As a college student running after your dream job with that rigorous major and tons of caffeine, we all know that we need some experience to achieve our career goals. Interviews are a crucial part of the application process, whether if it’s for an e-board position or an internship! You have to impress your interviewer and show them that you’re the best candidate they’ve seen so far. These are some of the tips I’ve gained throughout the years:
- Know yourself
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It is important to know about the organization you are applying for, as well as the position you are interested in, but it’s even more important that you know yourself. Before attending your interview, ask yourself, “Why do I want to participate in or work in this specific environment?” and “What value do I bring to the position that makes me stand out?” Everyone is kind and responsible but what makes you, you? Be completely honest with your answers, even if you feel like they sound a little stupid. It is better to show your true self than to be a boring cookie-cutter applicant. Embrace who you are, and don’t think about what is going on in the interviewer’s mind.
- Don’t be afraid to be a little personal
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Normally, when we go on interviews, we don’t know the interviewer. It could be a classmate or a really successful individual who might be slightly intimidating, and you could feel uncomfortable opening up to a stranger about your life experiences or difficult situations you’ve encountered.
Don’t be! Be open and actually talk about what you went through. That’ll show the interviewer how genuine your experiences are, as well as who you are as a person. My biggest tip is to not hide your feelings. If you went through a difficult time, then I would talk about it and how that changed your outlook on life. I know it’s hard to open up to a complete stranger but don’t think of them as that, think of them as a new friend!
- Leave your academic details out
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A lot of the time when college students attend interviews, they talk about how a class was really hard and how they pushed through it and got that A. Many graduates mention how a professor changed their lives and inspired them to enter a particular field.
While that’s all wonderful and you should be proud of it, what I’ve learned from interviews is that they want to learn about you as a person, not just who you are as an academic. They want to know what your personality is like. They want to know your likes and dislikes, what makes you happy or what makes you sad. Talk about a situation that impacted your mental health, a situation that challenged your views or a dilemma you never expected to be a part of. This shows your ability to adapt to new situations or how you solve problems in an environment outside of work.
Interviewing can be a hard and stressful process because another individual is trying to figure out whether you are a qualified applicant in a span of 30 minutes. They barely get a chance to know you, and it is so common to get nervous and say things that you normally wouldn’t say to a friend. However, when you are interviewing, think of the interview as a new friend so you won’t be nervous and will just be honest! Don’t be scared of what opinions form in the other person’s mind, be you! Interviewers want to see if you are fit for the job by your personality, not because you have straight A’s or an amazing letter of recommendation. The reason they interview you is because they want an opportunity to meet you and talk to you about your interests! They already read your personal statement, letters of recommendation or saw your transcript. I hope these tips help everyone on their next interview!
Good luck!