It’s the night after the job fair and you’re in your room drained after a full day of walking, talking, and smiling at different recruiters. You are ready to call it a night when your phone rings and an unknown number is shown in your dimly-lit screen. You won’t know it until you press that green answer button, but your efforts paid off and in a second, you’ll be filled with a rush of adrenaline and excitement like no other. You got the interview! You try to keep calm as you write down the details and once the call is done you start calling everyone with the great news. 10 minutes later, anxiety kicks in. You have the interview, now what? Don’t worry fellow collegiettes, we got you. Here are a few tips on how to tackle your next interview.
1. Don’t be afraid to ask ahead
There are different types of interviews as well as different types of interviewers. Some people think that asking too many questions before an interview would be seen as rude and tend to avoid it. But the truth is as long as they are reasonable questions, they will just show the recruiters how serious you are about the opportunity. Some good questions to ask are the following:
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Interview type – This will help you determine how to prepare. Common types of interviews are:
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Behavioral – This type centers on personality questions and you should use examples of your resume for all your answers as background information for the recruiters.
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Problem Solving (Case Study or Technical) – For this type of interviews you will be presented with a scenario that you have to solve. The most important thing to keep in mind here is that the recruiters are looking for how you approach problems and how your thought process works. Therefore, don’t stress if you feel you won’t come to the right answer or solution. Try to focus on showing them how you can apply the things you’ve learned. And always keep in mind that you are applying for real world scenarios. Rule of thumb here would be starting with the easiest and most cost effective idea to try and build up from there.
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Who will be interviewing me – It’s perfectly acceptable to ask this question, and to be honest most times they will tell you ahead. Once you have this make sure to look at LinkedIn profiles for clues into what makes each individual tick. Remember, you are trying to make a connection.
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What is the dress code – This should also be stated ahead. And in case you forget to ask Business casual should be a safe bet in the majority of cases.
2. Practice and Prepare
Once you know the interview type, browse the internet for commonly asked questions. Also, practice different escenarios. You can use experiences from and off your resume to answer those questions. Even though a good practice is to follow the experiences outlined in the resume there is nothing wrong with using good examples from other areas such as group projects or sports experiences (in case you are an athlete). Anything will work as long as it is honest and you answer the question completely. Try using methods such as STAR (Situation or Task, Action, and Result) CAR (Context, Action, and Result) when you give your answers. One of the main reasons interviews fail is because people ramble and drift away from the questions and never answer them. These methods will help you have clear story-lines with defined answers for your interviewer and make you look like a pro.
3. Don’t Get too Casual
Don’t get too casual or let your guard down. This tends to happen when companies do more than one interview for applicants. But remember that an interview (or 2 or 3) doesn’t mean you get the job. This is still an interview, after all. You are still trying to convince the company of how much you would like to work withbe part of them. Keep a positive attitude and the same professionalism that you had on day one when you met the first recruiter in a job fair.
4. Be Prepared for Questions About Goals
These are more common when applying for full-time positions. But just be aware that it’s fine if you aren’t completely certain what your future holds. These questions can be answered in an open-ended way. A good way to tackle these questions is to start with smaller,short-term goals, such as getting a full time job in your field. Then, you can add any additional education you are considering (certifications, licenses, MBA, etc.) and gradually move towards what you think your future will look like. Remember to make sure that you include being part of the company you are interested in as a key part of your plans.
5. Be Confident and Calm
You have already gotten this far. This means there is something in you they like. Trust that! When you are sitting in front of that interviewer exude confidence by smiling and approaching this as a professional conversation with someone who wants to know more about you.Take your time to answer the questions. If you don’t understand a question, repeat it to them and ask if that’s what they meant. Most importantly, trust that even if you haven’t practiced that particular question, there are endless ways to apply your experiences to what they are asking.
6. Always ask questions at the end
Remember that you are constantly trying to prove your interest in the company. Having some questions ready will show just that. Some questions could be:
What has been your experience in the company?
How do you like the culture in your workplace?
How can I keep improving? Is there any feedback you could give me?
What would be the next steps?
7. Remember to say thank you!
Last but not least don’t forget to thank your interviewer both when the interview is over and through email. This will help you keep standing out to them. Keep in mind that there are many qualified applicants fighting for the same positions. Most times decisions will come down to simple details such as a thank you email.
To close I want to assure you that an interview is just a tool that the company is using to get to know you better, and the best way to tackle it is to treat it as such. Prepare, practice and feel proud knowing that you’ve sparked a flame of interest in a recruiter. That alone is a great accomplishment. Here are some common questions so you can start practicing with your mirror. Also, don’t forget to check out the link above to get more information on the CAR and STAR method with an article from Staffing Advisors, a firm that specializes in recruiting services for companies. Best of luck, and go tackle those interviews!
Tell me about yourself.
What is your greatest weakness?
Tell me about something that’s not on your resume.
Tell me about a time you (or a team) have failed, what did you do?
Tell me about a time you were stressed by a task. How did you handle it?
Are you willing to fail?
Tell me about a time you had to work in a team. What role did you take? How well did it go?
Is there anything else we should know about you?
Are you a self motivator?
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
What are you passionate about?
What are your hobbies?
Would you rather be liked or respected?