I definitely did not expect my first actual post to be about this, but as I did say I would post about things relevant to my life, I believe this post is quite fitting seeing as I had an interview just today.
For those of you who don’t know me personally, I am in my fourth and final year of university, therefore I was extremely excited to have this opportunity. When my school emailed us about this company coming to our school and giving interviews for not only internships, but also entry-level positions for upcoming graduates, I thought that everyone, especially seniors, would be jumping at the opportunity, and that I would have to fight to the death for an interview slot. However this was not the case. I understand that the company and position being offered is for a specific field and that may not be for everyone, but here is how I see it, as well as my first bit of advice:
- Take every opportunity that is offered to you, and even those that are not. By this I mean, even if the offered position is not what you’re looking for, I strongly believe you should still sign up. Everyone can use interview practice. I am also currently in the mindset of “any job is better than no job,” and I understand this mentality is not for everyone, but seeing as I am graduating soon I refuse to let any opportunity pass me by. Also, if you do not quite meet the position qualifications, still try to sign-up for an interview; who knows, maybe they will see your passion and make an exception for you! You’ll never know if you don’t at least try first.
I will now offer some advice and tips that I believe can help anyone have a successful interview. Now I’m not saying the interview I had today was 100% perfect or that I was offered the position right there on the spot, but if I had not done these following things, I am sure my interview would have lasted a quarter of the time it did, and I would have left without leaving any kind of impression.
- Be prepared. Even if you feel completely ready and confident in your interview skills, you should definitely still do your research. Spend some time before your interview on the company’s website, Google, or any other resources available to you and find out the core values of the company. Look at their mission statement. Know of any recent projects they have worked on or new locations they have opened. There is a lot of different things to take note of, depending on the company/industry you are interviewing for.
- Ask questions. Being prepared also means thinking of questions beforehand. Undoubtedly in every interview you will ever have, the employer will ask you if you have any questions for them. Don’t rely on the “I’ll think of some on the spot” method as this has never worked for me, especially when they ask you this right at the beginning. Here are some questions I put together for my interview today. However, don’t be so focused on asking your questions that you forget to listen and ask something that they might have already answered.
- What are the main responsibilities of this position?
- Follow Up: What does a typical day/week in this position look like?
- Is there any special training given or a specific skill set required for the position?
- What are the prospects for growth and advancement within the company?
- What is the company’s management style and organizational structure?
3. Take notes. Seeing as you will be asking questions, it makes sense that you write down the answers, so remember to bring some sort of notebook and pen with you, no matter how informal the interview or regardless of the position you are interviewing for. If it makes you look over-prepared, then so be it – I’ve never considered that to be a bad thing!
4. Bring printed copies of your resumé/ CV/ cover letter. Even if you have previously emailed it to the employer, make sure to bring multiple printed copies of your resume to the interview just in case. Like I just said, I find it better to be prepared and ready, than not and left feeling embarrassed. Going along with this, if you can have some reference letters from professors or past employers already with you, it will be sure to impress the interviewer. It shows initiative and efficiency that you already have something that they will probably ask you for in the future, and this will definitely set you apart from most of the other candidates.
5. Look professional. Absolutely no jeans, and if you have to question if something is appropriate, then your best bet is to just not wear it. There is some leigh-way with this is you are interviewing for a position in retail or the fashion industry, but again it is possible to be fashionable, appropriate, and professional all at the same time. Wear something you feel confident in, not something that is overly uncomfortable and that you have to constantly worry about readjusting, as this can make you look nervous during the interview.
6. Arrive early. Being punctual is always a good first impression, but I think it is important to also arrive 5-10 minutes early to give yourself time to breathe and relax beforehand so you are not a sweaty, panting mess during the interview. Calm, cool, and collected is the goal here.
7. Maintain eye contact, but don’t stare. Always be engaged in what they are saying. If you are taking notes, try to maintain eye contact as much as possible, with only occasional glances down at your paper. Don’t let your eyes wander, or roll up, especially when you are speaking and try not to touch your face/hair. This can make it seem like you are uninterested or even lying. It is also important to find the perfect balance of maintaining eye contact, but not staring them down – that’s just creepy and uncomfortable.
8. Smile 🙂 A smile and happy disposition can go a long way. You want to leave a lasting, positive impression and something as simple as a smile can help do this.
9. Follow up. Make sure to get your interviewers’ business card or contact information. In helping you leave a lasting impression, send a short, polite email to thanking them for taking time for meeting with you and for the interview opportunity, and you look forward to hearing from them soon. This is an important step that many forget, but it’s just another small thing that can go a long way.
I will repeat myself from earlier saying that this is in no way a guide to a perfect interview, but I strongly believe that all the things I have listed here can help enhance your interview/interview skills. Speaking from personal experience, these things have at least made me feel confident and prepared going into the interview, and eliminated any awkward silence moments.
Feel free to comment if you agree or disagree, or have any interview tips of your own that you think should be added to this list!
lailaz626 