As you can guess from the title of this blog post, today's topic is the mysterious world of job interviews [insert fearful shrieks from the entire Class of 2015, myself included]. Whenever I talk to people my age about job interviews, one theme is always present -- feelings of anxiety and confusion.
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| Me right now. Just taking another opportunity to compare myself to Hermione. Source |
Most of my peers have difficulty figuring out how to prepare for an interview and what they should do/wear/ask/etc. It can be daunting, especially when you're a senior who feels like everyone is on their way to securing a job but you.
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| Yeah, I just threw a Coldplay reference at you. It works, admit it. Source |
Since I've (finally) decided that I'm taking time off before law school, finding something to do for the next year or two is my top priority. Interviews are part of that process. Even though I've interviewed for jobs before (including this job at the Career Center), it's still a real challenge. Thankfully, I've accumulated a fair number of tips that I will now share with you.
INTERVIEW TIPS & TRICKS
Use the (little) free time you have to RESEARCH. Since this blog post will be published before Winter Break, I'll use this opportunity to remind seniors that this month can be used to get yourselves together. Over break you can compile a list of employers you're interested in and commit time to researching each of them. Look at each company's website and find out any information that could help you during an interview. You should know the basics of the company, who is in charge, and things like recent projects. Expressing interest in what the company is currently working on will definitely impress an employer.
An interview shouldn't be a mystery. A lot of people my age go into interviews thinking that they're not allowed to ask questions. This just isn't the case. If you're going into an interview, you have the right to know what you should be prepared for. Don't be afraid to ask what kind of interview it will be (group, skype, phone, one-on-one, etc.), who will be interviewing you, or any other questions you might have. This is especially important if the interview will be non-traditional, like a virtual interview. Asking questions won't make you look incompetent - if anything, it will show just how interested in the job you are.
Prepare stories that you can tell during the interview. At their core, interviews are meant to demonstrate how you'll act on the job. Often, you'll be asked to do something like "describe a time you overcame a challenge" or "talk about a time you worked with a team". Questions like these are inviting you to tell a story about your past work. Coming up with a narrative on the spot can be really difficult, so it's a great idea to have stories in mind before the interview. Come up with 5 or 10 stories that demonstrate your skills, work ethic, professional skills, and anything else you think an employer might want to know. It might even help to look at the job description and match up stories with the different skills the employer listed. Remember, a good story can make you stand out in a sea of applicants.
Don't leave your personality at the door - SMILE! Something I really struggle with during interviews is loosening up and acting like myself. Being professional during an interview is vital, but that doesn't mean you should transform into an emotionless robot. Interviewers are people, just like you, and they want to get to know you on a personal level as well as a professional one. If you were the one hiring, wouldn't you look for people who were pleasant to be around? When I did a mock interview during the Job Search Boot Camp, career advisor Chris Di Fronzo said that one of the biggest mistakes people make during interviews is forgetting to smile. Smiling not only makes you look more friendly, it can also show that you actually want the job and are excited about it!
This is where mock interviews at the Career Center come in. You can practice telling your stories and acting like a living human at the same time (which is harder than you'd think for some). FYI: the Career Center is still open over Winter Break, so take advantage if you're around!
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| Just don't pull a Robin and you'll be fine! Source |
These are only some of the things you can do during Winter Break to get yourself on track to acing interviews in the spring. I'd also suggest organizing your job search, fixing up your LinkedIn, and doing some informational interviews if you can. You have a whole month with no schoolwork, so use that time wisely!
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| Be prepared! Source |
Signing off,
Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015
