You’ll have to make a lot of first impressions as you begin your journey into the workforce. Most of them will probably determine whether or not you get that big job or promotion. One could argue that life is just a series of elevator pitches, and being prepared for these moments could make or break your career. Here are a few examples of how to crush an interview.
My favorite answers to negative questions
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been asked “what’s your biggest flaw?” in an interview. The first time I was asked this question, I panicked, and I tried to think of a bad quality that made me look good. I told them I was a perfectionist (not true), and didn’t say much else. Over time, I developed that response and made it a little more accurate, and the next time someone asked me this same question, I knew exactly what to say. Another example of this could be saying you have a tendency to take control in group settings, which just translates to having strong leadership skills. But make sure not to take this too far; we don’t want the people you’re trying to impress to think you can’t work in a team; we just want them to recognize your drive. The ‘flaw’ you create doesn’t have to be very accurate; you can exaggerate (within reason) to fit your needs.
One of my more recent interviews was unplanned, having stumbled upon the opportunity at the mall with a friend. It was very lengthy, and I didn’t realize until afterwards that I was only going to be making $9.75/hour, but this was also one of the most complicated interviews I’d ever done. My future boss asked me to tell her about “a time when I didn’t agree with a co-worker or higher up”. Needless to say, I was taken aback, being asked to say something negative about a former employer, so I took my answer a step further. I told her about a time when I was in high school, and I worked for a river outfitters company. I stood in the sun for eight-hour days all July, repeating the process of blowing up, stacking and deflating hundreds of neon green river tubes. I told her about how we didn’t have scheduled breaks, but two fifteen-minute breaks were taken out of every paycheck we received. Employers can’t argue with the law.
“Do you have any questions for us?”
Never forget: This question is a test. Employers want to see that you’re interested, but most importantly, they want to see if you listened to what they said. Make note of something they say early in the interview and ask them a question about it later. This is the perfect opportunity to prove your attentiveness.
Ask questions you actually want to know. What do the day-to-day responsibilities in this role look like? How am I expected to dress? What can I do differently (better) than the last person who filled this role? What does it look like to be successful in this role?
Remember, they probably want to hire someone just as much as you want to be hired, so take control of the conversation. Be honest and voice your concerns or questions about the job. This makes it clear to interviewers that you want to do well in this position and care about your performance.