It’s that time of year again, and no we aren’t talking about Fall even though that is one of the best times of the year… it is internship hunting season. If you have not started looking for an internship yet, you may be unfamiliar with how the timeline goes for a lot of companies and you could miss out on internship and job postings if they get taken down before you get to see them. If you have started applying, contacting recruiters, and got offered the chance to interview, this article is for you! These interviews have to fit within your daily schedule and it feels like we are all juggling so much already. The job or internship can be such a great opportunity so we want to do our best but we also want to keep up with our school work. Here are some ways you can find the balance between the two so you can put your best foot forward during your interviews and not fall behind in your classes!
- First Things First: Get Organized
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As soon as you find out you are offered an interview, take the time to get organized. The interview may be weeks away, but at the worst possible time and you will feel like everything piled up at once. Sitting down and spending 30 minutes or so to consult with your syllabi to get all of your assignments in order will give you a starting point to schedule time to prep for your interview. One simple and free way to keep track of your due dates is to use Google Calendar. If you prefer a physical copy to write on, you can use an agenda with a layout or use a dotted bullet journal to fully customize the layout. Check out some of these affordable options to get your organized.
– Blue Sky 2021 Weekly Planner
– Dotted Grid Notebook/Journal
- Make a To-Do List… or Make Many To-Do Lists
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This does not have to be really organized or in-depth and it is up to you exactly how you create it. Whether you are writing tasks on a piece of paper, a whiteboard, a sticky note, a notepad on your computer, or reminders in your phone, this is just a way for you to cross off tasks as you complete this, which can help keep you relaxed because you know things are getting done. This list can coincide with your calendar but also be broken up into smaller pieces so you can make sure every piece of an assignment is completed. One tip when using a to-do list is to always start with 2-3 tasks you have already completed for the day. Maybe you already made your bed, add “Make Bed” to the list and cross it off. It will feel good because it is going to make you feel productive and motivate you to complete the other things on your list. Another tip is to make to-do lists for short terms, such as things to do today rather than making an extensive list for the next two weeks. The calendar will help you see when things need to be done, but having a shorter, more focused to-do list will be more manageable and prevent unnecessary stress.
- Fit it in Your Schedule with Time Blocking
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Time blocking is the joint piece that connects getting organized and using to-do lists. This takes the things you have to do and gives them a designated spot on your calendar. Like an event, you would mark your calendar and do what you need to for that event. Time blocking is similar because it marks your calendar for not only what you have to do but also when. You don’t have to follow this to a tee because remember, you are making it for you and only you know when everything is “scheduled” to be done. One main issue with any stressful time is feeling like we are running out of time. We all have 24 hours and we spend around 8 of them sleeping. How do we divide the remaining 16 hours to complete everything we need? You may not be able to see how the time is spread out in your head, but “scheduling” time for you to work on each task will give you an idea about how much time you need to devote to each task and how much time you have left. You may find that you have more time in the day than you realized!
- Create an Interview Prep Plan
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One of the worst things you can do is to avoid spending adequate time preparing for your interview and just deciding to wing it. As soon as you get information about the date, time, and format of your interviews, take note and start planning out what you need to work on to excel in your interview. Think about your current interview skill level. Have you had behavioral interviews before? Yes? Have you had case interviews before? No? You should take not on what you will need to spend more time on so you have to schedule that into your calendar. Knowing what you need to work on ahead of time will allow you to be proactive and devote more time to it rather than waiting until the night before to try and learn how to solve a case. Spending time upfront will not only help you feel more confident during your interviews, but it will also give you more time to focus on schoolwork or other assignments that have due dates during that same week. In addition to the tips above, external resources can also be very helpful. If the company you are interviewing with gives you any materials to prepare with, use those first! Aside from that, YouTube and job hunting websites such as Glassdoor can help give you valuable information as you prepare for your interview!
For a curated list of top case interview examples for various skill levels, check out Crafting Cases.
- Start Making your Study Tools Right Away
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Depending on the timing of your interview, it may fall on a day or close to a day where you have an exam. It may feel far away, but remember part of your time is going to be set aside for interview prep. Reviewing your notes and creating Quizlets early on will make it easier to have quick review sessions closer to the exam. If your Quizlet is already made, you can use schedule breaks or any free time to keep drilling the information in your head without cramming. Quizlet has a cool feature, even for non-Quizlet Plus members, where Quizlets can be created easily because all one had to do is copy and paste notes depending on the format of the notes. This will help you easily transfer your lecture notes into study materials so that when you need it, it’s already ready for studying sessions.
To balance anything especially school work and opportunities outside of school such as interviews, you must be organized and disciplined in order to stay on top of everything.
Hopefully, these girl power tips will help you manage it all. Happy internship season!