Everyone has a horror story of a job or internship interview that they’ve completely botched. It seems to be just a step in life one has to go through.
I say that because I’ve personally experienced it- I won’t disclose the incriminating information as to what I decided to say in my last interview (may or may not have said I enjoy reading summer romances but that’s neither here nor there).. BUT ANYWAYS in my various interview experiences (good and bad) I’ve learned a couple of things!
1. Smile.This is so important. And alongside smiling- make sure you’re making good eye contact. If you aren’t, it’s going to make it even more obvious that you’re nervous.
2. Be modest.
When I say modest, I don’t mean under sell yourself. You know what you’re capable of- so own it. But don’t over do it. I.e. : You only took two years of French? Then, you aren’t fluent and it’s better to be honest with that kind of stuff!
On the flip side, make sure you know your resume front, back and sideways. They’ll always make sure to ask the unique aspects of your experiences so just make sure you have a little anecdote of every experience you wrote about on your profile.
3. Dress for success.Make sure you look the part that you’re trying to go for. Own the room when you walk in it. Not only will it give you that extra confidence, but it’ll show them you’re serious about committing to the job.
4. Research.
Don’t walk in there not knowing anything about the company. In fact, make sure you take notes before hand and do a little background research. Come in with a list of questions, as that’s where they judge you the most. If you don’t have any interesting questions to further the discussion, it might show them that you aren’t as invested in the offer as they want you to be. Show them how much potential you have.
5. Don’t talk too much.This kind of goes with the modesty thing- but let them do the talking. It’s your interview sure, but don’t overdo it. You don’t want to be telling them your life story, just show them you’re capable of doing the job and doing it well.