describe a typical day or week in the position?
c. How would you describe the company culture? What types of people succeed in your culture?
d. Thinking back to a person you’ve seen do this job well, what made their performance so outstanding?
e. How does this position prepare people for opportunities once the position ends?
7) Don’t forget to be yourself. Ultimately, you want your personality to shine through in hopes of making a personal connection with your interviewer. Don’t be afraid to relax (a little!).
If there’s anything you should remember before walking into an interview it’s to not panic. No matter how poorly you do in an interview, just remember that there will always be more opportunities. And if a positive interview experience leads to the job you want, put your suits and dresses away until a new exciting job opportunity catches your attention.